St. Brendan the Navigator Episcopal Church
Our Mission: "To Love, Praise, Welcome and Serve"
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Worship this Sunday:
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Pastor Elaine Hewes, presiding
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All services and meetings will be held both in-person and via Zoom unless otherwise designated.
| | | | 4:30 p.m. Meditation/Silent Prayer (Zoom) | | | | |
10:00 a.m. No In-person Meditation this week
4:00 p.m. Choir rehearsal
| | | | 9:00 a.m. Women's Breakfast at Stonecutters Kitchen | | | | |
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist with The Rev. Donna Downs presiding
3:00 p.m. "Walking the Camino de Santiago" - Talk by Jane LaChance
| | | | 6:00 p.m. Feast of the Presentation at the Meditation Garden followed by soup in the Parish Hall | | | | Annual Mardi Gras Gathering at the Dane's | | |
Our Meditation Garden earlier in the day.
"Snow had fallen, snow on snow..."
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Amidst the doors closed shut and tight
By narrow vision, muscled might
There always is for us to see
A different possibility
Inside this world,
another singing, moving, rising,
forever bringing
a power to bear that opens, opens,
Love its sign and surest token.
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Sermon given by Pastor Elaine Hewes
Click below for the video recording. A text copy is available here.
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A recording of the pageant is available here.
Click below to view The ABCs of Christmas PowerPoint presentation.
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THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
I am writing to say thank you, thank you, thank you for all the prayers, calls, texts you have sent my way since my knee surgery two weeks ago. The knee is healing well, and I am walking without any walker or cane. I am also grateful to Dr. Rodrigue and all the nurses at Mercy Hospital for the wonderful care during my stay. Thank you also to our beloved Pastor Elaine who visited us and brought us communion last Sunday. I also want to thank Diane for the care she has given me during my recuperation. She has been a wonderful nurse and partner, and I could not have accomplished this surgery without her. I hope to see you all soon.
Peace and love,
Skip
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New Year’s Resolution
Truth be told, I’m not very good at keeping New Year’s resolutions for longer than two weeks. Last year, I made a resolution that I would go outside for a walk every single day, no matter how many things I had on my to-do list or how bad the weather was (a resolution which lasted until the first windy day that registered below zero on the thermometer with a windchill of -20).
The year before that I made a resolution to send two handmade thank-you cards a week (which I would either mail through the USPS or hand deliver) to people whose work or presence I appreciated, such as the employees at the Blue Hill Post Office, who are always so friendly, or to the people who work at the Snickers factory making my favorite candy bar. I got partway into February before making two handmade cards a week dwindled into one, and then to zero.
So, as 2026 came into view, I thought perhaps I’d make a resolution not to make a New Year’s resolution. But then a very dear friend gave me a book by Episcopal priest Tish Harrison Warren entitled Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep, a book that has as its center the prayer for Compline from the Book of Common Prayer… The prayer that reads:
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.
In her book, Tish Harrison Warren takes each petition and offers a deeper and more expansive understanding of the phrase to the reader. And while I’m only partway through the book, I look forward to reading it in its entirety.
But in terms of a New Year’s resolution, I have decided that I will pray this prayer every night before I go to sleep; perhaps even memorizing it, in hopes that it will open my heart and eyes to those named in each petition. And in hopes that it will shape me in the way that only prayer can.
I think the resolution to pray this prayer every night is actually possible for me. It feels good to believe that this is so. And as for the prayer’s power to open my heart and eyes and to shape my life, I will leave that to God’s ever-present Spirit, who I trust will be keeping watch over me. What better way to begin a New Year could there be?
New Year’s blessings to you all.
In gratitude and love for your partnership in the Gospel,
Pastor Elaine
| | Giving our Priorities Shape (GPS) Action Item | | |
A reflection on “going home by a different way” as the Feast of the Epiphany arrives.
What is the relevance to us in this present moment of the birth and life of Jesus that happened more than 2000 years ago? Are we called in faith to “go home by a different way”?
Our Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe wrote in July 2025:
“...God calls us to place the most vulnerable and marginalized at the center of our common life, and we must follow that command regardless of the dictates of any political party or earthly power. We are now being faced with a series of choices between the demands of the federal government and the teachings of Jesus, and that is no choice at all.”
Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe said the Episcopal Church is being called to a different kind of patriotism. You are encouraged to read his opinion piece (click below) and consider how you might respond to Jesus’ call to work on behalf of justice in the way of love.
| | Walking the Camino de Santiago | | |
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Please join us for an engaging presentation, "Walking the Camino de Santiago" on Sunday, January 11, at
3 pm.
