Welcome to St. Francis by the Sea
"Whoever you are and wherever you find yourself on your
journey of faith, you are welcome here, at God's table."
From the Rector's Study
It is time to remind us of opportunities for baptism, confirmation, and reception of membership into the St. Francis by the Sea community. There is no age limit to being a Christian and part of the Church. The Acts of the Apostles speaks of multiple generations becoming baptized and joining the early church, even whole families at one time.
The Great Fifty Days' Feast of Easter concludes on the Day of Pentecost this year, May 19. The Day of Pentecost is one of the traditional days of the church year when baptisms are celebrated (baptisms can be celebrated at other times, too). If you have not received the sacrament of baptism and desire to do so, don't hesitate to contact me, and we'll begin preparations together. Baptism in the Name of the Triune God celebrates our adoption by God as God's children. Baptism makes us members of Christ's Body, the Church today.
There are two ways to become a St. Francis by the Sea member. The first is by confirmation. If you have yet to go through the rite of confirmation and desire to do so, please indicate your interest to me. Confirmation "confirms" your baptism, whether recently or years ago. Bishops preside over confirmation rites. Candidates are prepared by the priest in their local parish. I'd love to prepare you for confirmation and will find a mutual time for this to happen. I will arrange for the rite with Bishop Brown here as part of a regional gathering or join others elsewhere in the Diocese according to the bishop’s availability.
If you have already been confirmed, reception is the second way to become a member of St. Francis by the Sea. Anyone confirmed in another church regardless of denomination, may be received as a member of St. Francis. Please let me know if you want to be accepted into St. Francis' membership. I will need to collect additional information from you, and we will plan preparation opportunities. After some preparation, we will schedule a Sunday to celebrate the reception of new members into St. Francis.
2013 was the last time new members were received at St. Francis. Even over the years, many of us who call St. Francis our spiritual home have yet to officially become members. I hope this message will come as a gentle seed, an invitation to take full advantage of what it means for all of us to participate most fully in the life of this fantastic church.
Faithfully yours,
Douglas+
Sunday, April 28, Guest Preacher and Adult Forum Speaker, The Rev. Dr. Patricia Lyons
“Tricia” currently teaches evangelism, works with the Lifelong Learning team, and serves as the Senior Advisor to the Dean for Evangelism Initiatives at Virginia Theological Seminary. Tricia is a member of the Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s Strategic Cabinet on Evangelism and one of the original writers of the “Way of Love.” Tricia is an honors graduate from Harvard College, the Harvard Divinity
School, and received her doctorate from the Virginia Theological Seminary. She is the author of four books on faith formation, The Soul of Adolescence, Teaching Faith with Harry Potter, What is Evangelism? and her most recent, The Evangelist’s Breviary.
Evensong with guest choir Euphony under the direction of Francis Vogt, accompanied by Dr. Laura Artesani will take place Thursday, May 2 at 7:30 PM. Douglas, our rector, will be the Officiant. The service is a form of sung Evening Prayer from The Book of Common Prayer. This will be a beautiful evening of prayers chanted, sung, and spoken and an excellent opportunity to bring a friend who may have yet to enter our beautiful church.
Thursday, May 9 The Feast of the Ascension, noon, Holy Eucharist Rite II (Sacred Space)
Sunday, May 12
At the service we will hear about Frances Perkins’ inspiring life story as an Episcopalian, Maine resident, and first female cabinet seat as FDR’s Secretary of Labor. We’ve arranged for the traveling display from the Frances Perkins Center in Damariscotta (a National Historic Landmark) to come to St. Francis on this day for viewing in the undercroft at coffee hour. Francis Perkins is on the annual Holy Women and Holy Men Episcopal Church calendar for May 13. We thank Perkins Center Board of Directors member and Blue Hill resident Susan Kirk for obtaining the Center’s display for St. Francis on the day closes to Frances Perkins’ commemoration in our church.
Wednesday Seekers—through June 26, 2024.
We are reading and discussing "Love is the way" by The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop. “We were created by love, for love, to love and to be loved. And we are at our best when we live in God's love. And I believe deep down, it's what we all want. We don't want hatred. We don't want the abyss. We want Beloved Community. The way of love is how to live it.” The book is available for free by contacting the church office to reserve your copy.
Pentecost, Sunday, May 19th. Wear your red and join us for a Happy Birthday to US coffee hour.
Sundays June 16 through August 18, 9:00-9:40 AM
The Gospel of Mark: Coffee, Tea and Conversation (Rector’s study)
Beginning June 16 through August 18, 2024: 8:00 am Rite I service
Joe Thompson: Boat Builder, Table Maker, St. Francis Choir Member
Joe came to Maine for the first time in 1996 to attend a Wooden Boat show. He was living in the Florida Panhandle, and fell in love with Maine and particularly the Blue Hill peninsula. It took him four years to sell his property in Florida and find his home in Sedgwick. Joe's parents came to visit just after he moved and also fell in love with Maine and moved there a year later. His first Sunday he went to St Francis. Ellen Anthony was playing organ, Gerald Wheeler was away that week. It felt like a new home. The second week Gerald was back at the organ and the choir was great. Joe decided to join the choir and the church. St Francis has been his home and family ever since.
Joe and his Mom, Ginny.
Mission Statement
We are a welcoming, engaged and diverse community of faith dedicated to the spiritual, physical and social well being of ourselves and our neighbors. Whoever you are, whatever your beliefs, come explore and experience with us the mystery of God’s love.
What's happening at St. Francis?