The Turning Point
The Turning Point March, 2011 St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church PO Box 711, Ellsworth ME 04605 Phone: 667-5495
e-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://stdunstans.episcopalmaine.org
A CALL TO SERVE
T
here is a pervasive atmosphere of belligerence in our culture. I believe at its root is fear born from disbelief, a lack of trust, in a loving Creator that wants the best for every person. So instead of living a life of service to others fear drives people to desperately scramble and scratch for their own wants and desires. How foolish, how ignorant, how small minded, how futile that is. Of course, we all participate in that stupidity to varying degrees. I think it is at its most pathetic in those of us who call ourselves Christian. When we use the Bible as a legalistic manual for judging rather than basking in it as a love story about God and us we are a desperate people. When we spend most of our time worrying about how we are going to maintain our religion we are a faithless people. When we let self-serving government leaders and corporate heads go unchallenged in their headlong pursuit of greed at the expense of the poor we are a selfish people. Jesus of Nazareth made it clear when he said as we have done it, or not done it for the most vulnerable amongst us we have done it, or not done it, for him. So, as we live into this perceived time of scarcity there should be no doubt as to where our priorities are. We are the ones ordained to advocate for those who are most easily neglected. This is our calling, our vocation as people of God. As we strive to answer this call we join a whole host of saints who have an eternal place in the Kingdom. God blesses you with grace for this. Christopher +
FROM THE SENIOR WARDEN Dave Wells has passed the baton to me as new Senior Warden (or “Senora Warden” as he calls me!). I am honored to have St. Dunstan’s place this trust in me and to have the opportunity to serve in a new way! I will do my best to keep communications open with you all. Please ask me if there is something you are wondering about or if you have concerns. For those of you who may not know me, I have been a member of St. Dunstan’s since 1977. I have had many roles over the years and have seen St. Dunstan’s change! The down-to-earth warmth and spirit remains and grows, however. My husband Donald and I have four children, John (20), Lily (18), Robert and Eric (both 14), all of whom have been baptized and have grown up at St. Dunstan’s. I am the Executive Director of Faith in Action (changing its name in March to “Friends in Action”), a local non-profit which I helped found that assists the elderly and disabled with volunteer services and which now operates a Senior Center in the Moore School building across the street. The Vestry will begin its new year by holding a three hour workshop to look at our life as a Parish and the new situation with having Father Chris only being paid for “half-time”. We will all have a lot to learn with this and we need to support one another and Father Chris and his family as we go through this year. It will be especially important that we communicate. It will also be important for each of us to participate as fully as we are able in our individual ways. Most importantly we need to hold each other and our church up in prayer. I have learned that is the place to start! St. Dunstan’s is also continuing its conversations with St. James in Old Town and with St. Patrick’s in Brewer about sharing clergy leadership and worship. We are not sure yet what form this will take or to what extent St. Dunstan’s will be involved, but we have set a goal of getting an agreement in place by June of 2011. Each parish has a very different situation, but already we are discovering many things we have in common. Dave Wells and Georgianna Pulver are representing St. Dunstan’s along with me in these discussion. Please contact me at my home email, [email protected], or at any of my phone numbers: 664-6016 (work), 667-7062 (home).
Jo Cooper, Senior Warden
FROM THE VESTRY VINE… The Vestry speaks for the congregation in thanking departing members Sr. Warden Dave Wells, Marian Wells, Dave Walton and Sara Hessler. Each brought his or her strengths and talents to the vestry and is to be commended for helping to guide St. Dunstan’s through the past several years. New to the 2011 Vestry are Dee LaCasce, Barbara Clark, John Sheridan and Muffet Stewart. We welcome Jo Cooper as new Sr. Warden. St. Dunstan’s Annual Meeting was held after 10 o’clock worship on Sunday, January 30 preceded by the traditional delicious potluck. 34 parishioners (and 1 brave visitor!) got an update from Fr. Chris and treasurer Dianne Kelley on 2010 and on how we are doing early on into our new way of managing with half-time rector and a reduced 2011 budget. New vestry was elected and departing members were thanked for their service (see Vestry Election Results) Here are highlights from Vestry winter meetings:
Muffet Stewart was appointed to fill a vacant vestry position.
Vestry held a November working meeting with Diocesan consultant The Rev. David Robinson to discuss transition to part-time rector.
