THE SHAMROCK
THE SHAMROCK April 2011
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 Mary Ann Perry, Organist St. Patrick’s Vestry Peter Perry – Senior Warden Tom Copeland – Junior Warden Lisa Chambers – Clerk David Blethen – Treasurer Deborah Carney Sandra Currier Ruth MacIlroy Mary Rush Mary Cady Paul Smith Diocesan Delegates Harold “Brownie” Brown Mark Spahr Della Gleason - Alternate The mission of St. Patrick’s Church is to grow in God’s love as an open, caring, community.
From our Warden In the ongoing discussion with St. James’ and St. Dunstan’s on collaborative ordained ministry, we have recently learned that St. Dunstan’s Vestry has voted not to continue to go forward with us. St. Dunstan’s would like to continue to be involved with the process as a non-voting attendee to the collaboration meetings and would like to continue discussion on collaborating lay ministry within our three parishes. At the upcoming Vestry meeting, April 12, the Vestry will be talking about how to respond to St. Dunstan’s request, as well as selecting four members of the Vestry to be on the interview team with four Vestry members from St. James. Names of three candidates for the position of full time Priest-in-Charge for St. James and St. Patrick’s may be given to the interview team as early as the first part of May if the Diocese has all the required financial information. Sarah Flynn has been the diocesan consultant for this process and will continue until we have called a full time Priest-in-Charge. You must understand this is new ground we are working with. Sarah, who is very knowledgeable in discernment processes, admits this collaborative ministry format is new to her. Together we will prayerfully proceed.
Your Vestry continues to work with St. James and the Diocese for a timely and successful call. Please keep us in your prayers. Pete Perry Senior Warden
Prayers of the People As you have noticed we are making a change to the way we format the prayer list each Sunday. Only first names will be read aloud, but will follow the name list in the bulletin. Also if you were the sponsor to a name on the prayer list, and wish to keep that name on the list, please contact Ruth MacIlroy at 848-5454 or by E-mail at [email protected]. On May 1, if you haven’t made arrangements with Ruth, the name will mature off the list. If you find a name you have sponsored has been removed, it can be reestablished by contacting Ruth at the above number. Thank you in advance for your understanding in this matter. Your Vestry
Macaroni & cheese, ham, green beans and peas, applesauce and giner snaps and oatmeal cookies. The Sign-up Sheet to help is in the Common Room The next Outreach Committee Meeting will be Tuesday, May 3 at 6:30 p.m. We stock the shelves at the food cupboard on April 12 and May 10 at 6:00 p.m. Deb Carney, a Lay Eucharistic Visitor (LEV) for St. Patrick's, pictured here receiving her Diocesan License from Priest in Charge, Rev. Ann Kidder.
Outreach We hope you are enjoying your Journey through Lent activity poster. Don’t forget your Lenten Offering to either ERD (Episcopal Relief and Development Fund) to benefit New Zealand or the Brewer Christian Food Cupboard. The Ingathering of Lenten Offerings will be Palm Sunday April 17.
Breakfast and Plant Sale We will hold a Public Breakfast and Plant Sale on June 4, from 8-11:00 a.m. A full breakfast will be served for $6 adult and $3 children under 12. May is the month for dividing perennials. Instead of giving them away or throwing them away, put them in a pot for our Plant Sale on June 4. There will be soil and pots in the Common Room. You may want to start annuals as well. See Ellen Fisher for assistance. All proceeds will go to our Outreach programs.
Outreach has some exciting plans coming up! Here are some of the things we’re working on:
Michelle Markie is the chairperson for our special Fourth of July sale of beverages. Watch upcoming newsletters for details.
Our next lunch at Columbia Street Baptist Church is May 1. The menu is:
Home Made Pie Sale 4-6:00 p.m. Fridays during August.
