As we begin a new calendar year we enter the church season of Epiphany, a time when various insights and new revelations that have come into the world are celebrated, such as when the wise ones from the east revealed the true nature of Christ or when Jesus was baptized and John was made aware of their true ministry and mission.
       One of the great challenges of Christianity is that we claim that Jesus, the nature of God, came to be fully human. In becoming human, the insights and revealing that is recorded about him not only records the magnitude of what he was doing, but it also challenges us to see that our lives are filled with revelations, insights and “epiphanies”.
       The institution of the church does well to document and call forth people to tell their stories, reflect upon their spiritual insights and encounters with God, in the ordination process.
       It is tempting to see Jesus as being “other” or “different” from us being the son of God. Likewise, we can see people seeking ordination as being called, or different in that they have this other calling to be “holy”. In fact, both the coming of Jesus and the ordaining of people within the church is not to set apart, but to remind us all of what is innately an integral part of all of our lives.
       It is time to reflect upon what insights we have had in our lives. Where has God spoken or others commented on our unique blessings? What are the truisms we have come to know and count on in our every day dealings with the challenges that arise in our lives? This season of Epiphany is not one that brings unique angel visits, but rather is a time for us to claim the ordinary and transforming moments of grace in our lives. - Peter Jenks

Ash Wednesday Liturgy and Imposition of Ashes
Services will be held Wednesday, February 17 at 12:00 noon and 5:30pm.

There will be daily Evening Prayer at 5:30pm all through Lent; on Thursday evenings, the service will be followed by a covered dish supper at 6:00pm and a program.

Sunday 10am Worship during Lent
1st Sunday in Lent, Feb. 21st: we will use the 1789 Prayer Book.
2nd Sunday in Lent, Feb. 28th: we will use the 1890 Prayer Book
3rd Sunday of Lent, Mar. 7th: we will use the 1928 Prayer Book.
4th & 5th Sun. of Lent: we will finish with the 1976 Prayer Book.
We will also be using old pictures or bulletin covers from past years to remember our own history here in this place.

Special Screening - at 3 p.m. this Sunday, March 14th, we have an exciting opportunity to view a screening of the documentary film of the Downeast singers trip to Russia several years ago, on which a number of our parishioners journeyed. This screening is free to all. The official grand premiere will take place this summer on July 3rd at the Strand Theater in Rockland.

Buc Youth Group - a faith-based (Christian) group for all interested high-schoolers in the area (Thomaston & surrounding communities will be ice skating at MRC in Rockport on Tuesday, February 16 at 12:05-2:45pm.

Regional Youth Group Gathering - An afternoon of Tubing at the Snow Bowl will be the agenda for a regional youth group outing from area churches. We will meet at 2:30 p.m. at Nativity Lutheran Church on Old County Rd. in Rockport. We will carpool to the Snow Bowl for tubing and then return to Nativity Lutheran Church for pizza. This event is for 6th through 12th graders. For more information contact Fr. Jenks. Please bring $5 for the tubing and $1 for the pizza. Thanks!

From the Deacon's Bench
Behold, behold, I make all things new, beginning with you and starting from today. Behold, behold, I make all things new, My promise is true, for I am Christ the Way.
      On Sunday, January 3, 2010, Phil and I attended Morning Worship with our daughter and her family at the Methodist Church in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England, where they live. That morning the visiting pastor introduced the congregation to a new song whose refrain appears above. It was a joyous song, appropriate to the welcoming of a New Year, and the Season of Christmas.
     Last evening I read the following meditation by The Rev. Richard Bamforth of our own Diocese, on “how we pray in the Episcopal Church.”

The Peace of the Lord be always with us
Our worship is filled with references to PEACE.
We promise to strive for justice and PEACE.
We address our Lord as the God of PEACE.
We pray in PEACE,
for the PEACE from above,
for the PEACE of the world,
for the PEACE and unity of the Church,
that all may live in joy, PEACE, and health,
that we be led in the paths of PEACE,
that we may serve God in unity, constancy, and PEACE.
We exchange God’s PEACE with each other,
We ask to be guided in the ways of justice and PEACE, We sing, “Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in PEACE.” We remember all who have died in the PEACE of Christ, We pray that the souls of the departed may rest in PEACE, We are blessed with the PEACE of God which passes understanding, We are sent forth to go in PEACE and We ask the Lord to make us instruments of PEACE.