A new Letter of Agreement for half-time rector beginning January 1, 2011 was agreed upon with Fr. Chris, sent to the diocese and approved by the Vestry.
Plans were made to establish congregational Lead Teams to assist the rector in non-clergy roles .
Marion Frehill, Diana Gazis and Jo Cooper have been licensed to lead Morning Prayer and will join Dianne Kelly and Deacons Joan Preble and Peggy Day.
Vestry members attended a November 2010 meeting with the Bishop and churches to our north and are taking part in potential collaborative ministry discussions with the Diocese, St. John’s (Orono) and St. Patrick’s (Brewer).
Vestry is continuing discussions on how a collaborative ministry could benefit St. Dunstan’s.
Expenses approved were parking lot light repair costing $250 and $350 for a new computer for the rector office to replace the outdated model.
The vestry will meet Sunday afternoon, March 13 for a special planning workshop with facilitator The Rev. Ann Kidder. The next regular meeting will be Monday, April 11 at 6:00 p.m. Georgianna Pulver , Clerk
VESTRY ELECTION RESULTS Elected to the Vestry at the Annual Meeting on January 30 Officers:
Sr. Warden--Jo Cooper, Jr. Warden--Bob Hessler, Treasurer--Dianne Kelley, Assistant Treasurer--Mary DeLong, Clerk--Georgianna Pulver
Vestry: Class of 2013 -Stephanie Vikberg Class of 2012 - John Sheridan Class of 2011- Dee LaCasce and Barbara Clark Delegates to Diocesan Convention: Diana Gazis, Dave Wells, Marian Wells (alternate) Outgoing Vestry: We Thank you! Dave and Marian Wells brought energy, dedication and enthusiasm to the Vestry and carried St. Dunstan’s through a budget crisis and into our new financial model. Together they oversaw the installation of a much-needed new meeting room floor and helped with the successful new fundraising auctions. Dave and Marian also started up the successful Everybody Eats Community Meal program, and they hardly missed a Sunday welcoming folks at the 10 o’clock. In spite of busy family commitments, Dave Walton found time to fit in vestry meetings, set up our web presence, and help plant and care for our church community vegetable garden. Sarah Hessler’s willingness to return to serve another term on the vestry and her participation and support of church activities and committees, Emmaus and the community were greatly appreciated. We want to thank Dave, Sara, and the Wells for the many hours they have given to St. Dunstan’s in countless ways. Incoming Vestry—We Welcome: Jo Cooper as new Sr.Warden. Jo, a longtime St. Dunstan member with a history of our church and diocese, brings her administrative experience to us as we face new organizational challenges. John Sheridan is our current Turning Point editor and lends his artistic talents and broad background to all of our church activities. Barbara Clark and Dee LaCasce are certainly no strangers to the congregation and to past vestries. We welcome their friendly faces and experience as they both return to help St. Dunstan’s chart the future. Muffet Stewart seems to always find time in her busy working life to devote hours to helping others through many organizations and in her home town of Lamoine. Muffet’s organizational skills and experience working in the Episcopal Church are sure to benefit the vestry.
