St. George's, York Harbor...Reaching Out

AIDS Response Seacoast Walk coming soon!

2011-04-18T17:35:00.000-04:00

Our team in 2008

It's that time of year again! Plan to join the walkers at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 1st. It's a great way to get some good exercise, make new friends and help a worthy cause.

Right here in the Seacoast area, a significant number of people count on the client services that AIDS Response Seacoast provides without charge: mental health counseling, nutritional counseling, access to support groups and referrals to medical specialists.

For those clients experiencing financial strain, they also offer assistance with housing and utility expenses and access to the ARS food pantry. Perhaps most important, experienced case managers help clients manage and balance the competing stresses in their lives such as navigating the rough waters of Social Security and Medicare or developing household budgets to protect their housing and therefore, the stability of their families.

Members of our team in 2010

Funding these important services is becoming increasingly difficult in the current economic climate. Threatened decreases in funding from both federal and state grants could put these services in jeopardy. The New Hampshire AIDS Service Organization client support funding may also be eliminated by the New Hampshire Legislature in the this year and beyond. At the same time, demands for services are increasing. Our brothers and sisters living with HIV/AIDS need our financial support now more than ever.

Register at 1 Junkins Ave in Portsmouth beginning at about 12:30 that same day. You can join the St. George's award-winning team and make your donation at a secure web site. Head to our team's home page and join our team!

You can also pick up envelopes at church to gather cash and check donations from your friends and colleagues.

I look forward to walking with you on the 1st. Together, let's make a difference!

Deacon Sudie

The Annual Ecumenical Dinner is coming soon. Sign up to help!

2011-01-18T13:30:00.001-05:00

As I sit here, looking out of the window, watching the flakes fall on a snowy Tuesday in mid-January, I'm trying to think of spring things...or at least Mud Season things...

Look at all the people!

The annual Ecumenical Dinner held in early March comes to mind. This meal is the brain child of Rose Cronin and her husband Jim, both parishioners at St. Christopher's Roman Catholic Church, our neighbors just up the street. This pictures I've added here were taken at the event in 2007.

The dessert crew gets ready to serve

This will be the 24th year for the annual event -- a complete turkey dinner with all the trimmings. I think of it as a kind of "Table of Plenty -- on steroids!"

Pat and Kate have their eyes on the pies

Everyone is invited to this free meal that falls between St. Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day and signals the end of the worst of winter. All ages are represented at the event. There are families with young children, as well as singles and older folk. And people of all ages from the local churches are there to help set up, serve and clean up.

A large number of the turkey dinners are packaged up to be delivered to people who are home bound. A crew of willing volunteers handle this task as well.

Charlie heads out with the delivery crew

The turkeys and pies are all cooked and donated by members of all the local churches. The "sides" (yummy mashed potatoes, green beans, gravy and cranberry sauce) are cooked and catered by York schools, with the cost of the food divided among the churches.

This year's effort will happen on Saturday March 12th, and St. George's enthusiastic team will be headed up by Kathy Roosa, Lori Pesciotta and Jane Morris.

Our friend Bess's smile says it all!

Sign up sheets will be going up soon, asking us to cook turkeys, pies and provide some willing hands to help make it all happen. Be sure to get in on the action this year -- sign up!

This is a great way to help those in need in our community -- after the last dish is dried, you'll be glad you were part of the effort. Have questions? Send me an email!

What fun! We had a Handcrafting Justice craft fair yesterday...

2010-12-20T20:48:00.000-05:00

What a busy time we had yesterday! It was Advent IV, and our new Rector's first Sunday with us. In addition, at the 10:15 service, we had our annual Christmas Pageant.

To top this all off, Christine Mont-LaButte of Handcrafting Justice was with us, displaying amazing crafts made by women all over the world. For those of us who were behind in our Christmas shopping (like me!), this was a real Godsend!

The mission of Handcrafting Justice, an international network run by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd,is to work in partnership with women and those in social and economic distress. They promote human dignity and justice by creating opportunities for economic and social transformation.
They do this by

* Marketing items the women make
* Raising consciousness of the situations in which they live
* Creating opportunities for women and men in the U.S. to get involved
* Telling the stories of women, men and children
* Creating networks of justice and solidarity in search of sustainable economic options for those in the developing world

The crafts were wonderful--handbags made of silk sari scraps,
children's toys, jewelry, linens, scarves.

This year, thanks to Handcrafting Justice and Beads for Life (picture to the right), whose wares we were able to purchase several weeks ago (Thank you, Heather Hesse-Stromberg) I was able to save myself a trip to the mall by purchasing something for nearly everyone on my Christmas list at these two events-- and thus making a difference in the lives of others.

Isn't this what this season of giving is all about?

Celebrating St. Francis of Assisi--a life of prayer and service

2010-10-12T20:44:00.000-04:00

St. Francis

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The Seasonal Workers Gathering...

2010-08-18T22:29:00.000-04:00

Earlier this month, members of St. George's gathered at the Chuck and Mary Ann Smith's house to host a typical American cook out for all of the seasonal workers who come to York in the summer to work at the various inns, hotels and restaurants.

These students come from the far corners of the globe to spend their summer vacation from their university studies to be housekeepers and laundry workers. They do this to improve their English and to learn about America.

The program, sponsored by the York Diversity Forum, seeks to provide opportunities for these students to meet together, get to know community members, practice conversational English and just have some fun in their time off.

The program also provides bikes for the workers to use so that they can get around town easily. A member of the committee also provides maintenance for the bikes -- Thanks, Ted!) Local churches like ours offer hospitality throughout the summer.

