St. Francis by the Sea
Annual Meeting and Updates
eClare
St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church
Blue Hill ~ Maine
August 26, 2021

(photo by Joe Lendvai)
"In summer, the song sings itself"
-William C Williams
From Fr. Brent


There are a lot of things I am learning to appreciate about the Blue Hill Peninsula.  Everywhere you look is beautiful. The weather isn’t boring.  Besides the nighttime fireworks, it is remarkably quiet almost all of the time.  And most noticeably, people here are generous.  With time, attention, resources, patience, in so many, many ways, people are around here are generous.
I have thought about this a lot.  Maybe it has to do with the slower pace of life here.  Maybe it has to do with the fact that so many people are introduced to this place as a vacation spot: Blue Hill means fun, relaxation and family.  Maybe there are deeper roots in the New England, Maine or specifically Downeast culture that seeps into life.  I’m not sure where it comes from, but it is noticeable how readily people give of what they have... Click here to continue reading

(Picture above is a striper Hannah Maeve caught with the 50th birthday present from you all).
Gratitude

"THE ROOT OF ALL JOY IS GRATEFULNESS"
― Brother David Steindl-Rast


Show your GRATITUDE to St Francis by the Sea
with your stewardship commitment. 

Your acceptance of this responsibility
embodies the true spirit of St. Francis.

Your support is essential to the well being of our spiritual community
and its mission in our church and community.

Please mail your pledge cards today or
drop them in the collection plate Sunday.

GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD FOR HE IS GOOD.
HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER!

Thank You,
Lynne Yurosko, Stewardship Chair
The pandemic and our precarious political situation have consumed a lot of space and energy in our world, including here at St. Francis.  A deadly disease, race, lies, insurrections... these areas of conflict demand the holy attention of faithful people so that we might bring Jesus to bear on a sin sick world.

What we have not spent much time on has been our planet.  The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report that was just released was dire.  Our beloved Gulf of Maine is singled out as the fastest warming body of water in the world. How does our faith strengthen us for the hard road ahead?

Beginning September 5th and culminating at the Feast of St. Francis (which we will transfer to October 3rd), we will join Christians around the world in adding a Season of Creation to our liturgical observance of Ordinary Time.  This is picking up speed around the world and there is a resolution before our own Diocesan Convention to mandate observance of this season.

So stay tuned...
The Calendar


Sunday Worship Services

8 AM and 10 AM
~~~
We are masking for all in-person services at St Francis Church
*****
Please continue to attend Zoom church services if you are not Covid vaccinated
*****
Contemplative Prayer
Fridays at 9:15 am.
Join us in person in the Sanctuary or on Zoom.
*****
Morning Prayer
 Wednesday - Saturday 
8:45 AM
We Pray for:
Amelia
Andrea
Art
Arthur
Harry and Marie Bissell
Mary Boyd
Russel Dischinger
Edward Dufresne
Giffy Full
Roger Grindle
Brinley Hall
Grace High
Jack Hooper
Justin
Jenni
Kayla
Keagan
JoAnn Krestan
Alix Kirkpatrick
Kira and John Klinger
Ed Manuel
Fred Marston
Sophia Partridge
Diana Robson
Dennis Robertson
Ronan
Carla Rosenzweig
Mary Semler
Linda Slaven
Cathy Smith
Donny Smith
Marshall Smith
Peggy Smith
Terri Stephens Smith
Fred Stine
Marilyn Stewart
Judy Thomas
Holly Whelan
Nell Whiting
Persis Williams

Those with August Birthdays
Mary Boechat
Brook Dojny
Virginia Drewry
Marcia Fenn
Ron Garlick
Milissa LaLonde
Christina McHenry
Judy Rountree
Pam Siewers
Marshall Smith
Marilyn Stewart
Fred Stine
Tim Thomas, Jr

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
A Note from eClare
Beginning in September the deadline for receiving your input to St. Francis' eClare newsletter will be at Noon on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month.

eClare will be published on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month.

Please continue to stay in touch with news, photos, and whatever you feel is of interest to St. Francis parishioners and friends. Our newsletter keeps us up to date but often lands on the light side, as well.

Thank you, everyone, for all of your contributions!
Regarding the Annual Meeting
(this Sunday)

The 2021 St. Francis by the Sea Annual Meeting will take place in the sanctuary immediately following the 10 AM service.

The meeting is expected to be brief with only a couple of presentations and the Emily Award will be presented.

Please be aware that masking is required and, once again, please do not attend unless you are fully vaccinated. The meeting will be carried on ZOOM.

There will be no Coffee Hour following the Annual Meeting.
From our Senior Warden
"The Vestry and I offer huge thanks to Prudy and Terri Briggs for their inspiration and dedicated participation on the vestry. Their enthusiasm will be missed.

And we nominate Tyler Knowles and Kate Mulrenin for your consideration as vestry members for the class of 2024. Kathy DeSilvey and Katie MacLeod are happy to be considered as convention delegates and we ask for a volunteer to be an alternate.
Thank you and may God bless our church and our work."
Future Eucharistic Ministers!
Training has begun for several Eucharistic Servers. Thank you, new Altar Servers: Andrea Lopez, Aramis Lopez, Kate Mulrenin and Heath Wall

And new Altar Guild Members,
Kate Mulrenin and Windy Was
Mrs. Rumphius rides again!

An old Brooklin tradition...revived.
Elizabeth Tobiason, a friend of many St. Francis parishioners, has put up her "summer scarecrow." Elizabeth sends Mrs. R. along before returning to her year-round home in Vermont.
It's only a Leaf...
Amazing!
(thank you, Connie)
Game Night, which was to return this coming Saturday evening, is on hold for now but will resume when we can safely gather without masks.
From an article on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 in the Portland Press Herald; news regarding the Covid virus from Bishop Brown...

The Episcopal Bishop of Maine announced Tuesday that he will require all clergy and diocesan staff in the state to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Bishop Thomas J. Brown’s announcement came a day after the Pfizer vaccine received full FDA approval and as more businesses are starting to require employees to get the vaccine. In recent weeks, religious leaders across the world have called for the faithful to be vaccinated.

Links to Websites of
 Special Interest: droppable-1619627234904

bwas@riseup.net (Fr. Brent Was)

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