LONG WINTER
I
t sure has been a long winter with bundling up in layers of clothes, too much snow shoveling, miserable driving, and much use of resources to keep warm….let alone many sicknesses. It has not been easy! There is still much of winter left. It seems that when spring is coming, that is when we get another big storm! Watch out! Coming home from work the other evening, yes, in ANOTHER SNOW STORM, I saw the most magnificent snow! There was about one inch of sparkling new snow over the top of all the dirty snow. (It reminded me of the artificial snow in the 1960s that sparkled in flakes for around our Christmas village.) Everything looked clean and bright. It was a jewel in the midst of more snow. It reminded me to look for the unusual or the wondrous in every day life. It also reminds us to thank God for these gems. God is so good to us! February is a short month, but March isn’t! May we have an early spring. (According to the ground hog, it will be! ) But most important may we keep looking for the wonders of God’s universe…..and to be thankful. With Love in Christ, Joan Preble, Deacon
STEWARDSHIP REPORT Anticipating the ”new look” for St. Dunstan’s and moving towards more congregation leadership and a half-time rector, the stewardship message for 2011 “Where Do I Fit?....in the St. Dunstan’s Puzzle” invited members to put aside the financial aspect and think of each one of us as a very important “piece” of the church family. Using the puzzle theme, two-thirds members responded within three weeks last fall. As the puzzle pieces (photos of church involvement and members) and pledges were returned, our congregation photo collage began to take shape. A Puzzle Party special coffee hour was held following worship on Consecration Sunday, November 14th. Our new financial picture is slowly coming into focus. As of January 30, 2011, 30 families/individuals had committed $65,744 to St. Dunstan’s. For this, we are very thankful. With a budget goal still to reach $70,000 to complete our “financial puzzle,” we will have come through a difficult year, but better for it! Continued on next page
Our new budget will give Fr. Chris, while not full-time compensation, but still, a flexible schedule with full diocesan recommended half-time salary and congregational leadership team support. We will be able to begin paying off the last two years of assessments to the Diocese and hopefully keep up with 2011’s. We will all learn to live within the leanest of budgets. St. Dunstan’s will continue to thrive. What St. Dunstan’s lacks in large membership and financial resources is far outweighed by the faith, resourcefulness and outreach focus of our members. Thank you for being part of our puzzle this year. There are a few more pieces remaining to put in place to our St. Dunstan’s puzzle, but together, we can do it. Thanks of your helpful comments and for your great support this year. Georgianna Pulver, Stewardship Chair
ST. AUGUSTINE AND THE NICENE CREED
A
s part of my Summer reading (and Fall, Winter and Spring, for that matter) I read “The City of God” by St. Augustine. He is most certainly a Catholic, which brings to mind the passage in the Nicene Creed of believing in a “catholic and apostolic” church. St. Augustine has many outdated beliefs, many that are disproved by science, and has firm convictions about persons being “saved” and those who are “condemned.” St. Augustine none the less speaks to the modern reader in such ways as the symbology of demons and the eternal felicity of believers in God. Parenthetically, in his time (420 AD) and throughout the Old and New Testaments, there are people who steadfastly refuse to believe in the divine, much as we find today. The definition of “catholic” is “universal” and, like the Catholic Church, St. Augustine tries to reach as many people as possible to spread the word of Christ. In our own Protestant Episcopal Church, the objective is much the same. The true believer in Christ takes on as a duty the spreading of the good news of Christ. We live in a politically democratic society, which may explain the diversity of religious faiths, all of which attempt to spread the word of God. At the risk of “pseudo-intellectualism” (which C.S.Lewis warns about in “The Screwtape Letters”), St. Augustine exemplifies the true meaning of “catholic” that we have in our Nicene Creed. John Raser, Parishioner
LOAVES AND FISHES FOOD PANTRY
I
t has been a long and very busy winter at your Pantry. The number of clients remains steady at a very high level equal to that experienced during 2010. One change in the client base is becoming evident and that is the number of new families requesting food is increasing. Looks like the effects of a "tough" winter are being felt. In the last newsletter we noted that the pantry provided food support for "Everybody Eats" which takes place every Monday at St. Dunstan's. We are pleased to report that the Pantry's Board of Directors voted to renew that support for 2011. Looking ahead, May is almost here. This is the month when St. Dunstan's provides the staff for operating the Pantry. The need for the staff is great, the rewards are significant, and Harvey and I guarantee a great experience with some fun thrown in. Please check you calendars and see if you can spare some time on M-W-F during that month. Details for signing up will be available in April. Should you ever have any questions about the Pantry just let us know. Thanks once again for your support. Joe Stockbridge and Harvey Kelly
ST. DUNSTAN’S SNOW SHOVELERS AND SNOW THROWERS
T
hank you snow removal team! Our church walks are always free of snow, no matter how many inches or feet seem to fall. Especially helpful this year has been the Wells’ donated snow blower. Bob Hessler has been named snow-thrower of the season.