The weather for the picnic was close to perfect, the food was great (burgers, dogs, corn on the cob, and a variety of salads, with ice cream for dessert.) In addition to the great food, we offered boat rides, with Captain Thomas Beecher guiding the boaters.

This year, we partnered in the effort with St. Christopher's Roman Catholic Church, our neighbors in York Harbor. As you can see by these pictures, a good time was had by all!

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori's webcast....

2010-07-29T10:30:00.001-04:00

Here's a link to our Presiding Bishop's webcast yesterday. Food for thought for all of us. Happy watching!

Habitat for Humanity -- York Build 2009

2009-08-01T14:42:00.010-04:00

When I got Liz Reisz's email this week, since I had a free Saturday, I offered to take lunch over to the volunteers at the Habitat for Humanity "build"--St. George's is a "Covenant Church" for Habitat, so we try to do our part.

I'm glad I answered her email. What a great adventure! After picking up the food, contributed by Ellie Butler and Catherine Fatina, I ventured off to find the site. I am directionally challenged anyway, but misnamed and unmarked streets certainly didn't help! After getting completely lost, hampered by a dead cell phone, I headed to Anthony's where they kindly let me use a phone to call Liz. Luckily, she was home and was able to steer me and my cargo of perishable food in the right direction. Whew! Prayers are answered!

I arrived about 3/4 of an hour later than I had planned, but that was OK. They were all happy to see me--I was greeted by Jon Dulude --he introduced himself as "Loud Jon"--Jon oversees volunteers at the site and is also in charge of site safety. He lives in York during the summer months and winters in Georgia--he's worked at Habitat sites in both places--he's an amazing man--He's active in both of our town fire departments...he is also a Hospice volunteer and helps in several other local organizations--about 12 of them in all! He's in the green shirt seen here.

The "build" in York Beach is coming along, despite site challenges and wet weather. Up until now, professional contractors have been on site, but the house is getting to the place where volunteers without professional building experience can be used. Today, Kathy and Marianne were surveying lumber that will be used today in the decking--they are checking to see where the lumber "crowns." See them at work on the right. Kathy, who has worked on clean up and rebuilding in New Orleans with a group from First Parish, lives in Kittery and is able to work at the site most Fridays and Saturdays, thanks to an employer who values community service. Marianne, a parishioner at St. Christophers, lives in town and is active in our Food Pantry. I met others on the job: It was Art's first day as a volunteer, so he described himself as a "go-fer"--go fer this, go fer that. I also met Steve, who is on the local Habitat board. He was measuring boards....

Later in the day, I returned to check out the progress made in the afternoon--to my surprise, there was David Mann, the head contractor, standing on the now-completed deck, looking very pleased. To quote him directly: "It was a great day!"

Finally, while I was looking for good camera shots, I ran into the future occupants of the house, a local mother and her son--Janalee Moquin and her son, Orion. They are contributing 400 hours of their own time as part of their agreement with Habitat. A recent York Weekly article will tell you more about this family. I was able to snap a shot of the two of them together this afternoon--Orion's on the newly finished deck, with his mom standing near their future basement door.

As I reflect on the day, I remember the passion of those working on the project. You could feel the joy and see the smiles on all the faces of the workers--my own face included. The Spirit was certainly at work today in York Beach!

This Habitat project provides a wonderful local opportunity for members of St. George's to make a real difference in the life of a local family--with both their hands and their hearts. I look forward to seeing many of us out at the site over the coming weeks.

To get involved in the project, head to the York Habitat for Humanity website. You'll find sign up forms and everything you need to join the team.

And--When you see her, thank Liz Reisz for all the work she does on our behalf as our Habitat liaison.

Directions to the site:
From Old Post Road, turn onto Bluestone Estates (coming from Rte 1, it's the first left, coming from the village, it's the lst right before Rte. 1) Take a left onto Greystone. This turns into Trafton. You will turn right onto Hemlock about 1/4 mi or so. Hemlock is a dirt road, and not marked on the right side. There is a street sign where the road goes to the left. It's past a large group of mailboxes. The Habitat house is quite a way down Hemlock, on the right. (there is another house under construction before you get to the Habitat site.

If you are coming from the Village, here are easier directions:
Take Long Sands up from York Village, Turn right on Ridge Road. After about 1/2 mile or so, take a left on Beacon St Extension. Take a left on Spruce St and almost an immediate right on Hemlock. The site is about 500 ft up the road on the left. Go slowly on all these little back streets. There are major potholes!

More pictures to come! You might even find me wielding a paint brush....

Back home...

2009-04-30T23:10:00.002-04:00

We traveled home to Maine today, leaving the lush spring green of Washington (dogwoods are in full bloom there) for the just budding branches in Maine.

Our return trip went without a hiccup--no leaky air conditioner "baptisms" or stalled trains to deal with. The sleek Acela is the only way to go, I think. We made the trip from DC to Boston in just a little more than 6 hours--

I'm too tired to write more--tomorrow is a regular work day for me, so I am heading to bed!

More later....

M2EP -- Day 3

2009-04-29T20:40:00.002-04:00

Today was the final day of the Mobilization, and in many ways, I think it was the best. In the fourth Plenary Session this morning, the 6 panelists and Brian McLaren spoke about obstacles we will face as we get our church communities involved in this issue. Most memorable of the panelists were Brian McLaren and ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hansen.

Challenges (there are more, but these two stuck in my mind and made it to my notes!):
As congregations, we need to decide if we are "settled" churches or "missional" churches (My bias: I hope that we at St. Georges see ourselves as a missional church...)--how do we as a community define ourselves in relation to the poor? Poverty is a BIG issue--Bp. Hansen likened it to gnawing on an elephant--it's sure easier to chew a biscuit!