Jane LaChance will share unusual stories and striking slides from her three pilgrimages, highlighting the essence of each walk.
Refreshments will follow the talk.
| | Education & Spiritual Development Ministry | | |
"Arise, shine; for your light has come . . ."
Isaiah 60:1
Zoom Meditation/Silent Prayer at 4:30 p.m.
Readings, poems, and prayers are shared before a period of silence.
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NO In-Person Meditation/Silent Prayer at St. Brendan
on January 7th
| | No Bible Study on January 7 | | |
Emily Blair Stribling - 9
Martha Dane - 14
George Pazuniak - 15
Mickey Jacoba - 21
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Agnes Love - 23
Patricia Donahue - 24
Lis Ingoldsby - 24
Dan Bright - 31
| | We pray for those in special need: | | |
Caroline Dane
Mike S.
Jennifer Hutchinson
Meredydd Cooper
Henna Torrey Roy
Liz Leuthner
Jerry
Helen and Gibbie Nauman
Agnes and Billy
Barbara K.
Julie and Tom
Gwyn Murray
Sally
Beth Kyzer
David
Preston Henderson
Mollie Ann Meserve
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Tammie and Jason Cox
Tyler Goss
Kate Hallen & Bob Blum
Judith Jerome
Mimi Maslan
Semantha
Judy Miller
Megan
Bishop Thomas Brown
Naomi
Anne Burton
Hewit
Mary Ann and Terry
Nishah
David Morrish
Corbin
Rebecca
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Pam B
Jaxson
Heather Corey
Stephen Gill
Bill Scaife
Brent Was
Gary and Wellesley
Mary Lawrence Hicks and family
Nancy Greene
Peter Brown
Seth
Linda Shepard and family
Lindsay Bowker
Marcia Scott
Tony Stoneburner
Carol Stoneburner
| | We pray, also, for those who love and care for them. | | |
We continue to hold in prayer those in our community who have recently lost loved ones; among them are the Sherman, Hewes, Putnam, Wright, Clauson/Hewes, Pierson, Wade/Scaife, Dahlen, Stoessel, and Miller/Budd families.
We pray for those struggling with addiction and mental illness and their caregivers.
We pray for all those receiving care through Neighbor Care and for all the relocated residents of the Island Nursing Home and their families.
We pray for the victims of gun violence -- in our cities and towns, in our schools, in our places of worship, and in our homes.
We pray for the victims of the violence of armed conflicts around the world. We pray for those made refugees by the violence of armed conflicts. We pray for the victims of terrorist attacks everywhere.
We pray for all who suffer the effects of domestic violence and the violence of bullying in our schools and workplaces.
We pray for our nation, our president and vice-president, and all elected and appointed leaders.
We pray for all peacemakers and all those who work for justice; may we be found in their ranks.
We pray for all those serving in the armed forces of our country.
We pray for Sarah Mullally, Archbishop of Canterbury; Hosam, Bishop of Jerusalem; Sean, our Presiding Bishop; and Thomas, our Bishop.
In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we pray for St. Thomas', Camden; Christ Church, Norway; St. Elizabeth's Essentials Pantry in Portland.
In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for The Church of the Province of
Central Africa.
On the Island and Peninsula, we pray for the North Sedgwick Baptist Church, Sedgwick.
| | | Feast of The Epiphany
The title “Epiphany” is from the Greek word for “showing forth” or “manifestation.” This day, and the season which follows, celebrates the events by which Jesus was shown forth as the Son of God. The coming of the wise men at his birth reflects the recognition of him by the Gentiles. Thus, he is the savior of all people, not only his own people, the Jews.
In the first reading, Isaiah rejoices in the return of Israel to Jerusalem and foresees the time when all races and nations will stream to the Holy City and to the God of Israel, bringing gifts to God. This passage has long been read on this festival because of its striking resemblance to the coming of the wise men.
The second reading today expresses Paul’s belief that in the unity of Jews and Gentiles in the Church, the fulfillment of God’s plan of redemption is revealed.
We celebrate not only an event in Jesus’ life today, but also (and more importantly) the manifestation of Christ in our lives. He is shown forth in Word and Sacrament in our liturgical celebrations, and through our lives, he is shown forth to the world as the savior of all people.
Notes on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2009 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York
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Office Hours: Tuesday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Pastor Elaine Hewes
Tel: 207-479-5651
elaine.hewes@gmail.com
Emergency Contacts:
| | Warden - John Arrison, 207-505-2474 arrison17@gmail.com | | Warden - Allen Downs 207-348-2560 agdowns53@gmail.com | | |
Emily Hawkins - Treasurer
Cindy Beyer - Clerk
Beth Carter
Kassie Grey
George Pazuniak
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