March Celebrations Birthdays 2nd David Walton 3rd Ruth Saliba
Anniversaries
7th Catherine Ayers
26th Susan and Steven O’Halloran
9th Lukas Jordan 10th Harvey Kelley 11th David Ayers, Dawn Walton & Philip Olson 15th Jane Liscomb 20th Robert Pulver 23rd Rev. Joan Preble 26th Rev. John Edmonds 27th Cameron Swan
Parish Officers & Vestry Bishop Rt. Rev Stephen Lane Rector Rev. Christopher Chornyak Deacons Rev. Peggy Day Rev. Joan Preble Senior Warden Jo Cooper 667-7062 Junior Warden Bob Hessler 667-7541 Treasurer Dianne Kelley Assistant Treasurer Mary DeLong Clerk/Secretary Georgianna Pulver
Vestry Barbara Clark Dee LaCasce John Sheridan Sarah Whalen Stephanie Vikberg Muffet Stewart Newsletter Editor John Sheridan Newsletter Staff Everyone at
Next Newsletter Deadline: Friday, March,18th
St. Dunstan’s Send news to John Sheridan 809 US Highway 1 Hancock ME 04640 or [email protected] or Put in T Pt mail slot in undercroft
LENTEN ECUMENICAL SERVICE SCHEDULE Wednesdays at 7:00 pm
“People Whom Encountered Christ” March 16 – First Congregational Church of Ellsworth, UCC, 2 Church St. Preacher: The Rev. John Holt March 23 – St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 231 Main St., Ellsworth Concert: “The Crucifixion Story” featuring: Tatiana www.idobelieve.com (*for this night only, the free will offering will go towards the concert)
March 30 – Community of Christ, 283 State St., Ellsworth Preacher: The Rev. Susan Yaruta-Young April 6
– Lamoine Baptist Church, 24 Lamoine Beach Rd. Preacher: The Rev. Christopher Chornyak
April 13 – Union Congressional Church, UCC, 25 North St., Ellsworth Falls Preacher: The Rev. Priscilla Hukki *All offerings, except on March 23rd, go towards the much needed Church Discretionary Fund which is graciously administered by the Emmaus Center
Checks should be made out to: The Emmaus Center/CDF (Church Discretionary Fund)
Refreshments will be served following the services.
Saint Dunstan’s Episcopal Church P.O. Box 711, 134 State Street Ellsworth, Maine 04605-0711
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
ST.DUNSTAN’S YARD SALE SATURDAY, JUNE 4
9AM -12
Spring cleaning is just round the corner—please save all of your special finds and good things no longer needed for the annual ECW fundraiser. Plants are welcome, too. Watch for more information in the next Turning Points and the Sunday bulletins.
e-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://stdunstans.episcopalmaine.org
A CALL TO SERVE
T
here is a pervasive atmosphere of belligerence in our culture. I believe at its root is fear born from disbelief, a lack of trust, in a loving Creator that wants the best for every person. So instead of living a life of service to others fear drives people to desperately scramble and scratch for their own wants and desires. How foolish, how ignorant, how small minded, how futile that is. Of course, we all participate in that stupidity to varying degrees. I think it is at its most pathetic in those of us who call ourselves Christian. When we use the Bible as a legalistic manual for judging rather than basking in it as a love story about God and us we are a desperate people. When we spend most of our time worrying about how we are going to maintain our religion we are a faithless people. When we let self-serving government leaders and corporate heads go unchallenged in their headlong pursuit of greed at the expense of the poor we are a selfish people. Jesus of Nazareth made it clear when he said as we have done it, or not done it for the most vulnerable amongst us we have done it, or not done it, for him. So, as we live into this perceived time of scarcity there should be no doubt as to where our priorities are. We are the ones ordained to advocate for those who are most easily neglected. This is our calling, our vocation as people of God. As we strive to answer this call we join a whole host of saints who have an eternal place in the Kingdom. God blesses you with grace for this. Christopher +
FROM THE SENIOR WARDEN Dave Wells has passed the baton to me as new Senior Warden (or “Senora Warden” as he calls me!). I am honored to have St. Dunstan’s place this trust in me and to have the opportunity to serve in a new way! I will do my best to keep communications open with you all. Please ask me if there is something you are wondering about or if you have concerns. For those of you who may not know me, I have been a member of St. Dunstan’s since 1977. I have had many roles over the years and have seen St. Dunstan’s change! The down-to-earth warmth and spirit remains and grows, however. My husband Donald and I have four children, John (20), Lily (18), Robert and Eric (both 14), all of whom have been baptized and have grown up at St. Dunstan’s. I am the Executive Director of Faith in Action (changing its name in March to “Friends in Action”), a local non-profit which I helped found that assists the elderly and disabled with volunteer services and which now operates a Senior Center in the Moore School building across the street. The Vestry will begin its new year by holding a three hour workshop to look at our life as a Parish and the new situation with having Father Chris only being paid for “half-time”. We will all have a lot to learn with this and we need to support one another and Father Chris and his family as we go through this year. It will be especially important that we communicate. It will also be important for each of us to participate as fully as we are able in our individual ways. Most importantly we need to hold each other and our church up in prayer. I have learned that is the place to start! St. Dunstan’s is also continuing its conversations with St. James in Old Town and with St. Patrick’s in Brewer about sharing clergy leadership and worship. We are not sure yet what form this will take or to what extent St. Dunstan’s will be involved, but we have set a goal of getting an agreement in place by June of 2011. Each parish has a very different situation, but already we are discovering many things we have in common. Dave Wells and Georgianna Pulver are representing St. Dunstan’s along with me in these discussion. Please contact me at my home email, [email protected], or at any of my phone numbers: 664-6016 (work), 667-7062 (home).