     This morning as I was finishing up a different piece I had begun for The Grapevine, I was listening to the reports on the cataclysmic earthquake in Haiti, a place close to all our hearts, and I was struck by the appropriateness of these two expressions of our Faith. Their juxtaposition caused me to pause in my own prayerful response to this sad news, and to meditate for a moment on how God may be speaking to me at this time. At this turning of the year, I have made a Resolution … something I have seldom done in the past. I have resolved to listen more in the days ahead…to my family and friends, to my colleagues in the Deacon Community, to the parishioners of St. John’s, and to God.
     I ask you to join me in listening to what God is saying to each of us as we become PEACE-makers and instruments of God’s PEACE in the world, where confusion, turmoil, tragedy, pain, suffering, violent death, and injustice exist . I rejoice in the faith and conviction that God is making “all things new” through the Christ that came to show us the Way of light and life and love. I hope you will listen in a new way in this New Year as I pronounce the familiar words of the Diaconal Dismissal at our worship together, to “Go in PEACE, to love and serve the Lord. ALLELUIA!”
Faithfully yours, Your Deacon, Deborah

Special Offering for Haiti in Response to the devastating Earthquake – There are envelopes in the pews and by the front door and outside the kitchen for offerings to help with the tragedy of the earthquake in Haiti this last week. We will be sending our funds through the Episcopal Relief and Development.
We are doing what we can to find out more information. This information will be posted on the bulletin board outside the parish library. Already we know that the Cathedral and Trinity School have been destroyed in Port au Prince.

Praying the Daily Office Online – If you are interested in daily morning and evening prayer and are familiar with the internet, then try out www.dailyoffice.org It is a wonderful way to offer prayers, and read the Scriptures without having to look things up in various books for different feast days or to find the appropriate lessons.

St. John's on Facebook - Click here to visit and become a fan!

The new bench has arrived – The bench which was given in thanksgiving for Sandor Walker’s service as Sexton, and is temporarily placed outside the Undercroft until the grounds committee finalizes its plans for our gardens.
A Note from Sandor
      "I wish to express my deep gratitude and joy to the beloved Parish for it’s generosity in erecting this beautiful granite bench in my name, on our grounds.
      The many years I was privileged to serve you in various areas were filled with great pleasure and satisfaction. Thank you all so much, Sandor."

Stewardship and our annual pledge to St. John’s – If you have not made your pledge yet for next year, it is time and there are pledge cards available inside the front doors of the church or in the parish office. It is important that we make your pledge in order that we can adequately plan for next year. It is even more important to make a commitment to respond to God in thanksgiving for the many blessings and all God has given to each of us. Pledges can be placed in the offering plates or mailed to the church. Thank you to all who have already sent your cards in to the office.
As of Jan. 10, 2010, we have received 68 pledges for a total of $129,437.00
Thank you for your commitment to the support of St. John's! If you haven't gotten your card in yet, it would be a great help if you do so soon.
FYI, the figure for 2008 was $140,500 with 74 pledges.
Peace,
Larry Rotch, Finance Committee

Stock as gift or pledge payment – This 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 came. 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

Special Events Financial Report as of 1/10/10

May 9th Plant Sale...............$1,705.56

July 4th Summer Fair
Receipts:
Baked Goods................602.40
Books......................916.25
Main St. Goodies...........210.80
Face Painting.............. 32.38
Caricatures................ 82.45
Cat-mania..................380.85
Recyclables..............2,997.80
Hot Dogs...................201.00
Donations...................75.00
Total receipts...........5,498.93
Expenses:
Tent Rental................480.00
Total Summer Fair Profit - $5,018.93

Dec. 5th & 6th Christmas Fair
Receipts:
Bake Table....................1026.09
Jewelry.......................1227.50
Lobster Stew Luncheon.........988.50
For the birds table...........295.00
Cider & Donuts Holes...........77.00
50/50 raffle..................103.00
50/50 raffle..................103.00
Total Christmas Fair Receipts - $3,377.99

Total Special Events - $10,364.58

Monies raised from Special events are budgeted for the general fund for Church expenses. We budgeted $10,000.00 for 2009. As you can see we are $364.58 over. Thanks to all who helped to make this a success.

Mitten Tree Thanks – A special thanks to all who graciously donated hats, mittens and scarfs to the mitten tree in the parish hall this winter. They are greatly appreciated by the young people who received them.

Flu Season – During the cold and flu season it is encouraged that we are especially careful to intinct, to just barely touch the communion wafer to the wine. Also during the peace some may simply want to smile and greet one another and not shake hands. It is a time to be thoughtful and respectful and cautious.

Dates on the calendar

To schedule meetings and events - Please contact the parish office, 354-8734 to schedule your meeting or event. Office Hours are Mon. through Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It is important that the office schedule all events and meetings at the church in order to avoid conflicts of space. Thank you.

The St. John's Knitters - The next meeting will be on Thursday, January 28th, in the church library.

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. All are always welcome to join us. Our current book is Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel by Lisa See.

Last Sunday Healing - On the last Sunday of the month we offer the laying on of hands for healing at both the 8 and 10 a.m. services.

Annual Parish Meeting - The annual parish meeting will be Sunday, January 31st. after the 10 a.m. service.

Ash Wednesday at St. John’s - Feb. 17th. Our Services will be at 12 noon and 5:30 p.m. for the imposition of ashes and the Holy Communion.

Evening Prayer/Lenten Dinners/Programs will be on each of the Thursdays in Lent beginning on Feb. 18th.

Interested in Serving - If you or someone you know is interested in serving at our worship, such as ushering, acolyting, chalice bearing, reading, etc. Please call the parish office 9354-8734.

