eClare from St. Francis by the Sea

eClare

St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church

Blue Hill ~ Maine

November 17, 2021

Thank you, friends!

Your gifts to the Thanksgiving Baskets for H.O.M.E. are wonderfully generous and will lift the hearts of our neighbors!

-Prudy and Judy (on behalf of the Outreach Committee)

“The turkey. The sweet potatoes. The stuffing. The pumpkin pie. Is there anything else we all can agree so vehemently about?

I don’t think so.” -Nora Ephron

Thanksgiving Baskets will be delivered to H.O.M.E. following the 10 AM Service next Sunday, November 21.

Please bring perishable goods (turkeys, rolls and pies) to church on Friday morning during Barbara's office hours or (preferably) on Sunday morning. Thank you very much to our away parishioners and friends who have graciously contributed. We have been able to add another full family basket!

Items of any of the fixins' will be welcome any weekday morning this week! Feel free to interrupt Barbara!

A huge "thank you" to Dick Doane for the transportation of everything to H.O.M.E. this coming Sunday.

From Fr. Brent

Is this normal?

That is a question that keeps coming up for me here at St. Francis and just being new to Maine. Maybe it is that the Blue Hill Peninsula (and by extension St. Francis) is just a bit quirky. That is certainly part of it, and pleasantly so. But just about the whole time we have been here has been overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as an acrimonious political situation and a wobbly climate. It is hard to tell what is normal.

Have enduring changes taken place these past 20 months? Are all the weird things, like masks and tiny communion cups and avoiding crowds part of a crisis response, or this this how it is going to be going forward? Will I always wonder if the person in front or behind me has been vaccinated or not? What questions do you find yourself asking nowadays?

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The Calendar

Sunday Worship Services

10 AM

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We are masking for all in-person services at St. Francis Church

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Please continue to attend Zoom church services if you are not COVID vaccinated

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Contemplative Prayer

Fridays at 9:15 am.

Join us in person in the Sanctuary or on Zoom.

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Wednesday Seekers 10:00 am, Wednesday on our regular Zoom Link.

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Morning Prayer

Tuesday - Friday

8:45 AM

St. Francis YouTube Link

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Wednesday Seekers Continues

Join us as we read Healing the Heart of Democracy: The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit by noted Quaker author, teacher and activist Parker J. Palmer. On Zoom, 10:00 am -11:30 am, Wednesdays 10/27-11/24.

The Flash in the Pans Steel Band from GSA will offer a holiday concert here at St. Francis on Sunday, December 19 @ 2:00. Free. All are welcome!

We Pray for:

Amelia

Andrea

Art

Arthur

Harry and Marie Bissell

Mary Boyd

Edward Dufresne

Giffy Full

Arthur Gregg

Brinley Hall

Grace High

Bethany Hill

Jill

Justin

Jenni

Kayla

Keagan

JoAnn Krestan

Alix Kirkpatrick

Kira and John Klinger

JoAnn Krestan

Fred Marston

Mary Martin

Sophia Partridge

Diana Robson

Dennis Robertson

Ronan

Carla Rosenzweig

Lizzy Sandlin

Cathy Smith

Donny Smith

Marshall Smith

Peggy Smith

Terri Stephens Smith

Fred Stine

Marilyn Stewart

Carl and Carolyn Taylor

Judy Thomas

Holly Whelan

Helen Weinland

Cecile Wiley

Persis Williams

Those with November Birthdays

Jon Barry

Terry Briggs

Michael Creighton

Laura Danielson

David Decrow

Arthur W. Gregg

Margaret Hannah

Aletha Langham

Meredith Penfield

Susan Reddy

Lorna Russel

Ann Sexton

Lyn Swazey

Judy Thomas

Simon Wesley

Ellen Young

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

We pray for the Repose of the soul of Sally Gregg and for Arthur and for all of their family

And for Sue Barton, former St. Francis parishioner and long-time friend of St. Francis Church

From Milissa, our Senior Warden-

Dear Friends,

I have read that of all human emotions, the feeling of appreciation is the most calming and beneficial to overall health. That may explain why I am such a healthy happy person!!

I am so grateful for the kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity of my fellow St. Francis of the Sea parishioners. You make our time at St. Francis a joy and my time as Sr. Warden a pleasure.

Thank you for caring and may God bless each of you and your loved ones this Thanksgiving season.

Milissa

From Outreach Chair, Sue Grindle

St. Francis Christmas 2021: The Giving Tree will once more go up in the Narthex on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Please choose a tag (or two) and convert them into smiles this Christmas morning. The tags are age and gender labeled. We are encouraging you to utilize local shops for purchases (Out on a Whimsy Toys and Blue Hill Books). The clerks at these shops are experienced in guiding you to appropriate gifts. The long- used St. Francis gift guide will also be made available in a folder near the tree. A limit of $25.00 per tag is recommended. If you are unable to shop, but still wish to participate, you may send a check to St. Francis with “Outreach” in the memo line. These checks need to be received by Dec. 15th. Please place your unwrapped gifts under the tree no later than Sunday, Dec. 21st. Donations of wrapping paper, bows, and gift tags would also be gratefully received. These gifts are headed for area children sponsored by Emmaus in Ellsworth. Thank you for bringing a little “Ho Ho Ho Holiday” to many households this year! From Sue Grindle, Outreach

Thank you from Marty Hamblen-

"All of the wreaths have been sold and the ordering window is now closed. Anyone who has not paid yet should send a check, made out to St. Francis, to me at 86 Journey's End Lane, Surry, ME 04684

St. Francis' "Caring Cards" Ministry will be sending Christmas Cards to loved ones and friends of St. Francis parishioners.

Will you let us know of those who all would like to find a card in their mailboxes? The recipient does not need to be associated with St. Francis Church and does not need to be local. Just someone you want to have a greetings in the weeks before Christmas.

You can send the name(s) and address(es) by hitting the reply to this eClare or by emailing Sarah Everdell.

This will also give us another opportunity to recognize Mary Semler's influence in our church as the Christmas Cards will have a photo of one of the kneelers created by Mary. Please feel free to send multiple names with their addresses.

Because the cards will need to be printed, we will need a deadline for receiving names and addresses. It is Sunday, December 5.

"We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives."

John F. Kennedy

Advent Bags-a blessing of the season

St. Francis will once again hand out advent bags on Sunday, November 28th after church. You can pick up yours at church then, or we will deliver in the local area. If you are interested in helping to assemble the bags, please come to St. Francis at 9:00 on Saturday morning, November 27th. Many thanks.

Contact Sarah Everdell, 359-8562, with any questions.