Jo Cooper, Senior Warden
FROM THE VESTRY VINE… The Vestry speaks for the congregation in thanking departing members Sr. Warden Dave Wells, Marian Wells, Dave Walton and Sara Hessler. Each brought his or her strengths and talents to the vestry and is to be commended for helping to guide St. Dunstan’s through the past several years. New to the 2011 Vestry are Dee LaCasce, Barbara Clark, John Sheridan and Muffet Stewart. We welcome Jo Cooper as new Sr. Warden. St. Dunstan’s Annual Meeting was held after 10 o’clock worship on Sunday, January 30 preceded by the traditional delicious potluck. 34 parishioners (and 1 brave visitor!) got an update from Fr. Chris and treasurer Dianne Kelley on 2010 and on how we are doing early on into our new way of managing with half-time rector and a reduced 2011 budget. New vestry was elected and departing members were thanked for their service (see Vestry Election Results) Here are highlights from Vestry winter meetings:
Muffet Stewart was appointed to fill a vacant vestry position.
Vestry held a November working meeting with Diocesan consultant The Rev. David Robinson to discuss transition to part-time rector.
A new Letter of Agreement for half-time rector beginning January 1, 2011 was agreed upon with Fr. Chris, sent to the diocese and approved by the Vestry.
Plans were made to establish congregational Lead Teams to assist the rector in non-clergy roles .
Marion Frehill, Diana Gazis and Jo Cooper have been licensed to lead Morning Prayer and will join Dianne Kelly and Deacons Joan Preble and Peggy Day.
Vestry members attended a November 2010 meeting with the Bishop and churches to our north and are taking part in potential collaborative ministry discussions with the Diocese, St. John’s (Orono) and St. Patrick’s (Brewer).
Vestry is continuing discussions on how a collaborative ministry could benefit St. Dunstan’s.
Expenses approved were parking lot light repair costing $250 and $350 for a new computer for the rector office to replace the outdated model.
The vestry will meet Sunday afternoon, March 13 for a special planning workshop with facilitator The Rev. Ann Kidder. The next regular meeting will be Monday, April 11 at 6:00 p.m. Georgianna Pulver , Clerk
VESTRY ELECTION RESULTS Elected to the Vestry at the Annual Meeting on January 30 Officers:
Sr. Warden--Jo Cooper, Jr. Warden--Bob Hessler, Treasurer--Dianne Kelley, Assistant Treasurer--Mary DeLong, Clerk--Georgianna Pulver
Vestry: Class of 2013 -Stephanie Vikberg Class of 2012 - John Sheridan Class of 2011- Dee LaCasce and Barbara Clark Delegates to Diocesan Convention: Diana Gazis, Dave Wells, Marian Wells (alternate) Outgoing Vestry: We Thank you! Dave and Marian Wells brought energy, dedication and enthusiasm to the Vestry and carried St. Dunstan’s through a budget crisis and into our new financial model. Together they oversaw the installation of a much-needed new meeting room floor and helped with the successful new fundraising auctions. Dave and Marian also started up the successful Everybody Eats Community Meal program, and they hardly missed a Sunday welcoming folks at the 10 o’clock. In spite of busy family commitments, Dave Walton found time to fit in vestry meetings, set up our web presence, and help plant and care for our church community vegetable garden. Sarah Hessler’s willingness to return to serve another term on the vestry and her participation and support of church activities and committees, Emmaus and the community were greatly appreciated. We want to thank Dave, Sara, and the Wells for the many hours they have given to St. Dunstan’s in countless ways. Incoming Vestry—We Welcome: Jo Cooper as new Sr.Warden. Jo, a longtime St. Dunstan member with a history of our church and diocese, brings her administrative experience to us as we face new organizational challenges. John Sheridan is our current Turning Point editor and lends his artistic talents and broad background to all of our church activities. Barbara Clark and Dee LaCasce are certainly no strangers to the congregation and to past vestries. We welcome their friendly faces and experience as they both return to help St. Dunstan’s chart the future. Muffet Stewart seems to always find time in her busy working life to devote hours to helping others through many organizations and in her home town of Lamoine. Muffet’s organizational skills and experience working in the Episcopal Church are sure to benefit the vestry.