When we talk about poverty, some will see it as a political issue and inappropriate in church--it's important to remind these folks that much of Jesus' ministry focused on the poor and the outcast. What does it mean today to be a follower of Christ?

It's important to join with other churches as we work to address the issue of poverty--a quote I remember in this regard: "We need to lay down our [denominational] identities to be able to lift up the cross."

One of the points that was made again and again over the three days was the importance of identifying with the poor--putting names to faces--being present to their lives and experience. Vincent Harding, a veteran of the Civil Rights era, said that if one works for the poor you are a kind benefactor. When you identify with the poor, it's a life of dangerous living well worth living.

Tomorrow morning, we head home with lots of ideas...stay tuned. There's much more on my mind...

M2EP - Day 2

2009-04-28T22:00:00.002-04:00

An amazing day! We slept in just a little this morning, since we decided to go directly to Capitol Hill rather than the Convention Center. We all said Morning Prayer together this morning before we left--the Lectionary readings from Daniel and John I seemed somehow appropriate. Our meeting with Sen. Susan Collins assistant went very well. This did not surprise us--Sen. Collins does a good job of listening to her constituents and looks out for what's best for Maine. After that meeting was done, we knew that we had free time until my meeting with Rep. Chellie Pingree at 3:30, so we made our way to the National Cathedral--not an easy task--Metro with 3 transfers followed by bus or taxi to get there. We chose the taxi. As always, the Cathedral was a treat for --we took a tour, led by a retired lawyer, who added all sorts on interesting historical information to his tour. This is one of our country's treasures....

We split up at Longwood Building to see our Representatives. While I kept my appointment with Rep. Pingree's assistant, Cindy and Tom paid a call on Rep. Mike Michaud. Again, we were well received. I particularly enjoyed my visit with Jennifer Taylor. The three of us met up again at a rally/reception that was help at the Raeburn Building--there was a full line of speakers, including the surprise appearance of the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. When the rally ended, the three of us decided to have a quiet dinner and come home early, rather than return to the Convention Center for another inspiring worship service (though that was tempting!). We found a little Thai restaurant on the same block of the Metro stop, had that quiet dinner and headed home.

As I reflected about the day, one of the things that made an impression is the spirit here in our nation's capital. There's a sense of hope that's almost palpable--even the taxi drivers seem optimistic.

Tomorrow we learn how to bring what we have learned back home with us, to make a difference in our own communities and beyond.

M2EP - Day 1

2009-04-28T06:56:00.002-04:00

What an amazing day yesterday was! We got home too late and I was too tired to write last night, but I thought I would put some thoughts down this morning while yesterday was still fresh. Cindy, Tom and I were up and away early yesterday for check-in at the Washington Convention Center, a HUGE, brand new facility in DC. We gathered with 1100 other people in one of the ballrooms for the opening plenary session. We began with prayer and music, led by Rev. Zina Jacque, a dynamic African American woman who will be leading our worship throughout the Mobilization.

After worship, Jim Wallis, Rich Stearns (former CEO of Lenox, now CEO of World Vision) and Congresswoman Rosa Delauro spoke to us. The 1100 peopple in attendance are from a wide range of faith traditions--it was clear to us when we sang--many hands were in the air--while we may disagree on theology, we are united in our views on poverty. Jim spoke first--the faith community now has access in this new administration, but we need to push to get results--the budget under consideration has good potential to help the poor, but the faith community needs to get involved. "The budget is a moral document." Jesus' mission statement (from Isaiah) should be ours as a church.

Cindy Tom and I all thought that Rich Stearns was the most powerful speaker in this forst plenary session. His is a life transformed by an experience he had in Africa--he had much to say, but I will remember what he said about the faith community. Taken as a body, Christians give 2% to their churches. 98% of that doesn't go beyond the church. $.06 per Christian per day goes to the poor. If every Christian tithed, $168 billion could go to the poor. Poverty has ahuman face--God wants us to look at these faces and get to know their names. What would happen if the church turned its face to the world? What if each of us took the Gospel seriously?

Congresswoman Delauro echoed Rich's theme--with some statistics: 7.6% unemployment...37 million Americans now fall below the poverty line. 32 million are on food stamps. We need to repair the nation's safety net...
While the President was unable to be at our meeting, he sent members of his staff as part of a panel to speak to us. They spoke about the budget under consideration--efforts to streamline, importance of going green -- "The best anti-poverty program is a job" The recovery effort needs the help of faith-based and neighborhood partnerships.

In the afternoon, we heard from Jeffery Sachs (via video) of the Earth Institute, David Lane of ONE.org, and Angela Glover Blackwell of Policy Link, who all spoke about the MDGs, progress that's been made--and the treat posed by the global recession.

The last session of the day focused on Capitol Hill day and advocacy training. After the training we had (with good handouts) I am feeling much more confident about the congressional visits we will be making today. The three of us are the only representatives from Maine--we have a visit with Sen Collins this morning (Sen. Snow was unable to visit with us or provide a staff member to speak with us. Cindy and Tom will be visiting with Rep. Mike Michaud this afternoon and I have a meeting with Chellie Pingree scheduled.

Our day ended with a powerful worship service--live music from Martin Smith of "Delirious" and an amazing sermon (I would call it a "preaching experience") by Rev. Fred Haynes. 25 minutes of powerful preaching--he hardly took time to breathe. This Episcopalian has never heard a sermon quite like this one.... I'm glad we stayed in town for this...

Full disclosure: We got home to Virginia later than usual because I got us on the wrong Metro train. Tom keeps reminding me of this....sigh...

