Shamrock February 2016 - St. Patrick`s Episcopal Church in Brewer

THE SHAMROCK
February 2016
Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Church
21 Holyoke Street
Brewer, ME 04412-1905
(207) 989-1308
Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Church
21 Holyoke Street
Brewer, ME 04412-1905
(207) 989-1308
[email protected]
On the web at www.stpatsbrewer.org
Facebook: St. Patrick's Episcopal Church- Brewer, Maine
The Rev. Myrick Cross, Priest in Charge
The Rev. Deacon Margaret (Peggy) Day
Mary Ann Perry, Music Director
St. Patrick’s Vestry
Paul Smith- Senior Warden
Pete Perry– Junior Warden
Della Gleason – Clerk
Cynthia Vaughan – Treasurer
Tom Copland
Paula Baines
Jane Harburger
Christine Talbott
Ellen Lawlor
Diocesan Delegates
Mark Spahr and Della Gleason
Lloyd Day and Mike Gleason - Alternates
The mission of St. Patrick’s Church is to grow in God’s love as an
open, caring, community.
F
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Self-denial
a repentance
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i
y d LENT 2016 i
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e Self-examination
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I invite you in the name of the Church, to the observance of a Holy Lent.
As I read these familiar words from the Ash Wednesday liturgy in the Prayer Book, introducing the next
new season, I am wondering: what will make these forty days “Holy?” The Prayer Book suggests several
possibilities scrambled in the cross word above.
Perhaps I will choose a specific person (someone I don’t already pray for) and say a short prayer for that
one every day. Maybe some honest self-examination about how my life is going and areas where I am
“missing the target” may be in order. Fasting is an old-fashioned spiritual discipline seldom practiced any
more. I could sure stand to turn some attention to my eating habits and try to practice giving up Dunkin’
Donuts, or sugar-laced foods. Replacing the hunger pang with some positive activity like humming a
verse of a favorite song, or quoting lines from a poem or Bible verse might help. What small habit or less
than healthy pattern in my life might I “turn around” to a more positive, constructive way?
Daughter Katherine always takes her Sunday service bulletin home, tucked in her purse, and carries it
with her through the week. I wonder what it means to her, since she can’t read. I’m considering taking my
bulletin home and keeping it with me during the week and making a point to re-read one of the lessons or
words to one of the pieces of music. A lot of time and energy goes into creation of the bulletin. Let’s make
good use of it to recall words of the Mass or various selections.
What could be helpful to my spiritual life by denying myself something? Could this mean letting
someone else go ahead of me in line at Hannaford’s or in traffic… denying to be “first” or “best?”
Attention to my spending habits or TV watching or Facebook surfing could increase my consciousness.
And what is that annoying prayer bell the priest rings interrupting the flow of the liturgy on Sunday? A
few minutes of deliberate silence during my busy day might give some space for the Spirit to speak in the
still small voice she sometimes does. Have you ever chosen a mantra to repeat over and over, training the
mind and body to quiet down? “Be still and know that I am God.” Meditate, focus, reflect. It’s good for
the blood pressure.
Are these simple ordinary suggestions what will make Lent “Holy” for me? Gimmicks for helping me
become more conscious of God’s presence with me can be helpful… if I try them. Choose one. And don’t
be too hard on yourself. You have already been created in the image of God who is Love. All this fuss is
only to remind you of this basic identity. You are loved. It isn’t necessary to work for or earn a Holy Lent.
You’ve already been given the gift. This can be forty special days of re-learning how to receive it.
Beside you on the journey,
Rick
FOOD, FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD AT ST. PATRICK'S!
TWO OPPORTUNITIES
THE BISHOP'S VISITATION ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH
With the winter months upon us, we thought a “Soup Bar” would be the
perfect luncheon to serve along with good, crusty baguettes or
memorable bread. Join us for our morning Eucharist with Bishop Steve
followed by tantalizing soups, breads and desserts.
f you’d like to provide something, e-mail Jane Harburger at
[email protected] and she will add your name to the list.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Tuesday, February 9th at 6 pm.
Join us for pancakes and fellowship on the night before Ash
Wednesday. Gluten-free pancakes will be available. Pancakes
made by our own Holy Grill chef, Mark Spahr.
FROM OUR MUSIC DIRECTOR
Taize
“God's forgiveness is total, irrevocable. The past is wiped
away.” (from Seeds of Trust Reflecting on the in Silence and Song).
Reflect on this meditation at the Lenten Taize Service on Friday, Feb. 19
@ 6 p.m. at St. Pat's. This service of scripture, meditation and Songs of
Taize will enhance your Lenten discipline.
Prayer List
The new Prayer List will be published the First Sunday in Lent, Feb.
