This Week At A Glance

Dear Church Family:

Sunday evening we held our Second Sunday Supper to benefit Island Angels, a local program that assists cancer patients with some of the many needs that arise in their treatment and care.  Rugosa Rose played terrific music. The members of Rugosa Rose are Kathy O’Rourke, Cindy Coombs, and Lynn Winters.  And our deacons served up their usual great meal, featuring lasagna, garlic bread, salad and cupcakes.  It was an evening full of fellowship and fun, and we are grateful to all who came out on a wintry night to support a local cause.  Melissa Jones Bayley is the coordinator for Island Angels and does so much to support our neighbors in need.

A big thank you to Dave Bayley and our other lay leaders who covered worship on January 4th.  It was a smooth Sunday with an inspiring message from Dave, a beautiful prayer by Anne Bowes, and great readings by our lectors.  My next Sunday off is February 15, and Scott Cleveland will be providing pulpit supply.  Did you know that he is an ordained minister, in addition to being a marvelous musician?  Scott filled in for Edie yesterday and we heard one of his original compositions.  Edie is on vacation in Mexico and will be back soon.

Our special mission collection in January is for the Monkey River community in Belize.  Jack Scott stays in touch with the folks there, and, along with others, has been involved with that mission project over many years.  Yes, there are ways that mission dollars can be spent closer to home.  But we are called to help where we are able, and many of our members have travelled there to work on projects.  God calls us in special ways to special places, for reasons we don’t know.  The dollars we send there assist young people to get an education past High School, or assist with expenses associated with high school (public education is not subsidized there as it is here.)  We are glad for the opportunity to serve, where ever we are called.

And on that note, we are sending a check for $1000 to the Board of the Deer Isle Little League, so that they can continue their good work.  This is the largest little league organization on the peninsula and a vital community partner.  Baseball season will be here before you know it, and the ballfield across the street will be busy with young players and their families.  We are so glad for the opportunity to serve the kids, and we thank everyone who has donated.  And by the way, Go Sox!  (We are not sending them any money, though. They have plenty. Now if they can just get pitching under control.)

This coming Sunday is the second Sunday after the Epiphany.  Epiphany means to reveal that which has been hidden.  Jesus has been baptized by John, which we hear about in John 1:29-42.  His public ministry begins as God reveals God’s most ambitious project ever:  God arriving in human flesh.  One who comes to earth and moves into the neighborhood.  Jesus shows up to proclaim that the kingdom of God has come near.  And people are starting to notice this guy Jesus, and are considering whether or not to follow him.  Jesus says to them “come and see.”   The beloved former pastor of the Blue Hill Congo Church, Rob McCall, used to sign off his “Anawadjo”  radio broadcast with the words:  “don’t take my word for it.  Go out and see for yourself.”  This is exactly what Jesus invites these would-be followers to do.  And he invites us to do the same.   See the miracles.  Hear the teaching.  Consider the broken lives made whole.  And consider what we want Jesus to do for us in our own lives.

Some shout-outs and thanks:
Dave and Sue Bayley were here on Saturday to thoroughly clean the kitchen. It is now spotless. We noticed that there were some uninvited guests (aka  mice) using the kitchen.  Certainly this is a rare occurrence in Maine.  Actually, I think it’s because the parsonage is empty and they came looking for food from the neighbors!  We also thank our Deacons, Dave Bayley, and Alan Chesney who took down the Christmas decorations in the sanctuary.  And Jack Scott came to assist with the uninvited guests in the kitchen.  This is just to name a few ways that our members help us to be a vital, active church. There are many more I could name. And let me know of folks you think should have a “shout-out!” We are not a large church, but we have big hearts that keep it all running!
See you in church,

Pastor Kim

We were blessed with a prelude by our acoustic trio of Bowes, Bowes, Vadeboncoeur!  It was a beautiful piece called “Another Year is Dawning.”  It is indeed another year dawning, and we pray that the year ahead  is full of light and hope.