This morning, we are being a little lazy--we'll say Morning Prayer together (just the 3 of us, rather than 1100) and head to Capitol Hill. After our morning meeting, we plan to head to the National Cathedral and the Vietnam Memorial--a bit of sightseeing. Tomorrow will be spent in workshops and post-Mobilization training...

We traversed 11 states, but not DC -- yet...

2009-04-26T22:40:00.003-04:00

Summary of the day: A baptism with water...two angels......speaking in tongues? and a baptism of fire. After a 5 a.m wake up call, Pete dropped Deacon Tom Duplessie and me off at Wells, where we met Deacon Cindy Beaulieu on the DownEaster--she had reserved one of the sets of seats facing each other for the trinity of deacons...All was well, until the air conditioning unit over us began sweating...suddenly we were wishing our umbrellas weren't packed! We managed to dodge the steady stream of droplets the rest way to Boston. Once in Boston, we transferred to the Orange line--two wonderful transit workers--who would have made a great comedy duo--helped us figure out where to go next and kept us in stitches. Once at Back Bay station, we grabbed a bite at the local Dunkin' Donuts--that's where we experienced the speaking in tongues--not English...not Spanish...we heard but didn't understand... Then, we boarded the Amtrak Regional that would bear us to DC--we thought! All was well--it was a beautiful day--on the beaches of the coast of Connecticut, we saw swimmers and beach goers...fresh spring green leaves on the trees...blossoming fruit trees--sparkling blue water and azure sky studded with puffy clouds-- it was beautiful!

And then, just south of New Rochelle, the train stopped. There was a power failure. We sat. And sat. And sat. Finally after about 1 1/2 hours, Amtrak sent a diesel locomotive to tow us to New York. Air conditioning-free, we made slow progress to that city--that was our baptism of fire. It was hot! As we approached Washington, 3 hours late, my brother Jim picked us up at New Carrollton station and drove us to his house, where we are staying.

It was a long day, but even with the interesting happenings, the three travelers are glad to be here. On our trip down, as we passed through the largest cities in the Northeast, we noticed, in contrast to the natural beauty, the ugly evidence of poverty -- graffiti, houses in decay, trash by the rails... We hope the three days we spend here at the M2EP will help us find ways of replacing the ugliness of poverty with hope in our own communities.

We'll add DC to our 11 states tomorrow...for now, bed is looking very good!

Getting ready to leave for the M2EP

2009-04-24T06:17:00.005-04:00

I meet up with fellow deacons Cindy Beaulieu (Aroostook Cluster) and Tom Duplessie (All Saints, Skowhegan) on the Downeaster early on SUnday morning. We'll arrive in Washington on Sunday night. The Mobilization begins on Monday. Sojourners has sent along some pre-Mobilization reading for us. I have found the 5 day devotional "Justice as an Act of Worship" helpful as I prepare for this venture. The article entitled "Toward a Spirituality of Justice" is a keeper...

The weather in Washington next week looks like it will be spring-like--even verging on summer--sunny with highs in the 70s and 80s... So I am going to break into my summer clothes earlier than usual. I hope this makes my suitcase lighter!

A prayer in Lent

2009-03-21T07:59:00.002-04:00

This prayer by Brian Swarts, the National Coordinator of Micah Challenge USA caught my eye today--it seems worth sharing...

Prayer for Justice, Mercy, and Humility

Lord, hear our prayer:
Today we face the season of our redemption during a time of global crisis.
During this season teach us to understand the love that drove you to give up everything to save us all.
Give us the strength that only comes in weakness;
The renewal that only comes through death and resurrection.
Today many of us feel weakened, burdened, and overwhelmed by the challenges and uncertainties that lie ahead.
We ask that your strength be made perfect in our time of weakness.
While each of us is hurt by hard times, it is the people around the world living on less than $1/day, facing hunger, thirst, and illness, who bear the greatest burden of this crisis.
Just as your weakest hour proved to be the most generous, most life-giving moment in history,
We pray for that out of our own weakness comes a generosity of justice, mercy, and humility for those who bear burdens greater than our own.
Help us to remember that you are the God who, out of nothing, made everything.
The God who still has the power today to remake us.
So let us be remade, not overcome, by our global crisis;
Let us be purified, and not laid low, by injustice, greed, and inequality.

Let us commit ourselves to:
Act justly,
Love mercy,
And walk humbly with you, and with all those who suffer or want.

This is our moment to change the world.
Because it is at our moment of crisis where your strength and your light, revealed to the world by our faith, become a force that is stronger than fear or death.

Today, move us to become the answer to our prayers.
Give us the strength to respond, in our own time of need, to the needs of those who have the least in our world.
Lead us to be your agents of hope and renewal during this season of redemption.

For it is only in You that we have the power to change things;
It is only because of You that we have the promise of renewal;
And yet is through us that You seek to do all these things. Amen.

Angel Food stretches grocery dollars and feeds the soul, too!

2009-01-03T08:41:00.008-05:00

Have you heard of Angel Food Ministry (AFM)? It’s a non-profit, nondenominational ministry started in 1994, currently distributing food in 35 states. AFM has a strong relationship with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is an authorized food stamp program. AFM reaches about 2.5 million people each month. Participants receive great food, for only $30 per box. The same food would cost about $70 if purchased at a grocery store.

There are no applications or qualifications to order Angel Food. Everyone qualifies to participate in this program! AFM’s host sites carry out their vision of "sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ by ministering to the needs of people through providing food relief to communities and financial support to churches and ministries throughout the US."

St. George's is a brand-new host site. We just completed our first monthly experience with AFM, all within a very short window of time!