We are still collecting toiletries for Spruce Run. The staff at Spruce Run greatly appreciates the donations. Don’t forget the Food Cupboard, donations, financial or food, are always appreciated! Knitting Circle There will be no Knitting Circle this month due to Holy Week. Please let Lisa Chambers or Rev. Ann know if you know of someone who would like a Prayer Shawl. The shawls are a great comfort to those going through a difficult time. Food Cupboard As you know the Brewer Christian Food Cupboard is desperate for funds. People have been very generous with food donations but we have enough money to last only until June. The grant applications are very slow and we don’t have any major fundraisers for the near future. How can you help? 1. Please use the pledge form you received as a suggestion for your Lenten Journey. You can pledge an amount weekly, monthly, or offer one donation. We will have the ingathering on Palm Sunday.
2. Continue to give food. Jim Roche, the food cupboard manager, has given a suggested list. If we receive these items as donations, then it will free up some funds to pay our bills. So please donate these items: Toilet Paper, Canned beets, creamed corn, other vegetables (NO green beans or corn) Crackers Canned meats and tuna Canned tomatoes NO baby food or diapers at this time 3. Offer to help plan fundraisers. Offer suggestions for how we can survive. 4. Attend the Empty Bowls for Hunger meal on April 27 at Brewer High School (see the announcement in this newsletter) You can also help by donating desserts and soups. Contact Randy at: [email protected] soon. Mary Ann Perry or Ellen Fisher can give you details.
Soup fundraiser for Brewer's Food Cupboard Wednesday April 27 5:30-7:30 p.m. Brewer High School Cafeteria Help Brewer's staff and art students raise money for our Brewer Christian Food Cupboard. Brewer Art students made extra bowls that are given to people who come to the supper. Suggested donation $6.00 All proceeds go to the local food cupboard
April 1 Kate Chambers 3 “Brownie” Brown 6 Rachel E.L.P. Bergen 13 Kate Petrie 14 Michael Smith 14 Penny Baker 15 Leigh Spahr 16 Alan Baker 21 Mark Chambers 27 Eric Chambers 27 Greg MacIlroy 28 Amanda Gleason 28 Tom and Diane Copeland 30 Carolyn Smith
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Notes from the Diaconal Journey Pat Blethen
In January I started in the Deacon Formation Process (often referred to as just the DFP). It has been a busy few months! The DFP consists of monthly Saturday meetings with other postulants and the coordinator. One purpose of these meetings is to provide an
opportunity for those in the process to gather as a community (since we come from many parts of the state). In addition, it is a time for learning basic information that is helpful to deacons. The three sessions I have attended include forgiveness and reconciliation;
working with the dying and with the mourning; most recently the prophetic voice of the deacon. The deacon who presented this last session provided us with a number of things to read and a few movies to watch. She is concerned about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict among other issues. Besides attending these daylong sessions, I have spent time completing copious amounts of paperwork. One of the first assignments was to complete a self assessment across several areas. This was used to determine what required experiences/ knowledge I possess and what I need to still need to learn or experience. The DFP coordinator met with Rev Ann and I and later with David and I to review this information. For example, one area where I need experience is in preaching. This was not particularly part of my seminary education. So you will likely hear me preach on a few occasions at St. Patrick’s. The sermon I gave at the last DFP meeting was rather rough. So if you know of a Sunday when I’m going to preach, you might wing up a few extra prayers! In addition to participating at St Patrick’s, I need to select a community program with which to become involved. This means dedicating 80 hours of time over a 40 week period. This will be a main focus for me this year. There were a couple of other significant items coming out of the self-assessment but they will come later. The other paperwork completed to date
includes my Ember letter to Bishop Steve, my annual physical, the Oxford Background Check and the twenty-five page Life History Questionnaire and the several page Behavior Screening Questionnaire. The latter two documents were mailed this week so that the psychological examiner will have them before we meet on April 15 in Portland. To those who have asked, I have shared that this has been a bit overwhelming as a way to start. I’m hoping that I’m caught up on the paperwork for now and can begin to get my “sea legs” under me so to speak. I would appreciate your prayers of support as I continue on this journey. St. Patrick’s Church and specific prayer request will be my prayers. I will be updating you every few months in the newsletter regarding my journey, but feel free to talk to me about it in person. Sharing our journeys is an important part of our life in community. Peace, Pat
LAYERED SALSA DIP Lillian Rivers
1 12-oz package chocolate chips (I like the Special Dark by Hershey)
Ingredients:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sift together dry ingredients and set aside.
