People at St. John's

Birthdays
May 2- Ivy Dodd
May 4 - Amy Carpenter
May 5- Caledonia Moore
May 6- Jenn Stackpole
May 12–Amanda Doubleday
May 13- Laura Edwards
May 16- Renny Stackpole
May 18 – Ellee Simons
May 22 – Nicholas Crawford-Crudell
May 25 – Jerry Coates
May 25 – Lynn Schoen
May 27 – Homer Schoen
May 29- Tina Antolini
We apologize if we have missed anyone. Please let us know.

For Our Prayers For our companion diocese of Haiti, especially Fr. Lenore and the mission churches and schools of Gros Morne, especially in Fiervil.
For the men and women serving their country, especially in places of conflict and danger such as Iraq and Afghanistan and for the people of those countries. We especially remember Sam, son-in-law of Jim Sprague, and Dominic Whitamore, the father of a child baptized at St. John’s last summer, serving in Iraq.
We also add to our prayers Stephen Lane, our new bishop, as he begins his ministry with us here in Maine.
And we continue our prayers for the ongoing election in our country, for the candidates, their families and all who are expected to vote.

St. John’s Prayer Chain – We have a group of people who daily pray for people in need. This group meets every six weeks to go over the list. If you are interested in joining the circle or asking for prayers for someone, please contact Sandor Walker or the parish office.

Office News

Stock as gift or pledge payment – Giving stock is a great way to give and we appreciate it! If you are giving stock as your pledge or as a gift, please let us know. Because of the Privacy Act, the companies selling the stock for us cannot disclose from whom the stock has come. In some cases the companies you have the stock with will send us a notice, but most of the time it is a guessing game. When you sell stock to give to St. John's, please let me know that it is coming and how it is to be used. Thanks for your help. - Phyl

Updating our records – Please let me know if you have had a change of address or phone number. Also if, you are new to the parish, please let me know your address and phone numbers. It would also be helpful if I could have dates such as: date of birth, date of baptism, date of marriage, etc. If you wish to transfer from another parish, please contact the office, 354-8734. Thanks. - Phyl

To schedule meetings and events - Please contact Phyl in the office to schedule your meeting or event. Office Hours are Mon. through Fri., 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

Vestry news and budgets posted – There is information regarding our budget and vestry meetings posted on the bulletin board between the parish halls.

Long Range Planning - The Long Range Planning Committee has begun meeting, and with the help of Elizabeth Ring, our consultant from the diocese, we are organizing a variety of events (small group gatherings, suppers, etc.) Over the next six months we will be asking for your input on what you value about St. John's, how we can strengthen our parish community, and your hopes and dreams for the future. We'll have an interim report at the summer parish meeting for your review and suggestions. We will then put your ideas together into a set of recommendations to be presented at the 2009 annual meeting. We hope everyone will take part in this process as we try to ensure our community of faith continues to be an exciting and rewarding place for all of us. Emily and Larry Rotch - Long Range Planning Committee

Parish Interviews – The Long Range Planning Committee is hosting a series of small-group gatherings. These gatherings provide an opportunity for you to share your experiences at St. John’s and tell us about your hopes and dreams for the future. Sign-up sheets and more information are posted on the bulletin board in the Undercroft. Please check your calendars and put your name down for a gathering time that works for you. A meeting will last about one and a half hours and will include a one-on-one interview, plus some group discussion. Dates for future interviews are May 8th from 1- 2:30 p.m. and June 9th from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact Emily or Larry Rotch (845-2250)

On Saturday, June 21st there will be a session beginning at 9 a.m. to look at a model of understanding parish dynamics which is being used in this process. There is a description of this on the bulletin board in the Undercroft.

Finances - We deeply thank those who have been able to increase your pledges to St. John’s in effort to help alleviate our budget shortfall, though we are still looking at a possible shortfall for this year. We will be examining new efforts in addressing our stewardship program and annual giving. We also are excited by the work of the Long Range Planning Committee and how they will help us keep our focus on our calling and ministry which should guide our financial expenditures and appeals. We are looking at creative ways to enhance efforts such as our summer fair and other special events to help with our financial need.

Remember St. John’s and the diocese of Maine in your will.

Pentecost Sunday- May 11th

Pentecost Readers in Foreign Languages Needed – Pentecost Sunday is May 11th. For the reading of the Gospel we would like to have people read it in different languages. If you know another language and would be willing to be a reader please call the parish office and let us know what language. Thanks 354-8734.

New Bishop Consecrated! – On Saturday, May 3rd, at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Portland, Stephen Lane was consecrated the ninth Bishop of Maine. A delegation from St. John’s was able to attend the gala event which was officiated by the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States, Katherine Jefferts Shiori.