It all began in December when St George's volunteers took our first orders. At 5:45 a.m. on distribution day (Saturday, December 20) the two of us, plus Paige+, Kathy’s husband, Al, and Rev. Linda Hirst, from First Parish Church, ventured off into a snowy winter wonderland to drive to New Life Fellowship Church in Biddeford. After picking up the food at New Life, we returned to St. George's. The picture above shows our Distribution Coordinator, Janie Sweeney Beecher with her team in action getting ready for our first distribution that morning.

Want to get involved? Get in touch with Kathy Roosa to learn more about how you can help in this ministry. We need folks to help with pick up and distribution. Other churches in the area are helping with this ministry, too. We already have some stories about how Angel Food has helped folks in need in unexpected ways....

People can now order food online right from the St. George's website. We also accept cash and money orders at the church. Food stamps may also be used. The order deadline this month is noon on Monday, January 12. I ordered a box last month and have just placed my family's order for next month. The food is really tasty--and has helped the Blanchards save our food dollars, too.

ARS AIDS Walk 2008

2008-05-04T17:34:00.005-04:00

The blog has been quiet since the return of our New Orleans missioners. That doesn't mean that things have been silent in the Outreach department, though. We've been doing some education and consciousness-raising. First, my co-deacon Aaron Perkins gave a presentation on Prison Ministry with emphasis on restorative justice. Then, a couple of weeks ago, Virginia Marie Rincon, Hispanic Missioner for the Diocese and pastor of Mision de San Lucas came to St. George's and spoke of "Tengo Voz" and her work with the hispanic community in Portland and the challenges they face. Last week, Gary Delong of The Maine Sea Coast Mission spoke of that organization, its history and how we might help.

Pete and I just returned from this year's AIDS walk in Portsmouth. St. George's had a wonderfully energetic group of walkers--there were roughly 25 of us, plus at least 2 dogs--in all. It was great to see people of all ages contributing enthusiasm and energy to a great cause. The picture posted here was taken after about 1/3 of us had headed home. To see more pictures of the event and walkers from St. George's Church who had left before we took the "official" picture, follow this link.

This year, there was some added excitement--the St. George's Team won the prize for the most money raised by a faith community--an ice cream social! As of early this morning, according to the tally on the AIDS Response Seacoast site, we had raised close to our goal of $5000. In all, more than $41,000 was raised on a cold and drizzly day.

AIDS Response-Seacoast (ARS) is a non-profit, community-based HIV/AIDS Service organization dedicated to providing education, direct assistance and advocacy for people and communities affected by HIV/AIDS. They especially need our financial assistance to help compensate for significant recent cuts in federal funding.

In addition to the AIDS Walk, during the year ARS holds several fund raisers that raise significant monies and are lots of fun, to boot. There's a wonderful auction that happens the last Saturday in August. The Spring Gala takes place in March. Watch for them...

Thanks to all for braving the damp weather and making a real difference in the lives of others--thanks to all in our parish and beyond who sponsored our walkers--and thanks, Lauren Segalla and Abbie Duquette for getting us organized and excited about this effort!

Sudie /

March -- Table of Plenty

2008-02-29T07:52:00.008-05:00

This month, March, Table of Plenty is our featured ministry opportunity. Begun in 1994, Table of Plenty is a free community kitchen whose mission is to meet the needs of a growing number of people who may be having trouble putting food on their tables. A weekly meal is served on Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall of First Parish Church. Over 100 nutritious meals are served each week to anyone who comes through the door. This is also a ministry to those who are lonely, or feel forgotten, so it’s an effort to address emotional needs, as well as physical hunger. The churches in town take turns providing meals, cooks, servers and dishwashers. Our church helps out 6-8 times a year. There are a variety of ways to help—cooks often prepare food ahead of time at home, and others help with serving and clean up on site.

Karen Gilroy (kgilroy@maine.rr.com) is the Table of Plenty Coordinator for St. Georges. Ask her questions, check out the display and look for signup sheets to go up several weeks before our turn comes up again.

Homecoming

2008-02-24T10:25:00.003-05:00

Most of the team has arrived back in Maine this morning. The driving team is well on their way through Tennessee and will arrive back in Maine on Monday. We are all very tired but gratified by our amazing experience seeing the need in New Orleans and responding with love and hard work, and in the process opening ourselves up to a new kind of self-giving love. That is the purpose of Lent: sacrificing our selves as Christ sacrificed himself so that we might open ourselves to the love of God that makes resurrection happen and happen and happen. Resurrection happened for us in New Orleans. Let's all pray for the ongoing resurrection of that city, its neighborhoods, communities, churches and lives. As we approach Easter let's all pray for how we might give of ourselves in order to open ourselves to resurrection love and truly experience God's awesome gift to us.

I am having a lot of fun sharing about our experience this morning at church - please come next Sunday (see below for details) to hear from the whole team, see pictures and celebrate New Orleans as we pray for its ongoing resurrection.

Peace,
Steve+

Day 7: Hope

2008-02-22T22:15:00.003-05:00

Today was our last day working at the home we have been helping to rebuild. After a difficult day yesterday our enthusiasm was not diminished. In fact, our frustration after the tour of the city seemed to have made us that much more determined to finish our work with care. We have fallen in love with our homeowner, whom we have never met. We yearn for her and all of her neighbors, friends and family to be home and for this city to be fully alive again. And we sense that that is happening. We have a palpable sense of really being the hands and heart of Christ - and we have all learned how to hang sheetrock too! In fact, we transformed a house from a maze of studs into a house of rooms, a place looking very much like people will indeed live there again soon.