1/4 cup honey 8 oz cream cheese (soft spread tub) 8 oz Sour cream 1 cup salsa, and variety 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/2 cup EACH chopped tomato, green pepper and canned sliced black olives Preparation: Whisk honey, cream cheese and sour cream together until smooth and creamy Spread bottom of an 8 or 9 inch plate, or shallow casserole. Layer the remaining ingredients in the order given. Keep chilled. Serve with Restaurant-style Tortilla Chips.
OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES – Mary Cady (recipe is doubled from original) 3 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 3 teaspoons salt 2 cups sugar 2 cups brown sugar -- packed 2 cups shortening -- Crisco 4 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 6 cups quick cooking oatmeal
In large mixing bowl, cream together shortening and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla to creamed mixture and beat well. Add flour mixture and oatmeal to creamed mixture, mixing well. Stir in chocolate chips. Can use raisens instead of chocolate chips (but why?) or add nuts, or coconut also - toasted pecan pieces are great with the chocolate chips. Refrigerate dough for at least an hour. Drop by tablespoon full on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes. You want them browned, not under baked, but not too brown. Let sit on cookie sheet for 3 - 4 minutes. Then transfer to cooling rack. Baked cookies freeze well, as does the dough. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed. Note: Recipes are always welcome. I will print them as space permits.
DATES TO REMEMBER! See inside for details on most of these events No Knitting Circle in April April 12 Stock the Shelves at Food Cupboard April 15 Outreach Meeting April 17 Palm Sunday Ingathering of Pledges to ERD and Food Cupboard April 24 Easter April 27 Empty Bowls Fundraiser April 30 Articles are due for the May issue of The Shamrock May 1 Lunch at Columbia St. Baptist Church May 3 Outreach Meeting May 10 Stock the Shelves at Food Cupboard June 4 Public Breakfast and Plant Sale
If you wish to be taken off our mailing list, please notify the church office. Thank you.
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 Mary Ann Perry, Organist St. Patrick’s Vestry Peter Perry – Senior Warden Tom Copeland – Junior Warden Lisa Chambers – Clerk David Blethen – Treasurer Deborah Carney Sandra Currier Ruth MacIlroy Mary Rush Mary Cady Paul Smith Diocesan Delegates Harold “Brownie” Brown Mark Spahr Della Gleason - Alternate The mission of St. Patrick’s Church is to grow in God’s love as an open, caring, community.
From our Warden In the ongoing discussion with St. James’ and St. Dunstan’s on collaborative ordained ministry, we have recently learned that St. Dunstan’s Vestry has voted not to continue to go forward with us. St. Dunstan’s would like to continue to be involved with the process as a non-voting attendee to the collaboration meetings and would like to continue discussion on collaborating lay ministry within our three parishes. At the upcoming Vestry meeting, April 12, the Vestry will be talking about how to respond to St. Dunstan’s request, as well as selecting four members of the Vestry to be on the interview team with four Vestry members from St. James. Names of three candidates for the position of full time Priest-in-Charge for St. James and St. Patrick’s may be given to the interview team as early as the first part of May if the Diocese has all the required financial information. Sarah Flynn has been the diocesan consultant for this process and will continue until we have called a full time Priest-in-Charge. You must understand this is new ground we are working with. Sarah, who is very knowledgeable in discernment processes, admits this collaborative ministry format is new to her. Together we will prayerfully proceed.
