What’s Happening at St. Paul’s 6-18
 What’s Happening at St. Paul’s |
The canopy is back up in the memorial garden, and the forecast is for sunny skies on Sunday. St. Paul’s is poised to spend our summers gathering in-person outdoors for Sunday 10:30 “picnic Eucharist.” Other than July 11 when many St. Paul’s lectors will participate in the Diocesan pre-recorded service on-line at 10:30, all our Sunday worship will either be at 10:30 a.m. or family “picnic Eucharist” at 2:00 p.m. in the memorial garden. We have learned as a faith community that our digital presence is equally important to many people who tune in electronically. That means we will always offer Facebook Live stream with our 10:30 Sunday services. It makes my heart glad to be planning for in-person worship outdoors this summer. Thank you all for helping us plan and also be mindful of the continual need to take some precautions because that cursed coronavirus is still lurking! Our youngest ones and most immunocompromised ones are vulnerable and that’s why we recommend mask-wearing in their presence. THIS SUNDAY! Bring your chair if you are able, and bread, if you wish, and join us for 10:30 “picnic Eucharist.” Our ushers will have chairs and wafers available, so there is no need to worry if you don’t have chair or bread. Just come and celebrate. This Sunday’s worship is the beginning of our way forward together as a parish in-person. We are eager to regather and rejoice to give thanks to God for all God gives us. Let me share a prayer written by American theologian Walter Rauscehnbusch that we prayed at the beginning of Finance Committee last night. It’s perfect for St. Paul’s this Sunday: “O God, we thank you for the earth our home; for the wide sky and the blessed sun, for the salt sea and the running water, for the everlasting hills and the never-resting winds, for trees and the common grass underfoot. We thank you for our senses by which we hear the songs of birds, and see the splendor of the summer fields, and taste of the autumn fruits, and rejoice in the feel of the snow, and smell the breath of spring. Grant us a heart wide open to all this beauty; and save our souls from being so blind that we pass unseeing when even the common thorn bush is aflame with your glory, O God our creator, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.” Enjoy a blessed weekend. With hope and love, Carolyn+ |
| Sunday, June 20 The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost  10:30 a.m. Outdoor Picnic Eucharist in the Memorial Garden Or click on the link below to view from home: To watch on Facebook for the Worship Booklet for the St. Paul’s Announcements Readings 1 Samuel 17: 32-49 Psalm 9: 9-20 2 Corinthians 6: 1-13 Mark 4: 35-41 Lectionary Page  Explore the Sermon over coffee on Zoom Sunday, 11:30 am Join in for a facilitated virtual gathering to check in with each other and explore the morning’s sermon. Click here to join.  2:00 p.m. Outdoor Family Picnic Eucharist in the Memorial Garden Rev. Katie Holicky and musician Susan Brown will lead us in a time of song, prayer, story, and sharing with our friends! Click here for the Family Worship Booklet Parish Announcements Daily Morning Prayer and Compline — Join us every morning and evening on St. Paul’s Facebook Live for Morning Prayer and Compline, 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Graduates to be Celebrated this Sunday at 10:30 and 2:00 In-person Outdoor “Picnic” Eucharist! Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program Food Drive this Sunday This Sunday as we gather outdoors for worship, we’ll collect food for MCHPP in the bins outside the Great Hall. Our last food drive on Holy Saturday was a great success. At that drive, we collected 175 lbs. of food—a record. Hopefully, we can break that record this Sunday! You may also donate by writing a check in any amount and sending it to MCHPP, 12 Tenney Way, Brunswick, ME 04011. Summer Sunday outdoor “picnic Eucharist” will be in-person in the Memorial Garden at 10:30 a.m. and Family “picnic Eucharist” at 2:00 p.m. beginning June 20. (see following guidelines for outdoor gatherings). On July 11, St. Paul’s will offer Diocese of Maine pre-recorded Spiritual Eucharist. There will be no outdoor “picnic Eucharist” on these Sundays. Summer Choir Schedule—In July and August a member or members of the choir will lead the hymns at outdoor worship, sometimes as a solo cantor, other times as a quartet. World Too Beautiful – An Online Contemplative Gathering First & Third Wednesdays of Each Month @ 5:45 pm World Too Beautiful, a collaboration between St. Luke’s Cathedral and the Diocese of Maine, is a twice-monthly musical and meditative gathering that focuses on beauty, interconnection, harmony, mutual encouragement, and healing. Bring a candle to light during our prayer time. For more information and the Zoom link visit https://www.episcopalmaine.org/ministry/world-too-beautiful Camp Bishopswood -Summer Finale is a program for whole households. Households can gather at Camp Bishopswood for free diocese-wide programming during the day on Sunday, August 29, and optional camping is available on both Friday and Saturday nights. Swim, boat, hike, rest, lunch and worship on scenic Lake Megunticook. We will gather on August 29 in the morning and late afternoon for worship, and in the afternoon for a free Bishopswood lunch. Stations will be set up across camp throughout the day, where individuals and households can experience the liturgy on their own terms, at their own pace. Youth completing grades 5-12 will have Pray, Play, Connect LIVE programming available in the afternoon. Want to camp overnight? Come up on Friday or Saturday, and enjoy Camp Bishopswood’s lodging, food and hospitality. Diocesan programming is only provided on Sunday, but everything Camp has to offer is