This is the last post to the blog from New Orleans - at least for this year. We all start heading home in the morning. We bring home with us the love and gratitude of a city and, more strikingly, we bring home our own gratitude for the opportunity to grow closer to God through being those hands of Christ. We have seen resurrection at work and we have participated in creating resurrection. Death no longer has hold over us or the people of New Orleans, if we are guided by hope and driven by love. We have all, in one way or another, fallen in love with this city and its people and we all hope that it will thrive again. We are grateful to be able to be a part of it - and to all who have supported our journey and work here through donations and prayers. This trip has created love between the Southern Maine Seacoast and the city of New Orleans. That love makes us and our nation stronger and the world a better place.

Remember to come and see some of what we have seen, Sunday, March 2, at St. George's (407 York Street/Route 1A, York Harbor, Maine) for a multimedia sermon at each service, putting all this in the Gospel context, and time from 10:00 to 11:00 to interact with team members and hear first-hand experiences or the rebuilding of a city.

God Bless the people of New Orleans and the love that connects us!

Steve+

Day 6: Intensity

2008-02-22T00:04:00.003-05:00

The first part of our day today was similar to the last two. We are getting increasingly efficient at hanging sheetrock and taking more and more pride in our work. We also realized that this family's return to their home will have a notably hopeful impact on their block and neighborhood. The more people move back in the faster the renewal proceeds.

We left the house early today so that our team leaders could give us a tour of the city and the various neighborhoods that have experienced destruction in various ways. Some of the team who have been in New Orleans since Katrina were impressed with how much has improved in the last year or two. Most of us who have not been here since the storm have been struck by how depressing it seems here. We were blown away by the annihilation of the Lower Ninth Ward. But we were just as disturbed by the many middle class neighborhoods that must have been neat and tidy before the storm and now, two and a half years later, look like blighted slums. The storm did not discriminate, although we know that the politics of rebuilding does.

Our experience of the grief of New Orleans - of the people here and our reactions to the scenery - was coupled today with grief within our group. Our deacon at home, Sudie Blanchard, lost her father today quite suddenly. A close friend of two of our team members also died suddenly today. We closed the day with reflections on what we experienced today, mostly to the tour, and then with a memorial service for these two men who died today and for the City of New Orleans pre-Katrina, recognizing that Resurrection happens and grows in the midst of our grief, that the triumph of Christ and the love of God is greater than any of our losses and that we help God to make resurrection happen when we become the hands and heart of God.

May God bless our team and all who are supporting and praying for us!

Steve+

Day 5: Gratitude

2008-02-20T23:30:00.003-05:00

Another day of work at the house that we are helping to rebuild. Substantial progress is visible since we started yesterday morning - lots of insulation and sheetrock up and much sense of accomplishment. We are also musing about spending some of the excess money we raised to purchase appliances for the kitchen in this home. There is a real sense of pride and connection to this family, whom we have not met and will not meet but are able to love and support through our work here.

I learned that while the physical rebuilding effort is going pretty well - 11 houses are under construction now - at least on the small scale that the Diocese of Louisiana is at, the emotional recovery is much more precarious. One home is complete but the homeowner is still not able to move in because of overpowring reminders of the flood. Government funds for support are drying up, though Episcopal Relief and Development is helping to fill in some of those gaps.

This evening we were invited to join the congregation of St. Paul's Church in Lakeview, next to where we are staying, for their Lenten Wednesday series. We prayed Evening Prayer with them and then they treated us to a supper of crab and corn chowder and Po Boy sandwiches and a video of the damage and rebuilding of St. Paul's supported heavily by the Diocese of Olympia in Washington State. We then shared conversation about their experiences of Katrina and the aftermath and our impressions after three days here. It was a powerful opportunity for connection and relationship. Four members of our team have been invited to a couple of parishioners' home for crawfish on Friday evening. I was impressed to learn that the new pews at St. Paul's here were donated by St. Paul's in Indianapolis, where I was baptized. This is truly the heart of Christ's activity in America right now and, as the Rev. Will Hood, rector here, emphasized, we are the hands of Christ here now, which is very exciting. Our supporters are our Holy Spirit!

I continue to be blown away by the hospitality and gratitude for our presence here. One man said that he just can't get over how people, often far away, who were never asked for help would offer to give their time and money to support rebuilding in New Orleans. I feel the love of God here and am grateful.

Blessings,
Steve+

Day 4 - Check in from Steve+ and a report from one of our youth

2008-02-20T07:04:00.012-05:00

News Flash! First pictures from our work crew are in! Here's one of the whole group in front of the house they are all working on this week. Had a good phone conversation from Steve+ a few minutes ago, heard Cheryl and others shouting greetings from the background--they all sound great! More to come, but I need to get ready to go to work at the library! Sudie :-)

***********

Late last night (after I had gone to bed) the following email message came from Steve:

"Sudie, it's now 11:00 pm and I've been flat out since 5:15 am. Now I understand why it was so hard getting updates from folks last year.

We have been assigned to work on one house this week, owned by an elderly woman who takes care of several grandchildren, but has been evacuated to somewhere in Mississippi since Katrina. Most of the adults are blown away by the incompetence and neglect that led to the floods and have prevented rebuilding. The youth are mostly impressed by the sense of community evident in the poor neighborhood where we are working.

It makes us adults even madder when we realize how little of that community has actually come back. There is a sense of broken-heartedness about the city that is itself heartbreaking and makes us want to reach out and hug the whole place, or at least do what we can to bring back one matriarch and her family."

Also received this morning, forwarded by Paige, from a youth member of the group, Chris Ervin:

"We got our first assignment today and we are rebuilding a house in the upper ninth ward. The group I'm in consists of Gene, Steve, Cheryl, Tristan, and me. We are building ceilings in a large house. We finished one ceiling and now we are working on another. Gene, is probably the most enthusiastic. He really enjoys climbing up the scaffolding and drilling screws into the ceiling.

