December/January Newsletter

Our Renewal Works Discernment Team has been thinking about spiritual growth and the premise posed that spiritual growth is a primary purpose of a parish church. If God is acting at all times, growing his life within us, how do we foster, support, and participate in his growth? What does growth look like in our personal lives and in our corporate life? Annual Meeting is coming this Sunday, a time when we consider the year past in the parish's life and look to the year ahead. Often we consider it in terms of budgets met and projected or in terms of programs completed and begun. But what about spiritual growth? In the year past, how do you see God's Spirit working in your life? What spiritual growth have you experienced? Looking to the year ahead, what spiritual growth do you hope for? How do you feel God is calling you to grow? How would you like to respond? What if these were questions we asked when we come to our Annual Meeting? Would it change the way we think of our life together and what we consider to be the purpose of our church? I wonder. Let's ask and see.

Another way of talking about spiritual growth is in terms of discipleship and following Jesus - as we engage in a life of ongoing conversion, growing closer and closer to God. Mo. Lynn Orville was with us this past Sunday, her final Sunday before beginning a new call and ministry with the people of St. Andrew's by the Sea in Little Compton, Rhode Island. We sent her off with love and blessing. And she left us with passionate words calling us to a deeper discipleship, to further spiritual growth. If you did not hear her sermon in person, I commend it to you here.

And may God's Spirit grow within us and between us always.

Yours in Christ,

Mo. Rita+

Nominations

O fficer Nominations

Sr. Warden - Sarah Danser

I have been a member of St. John's since 2007. Apart from being visible as a member of the choir and a lector, I also served for several years as editor of the newsletter. I have been a Confirmation Class mentor and have accompanied senior youth on trips to West Virginia, NYC, and Taizé, France; have been involved the Haiti ministry; and served one term on the Vestry. I have also been a delegate to and served on the Resolutions Committee for Diocesan Convention and I enjoy knowing what's going on around the Diocese.

I am not a lifelong Episcopalian nor am I originally from Maine; I was raised and confirmed in the United Methodist Church in New Jersey, and reconfirmed into the Episcopal Church by Bishop Lane in 2009. I live in Winterport with my two cats, and work as Technical Services Librarian at the Maine Maritime Academy in Castine.

I thank you all for the opportunity to serve as Sr. Warden and for your confidence in me, and I will do the best I can for the parish.
Jr. Warden - Tim Pearson

After I retired in 2013, my wife Susan and I moved from Silver Spring, MD to Maine to be close to our daughter and granddaughter who live in Hampden. We currently live in Winterport. We discovered St. John's after a number of months of searching and found the community to be very welcoming and the Sunday Liturgies to be wonderful, and started attending regularly in Advent 2014. Having been involved with liturgical music for many years previously, we decided to approach the Choirmaster about joining the choir and have been involved in that ministry since Lent of 2016. I look forward to being involved more fully in the life of St. John's on the Vestry as Jr. Warden.
Treasurer - Ross Moczo
I first worshiped at St. John's in the summer of 2012. I was immediately drawn to the beautiful services, diversity of the parish and the warm welcome provided by the congregation. In addition to worship, joining both the Finance and Vestry Committees, has provided me a better understanding of the ongoing needs of the parish community.As treasurer, I hope to adequately provide assistance in the management, budget preparation and accountability of parish donations and financial affairs.Upon completing my military service, I decided to continue my education at Suffolk University in Boston where I resided for nearly 30 years. Originally from the Caribbean, I returned to my birthplace for several years. It afforded me the opportunity to restrengthen family and childhood ties I did not want to lose. I eventually relocated back to New England where I decided to settle and eventually retire in Maine.Becoming an active participant of St. John's has definitely raised my spiritual awareness and provided a welcoming home for my Christian faith.
Clerk - Cindy Oakes

My father was from Germany, so I started my early church life as a child in Meriden CT. as an Evangelical Lutheran. Later on, my parents didn't want to drive the hour to church and found St. Peters, an Episcopal church in my home town of Cheshire that they thought they would like to attend. I was in 4th grade when I became an Episcopalian.

At 18, I got involved with the Miss America Program and won the Miss Cheshire title and a scholarship for voice, acting, and dance to the Academy of Theatre and Dance (an off Broadway training school) and later on became part of the field committee and business manager for 3 local winners including one who won Miss Connecticut!

