eClare
St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church
Blue Hill ~ Maine
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April 11, 2022
The Seasons of Lent and Easter
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(Photo by Peter Ralston)
No Winter lasts forever, no Spring skips its turn. April is a promise that May is bound to keep, and we know it.
-Hal Borland
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A Message from Fr. Brent
My friends in Christ,
Blessings to you on this Monday of Holy Week.
I’ve been thinking about control alot recently. It can often seem like we are the master of our own fate, especially those of us with privilege and means. But in the big scheme of things, we have very little control over the truly important things like to whom we are born and when, what qualities we possess as a person, who crosses our path in our lives and when and how we die.
In this moment, it is abundantly clear exactly how little control I have over my life right now. Yesterday was one of the worst days I’ve had yet, but the drive to and from Boston was a lot better than I had anticipated. We had a lot of hopes about our MGH trip, but they sent us to the wrong doctor and we are now rescheduling with the right person in late May. I am not steering this bus.
So much of my own anxiety and frustration right now is tied up in not knowing what is going on and not knowing what to do about it. A lot of it comes from wrestling with a health care system that gives a lot of control to a system and takes a lot away from individuals; providers, staff, and patients alike. It has to function for a whole nation, but goodness is it frustrating.
It is Holy Week. Like Rev. Donna said in her sermon last week, we need to enter Holy Week trying to forget that we know how the story ends. This is the most important story in our tradition because it is all about confronting powers that we do not have control over. I don’t know that Jesus had a lot of control over what happened to Him on His last journey to Jerusalem. He handed Himself over to the Temple Authorities who handed Him over to the Romans. His lack of control plays out in the mocking and torment He suffered at the hands of the Romans. He was not in control of the situation.
But Jesus had faith. He had faith that the Cross would not be the end of His story. He had faith that God’s love would triumph over human frailty, meanness and doubt. He had faith that God’s love is stronger than death, in any of the millions of ways that death befalls us, be it disappointment and despair or broken hearts and broken spirits; suffering and anguish or sickness unto death; God’s love is stronger. And if we, like Jesus, are able to tap into that love, or when that love is less apparent as it is in our darker nights, that we are able to tap into faith in that love, faith that that love exists, for you and for all, if we can do that then things are maybe a bit more manageable.
Well, at least that is what I am shooting for in this season of Passion and Resurrection. So far, so good.
I am very sad that I won’t be able to be with you this Holy Week, but you have an amazing line-up for the week. Thank you to everyone who is bringing worship together so well. And thank you for going through this with us, carrying us, holding our disappointments and fears, supporting Windy and the girls, and praying for us in the myriad ways prayers happen. (My current favorite is the Collect of the Shepherd’s Pie. It was a very satisfying prayer). All of that help buoys my faith in all sorts of ways.
Have a Blessed Holy week. I am with you there in Spirit.
In Christ,
Brent
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Friends of the Was Family have developed a program within the Meal Train website which gifts in several ways to Brent, Windy, and the girls as they all navigate through this challenging illness which Brent is experiencing. You can click below to enter The Meal Train. Charity Chung has offered to be a St. Francis contact person for any questions you may have.
https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/q6d8dr
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Friends,
Brent and Windy have returned from a less that satisfying trip to Boston. Due to a records snafu, Brent ended up seeing the wrong doctor and needs to return to Boston in May, at which time he will see the head migraine neurologist. Their disappointment is palpable but they are remaining upbeat and report that some things are indeed moving forward.
Keep them in your prayers and don’t hesitate to contact me if you want to chat.
Blessings, Milissa
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The Calendar
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Morning Prayer
Tuesday-Friday
8:45 am
Contemplative Prayer
Fridays at 9:15 am.
Join us on Zoom.
(The Sunday Service Bulletin will be sent separately from the church office.)
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A Reminder about Easter Flowers:
Forms are available in the Narthex. Please complete the forms and leave them in the church office or drop them in the collection plate.
The deadline for inclusion in the church bulletin is tomorrow April 12th.
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Palm Sunday - April 10th - 10:00 AM - The Rev. Donna Downs (Thank you, Rev. Donna Downs, for a beautiful service yesterday, to Barbara Brady for the arrangements of palms, and to Sarah and Tony and all of our readers)
Maundy Thursday - April 14th - 7:00 PM - The Rev. Donna Downs
Stations of the Cross - April 15th - Noon - behind the Congregational Church with Rev. Lisa Durkee, inside the Congregational Church if raining
Good Friday - April 15th - 7:00 PM -The Rev. Elaine Hewes
Easter Vigil - April 16th - 7:00 PM - The Rev. Jenny Reece, presiding, The Rev. Regina Christianson, homily
Easter Sunday - April 17th - 10:00 AM - The Rev. Steve Hayward
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Regarding Masking
(A Message from St. Frances' Vestry)
As Hancock County is now in the “green” level, Maine CDC advises that parishioners may wear masks based on their personal preference.
From the Episcopal Diocese of Maine: “Some of our community will choose to wear masks, others will feel safe not wearing masks. We honor this diversity in our congregation.”
At St. Francis, we will continue to provide sufficient space to maintain social distancing and will continue to use window fans.
If you have questions, be in touch with Sarah Everdell, our Jr. Warden
(359-8562)
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The true colors of Spring and Easter!
Beautiful flower arrangements found their way to many homes this week. Thank you, Marty, and to The Outreach Committee who delivered the flowers up and down the Blue Hill Peninsula.
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Thank you for so much for your generosity, St. Francis Church!
The final week for our Lenten Project resulted in another surge of food to the residents and clients of H.O.M.E
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We Pray for:
Amelia, Andrea, Art, Christina, Harry and Marie Bissell, Mary Boyd, Bill Casale, Edward Dufresne, Diane Dumond,Giffy Full, Brinley Hall, Bethany Hill, Jill, Justin, Kayla, Keagan, Jo-Anne Krestan, Alix Kirkpatrick, Kira and John Klinger, Michelle Liberty, Lisa Looke, Michelle Liberty, Fred Marston, Sophia Partridge, Diana Robson, Rolande, Ronan, Rya, Carla Rosenzweig, Donny Smith, Peter Smith, Marshall Smith, Peggy Smith, Fred Stine, Carolyn Taylor, Judy Thomas, Fr. Brent Was, Holly Whelan, and Persis Williams
Those with April Birthdays
Lucy Bowick, Jim Briggs, Richard Brown, Lee Buck, Lindsay Decrow, Sue Grindle, Tony Everdell, Maynard Gretchen-Forbes, Heather Ford, Kathleen Hayward, Brenda Higgins, Jack Joyce, Merry Newton, Tony Newton, Nancy Peers, Carolyn Van Cise, Persis Williams,
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
Those who have lost their lives and many others who continue to be injured and in harms way in Ukraine
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The Salt Bowl will be available all week during Barbara's Office Hours |
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Links to Websites of
bwas@riseup.net (Fr. Brent Was)
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
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