This Week At A Glance

We received a lovely letter from Barbara Rice, living now in Hampden Maine.  Barbara was married to Owen Speaker, who pastored this church, along with the Sunset Church, for over 20 years.  Pastor Owen died too young, at age 59.  Barbara remarried and remained on Deer Isle for another 27 years. She now lives with her daughter.  Barbara enjoys keeping up with our church via the newsletter and sends her best to the congregation.  It was wonderful to hear from her and be reminded of connections within our church family.  She and Owen, along with their three children, lived in the parsonage for 21 years. A long tenancy indeed!

And speaking of the parsonage, we are finalizing an arrangement to lease it to The Ark (formerly the Pilgrims Inn) as staff housing.  The new owners are excited for this opportunity and we are excited for the relationship with a local business.  It will be a seasonal rental, which opens possibilities for different uses during the winter.

Yesterday we read in the gospel of John (20:19-31) the story of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearance to the stunned disciples in the upper room.  Jesus passes through a locked door, breathes peace upon them, and invites Doubting Thomas to touch his wounded hands and side.   Next week we turn to the post-resurrection appearance of Jesus in Luke 24, as he appears to two travelers on the road to Emmaus.  Emmaus is a small town near Jerusalem and two weary travelers were leaving the city, discouraged and sad from the events of Good Friday.  As they walked, Jesus appeared to them, but they did not recognize him.  Only after they invited the stranger home for supper, did they recognize the risen Jesus. They recognized him in the broken loaf of bread offered at the table, just as we recognize Jesus in the bread of the Communion table.

Last, shout outs and thanks:  Thanks to our team that worked on furnishing the parsonage and developing the lease: Rich Howe, The Bowes, Jack Scott, myself.  We shopped at Jeff Cobb’s “bargain barn” for some very good furniture. Jack and Sue Scott hosted us for fellowship time today. We appreciate the fine music leadership of Scott Cleveland in Edie’s absence. We are a small church with big hearts and somehow we always get the job done.

Larry and I will be traveling for the next two weeks. visiting friends and family back home in Gettysburg and then on to the Delaware shore.  We will even catch a Red Sox game in Baltimore at Camden Yards.  Go Sox!

See you in church,

Pastor Kim