As an adult, I had moved to Waterbury CT. where I was born, got married and decided that St. John's Parish on the Green in Waterbury was a good solid church to raise children in. I had a daughter Lauren, a daughter Rachel and a son Christopher. I took on various duties, and projects for the church, nursery director, member of the choir for 8 years, and a member of what was called the" flower committee" which entailed visiting parishioners in the hospital, praying with them and bringing them flowers from the church service. I also worked on several fundraisers, bake sales, a church dance and was chairwoman of the church bizarre raising 4k for the church that year.

After the children had grown, I went back to work for a mortgage company part-time at night doing mortgage applications and debt consolidations and eventually started working for Lightwave Communications as an application engineer for 3 years, configuring server room environments for systems and network people all over the country. Several years later, I transitioned over to promote software applications for a company called Cover Your Assets in Trumbull, CT. working with a team of technical advisors and running webinars world-wide to introduce software recovery products for pharmaceutical documents and drug submissions.

When I met Gerald and remarried, we moved to Maine to be closer to his family in New Brunswick. He was born in Fort Kent Maine. I worked for ABC and Fox Television for 6 years, creating, writing and filming commercials and making plans to put business leader's ads into the traffic system on both stations. Over the years, I had earned 2 awards for my work as a broadcaster. I signed on with Swish New England, a green cleaning products company as chief marketer where I also enjoyed full creative reign. I ran two successful phone campaigns in the US and Canada speaking with presidents of Janitorial companies, schools and colleges to introduce sustainability with green cleaning products into their environments. Part-time, I always worked at night as a cashier for Macy's, Harbor Freight and presently G and M Family Market after semi-retiring.

St. John's Bangor reminded me so much of my church in Waterbury that I felt at home right away. Although I spent some years seeing how the church operated, I started out slowly getting involved in the Bread Ministry first and then what was called the New Comers Club and is now called the Welcoming Committee. Recently I am a Lector, Altar Guild Member, church cleaner, Vestry Member and Parish Clerk Officer. I am a grandmother to 5 grandchildren from Jerry's daughter Nicole all living in Maryland. I also have two brothers living in CT. and a sister who lives in Port Orange, Florida.

Recently involved with the Dessert Auction and Rummage Sale Fund Raisers, I soon hope to assist with launching new projects that the Vestry has planned and to help further the life and legacy of St. John's Church successfully into the future.

Vestry Nominations

Scott Burgess

A life-long Episcopalian, I am a "county boy," having been brought up in Caribou, Maine. As a boy, I served in the choir and as an acolyte, attending church services almost every Sunday at St. Luke's Episcopal Church and often during the week as well. My entire family was deeply involved in the life of the Church. Following high school, I attended the University of Maine, where I majored in philosophy, with a focus on religious studies, and in physics, the field in which I eventually received a graduate degree and in which I have since been employed. During my college years, I attended St. James Episcopal Church in Old Town, where I was a lay-reader and chalice bearer as well as a frequent acolyte. My affiliation with St. Johns began in 1990, when I began teaching physics and astronomy at John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor. I'm now in my twenty-seventh year at John Bapst! In 1999 my wife, Julie, and I were married at St. Johns, and in 2003 our daughter, Elizabeth, was baptized here as well. Although my attendance at church was a bit "off-again, on-again" in intervening years, in the past few years I've undergone a spiritual conversion of sorts that has led me back to regular church attendance. I usually attend the 8:00 am service. Last year's Lenten book study rekindled my interest in theology, which led me to seek deeper involvement in formation and Christian education. This past year I've had the privilege of participating in the Education for Ministry (EfM) program, which I have been enjoying immensely and which has led to much spiritual growth. I have also served on the Discernment Team for our Renewal Works initiative. Serving on this team has given me a greater knowledge of St. Johns and an understanding of some of the issues facing us as we move forward. I would like to continue to expand my service to the St. Johns community through involvement in the Vestry. As chair of the John Bapst Science Department for many years, I have served on numerous administrative committees and have also been deeply involved in the evaluation of schools through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, activities that have allowed me to develop strong leadership skills and have given me the ability to assess the effectiveness of programs and institutions. I very much welcome the opportunity to share these talents to further serve St. Johns as a candidate for membership on the Vestry.
Christine Taylor

I am originally from Massachusetts, but with deep roots in Maine, moved to Bangor in 1982 with my husband. I started attending St. John's in 1982, continuing the Episcopal faith I was raised in. I have two children, Jason and Kristi, and 5 grandchildren.

I am looking forward to retiring in March and renewing my commitment to God and our Church.