Your Vestry continues to work with St. James and the Diocese for a timely and successful call. Please keep us in your prayers. Pete Perry Senior Warden
Prayers of the People As you have noticed we are making a change to the way we format the prayer list each Sunday. Only first names will be read aloud, but will follow the name list in the bulletin. Also if you were the sponsor to a name on the prayer list, and wish to keep that name on the list, please contact Ruth MacIlroy at 848-5454 or by E-mail at [email protected]. On May 1, if you haven’t made arrangements with Ruth, the name will mature off the list. If you find a name you have sponsored has been removed, it can be reestablished by contacting Ruth at the above number. Thank you in advance for your understanding in this matter. Your Vestry
Macaroni & cheese, ham, green beans and peas, applesauce and giner snaps and oatmeal cookies. The Sign-up Sheet to help is in the Common Room The next Outreach Committee Meeting will be Tuesday, May 3 at 6:30 p.m. We stock the shelves at the food cupboard on April 12 and May 10 at 6:00 p.m. Deb Carney, a Lay Eucharistic Visitor (LEV) for St. Patrick's, pictured here receiving her Diocesan License from Priest in Charge, Rev. Ann Kidder.
Outreach We hope you are enjoying your Journey through Lent activity poster. Don’t forget your Lenten Offering to either ERD (Episcopal Relief and Development Fund) to benefit New Zealand or the Brewer Christian Food Cupboard. The Ingathering of Lenten Offerings will be Palm Sunday April 17.
Breakfast and Plant Sale We will hold a Public Breakfast and Plant Sale on June 4, from 8-11:00 a.m. A full breakfast will be served for $6 adult and $3 children under 12. May is the month for dividing perennials. Instead of giving them away or throwing them away, put them in a pot for our Plant Sale on June 4. There will be soil and pots in the Common Room. You may want to start annuals as well. See Ellen Fisher for assistance. All proceeds will go to our Outreach programs.
Outreach has some exciting plans coming up! Here are some of the things we’re working on:
Michelle Markie is the chairperson for our special Fourth of July sale of beverages. Watch upcoming newsletters for details.
Our next lunch at Columbia Street Baptist Church is May 1. The menu is:
Home Made Pie Sale 4-6:00 p.m. Fridays during August.
We are still collecting toiletries for Spruce Run. The staff at Spruce Run greatly appreciates the donations. Don’t forget the Food Cupboard, donations, financial or food, are always appreciated! Knitting Circle There will be no Knitting Circle this month due to Holy Week. Please let Lisa Chambers or Rev. Ann know if you know of someone who would like a Prayer Shawl. The shawls are a great comfort to those going through a difficult time. Food Cupboard As you know the Brewer Christian Food Cupboard is desperate for funds. People have been very generous with food donations but we have enough money to last only until June. The grant applications are very slow and we don’t have any major fundraisers for the near future. How can you help? 1. Please use the pledge form you received as a suggestion for your Lenten Journey. You can pledge an amount weekly, monthly, or offer one donation. We will have the ingathering on Palm Sunday.
2. Continue to give food. Jim Roche, the food cupboard manager, has given a suggested list. If we receive these items as donations, then it will free up some funds to pay our bills. So please donate these items: Toilet Paper, Canned beets, creamed corn, other vegetables (NO green beans or corn) Crackers Canned meats and tuna Canned tomatoes NO baby food or diapers at this time 3. Offer to help plan fundraisers. Offer suggestions for how we can survive. 4. Attend the Empty Bowls for Hunger meal on April 27 at Brewer High School (see the announcement in this newsletter) You can also help by donating desserts and soups. Contact Randy at: [email protected] soon. Mary Ann Perry or Ellen Fisher can give you details.
