St. Bartholomew's

Episcopal Church

E-News

March 12, 2026

UPCOMING SERVICES

Sunday, March 15 at 9:30 am

Worship Service with Holy Communion & Music

led by the Rev. Sukie Curtis with The Rev. David Heald as Preacher

Wednesday, March 18 at 5:30 pm

Lenten Midweek Evening Prayer Service

led by the Rev. Amanda Gerken-Nelson



Nursery Care will be available at the Sunday morning service, and little ones are also very welcome to enjoy our Quiet Play Area in the sanctuary during services.

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.

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: 

Virginia & Jamil; Jenny & Matt; Sasha; Paige; Nathaniel; Haskell; Don; Gregory; Andy; Molly; Nova; Steven; Jenn; Vance; Ted; Matt & Shannon; Lem; Carol; Beverly; Ben; Morgan; Benson; Hana; Celeste; Hans; Pam; Hurshell; Melanie; Susan; Sue; Brooke; Elizabeth; Danny; Peter; and the Gerken family.



For those who have died, especially John Gerken, uncle of Tasha Gerken-Nelson, 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.

Wednesdays in Lent - Join Us!

You who live in the shelter of the Most High,

    who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,

will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress;

    my God, in whom I trust.”

- Psalm 91:1-2

Our theme for Lent this year is "shelter" and this theme reminds us of the psalmist's lyrics above. What does it mean to live in the shelter of the Most High? How is God our refuge and our fortress? When we lean into the shelter of the one in whom we trust, what do we learn about ourselves and each other?

Join us on Wednesday evenings in Lent to dwell in the shelter of the Most High in worship and in study!

Midweek Lenten Evening Prayer -- using the liturgies of the Iona Community of Scotland, our Midweek Lenten Evening Prayer service is a time of prayer, holy reading, repentance, and peace. As we gather in the shadow of the Almighty, how is hope, faithfulness, and mercy revealed to us and through us? The service starts at 5:30 pm.

Adult Education Forum -- "Living Water: Baptism as a way of life"

Lewiston native, Klara Tammany, has created a wonderful resource that helps the faithful dive into the waters of Baptism and see the promises made in this sacrament as a holy way of living -- another word for a holy way of living is Discipleship. In the Episcopal Church, the Baptismal liturgy includes six covenants which are made with those who are baptized and each one calls us into a holy way of living in rather specific ways: "Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?" "Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?"...just to name a few. How do these promises shape our lives as faithful followers of Christ, as disciples? What do these covenants mean to us today? Come and join the dialog with Rev. Amanda and Elizabeth Ring.

A reminder to bring a brown bag dinner to munch on when we gather.

Flute Choir Concert

Sunday, March 15 at 4 pm at St. Bart's

Nan White hopes that many of you will be able to attend a concert by the Midcoast High Winds Flute Choir, a group she founded ten years ago, which has grown to fourteen members and which plays about ten concerts a year up and down the coast from Portland to Damariscotta. In honor of their tenth anniversary, the ensemble has commissioned a new piece by Maine composer Heather Hastings. The program will also include classical and folk pieces, and a bit of Irish music in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. 

The concert will be held at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Yarmouth at 4 p.m. on March 15th.  It is a free concert, but donations will be accepted to support the choir and the music program of the church. 

"Diplomacy on Ice" Video Now Available

On Sunday, March 8 Dr. Susana Hancock offered a wonderful and informative talk about "Diplomacy on Ice, Climate Science, Glaciers, and Effecting Change on the Global Level." In case you missed it, her talk was recorded and can be accessed HERE. (It is also available on the Events Page of our website.) Thanks so much, Susana!

Calling All St. Bart's Creatives

All are invited to bring your knitting, embroidery, crocheting, quilting, other craft, or just

yourselves to St. Bart’s on Friday, March 13, for creativity, conversation, and camaraderie. In the past, prayer shawls and courage blankets were made for the pastoral care committee, as well as handmade items for the Christmas Fair. You also are welcome to bring a personal

project or just come and visit. If you are looking for inspiration or to learn to knit or crochet,

there are experienced crafters on hand and a basket of yarn and needles to start a new project.

There also will be patterns and tips for creating prayer/courage blankets and shawls as well as

other ideas.

Please join us in the chapel on Friday, March 13, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM. Coffee, tea, and a

sweet treat will be available. If you are interested in participating but can’t join this scheduled

time, please contact Pam Waite. The hope is to find a convenient recurring date(s) for upcoming gatherings that work for all who are interested.