Ben Treat

Ben Treat has been a member of St. John's since he and Anne-Marie Miller moved back to Bangor with their children in 2009. He works at the University of Maine at Augusta as the library director. In his time at St. Jonh's, Ben has served on the Property Committee and as a member of the "Parent Brigade." Ben and Anne-Marie have three children: Rachel, Adam, and Sam.

Sheila Stratton

Coming back to St. John's after more than forty years has brought great comfort and pleasure. I look at the vases on the alter and remember how they felt in my hands when I served on alter guild, and smile a prayer of joy. In the time between then and now much of my focus has been on caring for and working on issues for the elderly.

Rite I Exploration

Bruce Mallonee

Please join me after the 10 am service on February 26th when, as part of the parish's ongoing exploration of Rite I and our historic liturgy, I'll be speaking on literature influenced by the Book of Common Prayer. The discussion will include the metaphysical poets (John Donne, George Herbert, Richard Crashaw, and others) as well as later writers deeply involved in churches of the Anglican Communion. If you have a favorite you would like me to mention, please let me know: [email protected]

Music News

Robert Ludwig

Candlemas Choral Evensong - Sunday, February 5, 4:00 pm - Candlemas is one of the traditional names for the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, celebrated on February 2 every year. The feast remembers the event of the aged priest, Simeon, seeing the Christ Child forty days after his birth. According to the story in Luke 2:22-35, Simeon saw the child and praised God with the words "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace...for mine eyes have seen thy salvation...a light to lighten the Gentiles." This text, commonly known by its Latin title "Nunc dimittis," has been one of the canticles for Evening Prayer or Vespers since the fourth century. Because of this association, Candlemas is frequently remembered at a Sunday evensong in close proximity to the February 2 feast day. The St. John's Choir will sing a setting of the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis by C.V. Stanford in A, as well as the first movement of Bach's Cantata 125 - Mit Fried und Freud [With peace and joy I depart] - based on the Nunc dimittis. A traditional part of Candlemas services is the blessing of candles. Members of the congregation are welcome to bring candles from home to be blessed during the service. The offering at Evensong is designated as a part of the church's outreach efforts to go to Penquis Community Action Fund for Heating and Fuel Assistance.

Formation News

Patricia Sprague

Adult Christian Education and Formation: January, February & Upcoming

Living Local - Canon Michael Ambler will be making a presentation to the parish on this diocese-wide initiative on February 5th following the 10 AM service.

January & February are Lent Preparation Months in the Library!

Spiritual Disciplines: In the expectation that some of you may be contemplating the adoption of a spiritual discipline in Lent, we have located a number of books that may help. Look on the Christian formation table at the back of the church for books on a variety of spiritual practices, such as the Examen Prayer, Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, keeping a spiritual journal, and much more. And there's no need to go it alone. You may be surprised to learn that for almost any spiritual discipline you may be interested in exploring there are already people in the parish who regularly practice them and who would welcome the opportunity to share their experience. If you are seeking companionship in the practice of any particular spiritual discipline, or would like to explore a variety to discover which best suits your needs, send a note to [email protected] for more information and support.

Other Lenten Resources will also be available to be borrowed from the library: devotionals and other Lent-related books, including several on Christ's Passion.

Our Rite 1 Liturgy Series Continues:

February 26: Bruce Mallonee
April 2: Cn Michael Ambler, The Prayer of Humble Access
May 14: Ann Mallonee, liturgical revisions

Coming for Lent: March & April

A detailed schedule will be available soon.

SSJE's 5 Marks of Mission: Living Life Marked as Christ's Own. A discipleship offering inspired by the Anglican Marks of Mission. Join the brothers of SSJE in this six-week series to examine and reflect on the ways in which God's Life and God's Mission express themselves in and through us. Sundays, 11:30 in the chapel, March 5-26.

Book discussion : Being Disciples, by Rowan Williams, 1 PM in the oratory, Sundays in Lent

Book discussion : We Preach Christ Crucified, by Kenneth Leech. Wednesdays in Lent at 1:00 PM in the oratory

Spiritual Practices - Taste & See, explore a different spiritual discipline each week during Lent. Time and location TBD.

Conversations on Scripture : Looking at the Gospel of Matthew. Led by Mo. Rita and Mo. Jane White-Hassler, Thursday evenings, March 2-April 6, 6:30-7:30 in the oratory.

Stations of the Cross : Join fellow parishioners in an evening of quiet reflection on Christ's journey to the Cross. Date and time TBD.

