St. Bartholomew's

Episcopal Church

E-News

August 13, 2026

UPCOMING SERVICES

Sunday, August 16 at 9:30 am

Worship Service with Holy Communion & Music

led by the Rev. Amanda Gerken-Nelson

The Nursery is on summer break, but little ones are very welcome to enjoy our Quiet Play Area in the back of the sanctuary.

To view bulletins for upcoming services,

and recordings and bulletins for previous services,

CLICK HERE for the Services page of our website.

Need hearing assistance? We have earpieces that receive audio from the sound system. You can find them in charging stations in the entryway. Simply slip the earpiece over your ear, turn it on with the volume switch, and adjust volume. Please return to the charging stations when you are done.

Want to access the bulletin on your notebook/iPad/phone? Scan the QR code posted in the Sanctuary to get to the Services page of our website. Click on the link "Click here for the bulletin" toward the top of the page.

Want a copy of a sermon from this or previous Sundays? Go to the sermon page of our website HERE and click on the date of the service. If you would like a hard copy, please contact the office at 207-846-9244 and ask Teri to print you a copy.

5th Sunday of the month Offering. All cash in the offering plate, and checks so designated, will go to the Rector's Discretionary Fund on 5th Sundays.

Thank You, Teri! 


We want to express our deepest gratitude to our Parish Administrator, Teri Coviello! Over the past four years, Teri has been instrumental in the growth, vitality, and spirit of our parish. Her dedication, talent, compassion, and steady presence have blessed St. Bart’s in countless ways, and we are profoundly grateful for all she has given.

This Sunday, August 16, we will host a celebratory coffee hour to thank and acknowledge Teri's tenure at St. Bart's. We hope you’ll join us to thank her personally and let her know how much her ministry has meant to you and to our parish community.

Pastoral Care

In Need of Our Prayers:

For all who have commended themselves to our prayers; for our families, friends, and neighbors; that being freed from anxiety, they may live in joy, peace, and health, we pray to you O Lord. (BCP, Prayers of the People, Form V, 391)



We pray for: 

Sasha; Paige; Nathaniel; Haskell; Gregory; Andy; Molly; Nova; Ted; Matt & Shannon; Lem; Hana; Hurshell; Melanie; Susan; Sue; Brooke; Elizabeth; Danny; Lin; Caroline; Ed; Greg; Tom; Diane; Kurt; Joe; Kathy; Laura; Brookie; Judy; Celeste; Jackie, Matt, Phil, Lisa S; the family of Jennifer Willard, and the family of Lisa Nardozzi.



For those who have died, especially Jennifer Willard and Lisa Nardozzi (Nick Desiderio's sister), receive them into the arms of your mercy.

Click HERE to go directly to the Pastoral Care section of our website. We have information about Healing Prayers, our Words of Comfort booklet and how to contact us via email.

St. Bart's Mourns

St. Bart's mourns the death of Jennifer Willard, beloved member of St. Bart's. Jennifer passed away Friday, July 31. Our prayers are with her friends and family. You can read her obituary here.

A memorial service will be held at St. Bart's on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

Lend a Hand in the Memorial Garden

In anticipation of services for our beloved Jennifer Willard, there will be an opportunity to work together to ensure that the Memorial Gardens and surroundings she so enjoyed are at their best.

We will gather at 9:00am on Tuesday, September 8th, ending at noon (likely before), to do any edging, weeding, deadheading and pruning which are appropriate. Bring water, gloves, knee padding, pruning, weeding and edging tools. We may divide and relocate some perennials as well.

Our predicted rainfall is still short of the 1” per week we need to keep the new and replanted shrubs and Amanda’s tree healthy. Please check in with Joyce Cassidy if you can assist. Watering before 10:00am is best — a perfect opportunity to enjoy the cooler temperatures and peaceful surrounds for about 45 minutes!

Join us for Family Fellowship Night

Campfire, S'mores, and More!

Join the Fellowship and Youth & Family Ministries of St. Bart's for a fun night of a campfire, s'mores, games, and great company on Thursday, August 20th at 6:30 pm. We'll provide the fixings for s'mores and a few yard games. You're welcome to bring snacks and drinks to share, your favorite yard games, and portable chairs. See you around the fire!