We got a large amount of work done. unlike last year were we wouldn't go back to the house we started we get to keep working on the same house all week witch will be really nice because we get to see our final product before we go.

I'm estimating that we may completely finish this house if we keep up the fast pace working."

I'm hoping to get some pictures of the team members at work before long. Stay tuned, and let's keep them all supported by our prayers--they are working hard!

Sudie :-)/

A quick update from Steve--

2008-02-19T06:40:00.004-05:00

Steve emailed me late last night (the email was time stamped 12:15 a.m.) from his Palm:

"I'm writing from my Palm and it's very late. We're all in bed at St. Paul's Homecoming Center, after a long day of travel, sightseeing, grocery shopping and orientation. We'll be up at 5:30 CST to get ready to begin our work. Hopefully we'll post some photos soon. Peace, Steve"

It was good to hear that everyone's together and getting settled...

Sudie :-)/

A question from Brenda...with an answer...

2008-02-18T17:00:00.005-05:00

Received this message from Brenda earlier today (and just this minute learned that they have arrived in New Orleans and are unpacking. Hooray!!!! Your blogging deacon is carefully avoiding the "A" word....but she's thinking it...):

"Forgot to tell you that it seems like every hundred miles or so, we would see three crosses (large - 20' tall; two side crosses are white and the middle (higher cross) is usually brown), set up like the crosses from the crucifixion. Do you know which church or denomination puts those up along interstate 81? Regardless, it's a great reminder of why we're doing this trip, and we're all noticing them.
Tennessee is the 10th state we've been through, with Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana on tap for today."

Your faithful reference librarian did some Googling--here's the answer (from RoadsideAmerica.com)

"Those sets of crosses were all put up by the same man, Bernard Coffindaffer, a once-wealthy West Virginia businessman. He spent more than $2.5 million putting them up after a vision following open heart surgery told him to start building "crosses of mercy." The first trio was built north of Charleston, WV, and eventually some 1,800 were planted across 29 states. Coffindaffer's crosses are two pale blue ones and a yellow one, painted these colors to represent the colors of the sky and the light of the sun over Jerusalem. The crosses are treated with a saline solution and built to last 35 years. Coffindaffer eventually went broke, and died in October, 1993, after more than ten years of building."

I'm glad they are reminding you of the reason you are doing this work, and I suspect that Rev. Coffindaffer is too, from his current vantage point! :-) More about the crosses and Rev. Coffindaffer

Fliers & trainers arrive in Louisiana

2008-02-17T23:15:00.002-05:00

15 mission trip members have arrived in Louisiana - staying in Slidell, just outside of New Orleans, before arriving at the St. Paul's Homecoming Center in New Orleans on Monday. Ethan, Travis, Kelsey, Andrew, Lauren, Abbie, Savannah, Ariana, Gene, Sarah, Jeanne, Donna, Paul, Cheryl and Steve flew Skybus from Portsmouth to Gulfport, Mississippi, about an hour northeast of New Orleans, sharing the second plane with other missioners headed to help on the Gulf Coast. We drove along the Gulf to get to Slidell, witnessing the vast destruction in the wake of Hurricane Katrina that has still largely not been redeveloped. We'll add photos when we can.

Mary and Gretchen arrived by train, having shared cars with other missioners from other churches in the northeast.

Brenda, Rich, Taylor, Caitlin, Chris and Tristan are making progress in the car, hoping to make it to Chattanooga or Birmingham today and on to New Orleans Monday.

We'll get settled, do some sightseeing and grocery shopping for the week, and attend orientations on Monday.

It's been a full day, already eye-opening, with much more to come.

Peace,
Steve+

Update--fliers en route, drivers in Chattanooga, TN

2008-02-17T22:16:00.007-05:00

Several of us went to Pease Airport this morning with our missioners to see them on the plane south. Everyone was in good spirits as Dave Balian, Julie Young and I saw them depart for the security checkpoint. Here's a picture of the group just before they headed for the boarding area. (Dave and I slipped into the picture as kind of "Honorary " members of the team--we're both feeling just a little "left behind!")

No word from the air travelers yet yet, but I suspect they have been spending time getting from the airport in Gulfport to Slidell, LA and settled in the Hampton Inn where they will be spending the night.

I did get a note from Brenda saying that the driving group had made it to Chattanooga, TN today. They drove through some torrential rain, but at the end, they were treated to a spectacular double rainbow. Tomorrow, they will drive the final 1/3 of the way.

The Driving Team is Making Progress!

2008-02-16T19:27:00.004-05:00

This from Brenda on Saturday evening:

"We've made it to the hotel in Winchester, VA just fine. The guys are off to the fitness center and the girls are going down to look at the pool."

They are well on their way to New Orleans. The rest of us will be setting off from Pease early in the morning.

Steve+

And they're off! (The First Wave, anyway)

2008-02-16T16:08:00.004-05:00

This morning, Pete and I headed over to the Ervin's at about 6:45--everyone was up, and Brenda was masterminding the packing of the car, which Rich cooked breakfast for the troops. Nancy and Bud Haugh were there, too, seeing Tristan off. It was C-C-C-C-OLD...brrrr.... But the sun was on the rise, and there was no snow in sight. The six travelers waited patiently for me to snap this picture...then we had a moment of prayer, asking God's blessing. The "Thanks be to God" in response to my "Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord" was heartfelt--probably because they all wanted to get in the truck, where it was much warmer!! I got good shots of the car slowly backing up the driveway and getting underway--check the picture link to the left.

Godspeed, Rich, Brenda, Chris, Caitlin, Taylor and Tristan!!