Soup fundraiser for Brewer's Food Cupboard Wednesday April 27 5:30-7:30 p.m. Brewer High School Cafeteria Help Brewer's staff and art students raise money for our Brewer Christian Food Cupboard. Brewer Art students made extra bowls that are given to people who come to the supper. Suggested donation $6.00 All proceeds go to the local food cupboard
April 1 Kate Chambers 3 “Brownie” Brown 6 Rachel E.L.P. Bergen 13 Kate Petrie 14 Michael Smith 14 Penny Baker 15 Leigh Spahr 16 Alan Baker 21 Mark Chambers 27 Eric Chambers 27 Greg MacIlroy 28 Amanda Gleason 28 Tom and Diane Copeland 30 Carolyn Smith
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Notes from the Diaconal Journey Pat Blethen
In January I started in the Deacon Formation Process (often referred to as just the DFP). It has been a busy few months! The DFP consists of monthly Saturday meetings with other postulants and the coordinator. One purpose of these meetings is to provide an
opportunity for those in the process to gather as a community (since we come from many parts of the state). In addition, it is a time for learning basic information that is helpful to deacons. The three sessions I have attended include forgiveness and reconciliation;
working with the dying and with the mourning; most recently the prophetic voice of the deacon. The deacon who presented this last session provided us with a number of things to read and a few movies to watch. She is concerned about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict among other issues. Besides attending these daylong sessions, I have spent time completing copious amounts of paperwork. One of the first assignments was to complete a self assessment across several areas. This was used to determine what required experiences/ knowledge I possess and what I need to still need to learn or experience. The DFP coordinator met with Rev Ann and I and later with David and I to review this information. For example, one area where I need experience is in preaching. This was not particularly part of my seminary education. So you will likely hear me preach on a few occasions at St. Patrick’s. The sermon I gave at the last DFP meeting was rather rough. So if you know of a Sunday when I’m going to preach, you might wing up a few extra prayers! In addition to participating at St Patrick’s, I need to select a community program with which to become involved. This means dedicating 80 hours of time over a 40 week period. This will be a main focus for me this year. There were a couple of other significant items coming out of the self-assessment but they will come later. The other paperwork completed to date
includes my Ember letter to Bishop Steve, my annual physical, the Oxford Background Check and the twenty-five page Life History Questionnaire and the several page Behavior Screening Questionnaire. The latter two documents were mailed this week so that the psychological examiner will have them before we meet on April 15 in Portland. To those who have asked, I have shared that this has been a bit overwhelming as a way to start. I’m hoping that I’m caught up on the paperwork for now and can begin to get my “sea legs” under me so to speak. I would appreciate your prayers of support as I continue on this journey. St. Patrick’s Church and specific prayer request will be my prayers. I will be updating you every few months in the newsletter regarding my journey, but feel free to talk to me about it in person. Sharing our journeys is an important part of our life in community. Peace, Pat
LAYERED SALSA DIP Lillian Rivers
1 12-oz package chocolate chips (I like the Special Dark by Hershey)
Ingredients:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sift together dry ingredients and set aside.
1/4 cup honey 8 oz cream cheese (soft spread tub) 8 oz Sour cream 1 cup salsa, and variety 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/2 cup EACH chopped tomato, green pepper and canned sliced black olives Preparation: Whisk honey, cream cheese and sour cream together until smooth and creamy Spread bottom of an 8 or 9 inch plate, or shallow casserole. Layer the remaining ingredients in the order given. Keep chilled. Serve with Restaurant-style Tortilla Chips.
OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES – Mary Cady (recipe is doubled from original) 3 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 3 teaspoons salt 2 cups sugar 2 cups brown sugar -- packed 2 cups shortening -- Crisco 4 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 6 cups quick cooking oatmeal
In large mixing bowl, cream together shortening and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla to creamed mixture and beat well. Add flour mixture and oatmeal to creamed mixture, mixing well. Stir in chocolate chips. Can use raisens instead of chocolate chips (but why?) or add nuts, or coconut also - toasted pecan pieces are great with the chocolate chips. Refrigerate dough for at least an hour. Drop by tablespoon full on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes. You want them browned, not under baked, but not too brown. Let sit on cookie sheet for 3 - 4 minutes. Then transfer to cooling rack. Baked cookies freeze well, as does the dough. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed. Note: Recipes are always welcome. I will print them as space permits.
DATES TO REMEMBER! See inside for details on most of these events No Knitting Circle in April April 12 Stock the Shelves at Food Cupboard April 15 Outreach Meeting April 17 Palm Sunday Ingathering of Pledges to ERD and Food Cupboard April 24 Easter April 27 Empty Bowls Fundraiser April 30 Articles are due for the May issue of The Shamrock May 1 Lunch at Columbia St. Baptist Church May 3 Outreach Meeting May 10 Stock the Shelves at Food Cupboard June 4 Public Breakfast and Plant Sale
If you wish to be taken off our mailing list, please notify the church office. Thank you.