St. Bart's Climate Action Committee

Solar Energy Update - Keep the Faith

St. Bart’s congregation and the church are focusing on finding ways to reduce our overall energy footprint and whenever possible, to use cleaner energy sources. But sometimes we wonder if our efforts make a difference. Do our relatively small contributions really matter? Yes, they do. We are part of a larger effort than we often realize, and there are reasons to feel some optimism. Let’s consider solar power generation.

The near-term future of solar power in the United States is expected to remain positive despite policy and economic challenges. Falling equipment costs, growing electricity demand, and continued investment in battery storage are driving rapid expansion of both utility-scale and residential solar installations. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), solar is projected to be the nation's fastest-growing source of electricity generation through 2027.

Further proof of the role solar will play in future power generation is the fact that Texas is second, only behind California, for total solar power production. If Texas recognizes the benefits, there is hope for all of us!

Don’t let the constant stream of bad environmental news blind us to the quieter, yet significant increase solar energy is playing in the country’s overall energy picture. There is some good news out there. Keep the faith!

For those of you who enjoy watching TED talks, here's an 11-minute talk by Bill McKibben, author and environmental activist, covering the same landscape as the written piece above. Bill's talk is titled, "Our last, best chance to cool the earth."

Bridge St. Fire Victims Need Our Help

The Outreach Committee would like to offer you the opportunity to help the tenants displaced in the recent Bridge Street Fire in Yarmouth. There is a huge need to find them affordable housing. Many people are currently staying with friends and relatives miles removed from Yarmouth. Their desire is to return to the community while their homes are rebuilt. If you have an IDU or know of an independent living option in or near Yarmouth, please contact Yarmouth Community Services (YCS). YCS has posted a Sign Up Genius link which you can access to help these neighbors in need. Please click on the link below...

August Outreach Spotlight:

School Supplies for Students

Time is of the Essence!

There are students in the Yarmouth school district who are being supported with supplies this year. We would like to help our young neighbors.  

Please bring in your donation during the month of August, and we deliver to the Yarmouth school offices. 
Here are needed items:

• Spiral notebooks
• Highlighters
• Pens
• Pencils
• Colored Pencils
• Pencil boxes
• Markers
• Crayons
• Kid scissors
• Glue sticks

Many thanks for your help with this project!

You are invited:

Biddeford, Maine Multi-Faith Prayer Vigil 

Tuesday evenings

 August 18 and 25, 5:30-6pm

Mechanics Park, Corner of Main and Water Street

Local multi-faith leaders in Biddeford/Saco are leading weekly community vigils for the rest of the summer on Tuesday evenings.

These are (lightly) prayerful gathering of love, solidarity and support for the Biddeford community, especially Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero’s family and friends, our immigrant neighbors, all those who feel unsafe, and and all caught up in the systems of injustice and division. Vigils will be led by different local multi-faith clergy, providing a variety of perspectives and avenues for connection and prayer. Each vigil is an intentional gathering that may include centering, prayers, songs, and silence.

All are welcome, no religious or spiritual affiliation is necessary. This is simply about being in community with like-hearted individuals to give and receive support and send love and care into the community.

Courage is Contagious 
An Evening with Bishop Mariann Budde

Join the Maine Council of Churches on October 8, 2026, at 7:00 pm, at the Merrill Auditorium in Portland, for an inspiring evening with Bishop Mariann Budde (Episcopal Diocese of Washington DC). Known for her courage in speaking truth to power, she will reflect on what is required of us at such a time as this: to learn to be brave, stand for justice, and seek mercy for those in harm’s way.

Tickets are $56 (includes service fee) and can be purchased any time online or in person at the PortTix box office, 400 Congress Street, Portland, Monday-Friday, 11am - 3pm 

Proceeds will benefit the Maine Council of Churches, a coalition of denominations that speaks with a prophetic voice calling people to help build a more just, compassionate, and peaceful world.

Sign Ups & Resources for Volunteers

To learn more about opportunities to volunteer in the community through St. Bart's (St. Elizabeth's, Friendship House, etc.), go to the COMMUNITY OUTREACH page on our website.

To volunteer for a Sunday Coffee Hour, CLICK HERE.