LONG WINTER
I
t sure has been a long winter with bundling up in layers of clothes, too much snow shoveling, miserable driving, and much use of resources to keep warm….let alone many sicknesses. It has not been easy! There is still much of winter left. It seems that when spring is coming, that is when we get another big storm! Watch out! Coming home from work the other evening, yes, in ANOTHER SNOW STORM, I saw the most magnificent snow! There was about one inch of sparkling new snow over the top of all the dirty snow. (It reminded me of the artificial snow in the 1960s that sparkled in flakes for around our Christmas village.) Everything looked clean and bright. It was a jewel in the midst of more snow. It reminded me to look for the unusual or the wondrous in every day life. It also reminds us to thank God for these gems. God is so good to us! February is a short month, but March isn’t! May we have an early spring. (According to the ground hog, it will be! ) But most important may we keep looking for the wonders of God’s universe…..and to be thankful. With Love in Christ, Joan Preble, Deacon
STEWARDSHIP REPORT Anticipating the ”new look” for St. Dunstan’s and moving towards more congregation leadership and a half-time rector, the stewardship message for 2011 “Where Do I Fit?....in the St. Dunstan’s Puzzle” invited members to put aside the financial aspect and think of each one of us as a very important “piece” of the church family. Using the puzzle theme, two-thirds members responded within three weeks last fall. As the puzzle pieces (photos of church involvement and members) and pledges were returned, our congregation photo collage began to take shape. A Puzzle Party special coffee hour was held following worship on Consecration Sunday, November 14th. Our new financial picture is slowly coming into focus. As of January 30, 2011, 30 families/individuals had committed $65,744 to St. Dunstan’s. For this, we are very thankful. With a budget goal still to reach $70,000 to complete our “financial puzzle,” we will have come through a difficult year, but better for it! Continued on next page
Our new budget will give Fr. Chris, while not full-time compensation, but still, a flexible schedule with full diocesan recommended half-time salary and congregational leadership team support. We will be able to begin paying off the last two years of assessments to the Diocese and hopefully keep up with 2011’s. We will all learn to live within the leanest of budgets. St. Dunstan’s will continue to thrive. What St. Dunstan’s lacks in large membership and financial resources is far outweighed by the faith, resourcefulness and outreach focus of our members. Thank you for being part of our puzzle this year. There are a few more pieces remaining to put in place to our St. Dunstan’s puzzle, but together, we can do it. Thanks of your helpful comments and for your great support this year. Georgianna Pulver, Stewardship Chair
ST. AUGUSTINE AND THE NICENE CREED
A
s part of my Summer reading (and Fall, Winter and Spring, for that matter) I read “The City of God” by St. Augustine. He is most certainly a Catholic, which brings to mind the passage in the Nicene Creed of believing in a “catholic and apostolic” church. St. Augustine has many outdated beliefs, many that are disproved by science, and has firm convictions about persons being “saved” and those who are “condemned.” St. Augustine none the less speaks to the modern reader in such ways as the symbology of demons and the eternal felicity of believers in God. Parenthetically, in his time (420 AD) and throughout the Old and New Testaments, there are people who steadfastly refuse to believe in the divine, much as we find today. The definition of “catholic” is “universal” and, like the Catholic Church, St. Augustine tries to reach as many people as possible to spread the word of Christ. In our own Protestant Episcopal Church, the objective is much the same. The true believer in Christ takes on as a duty the spreading of the good news of Christ. We live in a politically democratic society, which may explain the diversity of religious faiths, all of which attempt to spread the word of God. At the risk of “pseudo-intellectualism” (which C.S.Lewis warns about in “The Screwtape Letters”), St. Augustine exemplifies the true meaning of “catholic” that we have in our Nicene Creed. John Raser, Parishioner