Bright and early tomorrow morning, the next wave flies out of Pease--See you bright and early tomorrow, gang!

Fund raising update -- "Change4Change" has been cashed in...

2008-02-10T21:15:00.000-05:00

I just got off the phone with Sarah D--She and Abbie were just leaving Hannaford's after spending quite a while this evening running the coins that we collected in all of those "Change4Change" cans--and the big glass jar--through the CoinStar machine. I imagine it took some real muscle to get all the cans of coins inside the store--I couldn't lift that big glass jar last week!

As they poured the change in, Sarah said the machine had a hard time keeping up! And of course the cashiers heard all about the trip to New Orleans. Thanks to a lot of hard work on everyone's part--and a lot of generosity out there--after the GoldStar machine took it's percentage, we made $668.50!

Fundraising goal met, and exceeded!

2008-02-08T08:32:00.000-05:00

If my figures are accurate (and I believe they are...), our missioners have met and exceeded their fundraising goal, maybe by more than the thermometer indicates.

Thanks are due to all who participated so generously in any way--via the "Change4Change" buckets...chili and pancake suppers...the Jumbalya Jubilee...the flower and quilt raffles...funds contributed by family and friends in response to our requests...the special Christmas offering and vestry contributions...and the generous gift from the Diocese of Maine, through the Wolf Fund.

We ask for your continuing prayers as 25 of us prepare to leave in just over a week. A carload will leave on Saturday, February 16...a big group flies out of Pease Airport on Sunday, the the 17th, and two are even traveling from upstate New York by train.

Due to work obligations, I must stay in York. But I will be posting daily to this blog...stay tuned!

February's Outreach Effort--The Craft Outreach Program

2008-02-08T07:53:00.000-05:00

Ellie Butler and crew work diligently to provide several different articles for people going through tough times. Nimble fingers knit or crochet prayer shawls for those who need special reminders of God's love and prayers that surround them as they go through life's hard patches...knitted caps, small and large are created for preemies as well as people going through chemo...there are also lap quilts and other stitched for those who need some extra TLC. All these wonderful efforts are officially blessed several times a year at "Craft ingatherings."

During Lent, beginning on February 13, the Craft Outreach Program will be having Brown Bag Lunches at St. George's on Wednesdays from noon to 1:30. Bring whatever you are working on and join us. If you want to learn how to knit or crochet a shawl or hat, just bring yourself--we will have needles, hooks and yarn on hand to get you started. Bring a sandwich--we'll provide drinks and dessert. Questions? Call Ellie at 363-7114.

Chili Chefs at work...

2008-02-02T18:37:00.000-05:00

I stopped by church this morning and caught a group of chefs at work. Rich was browning meat and onions with cumin, chili powder and other spices as Brenda was whippping up the cornbread. Dave arrived with the slow cookers, and Peter (not pictured) rescued the entire operation with a can opener (we discovered that neither kitchen at church has a can opener!) See all the pictures here.

The visit to the Post Office yielded more donations today

2008-01-31T19:18:00.000-05:00

Total money raised for the NOLA trip from chili, checks and other donations currently stands at $11,313.50! This is really exciting to me, folks! I have a list of 30 donors from outside our parish and where they are from. They come from California, Alaska, Illinois, North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, Florida, and New England (VT, NH, MA and ME). Amounts given range from $20 to $1000. All of those letters and emails we sent to our friends and family members were worth the effort!

Our own St. George's parishioners (and this doesn't count chili-eaters and is in addition to the Vestry and Christmas offering) have given nearly $1000 of the total.

Just a little more than 2 weeks to go before you all take off! YAYY!!

More progress today...

2008-01-30T21:14:00.000-05:00

As of this afternoon, our fundraising efforts stand at $10,408.50! The thermometer has been updated.

The check from the Wolf Fund arrived today!

2008-01-30T09:47:00.000-05:00

And it's larger than we expected. We had budgeted for $1701, and the check was for $2401. This, added to donations that are arriving daily from our families and friends, brings our total amount raised to $9468!!! I will update the thermometer tonight.

A BIG donation toward our goal arrived today!

2008-01-25T21:15:00.000-05:00

Little by little, the funds are coming in. Early this morning I got an email from Lorrie letting me know that the Popes from Kennebunk had sent a check for $500! It made my day :-) The thermometer to the left reflects that addition.

Keep after your friends and relations, folks--not everyone can afford $500, but if everyone we ask gives something, it will all add up.

Getting ready...Raising Funds

2008-01-23T01:00:00.000-05:00

An ecumenical team of 25 volunteers, spearheaded by St. George’s parishioners, plans to head to New Orleans during President’s week, February 17 – 23, 2008 for a Mission Trip to aid that still-struggling city. This year, our team will be working on the "Rebuild" program through the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana

Is it possible that less than a month remains before we head to New Orleans by car, plane and train!

We are all sending letters requesting funds to family and friends. We are also planning two more fundraisers before we depart:

On February 3--A Superbowl Chili Dinner (Go, Patriots!), complete with a pint of chili, cornbread, and a brownie--all for $7.50 (4 meals for $25) Order your meal(s) by Friday, and arrange to pick them up on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning--
On February 5--The Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and Untalent Show. Enjoy yummy pancakes with all the trimmings and laugh a lot at the show following!

Keep your eyes on the thermometer on the right. We hope you will see the mercury rise! The good news this week is that we learned that the Diocese of Maine will be contributing a significant amount to our effort through the Wolf Fund. Do you want to add to our total? A donation in any amount is appreciated. Make your check out to St. George's Episcopal Church and add "NOLA trip" in the memo line. Sent your tax deductible donation to the church : P.O. Box 364, York Harbor, ME 03911.