available all weekend long. Scholarships are available – we want this to be accessible to all families. To register visit https://episcopalmaine.formstack.com/forms/summer_finale. Questions? Contact Cn. Sara D’Angio White, sdangiowhite@episcopalmaine.org, or The Rev. Katie Holicky, kholicky@gmail.com. Rev. Al Niese’s New Book Now at Gulf of Maine Bookshop Soren’s Story: A Parable About Bullying and the Peaceable Kingdom (Maine Authors Publishing, Thomaston, 2021) written by St. Paul’s member Al Niese and illustrated by Amy Gagnon, is now at Gulf of Maine (reopened) and other Maine bookshops. The children’s story is told by Soren, a city park pigeon, who fledged from a nest under a highway bridge. The parable is about bullies and the dove of peace — the same avian species as the city pigeon, the rock dove, Columbia Livia, of ancient history, art and the world’s sacred literature (including Genesis and the Gospels). The narrative (with teacher’s guide) addresses arrogant, destructive human behavior with ancient wisdom, offering children (and adults, too) hope and “a better way to be,” the Peaceable Kingdom. 18 paintings and drawings by Amy Gagnon accompany story excerpts available on the website: alfredniese.com Al raised and flew high-flying tippler pigeons as rector of Atonement, Fair Lawn, NJ. (’67-’76). He is a member of Rick Wile’s spiritual writers group. Soren’s Story is mentioned by Francis Fennell, Jr. in the official website of the Jesuit English poet Gerard Manley Hopkins. St. Paul’s Guidance for Outdoor and Indoor Gatherings* OUTDOOR Masks are not required for fully vaccinated people, but they are recommended for the sake of children who are not yet eligible for the vaccine and those who are immunocompromised. Physical distancing is not required. There is no limit to the number of people gathered. Masks are not required for congregational or choir singing. Sign-in for contact tracing is required. Community groups such as the 12-step groups may meet outdoors. If possible, it is recommended to bring a chair to use. Limited entry to the closed building for restroom use one at a time. Food and drink are served by servers who are masked. Food is served on individual plates. INDOOR** Due to work on the building, the building will remain closed until mid-August. Please note advisory below regarding restrooms. Masks are not required for fully vaccinated people, but they are recommended for the sake of children who are not yet eligible for the vaccine and those who are immunocompromised. The building will remain closed with the posted office hours schedule. There is no limit to the number of people in the building or parish office. There is no physical distancing required. Sign-in for contact tracing is required. WORSHIP Summer Sunday outdoor “picnic Eucharist” will be in-person in the memorial garden at 10:30 a.m. and Family “picnic Eucharist” at 2:00 p.m. beginning June 20. (see above guidelines for outdoor gatherings) On June 13 and July 8, St. Paul’s will offer Diocese of Maine pre-recorded Spiritual Eucharist. There will be no outdoor “picnic Eucharist” on these Sundays. When heavy rain is forecast, Spiritual Eucharist from the Nave at 10:30 a.m. will be offered on Facebook Live instead of outdoor in-person Eucharist. The Saturday email and a Facebook announcement will be the vehicles to inform the parish of this change. In-person indoor gatherings including Sunday worship will begin mid-August depending on the flooring installation in the building. New guidelines will be introduced at that time.*See guidance by the governor of Maine as of May 24th, 2021 located on the website of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine. https://www.episcopalmaine.org/resource/forcongregations/maine-guidelines **Thanks to a generous gift given by Caroline Russell, contractors will be painting and replacing flooring in the restrooms, kitchen, Great Hall, sacristy, hallways, and parish office during July and the first weeks of August. The building will not be open until mid-August. Because of June-July renovations, downstairs restrooms will either have a reduced number of toilets or even none. Upstairs restrooms will be unaffected. Parish Office Hours Monday: Building Closed except to Counters Tuesday: 9 am — 1:00 pm Carolyn Farr & Nancy Whitehouse Wednesday: 10 am – 2 pm The Rev. Carolyn Eklund & Nancy Whitehouse Thursday: 10 am – 2 pm The Rev. Katie Holicky, The Rev. Carolyn Eklund & Nancy Whitehouse Friday: 10 am – Noon Carolyn Farr Noon -2 pm The Rev. Carolyn Eklund Saturday & Sunday: Building Closed (ministers of the liturgy only) Prayer Requests Pray for St. Andrew’s in Winthrop and Winthrop Friends’ Church (Quaker) Pray For St. Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center and Essentials Pantry in Portland. Pray for Anderson, Andrew, Cedric, Jason, Michael, Richard, and all in the military. We pray for: Christy, Ryan & family, Ray, John, David, Judi, Nick, Bob, Kathy, Skip, the Blackburn family, Willow, Ann, Jim, Lollie, James, Dave, Caroline, Jeffrey, Carol, Harlan, Shirley, Rob, Rick+, Elizabeth, Courtenay, Larry, Courtenay, Patsy, Ward, Mary Ann, and Steve Jennifer, John, Reeve, Victor, Travis & family, Ben, Diane, Nate, Priscilla, Garrett, Elliot, Marcia, Lynn, Bill, Bob, Paul, Sue, Nan, Clare, Cameron, Barbara, Christy, Michael, Ryan, and Jacob, Jen, all essential workers, Sandy, Carolyn D., and Jennifer Matthew, Herb, Gair, baby Thomas, Jason, Annie, Terry, Mark, Donelda, Sudie, Pat, Marie, Michael, Debbie, Carol, Ron, Hope, Therese, Lois, Bob, Virginia, Sally, Steve, Luke, Catarina, Richelle, Darah, Chick, Linda, Barbara, and Ronald Call or email the parish office if you would like a name to be placed on the prayer list. The names will be removed after three months unless otherwise notified. Click here for this week’s calendar |