LOAVES AND FISHES FOOD PANTRY
I
t has been a long and very busy winter at your Pantry. The number of clients remains steady at a very high level equal to that experienced during 2010. One change in the client base is becoming evident and that is the number of new families requesting food is increasing. Looks like the effects of a "tough" winter are being felt. In the last newsletter we noted that the pantry provided food support for "Everybody Eats" which takes place every Monday at St. Dunstan's. We are pleased to report that the Pantry's Board of Directors voted to renew that support for 2011. Looking ahead, May is almost here. This is the month when St. Dunstan's provides the staff for operating the Pantry. The need for the staff is great, the rewards are significant, and Harvey and I guarantee a great experience with some fun thrown in. Please check you calendars and see if you can spare some time on M-W-F during that month. Details for signing up will be available in April. Should you ever have any questions about the Pantry just let us know. Thanks once again for your support. Joe Stockbridge and Harvey Kelly
ST. DUNSTAN’S SNOW SHOVELERS AND SNOW THROWERS
T
hank you snow removal team! Our church walks are always free of snow, no matter how many inches or feet seem to fall. Especially helpful this year has been the Wells’ donated snow blower. Bob Hessler has been named snow-thrower of the season.
March Celebrations Birthdays 2nd David Walton 3rd Ruth Saliba
Anniversaries
7th Catherine Ayers
26th Susan and Steven O’Halloran
9th Lukas Jordan 10th Harvey Kelley 11th David Ayers, Dawn Walton & Philip Olson 15th Jane Liscomb 20th Robert Pulver 23rd Rev. Joan Preble 26th Rev. John Edmonds 27th Cameron Swan
Parish Officers & Vestry Bishop Rt. Rev Stephen Lane Rector Rev. Christopher Chornyak Deacons Rev. Peggy Day Rev. Joan Preble Senior Warden Jo Cooper 667-7062 Junior Warden Bob Hessler 667-7541 Treasurer Dianne Kelley Assistant Treasurer Mary DeLong Clerk/Secretary Georgianna Pulver
Vestry Barbara Clark Dee LaCasce John Sheridan Sarah Whalen Stephanie Vikberg Muffet Stewart Newsletter Editor John Sheridan Newsletter Staff Everyone at
Next Newsletter Deadline: Friday, March,18th
St. Dunstan’s Send news to John Sheridan 809 US Highway 1 Hancock ME 04640 or [email protected] or Put in T Pt mail slot in undercroft
LENTEN ECUMENICAL SERVICE SCHEDULE Wednesdays at 7:00 pm
“People Whom Encountered Christ” March 16 – First Congregational Church of Ellsworth, UCC, 2 Church St. Preacher: The Rev. John Holt March 23 – St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 231 Main St., Ellsworth Concert: “The Crucifixion Story” featuring: Tatiana www.idobelieve.com (*for this night only, the free will offering will go towards the concert)
March 30 – Community of Christ, 283 State St., Ellsworth Preacher: The Rev. Susan Yaruta-Young April 6
– Lamoine Baptist Church, 24 Lamoine Beach Rd. Preacher: The Rev. Christopher Chornyak
April 13 – Union Congressional Church, UCC, 25 North St., Ellsworth Falls Preacher: The Rev. Priscilla Hukki *All offerings, except on March 23rd, go towards the much needed Church Discretionary Fund which is graciously administered by the Emmaus Center
Checks should be made out to: The Emmaus Center/CDF (Church Discretionary Fund)
Refreshments will be served following the services.
Saint Dunstan’s Episcopal Church P.O. Box 711, 134 State Street Ellsworth, Maine 04605-0711
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
ST.DUNSTAN’S YARD SALE SATURDAY, JUNE 4
9AM -12
Spring cleaning is just round the corner—please save all of your special finds and good things no longer needed for the annual ECW fundraiser. Plants are welcome, too. Watch for more information in the next Turning Points and the Sunday bulletins.
