St. Brendan the Navigator Episcopal Church
Our Mission: "To Love, Praise, Welcome and Serve"
| | Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost | | | |
Worship this Sunday:
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
The Rev. Brent Was, presiding
The Rev. Alice Hildebrand, preaching
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All services and meetings will be held both in-person and via Zoom unless otherwise designated.
| | | | 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Diocesan Convention (more info below) | | | | |
8:30 a.m. Simmering Pot
4:30 p.m. Meditation/Silent Prayer (Zoom)
| | | | 11:00 a.m. Worship & Music Ministry meeting (Zoom) | | | | |
10:00 a.m. Meditation/Silent Prayer - In person
10:30 a.m. Bible Study
4:00 p.m. Choir practice
| | | | 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. WindowDressers Community Build. Click here to sign up for a shift. | | | | 5:00 p.m. All Saints' Eve Vigil in Meditation Garden | | | | 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Pastor Elaine Hewes presiding. | | Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost | | |
Yes, Jesus is knocking on our door, even as we bring our most fervent prayers to God… And Jesus is holding our pain, our sorrows, our fears and regrets… But by the power of love, he is also determined to break us out of our tightly-closed pods so we might become cherubs over the crib of God… scattered by the wild windy spirit of God to bear God’s justice and God’s love to the world… Freed from the things that hold us in bondage so we might become our fullest and most authentic selves for the sake of God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven…
Sermon given by Pastor Elaine Hewes on October 19th.
Click below to read the full sermon.
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From Barbara K.: What a feast of color we've been enjoying this week. I call this time in October "the afterglow," the leaves so rich in golds and reds, the huckleberry donning its fall crimson, and the barrens taking our breath away. Oh, for the beauty of the earth!
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Pentecost in Downeast Maine
The Church got it wrong.
Pentecost should not be celebrated
In late May or early June
when, in Maine, leaves and stems
are emerging and unfolding,
their subtle shades of green
whispering politely of summer’s
promised coming.
Rather,
Pentecost should be celebrated
in late October,
when the trees are brazenly ablaze
with flames of red and orange,
the berry fields a crimson
so deep and visceral
they unleash something feral
inside those who dare proximity –
a tearing open of heart and flesh
that reveals fur and feathers
under human skin -
a release of all inhibitions,
a lifting into the autumn air
like the crows
who wield and wild the sky
with their cries and caws.
The Church should celebrate Pentecost
this time of year,
a crimson Chrism
anointing us all
with a love so untamed,
a heart so inflamed
it gives us wings.
~ Elaine Hewes
| | | Giving our Priorities Shape (GPS) Action Item | | |
For the remaining weeks of Ordinary Time before the first Sunday of Advent, you are invited to engage more deeply in your “practice” of faith, your heart’s commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and in particular to the call to “Love Thy Neighbor.” There are so many opportunities near and far:
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Sign up for the WindowDressers Build starting November 1
- Simmering Pot – soup making or delivering to recipients on October 27 and
November 24
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Donate blood on November 6 at DIHS, 10-3 PM, sponsored by the Deer Isle High School National Honor Society. Register here for a time slot.
- Connect often with the children in your life
- Consider a donation to Alfred's Box
- Write a letter to a long-lost friend
- Make a phone call to the same
- Share a smile or a kind word with a stranger
- Offer a gesture of forgiveness where needed…
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Our Build begins next week! Volunteer now!
Our greatest need for volunteers is on Sunday afternoon, November 2, and all day on Wednesday, November 5. There are open slots on each day. Click the button below to sign up whenever is best for you. No experience is necessary; training is available when you arrive.
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We are pleased to announce that our stewardship efforts for 2026 are completed. You, the members of our beloved church, have pledged $184,807.22 for the work of our church next year. 53 members have pledged. The amount pledged is approximately $20,000 more than pledged in the past two years. I believe that the number of people pledging is the most we have had, certainly in the past few years.
Your pledging has already resulted in the Finance Ministry being able to complete and adopt a budget for 2026 and send it to the vestry. So two goals have been accomplished.
Thank you again to Allen Downs, who wrote such an inspiring letter in support of our stewardship efforts. Thank you to Nancy Greene and Pete Dane for writing thank you letters. We can never thank Carolyn Mor enough for all her work keeping track of the pledges and all financial matters.
Gratefully,
Carolyn, Nancy, Allen, Pete, and Skip
| | An opportunity to help immigrants | | |
On Saturday, September 27, the men's breakfast group invited the women's breakfast group to breakfast to hear our brother, Dan McDonald, talk about his experiences working with immigrants in Portland. Some 30 members of our church attended. Dan is a lawyer by training, and when he retired and moved from West Virginia to Portland, he wanted to use his legal background for some useful work. He joined a group of some 120 lawyers who are involved in immigration work. I won't share all the details of his speech with you, but there is one issue in which we all might be helpful.