14. Please submit names by Sunday, Feb. 7. Remember you can add
names and make changes at anytime. Contact Mary Ann Perry at
[email protected] or call 570-3113. I will be out of town this
week so the Feb. 14th bulletin will be done by Tuesday, Feb. 9th.
ANNUAL MEETING
St. Patrick's annual meeting occurred during Eucharist on January 31
followed by a delicious potluck luncheon. The service, meeting and
luncheon all happened in the undercroft as pictured below. Many thanks
were offered to those leaving the vestry: David Blethen, Sr. Warden,
Lloyd Day, Jr. Warden, vestry members Dianne Huntley, and Rita Poirier. A
great welcome was heard for Paul Smith, our new warden, Pete Perry,
Junior warden and returning vestry members Paula Baines, and Ellen
Lawlor with new members Tom Copeland and Christine Talbott.
THE DEACON'S CORNER –
Do you wish you could be in the company of others who knit or sew? Have
you always wanted to learn a craft? Do you have a craft that you would
like to share with others? Why not join a small group from the
neighborhood who meet every Monday evening from 6:00PM-8:00PM to
enjoy one another’s company, while we create beautiful and interesting
items from fabric and yarn. We have extra yarn, needles and a sewing
machine that people can use. We invite anyone to come join us and bring
your craft/skill to share. We all learn from one another. I have heard
people talk about the various creative things they have either done or
currently do. I enjoy learning new crafts myself. In the last couple of
years, I also learned how to needle felt. It is a lot of fun, too. Not only
do we enjoy the company of others, we often learn a new technique. It
is relaxing and a good way to take care of your spirit. Why not consider
joining us and bring a friend. Another benefit is that we get ot listen to
the wonderful musicians as they practice their craft!
Peace,
Peggy
TREASURER'S TIDBITS by Cynthia Vaughn
Thank you for supporting and trusting me with the Treasurer's job for
another year. This is my fifth year in this position and someone else
needs to step up with interest and take over in 2017. I am willing to
mentor someone into this position. As a start to that, there is a Diocesan
sponsored TREASURER'S WORKSHOP at St. Martin's in Palmyra on
February 20, 2016 from 9:30 am to 1:30pm. Terry Reimer from the
Diocese will be doing this workshop. I will be going and would appreciate
someone going with me. Really, the Treasurer's job is not that hard, but
it does require close attention to detail. We have a lap top dedicated to
the treasurer with Quick Books on it, so you can do most of the work at
home, provided you can hook up your printer. I probably spend on
average 2 hours a week on church business. If you have any interest in
this position, please let me know.
Thank you for continuing to support St. Patrick's with your pledge and
timely payments. I know we are down in pledges this year, but I am not
worried at this point, Things seem to smooth out over time and gifts
come in all forms. We just have to wait and pray.
By this time you should have received a pledge statement for 2015. I f
you did not get one or lost it, let me know and I will print you a new one.
There is a simple way to help the "Counters" each week........Please put
your name on your envelope, the check number or write cash and amount
and note what the money is for. The counters do this each week and
maybe your taking a couple of extra seconds will make their job easier. THANK YOU to all who do this already! All the pledge information is kept
confidential, as are all pledges. It doesn't matter what you give it is all
appreciated. When I started out with a pledge some 44 years ago it was
for 50 cents a week, one hour of babysitting time! Times have changed,
but every little bit does help!
OUTREACH COMMITTEE
The Outreach Committee met on January 14 to work on making and
decorating chocolate lollipops. As in past years, the lollipops are being
sold to raise funds for fuel assistance. They are sold in various locations
in Bangor and Brewer, as well as at St. Patrick’s. Those of us who gather
to make the lollipops have fun making and decorating the heart and
snowflake shaped delights. It is quite the production. They sell for $1.00
a piece. Get yours while they last.
Our next Columbia Street meal is set for Sunday March 6th at 12:30.
There are still ways that you can help. There is a sign up sheet in the
common room with ways that you can help. If you have never attended
one of these wonderful meals, why not join us. You might just find Jesus
there, among our neighbors.
Our next scheduled Outreach meeting will be on Sunday, February 21
after the service. The committee will be holding its meetings on the
third Sunday of every month. It is our hope that more parishioners will
join us to help plan our outreach activities.
Peace,
Peggy
FAITH LINKING IN ACTION
Faith Linking in Action is a group of Bangor-area congregations,
people of faith and community groups working together to “go upstream”
to address the reasons people are falling into and getting stuck in
poverty. Participants include most major faith traditions in our region.
Our faith calls us to be Faith Linking in Action---listening and
hearing the cries of our brothers and sisters as we seek to:
--Builds power through developing deep relationships in our
communities
--Supports ordinary people, including those in poverty, to become
community leaders
--Researches the root causes of problems to engage with decisionmakers in our region to id innovative solutions to issues facing our region.