New Flower and Sanctuary Candle sign-up posters are available, just inside the front doors on Main St.

Trinity Institute Downlink at St. John’s – January 27- 29th will be the dates when we will offer a downlink of the Trinity Institute a forum from Trinity Church in New York City, entitled “What is God’s Economy”.

Annual Report Time - Please email your articles and reports to St. John's by January 18th. Thank you. We will be trying to have them available on Sunday, January 24th, to enable people a time to go over the report before the meeting.

Prayer Chain Information - The purpose of our prayer chain is to hold people who are sick or troubled up into God’s light for healing. If you are interested in joining our group, please contact the parish office.

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!

Prayer Chain Information - The purpose of our prayer chain is to hold people who are sick or troubled up into God’s light for healing. If you are interested in joining our group, please contact the parish office.

People at St. John's

Deaths
Elizabeth Shesler
Gladys Miller
The sympathy of the parish is offered to Jamie Doubleday upon the death of her father.
Rest Eternal, Grant to them, O Lord:And let light perpetual shine upon them.

Birthday List for January
January 4 – Joan Woodhull
January 8 – Sophia Protheroe
January 9- John Foley & Jim Cuthbertson
January 10 - Elizabeth Moore, Annie Bailey
January 11 – Julie Stackpole
January 15 – Wilson Ranney
January 25- Tony Antolini
January 26 – Tad Woodhull
January 27 – David Wakely
We apologize if we have missed anyone. Please let us know.

For Our Prayers For the people of Port au Prince and all the victims of the earthquake, for the relief workers and those desparate for news from loved ones and for those who have lost loved ones. And as always for Father Quatorze and the mission churches and schools of Gros Morne.
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 Will, and Richard Charles and Caitlin, as well as the members of the Maine National Guard deployed recently to Afganistan.
We offer our prayers for the young people of our communities, their schools, and other programs supporting their growth and nurture.

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.”

Rota Schedule

Jan. 17 – Eliza Bailey
Jan. 24 – Sue Bragg
Jan. 31 – Sandy Orluk
Feb. 7 – Jane Staman
Feb. 14 – Sue Bragg

10 a.m. Lectors

Jan. 17 – John Meyer & Larry Rotch
Jan. 24 – Phil McKean & Emily Bragg
Jan. 31 – Lysbeth Andrews & Jack Carpenter
Feb. 7 – John Meyer & Pen Williamson
Feb. 14 – Susan Watkins & Emily Rotch

Acolytes
Jan. 17 – Emily Protheroe
Jan. 24 – Luke Rector
Jan. 31 – Rose Hohfield
Feb. 7 – Wilson Ranney
Feb. 14 – Willow and Nick Crawford-Crudell

Ushers
Jan. 17 – Lysbeth Andrews
Jan. 24 – Midge & John Meyer
Jan. 31 – Bev & Pen Williamson
Feb. 7 – Kathy & Jim Cuthbertson
Feb. 14 – Bonnie & Dave Percival

8 a.m. Chalice Bearers & Acolyte
Jan. 17 – Bob Slater
Jan. 24 – Richard Levasseur
Jan. 31 – Lora Ludwig
Feb. 7 –Bob Slater
Feb. 14 –Richard Levasseur

10 a.m. Chalice Bearers
Jan. 17 – Sandor Walker
Jan. 24 – Emily Jenks
Jan. 31 – Jim Cuthbertson
Feb. 7 – Chris Rector
Feb.14 – Emily Rotch

Intercessor Schedule
Jan. 17 – Sandor Walker
Jan. 24 – Emily Rotch
Jan. 31 – Lysbeth Andrews
Feb. 7 – Chris Rector
Feb. 14 –John Meyer

Altar Guild
Jan. 9th thru Jan. 16th – Kathy Cuthbertson, Midge Meyer
Jan. 23 thru Jan. 30th – Jana Goddard, Marian Rector

Coffee Hour
Please note that there are openings available for you!
Jan. 17 – Garratt-Reed
Jan. 24 – Percival
Jan. 31 – Meyer
Feb. 7 –
Feb. 14 –

Wednesday Morning Prayer Officiants
Jan. 20 – Sandor Walker
Jan. 27 – Larry Rotch
Feb. 3 – Deborah McKean
Feb. 10 –John Meyer
Feb. 17 –Peter Jenks

For The Food Pantry
Jan. 17 – canned stew and meat
Jan. 24 – pudding
Jan. 31 – oatmeal
Feb. 7 – macaroni & cheese
Feb. 14 – tuna fish

Parish Cycle of Prayer
Jan. 24 – Pat & Jack Kaim, Deborah Wheelock & Charles, Nicholas Paine
Jan. 31 – for our annual parish meeting
Feb. 7 – Mildred Gillis, Ruth Anne, Wesley & Rose Hohfeld
Feb. 14 – Fred Ramsey, Henreitta Pearl, Charles & Ann DeWitt