UTO Corner 2026:

United Thank Offering: Grants

Once all the thank offerings are collected, the UTO Board gives them all away as grants. The thank offerings that you put into your Blue Box combine with others to fund innovative mission and ministry in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. Since 1883, more than 5,400 grants have been awarded for a total of over $144 million. Each year, UTO identifies a theme to guide grant applications. Last year, the focus was on water, based on Jesus’ words: “I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.” Some grants made this past year included: funds to improve quality and supply of water in Columbia, indoor plumbing for a 115 yr old native congregation in South Dakota, a community water filling station in Louisiana and a Laundry Love program at Corey’s home parish in Colorado. In total, UTO made grants of $1,079,748.37 for the 2025 grant cycle. That’s a lot of gratitude! In 2026, the grant focus is on “Justice and Bridging Divides.” The time for applying for the 2026 grant cycle has passed,

however, 2027’s focus will be announced in the near future.

"Faithful Conversations"

These are challenging times. You are invited to join us for Faithful Conversations with Rev. Vicki Smith and Dennis Fitzgibbons on Tuesdays from 5-6 PM on ZOOM. We will meet weekly for 6 weeks and reevaluate over Holy Week and Easter.

This reflection series will use the book “For Such a Time as This: An Emergency Devotional.” It is not necessary to purchase the book. Each week, a link to the ZOOM call and a link to excerpts from the book will be in the E-News.

Please note that each week’s reflection excerpt stands alone. Missing one or more sessions is alright.

We look forward to seeing you.

For Tuesday, March 17:

Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85290114552?pwd=UkN91v5grNKiz3Q6uyAcG8OQOzmhBi.1

Excerpts From the Book:

Click Here

Save the Date - 4th Annual St. Bart's Day of Service

Please SAVE THE DATE for our 4th Annual St. Bart’s Day of Service! It will take place this year on Saturday, May 2nd. Volunteering will occur in the morning, and then we will gather back at St. Bart’s for a cookout/luncheon together. This is a collaborative way of expanding our outreach and generating interest and momentum for serving our communities via local organizations. Details about the site options for where you can volunteer that day will be forthcoming. If you plan to participate and don’t yet have a Day of Service t-shirt, please contact Pal Covie with your t-shirt size by March 19th so an order can be placed. If you have any questions, please reach out to Pal. We look forward to having you join this special day with us!

Diaper Drive

St. Elizabeth's Essentials Pantry

Clean diapers are a basic necessity for every baby and toddler. Without them babies are more likely to deal with rashes and urinary tract infections requiring trips to the doctor. Affording diapers is a challenge for many families; that is why St. Elizabeth’s is holding a Diaper Drive. The goal is to increase the number of diapers distributed from 18 to 24 to each neighbor requesting them.

Donations of diapers are most welcome, with sizes 4, 5 and 6 the most popular. A bin for the diapers is out in the Narthex. 

Financial support would also be gratefully received. Checks can be made payable to St. Elizabeth’s Essential’s Pantry with “Diaper Drive” in the memo.

For more information, visit St. Elizabeth’s Essentials Pantry ~ www.stelizabethsmaine.org or contact Linda Draper.

Girl Scout Cookies!

During Coffee Hour this Sunday, we'll have St. Bart's own Girl Scouts selling cookies! Aiofe Furlow and Zoe Zimmerman will be selling cookies in support of their troops (Troop 1604 in Portland and Troop 1449 in Cumberland). If you've been wondering where you'll get your cookies this year, here is your chance! Thank you for your support.  

'You Heard the Song. Now, Cook the Stew:'

Reporters Pick Up on Initiative to Feed Immigrants in Maine

The outpouring of help for Maine immigrants during the ICE operation in Maine earlier this winter sparked interest from media outlets close to home and across the country.

Reporter Gillian Graham of the Portland Press Herald first reported on how Mainers stepped up to feed and protect their neighbors. "When the Rt. Rev. Thomas Brown...heard members of the immigrant community didn’t feel safe leaving their homes, he said he knew one of their greatest needs would be food," she wrote.

Graham's mention of the Angolan national dish, Muamba Chicken Stew, and how "churches as far away as Calais" made it for immigrants afraid to leave their homes, piqued the curiosity of Press Herald Food Editor, Peggy Grodinsky, who asked for the recipe. Her subsequent piece focused on the stew project's back story, which, like Graham's article, involved Trinity Church, Portland rector Peter Swarr and Bishop Brown.

Out in Washington State, Brian Sellers Petersen, co-host of the food-ministry podcast, SpadeSpoonSoul, got wind of the chicken stew project and invited Brown and Swarr to join him and co-host Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, Bishop of Indianapolis, for an episode of "Triple S."

And the song? Graham's story also inspired Portland singer-songwriter Jim Sharkey to write a resistance ballad, "Muamba Chicken Stew." Like the podcast, it's well worth a listen!

The Vestry Minute

The E-News includes a brief nugget of information from the Vestry each week. These are meant to provide current news or to refresh past information.

Did you know that...

you can find the print version of each sermon and the recording of each Sunday service on the website? Just go to the Services button under the “Worship” tab. We have recorded services and sermons back to 2024. https://www.stbartsyarmouth.org/services.html

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.