The Sponsoring Committee
This is a small group that oversees the activities of the three teams
of Faith Linking in Action. They plan the bi-monthly gatherings and
continue to connect with area faith communities. It is the goal of FLIA to
increase participation by sharing the mission and asking congregations
about their vision and work with charity and justice. They are encouraged
to step into leadership roles and eventually begin financial commitment.
The Sponsoring Committee meets every other Tuesday from 8-10 at Food
AND Medicine at 20 Ivers St., Brewer. The next meeting is Feb. 9.
Child Care Team
The focus of the Child Care Team is to improve the Child Care
Subsidy Program (CCSP), which makes child care affordable for lowincome working families or those attending school. There are many
hurdles—a difficult application process, a long lag time for approval,
inadequate payments to providers. We are working for a smoother
application process, improved payments to providers and eventually more
funding. Work areas are:
·Building Relationships with Elected Officials/having a voice in
state rulemaking process
·Learning the CCSP system & helping parents navigate it
·Surveying parents & providers
The first week of February was very busy for the CC Team. They
attended:
Childrens’ Growth Council meeting: Monday, Feb 1 in Augusta then
returned there on Feb. 3 to the Hearing on State Child Care Plan. On Feb.
6 they attended a meeting with Child Care providers, parents and Rep.
Joyce Maker in Calais.
The next meeting of the Child Care Team is Feb. 10. They meet
monthly.
(talk to Mary Ann Perry for time and location)
Jobs Team
The Jobs team has be meeting with Barbara Moody who is
associated with the Columbia Street Project in Bangor. She is coordinating
an event “Crossroads for Women” which will incorporate many of the
concepts the Jobs Team has been working on. We plan to join them at
this spring gathering for women who are low-income and are eager to
learn about services, education and opportunities available to them in
the Bangor Area. We will offer information about several agencies in the
area who can assist individuals in the job search process. This is a first
step toward a mentoring and coaching program which is a long range plan
of the team.
The Jobs Team meets monthly and the next meeting is Monday, Feb.
8 from 4-6 p.m. At Tim Horton's Restaurant on Broadway in Bangor.
Transportation for All
The TFA Team has had much success in building awareness of the
importance of a bus system in the Bangor area. They still encourage more
ridership and continue to visit with Bangor City Council and other groups.
This Team meets every other Thursday. The next meeting is Feb.11.
(talk to Mary Ann Perry for time and location)
If you are curious about any of these Teams or the Sponsoring Committee
of FLIA please speak to Mary Ann Perry.
COFFEE HOUR
There are many opportunities to host Sunday morning Coffee Hours.
Remember it is easy and doesn't have to be elaborate. Maybe ask a friend
to help you. The Sign-up sheet is in the Common Room.
KNITTING CIRCLE
The knitting circle meets the second and fourth Mondays of the month.
We will meet February 8th and February 22nd at 6:30pm. (We also
welcome quilters and crafters, too! ) We make prayer shawls as well as
pocket crosses. Our shawls bring great comfort to those going through
difficult times. Please tell Lisa Chambers, Rev. Peggy Day or Rev. Rick
Cross if you know of someone who would like a prayer shawl.
ALTAR GUILD
Even though there are no altar flowers during Lent, we still have a
Flower Fund to purchase flowers. Donations are welcome -just put
Flower Fund in the memo on your check. Donations can also be made in
memory of a loved one or in celebration / thanks for blessings given.
Another wonderful way to remember loved ones is the Sanctuary Lamp.
The lamp will burn all week in memory of your loved one. The signup
sheet is in the Common Room. A small donation would be greatly
appreciated when you sign up.
And here we have a photo of St. Patrick's worker bees putting
on the Columbia Street luncheon January 3rd
-- BIRTHDAYS ANNIVERSARIES BIRTHDAYS ANNIVERSARIES
February 2 Michelle Markie
3 Mary Rush
8 Jamie Beck
10 Dan Dixon
11 Peg Olsen
15 Taylor Markie
22 Cynthia Vaughn
26 Katherine Desjardins
Carrie Dixon
DATES TO REMEMBER!
See inside for details on many of these events
February 7th Holy Eucharist and Bishop's Visitation
followed by a Soup Bar lunch
February 8 and 22nd Knitting Circle 6:30 PM
February 9 Shrove Tuesday Pancake supper 6 PM
February 10 Ash Wednesday Service 7:00 PM
February 21 Outreach meeting after church
March 6 Community Lunch at Columbia St. Baptist Church
The Shamrock is also available on-line at:
http://stpatsbrewer.episcopalmaine.org/news/newsletter.html
If you wish to be taken off our mailing list, please notify the church office.
Thank you.