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St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church
Blue Hill ~ Maine
September 19, 2019

(A sunrise and a new day on Blue Hill Bay)

"Being Made New"

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds...

St. Francis 2020 Stewardship Campaign

From Mary Crawford-
"The theme of our 2020 Stewardship Pledge effort is “Being Made New,” reflecting this time of transition for St. Francis as we prepare ourselves to welcome a new Rector. Our goal is $205,000 with a stretch goal of $215,000. This is a significant increase over our 2019 total of $185,000, but it is not as much as our highest total in the last five years, $207,000+.
We’ll all need to dig a bit deeper to fill the gap between last year’s total and this year’s goal. Let’s really roll out the welcome mat for our new Rector by clearly demonstrating our generosity through a healthy 2020 Pledge Total.
On August 25 and 26,169 pledge packets were either collected at the church or mailed to all members and friends of St. Francis. Many thanks to all of those who have already responded with generous pledges! Acknowledgements are on their way to you.
On October 1 a reminder email will be sent to folks who have yet to respond, and on October 15 follow-up phone calls will begin. We will keep you updated on totals as we move through September and October. Thank you in advance for your gracious gifts to our beloved church home."

Please contact Mary Crawford with your questions and recommendations. She will be happy to hear from you! 207.374.2853 and  marysdcrawford@gmail.com

Window Dressers...getting there but still needing our help!
There are a number of openings still available-especially next week.

from Ray Yardy:

"Our orders for 2019 are for approximately 400 inserts,  the largest number of orders we have ever received.  Now- with help from all of you- we can get them made!

The work is not hard or difficult and full training will be provided. Don’t be concerned if you have a physical limitation as there are many different types of jobs and we can work around your special needs. I attach a web link that will take you to the calendar where you can choose which day and shift you wish to work which includes Saturday 21 Sept. Naturally we will supply lunch, drinks and snacks." 

Shift times are available from September 18-September 28 at St. Joseph's Church in Ellsworth.

You can sign up below or call Kit or Ray for further information.
Please consider this huge need... it is rewarding and fun! Many volunteers are needed...could you ask a friend or family member to come along? Every helping hand is needed!
 

Kit Lane and Ray Yardy
460 9113    664 4104
St. Francis Church

The Calendar


Please note: There will be a service for B.J Miller at 3 PM at Parker Ridge this afternoon, Thursday, September 19
***

Sunday Worship

10 am
***
Coffee Hour
***
Adult Forum
September 22
"Families First"

***
New Wednesday Seekers
continuing
(see right)
***
September 29
Adult Forum
"The Magic Food Bus"
(St. Francis Church is a significant supporter this project. This will be an opportunity to catch up on their amazing work)

We Pray for:

Art
Craig
Holly Colt
Edward Dufresne
Christy Olsen-Hall
Brinley Hall
Dorine Harris 
Dilys Hoyt
Jennifer Hulsey
Sam Hulsey
Keagan
Rayanne Kleiner
Tyler Knowles
JoAnn Krestan
Linda Lesko 
Diana Robson
Dennis Robertson
Ronan
Carla Rosensweig
Ed Rosensweig
Mary Kathryn Rountree
Sarah Semler
Donny Smith
Peter Smith
Gloria Smith


Those in the Armed Services    
Abigail
James Crowe III
Andy Dittmer
Brian Haley
Sean Haley
Douglas Hamilton
Kyler Hall
Peter McGuyer
Kyle Carino Mings
Eric Partridge
Henry Shepley
Ben Stubbs


Those with September Birthdays

Denny Bacon
Nathaniel Boechat
Emma Brown
DianaBui
Becky Carino
Anne Cassatt
Richard Duffield
PJ Curtis
Sally Falck
Vesta Kowalski
Linda Slaven
Stephen Marek
Linda Sturtevant
Gail Williamson

We Pray for the soul of
Robert Gallant and for Mary and for all of their family and friends




From Nancy Doane-

" We are starting a new service called
St Francis Shoppers
  
We have several volunteers signed up who are ready to help you with your shopping in Blue Hill. 