Bishop’s Visitation – June 15th
On Sunday, June 15th, we will have a visitation from our new bishop, The Rt. Rev. Stephen Lane. This will be our first time to get to know him. We will also be celebrating our parish feast day, the Nativity of St. John Baptist, on that Sunday. As part of the festivities we will be having a special choir for the event. If you are interested in singing, please contact Dr. Antolini.

UTO - The mission of the United Thank Offering is to expand the circle of thankful people through our daily practice of thanksgiving. Our many blessings can be represented in the form of daily prayers and gifts to this continuing mission of grants which are given to those in need around the world. Blue Boxes for your daily contributions are available in the Undercroft with other informative materials on UTO. Episcopalians around the world participate in this thoughtful practice. Our gifts will be collected during our Spring Ingathering which will be on Pentecost Sunday, May 11th.

Haitian Priest to Visit St. John’s
Pere Jean Lenore Quartoze and his wife Marie to visit St. Johns – Dinner Friday Night, May 9th at 6:30 p.m.
Pere Lenore, the priest in Gros Morne, and his wife will be visiting with us on Friday and Saturday, May 9th and 10th, with a covered dish dinner on Fri., May 9th. Pere Quartoze is in the country to visit a friend outside New York City and for the baptism of his godchild. He will also be at St. Andrew’s Church in Newcastle after visiting with us. St. Andrew’s supports a school in the town of Figaro, which is also outside Gros Morne. We are supporting a school in Fiervil outside Gros Morne.

The Rev. Deborah McKean has been named to the diocesan Clergy day committee. This committee meets throughout the year to plan events for the diocesan clergy for their well being and fellowship.

Coffee Hour Sign-Up - Please sign up to host a Coffee Hour after either the 8 or 10 a.m. service! This is a wonderful opportunity to work together with others and to get to know them. Thanks!

Name Tags – We are trying name tags in a new way. There is a card table inside the parish hall on Sunday mornings with stick on name tags. Please, if you can, make out a name tag and wear it so we can get to know each other better. Thanks.

Bible Study - Tuesday morning Bible study meets at 8:30 a.m. All are welcome. We meet upstairs over the parish hall. We are currently studying the Gospel of St. Matthew.

Plant Sale – Saturday, May 17th
Please save this date, and look around your home for houseplants, used garden items, and outdoor plants - annuals and perennials. Also, get out your favorite recipe to prepare for the bake sale. This annual event has become a treasured tradition in our community.

The Raffle: We are looking for donated items to create baskets to be raffled off. The themes are: “The Cook’s Herb Garden,” “Get Your Feet Wet” (the new gardener), “Little Green Thumbs” (kid’s basket), “The Sun Burner’s Basket” (indoor gardening), “Old Hat” (experienced gardeners), “Cut Flower Basket,” and “Bird Lover’s Basket.” What you do: Donate new or lightly used items that you have around or that you buy, such as pots, garden tools (small shovels, weeding tools, shears, etc), gloves, garden books, seed packets, kids tools/gloves, bulbs, gift certificates, outdoor candles, garden soap, potted plants, gardening hats. For more information, please call Mary Carpenter at 593-9307.

Note: We need people to go around to the different nurseries to get donations in exchange for advertising for them. We also need someone to coordinate the bake sale. Please contact Emily Rotch, 845-2250, or Phyl Fales, 354-8734 if you can help or for more information

The Big Fair – It’s Time to Start Planning! - The Big Fair is tentatively scheduled to be on the 4th of July again this year. The Fourth is on a Friday. If you have any ideas or are interested in helping in any way, please let us know. It is important to start our planning early. We have reserved a tent and are looking at other events while we have the tent. The 10 a.m. Sunday service on July 6th will be a Morning Prayer service under the tent! On Saturday, July 5th, we are looking into having a social time with perhaps a play reading and an ice cream social or other events.

Graduates Breakfast – On Sunday, June 1st , we will have a breakfast hosted by the vestry for all of this year’s graduates and their families. Of note: both of our child care givers, Chris Todd and Summer Temple, are graduating this year.

Wednesday Morning Prayer Service - Each Wednesday at 11 a.m. we offer a service of Morning Prayer. It is a wonderful time of reflective prayer for all.

Book Study – Wednesdays from noon until 1 p.m. we have a book study group open to everyone. We are currently reading the book Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and Dan Oliver Relin. All are always welcome to join us.

Rides to Church – If you need a ride to church or any church function, please let us know. Call the parish office at 354-8734 and we will be glad to line up a ride for you. If you would like to be put on the list of people willing to drive others, please let us know.