Dan stated that the current administration has instituted a filing fee of $500 for immigrants filing for a green card, which allows a legal immigrant to work. Previously, there has been no filing fee. You can imagine that a legal immigrant who is not currently employed doesn't have $500 for a filing fee so that he can obtain a green card to find employment.
Dan stated that the Dean of St. Luke's Cathedral in Portland was using some of his discretionary funds to allow legal immigrants to be able to pay the $500 filing fee, but did not have sufficient funds to assist all immigrants who wanted to apply for a green card. I called Dean George Thomas to obtain some more information and had a delightful conversation with him. He would welcome and be grateful to anyone willing to send a contribution to help pay for immigrant filing fees. He emphasized that all these people are legal immigrants. Contributions are tax-deductible, and Dean Thomas promised me that every contribution would be acknowledged. If you wish to send a contribution, please make a check out to St. Luke's Cathedral and write "immigrant filing fees" in the memo line. His mailing address is Dean George Thomas, St. Luke's Episcopal Cathedral, PO Box 4141, Portland, ME 04101.
I intend to send a contribution, and I am going to ask the Outreach Ministry to make a contribution. This seems like such a worthy opportunity to help people who want to work while there appears to be such a shortage of workers in Maine. Thank you for reading this.
Gratefully,
Skip Greenlaw
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Watch the livestream on the Diocesan YouTube Channel
9 a.m. Festival Eucharist
10:30 a.m. Convention Business
Noon - Lunch
1 - 5 p.m (approx.) Convention Business
Read the Preconvention Journal here.
| | Education & Spiritual Development Ministry | | |
"Happy are they who dwell in your house!. . ."
Psalm 84:3
Zoom Meditation/Silent Prayer
Monday at 4:30 p.m.
Readings, poems, and prayers are shared before a period of silence.
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In-Person Meditation/Silent Prayer at St. Brendan
Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.
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Bible Study
Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.
Bible Study 101 continues on Wednesday.
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Jackie Wilson – 6
Frances Barbour – 13
Kathy Burton – 15
Julia Walkling – 20
Nancy Greene – 20
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Regina Christianson – 21
John Haley – 21
KC Morrish – 22
Carolyn Mor – 29
Louis Pickens – 30
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Movement and Worship with Visiting Rabbi Danny Zemel and
Renowned Choreographer Liz Lerman
On Saturday, October 25th at 10:00 a.m., explore movement and prayer as art forms that support one another through an experiential workshop followed by a light lunch and discussion with distinguished guests, Rabbi Danny Zemel and choreographer Liz Lerman. Stuart Kestenbaum will moderate the program. No experience is required to participate. Individuals across all faith backgrounds are welcome to join for all or any part of the day’s events. The event will be held at Congregation Beth El 183 French Street in Bangor. Click here for more details.
| | We pray for those in special need: | | |
Harry Vickerson
Helen and Gibbie Nauman
Mimi Gerstell
Agnes and Billy
Barbara K.
Julie and Tom
Gwen Murray
Sally
Beth Kyzer
David
Preston Henderson
Mollie Ann Meserve
Heidi (Jonny's mother)
Tammie and Jason Cox
Tyler Goss
Kate Hallen & Bob Blum
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Judith Jerome
Mimi Maslan
Semantha
Judy
Megan
Bishop Thomas Brown
Naomi
Anne Burton
Hewit
Mary Ann and Terry
Nishah
David Morrish
Corbin
Rebecca
Pam B.
Jaxson
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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
Mary Ann Shaw
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. Andrew & St. John, Southwest Harbor, St. Saviour, Bar Harbor, and for the priests of our diocese.
In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for The Church in Wales.
On the Island and Peninsula, we pray for the Congregational UCC, Brooksville.
| | | Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
The gospel reading in the liturgy today has to do with our approach to God in prayer. It is not the proud Pharisee’s bragging prayer but the humble confession of the sinner which brings God’s response.
We continue to read through the prophets, which we began doing in June. Now we hear from Joel, who lived well after the time of Jeremiah. Joel rejoices in God’s goodness and the blessings the Lord has given them. He says that in the days to come God will also pour out the Spirit upon the people and all who call on God will be saved.
The second reading is presented as Paul’s final words to Timothy when Paul was in prison and facing his imminent death. That approaching martyrdom finds Paul confident in the good he has done, but, like the tax collector, he is aware of his total dependence upon God.
We, the community of faith, are put into right relationship with God not because of our success being good, but because we place our whole trust and confidence in God. We strive to give up all and follow Jesus not in order to earn God’s favor, but as our response to the unswerving love God has for us.
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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