If you are not able to get to the grocery store or the pharmacy please let us help.

Just give me a call and let me know. At this time we are limiting the service to only St Francis members. We may be able to expand in the future but not at this time. 

If you would like to volunteer your driving/shopping service or if you are in need of help with your shopping, please contact Nancy Doane at 460-8814 or  ndoane48@gmail.com . I hope we wil be able to start this program the first of November."
Wednesday Seekers has returned with a wonderful offering which is being led by the Rev. Tim Ensworth.
Tim is knowledgable and an excellent facilitator.

"Sowing Tears, Reaping Joy: The Bible and Brahm’s Requiem" is a seven-week Bible study on the experience of grief.

The first session was this week and it was really wonderful. Please come next Wednesday. Several books are still available.

Session#2 materials are available. 

Participants will listen to “Ein Deutsches Requiem” (“A German Requiem”) composed by Johannes Brahms and discuss the biblical texts he chose for his composition.

  Sowing Tears, Reaping Joy  is about the intersection of music and faith. We will follow Brahm’s lead in a very personal and human (his words) journey “not ... from grief to hope, but through grief in hope” (the study author’s words). His requiem affirms that our very real experiences of grief need not diminish our hope, but that neither does the presence of genuine hope obviate our
need to live with our grief.

Participants will use the resource book, Sowing Tears, Reaping Joy:  The Bible and Brahm’s Requiem , 
written by Carol Bechtel Reynolds, published by the Kerygma Program.

The book costs $15 and will be made available at the first session. The Bible study will run seven consecutive 
Wednesdays, 10:00-11:30 am. 
From Sarah Everdell-
There will be two very special speakers at NAMI's annual convention at the Augusta Convention Center on Saturday, November 2nd. Everyone is invited to come for this important presentation. You may sign up for the convention at:








From Marshall Smith-

There will be an Open House for "The Ellsworth Free Medical Clinic on Sunday afternoon, September 29, at 248 State Street. Everyone is welcome to attend.
St. Francis Goes all out...and them some!
Summer parishioner, Aletha Langham and husband's home and personal property on Abaca Island in the Bahamas, suffered significant damage during the recent hurricane. Rather than focus on all of their loss, Aletha asked St Francis for help for all those who had literally lost everything. Clothing and shoes are a huge concern. Everything will go to Hope Town (below).

A couple of photos show how the parishioners of St. Francis responded...bags and bags of new and gently used clothing, dozens of pairs of good shoes (more than half were brand new) and personal items of every kind.

There were so many hands that managed to sort it and bag it all in just two hours! Outreach at its best!

First: a note from Aletha...

"Below are photos of the destruction and also the people remaining in Hope Town. They are in the United Methodist Church which was in the center of all the terrible damage. Only the steeple was taken off. Your donations will be sent to Hope Town. God Bless them.

To say thank you to Sue Grindle and everyone who donated, sorted and packed clothing for the people of the Bahamas is just not enough. What an out pouring of love for others. Matthew 25:36 tells us as Christians to clothe the naked. I believe that is what you have done this last week in abundance. My deepest gratitude to each and every one of you." ~Aletha
A fond farewell to Les Petits Chanteurs
St. Francis loved them...we housed and fed, sent the thirty eight of them off to The Blue hill Fair, then down Sunday afternoon to the ferry for a ride from Rockland to Vinalhaven; We attended their fabulous concert and, most of all, enjoyed getting to know them. They received $3100 for the benefit of their Trinity School...a tribute from St. Francis Church and the Blue Hill community for their gifts of music and love of Haiti.

There were many "thank you"s for their time with St. Francis parishioners and friends.

St. Francis thanks you all, too, for your amazing support!
Links to Websites of
 Special Interest: 

St Francis by the Sea  (website)


From our church office: We have a St. Francis Facebook Page. Link below... "LIKE" our page and keep up to date on all the news and happenings!!!






NAMI Maine