Youth Programs: January & February

JR YES: On January 8th the group welcomed its new leader, David Ulrich.

The next class session for both Youth groups will be February 12th, 11:30-1:30. JR YES will serve at the Bangor Humane Society on January 22nd and February 26th. SR YES will serve lunch at the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter on the same dates.

Upcoming:

Annual Meeting, January 29 - mission trip fundraiser - JRs are expected to serve and clean up
Shrove Tuesday Pancake supper - mission trip fundraiser - JRs & SRs serve and clean up
Winter Middle School Event, March 10-12, at St Paul's in Brunswick, for grades 6-8.
Palm Sunday, April 9 - Youth Sunday, parents provide coffee hour refreshments
Mission Trip to Boston - June 21-25
SR YES: The next lesson in the ConfirmNotConform curriculum will be Tradition: The Ministry of the Baptized on February 12th.

Upcoming:

Annual Meeting, January 29 - mission trip fundraiser - SRs provide child care
Shrove Tuesday pancake supper, February 28 - mission trip fundraiser - SRs & JRs serve and clean up
Ash Wednesday, March 1 - SRs impose ashes at 7 p.m. service
St Patrick's Day dinner - Taize fundraiser - SRs serve and clean up
Teens Encounter Christ (TEC), March 24-26, at St Luke's Cathedral in Portland.
Palm Sunday, April 9 - Youth Sunday - parents provide coffee hour refreshments
Maundy Thursday, April 13 - all SRs attend evening service
Good Friday, April 14 - any SR who did not attend last year must attend the evening service
Easter Vigil, April 15 - all SRs attend
Easter Day, April 16 - any SR who did not attend last year must attend the morning service
Pre-Confirmation Retreat aboard the MSM's Sunbeam, April 18-21
Confirmation - the sacrament of confirmation will take place on Sunday, May 7th, at St Luke's Cathedral in Portland.
Vestry Presentation of proposed service project, June 20
Mission trip to Boston, June 21-26

Announcements & Looking Ahead

Please save the date and join us for the

All Parish Lunch followed by the Annual Meeting

on

January 29th immediately following the 10 am service. We hope that you can join us as we review the past year and look forward to 2017.

On Wednesday, February 1st please join

us to celebrate the

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

in the chapel at 12:15 pm

Candlemas Choral Evensong

- Sunday, February 5, 4 pm - Candlemas is one of the traditional names for the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, celebrated on February 2 every year. The feast remembers the event of the aged priest, Simeon, seeing the Christ Child forty days after his birth. According to the story in Luke 2:22-35, Simeon saw the child and praised God with the words "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace...for mine eyes have seen thy salvation...a light to lighten the Gentiles." This text, commonly known by its Latin title "Nunc dimittis," has been one of the canticles for Evening Prayer or Vespers since the fourth century. Because of this association, Candlemas is frequently remembered at a Sunday evensong in close proximity to the February 2 feast day. The St. John's Choir will sing a setting of the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis by C.V. Stanford in A, as well as the first movement of Bach's Cantata 125 - Mit Fried und Freud [With peace and joy I depart] - based on the Nunc dimittis. A traditional part of Candlemas services is the blessing of candles. Members of the congregation are welcome to bring candles from home to be blessed during the service. The offering at Evensong is designated as a part of the church's outreach efforts to go to Penquis Community Action Fund for Heating and Fuel Assistance.

Choir School #3 - Saturday, February 11 from 9:30 am-2:30 pm St. John's Episcopal Church in Bangor is hosting the third of five "Choir Schools" for children aged 7 and above. These choir schools are open to the whole community - not just children who participate in St. John's Church. In addition to learning some fun music, the curriculum will include - Reading notes and rhythm - including sight-singing; Using the voice; singing technique; Handbells; and (if the weather cooperates) looking at the church's stained glass windows to understand how they're made and more about the stories they tell. The day will conclude with a brief concert at 2:15 pm in the church, 225 French Street. Participants should pre-register by emailing [email protected] or calling 207-974-7715 and giving the name and age of the child. There is no charge for participation and student should bring a bag lunch. Please feel free to pass along this information to any friends who sing or might be interested in learning more about singing.

Please join us for coffee hour on February 12th as we say good-bye to Judy Allen before she makes her big move to Minnesota. Judy has been attending St. John's for fourteen years, and her membership, her countless contributions, and her friendship will all be greatly missed.

St. John's Episcopal Church | [email protected] | http://www.stjohnsbangor.org | 207.947.0156