Book Sale for Outreach – In the Undercroft we now have a set of shelves filled with books donated by parish members. Proceeds from the sale of the books ($2 for hard covers, $1 for paperbacks) will go to the Outreach Committee. Bring some, buy some!

The New 2008 Flower and Candle Calendar has been posted in its usual place in the Narthex by the front door. This is the best time to choose your special date for 2008. Please print your name and the person or occasion you would like to be remembered so that it can be listed in the church bulletin. The cost for flowers is $40 (minimum) to fill our two brass vases. However, any affordable donation will reserve a date. Bonnie Percival, Altar Guild Flower Chairperson, places the orders. If you have a special request, please call her at 372-6438. Checks made out to St. John's Altar Guild may be sent to Jeanne Bulanchuk, Treasurer, Altar Guild. We currently have very little money in reserve for flowers and at this time of year rely mostly mostly bought flowers. Any general contributions for the flowers are also greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Rogation Day Walk Emily Rotch prayed with a group of hikers from St. John’s as they began their Rogation Day walk at the Rotch’s property in Liberty. About a dozen people joined in the pilgrimage and hike on Saturday, April 26th. It was a glorious spring day and a grand time.

Masters World Cup Skiing Awards – We congratulate the Rev. Phil McKean for his impressive three bronze medals for the USA at the 2008 Masters World Cup in Idaho in March.

When Pigs Fly – This past winter we had a phenomenal performance at Watts Hall of a troupe of singers and performers from St. Luke’s Church in Wilton. Their show “When Pigs Fly” raised $625.43, with half going to St. Luke’s, Wilton.

Northeast and DioLog – The Diocese of Maine has a quarterly newspaper, The Northeast , and a monthly e-mail newsletter, The DioLog. If you are interested in being on the mailing list for either or both of these, please contact the parish office. The Diocese has a web page at www.episcopalmaine.org

Parish Business Cards – There are places in our community where business cards are left or posted on bulletin boards. We have St. John’s cards with our phone number, web page address, location and service times listed. Please pick up some of these cards in the office and post them where appropriate. Thanks!

Annual Outreach Program Selection Process Gets Underway - The Outreach Committee has begun the process of identifying potential recipients of community outreach grants for 2008. Our Outreach ministry represents the shared concerns of the St. John’s parish family and you will shortly receive a letter inviting you to “make the case” for programs you feel should be given consideration. We hope you will take this opportunity to help us in this effort and we look forward to hearing from you.

Painting around the Altar – The vestry voted at its March meeting to accept the offer by John Tobin to paint the wood around the altar area.

Clean-Up Day at the Church – Tuesday, May 13th , starting at 9 a.m. will be a clean up day at St. John’s. All are welcome to come and help clean up our grounds.

Down East Singers Concert - Mon., May 26 (Memorial Day) 5 p.m. at Rockland Congregational Church, Down East Singers will perform Luigi Cherubini’s Requiem in C minor with chamber orchestra. The concert will be repeated on Sun. June 1 at 4 p.m. at Blue Hill Congregational Church.

Ave Maris Stella Concert – On June 6th at 7:30 p.m. the Ave Maris Stella singers will perform at St. John’s.

Food Pantry Items on Sunday – Beginning later this summer we will be placing a basket en route to the altar rail on Sunday morning for people to place their food items for the food pantry.

New Songbooks – We have been given a most gracious gift of a box of the song book, Wonder, Love & Praise. With the copies we had on hand, this brings us up to a complete set. These books are given in loving memory of Frank Goodwin, long time treasurer of St. John’s.

Dates on the Calendar

Outreach Meeting – May 11th
Plant Sale – May 17th
Prayer Chain Meeting – May 25th
Altar Guild Meeting – June 14th
Vestry Meeting – May 25th
Haiti Meeting –
Bishop’s Visit – June 15th

Vestry Meeting – The vestry will meet on Sunday, May 25th, after the 10 a.m. service.

Outreach Committee Meeting – The Outreach Committee meets on the second Sunday of the month. Next meeting is on May 11th after the 10 a.m. service.

Ascension Day Service – On Thursday, May 17th, we will have a celebration of the feast of the Ascension. At 6 p.m. we will have a service followed by a dinner.

Knitters Meeting – The next meeting will be May 29th at Sandy Orluk’s. Please call her if you plan to attend or for more information at 354-7250.

Altar Guild Meeting - The next meeting of the Altar Guild is scheduled for Sat., June 14th , at 10a.m.

Bishop’s Visitation – On Sunday, June 15th, we will have a visitation from our new bishop, The Rt. Rev. Stephen Lane.

The mission of this parish has been summed up in the words of Jesus when he said: “We are to love the Lord, our God, with all our heart, soul, and mind; and our neighbor as ourselves.”