1 November 2015 Windows, Backpacks, & Pork – Oh My ! It’s been a busy time in our church lately. With the extended summer season, along with our passion for engaging our community and bearing Christ’s light into the world, it can feel like a flurry. Add to that our upcoming Annual Meeting, reception of new members, and the over-the-horizon holiday season, not to mention all the unexpected challenges life brings us, and we’ve got a recipe for exhaustion. The question arises for us: how can devoted givers find renewed strength and reinvigorated purpose ? Like the tides, there’s a rhythm to this, but in our community the tides have become relentless. Whether it’s the economic urgency of more and more visitors, or persistently good weather that allows for very few `rainy days,’ external forces keep us moving at a lightning pace. It always feels like a flood tide. So if a healthy rhythm isn’t established for us, it becomes even more important for us to establish it ourselves (with the discernment and wisdom of God). Did you hear: REI (the adventure clothing & supply retailer) has announced it won’t open for Black Friday ? (I’m sure they’ll end up meeting sales goals anyway.) What impossible-to-set-down role or task do we yearn to let go of ? Remember Blue Laws ? Remember Sabbath ? Making and taking time to set aside pressing tasks that cry out for attention can be really hard. Somewhere in our common yearning for meaning, purpose, and productivity, we confuse busyness with effectiveness. Our spiritual task together is to begin to ask, `what gives me joy ?’ Not in a self-absorbed way, not as in “our lives are meant for pleasure,” but as in a) `what crowds out that sense of generosity and joy that we get when we’re doing what we love and what we’re called to do,’ and b) `what do I feel called to do now, and what do I need to let go of in order to be able to do it ?’ Where is the ebb tide of exhaustion, and where is the flood tide of grace? Listening for this reply requires Sabbath – time intentionally taken, in the presence of God, apart from the insistent rhythms and pressing tasks of our daily lives. It seems an important time of year to hear again Christ’s promise: “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Blessings and peace, Rob Pastor Rob’s Message THE CHIMES THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BAR HARBOR CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST AN OPEN & AFFIRMING CHURCH 29 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609 Office Hours: Monday, Tues., & Friday, 9am-3pm Pastor’s Hours: Tuesday 11:00-1:00 and Thursday 12:00-2:00 (207) 288-3280 [email protected]www.barharborucc.org Facebook: BarHarborCongregationalChurch
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November 2015
Windows, Backpacks, & Pork – Oh My !
It’s been a busy time in our church lately. With the extended summer season, along with our passion for engaging our community and bearing Christ’s light into the world, it can feel like a flurry. Add to that our upcoming Annual Meeting, reception of new members, and the over-the-horizon holiday season, not to mention all the unexpected challenges life brings us, and we’ve got a recipe for exhaustion. The question arises for us: how can devoted givers find renewed strength and reinvigorated purpose ?
Like the tides, there’s a rhythm to this, but in our community the tides have become relentless. Whether it’s the economic urgency of more and more visitors, or persistently good weather that allows for very few `rainy days,’ external forces keep us moving at a lightning pace. It always feels like a flood tide.
So if a healthy rhythm isn’t established for us, it becomes even more important for us to establish it ourselves (with the discernment and wisdom of God). Did you hear: REI (the adventure clothing & supply retailer) has announced it won’t open for Black Friday ? (I’m sure they’ll end up meeting sales goals anyway.) What impossible-to-set-down role or task do we
yearn to let go of ? Remember Blue Laws ? Remember Sabbath ?
Making and taking time to set aside pressing tasks that cry out for attention can be really hard. Somewhere in our common yearning for meaning, purpose, and productivity, we confuse busyness with effectiveness.
Our spiritual task together is to begin to ask, `what gives me joy ?’ Not in a self-absorbed way, not as in “our lives are meant for pleasure,” but as in a) `what crowds out that sense of generosity and joy that we get when we’re doing what we love and what we’re called to do,’ and b) `what do I feel called to do now, and what do I need to let go of in order to be able to do it ?’ Where is the ebb tide of exhaustion, and where is the flood tide of grace?
Listening for this reply requires Sabbath – time intentionally taken, in the presence of God, apart from the insistent rhythms and pressing tasks of our daily lives.
It seems an important time of year to hear again Christ’s promise: “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”
Blessings and peace,
Rob
Pastor Rob’s Message
THE CHIMES THE NEWSLETTER OF
THE BAR HARBOR CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
AN OPEN & AFFIRMING CHURCH
29 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609 Office Hours: Monday, Tues., & Friday, 9am-3pm
Pastor’s Hours: Tuesday 11:00-1:00 and Thursday 12:00-2:00
red pepper flakes and/or Tabasco or other hot sauce
and/or minced hot pepper, pref. Scotch bonnet - to taste
1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 red bell pepper in large dice (I added a green
pepper, too)
1 Tbsp Adobo seasoning (in Mexican food section)
1/2 C. white vinegar
2 Tbsps. tomato paste
Mix together lime juice, garlic, thyme, black pepper and Adobo seasoning. Marinate chicken several hours or
overnight in the refrigerator in a heavy Ziploc bag.
In a heavy pot, brown chicken in the olive oil (add more oil if needed). Add onion and peppers and cook for 5
minutes. Add tomato paste to pan, stir well and cook for 2 minutes.
Add vinegar, 1 cup of water (or to barely cover) and simmer for 45 minutes on medium-low heat.
Serve with rice and beans.
Prep time - 1 hour; serves 4-6
Tres Leches Cake (ok, 4 milks)
Prepare 1 pkg. yellow cake mix in a 9" x 13" pan as
directed and cool completely.
Mix together 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 1 can
evaporated milk, 1/2 C. heavy cream, 1 can Cream of
Coconut (CocoLopez, not coconut milk).
When cake is cooled, poke holes all over and pour milk
mixture over. Top with whipped cream and shredded
coconut if desired.
Prep time: 1 hour plus resting; serves 1-12+
Robin’s Legendary Haitian Recipes
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Stewardship –
The careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s
care. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
In thinking about stewardship, if we view it through the widest lens possible, we see all that it includes.
Making the most of talents and skills … being responsible and generous with our finances … paying
attention to our families and relationships .... it's all stewardship. It means striking a balance between our
personal needs and sharing our gifts with the world. We give not because we have to, but because we
wish to express gratitude for the abundance in our lives.
We might consider taking an inventory of where our money goes by asking: does my giving reflect my
values? As I look to the amount I give the church and other organizations, how does it compare with
other expenditures in my life? Do I spend more on my cell phone bill than I donate to causes about which
I care? Does my family spend more on eating out than on sharing what we have, so others may eat?
We are charged with an ever-present challenge to live into our values by means of the spiritual practice of
giving. By recognizing and acknowledging our abundance, we find we can demonstrate our appreciation
for the gifts we receive and pass a portion on so that others may experience this bounty.
“Arrange in advance for this bountiful gift…so that it may be ready as a voluntary gift…Each
of you must give as you have decided in your heart…”
- 2 Corinthians 9:5-7
- Paula Moody
Inspiration, ideas and words borrowed from Live Justly, Love Abundantly, Walk Humbly by Land of the Sky United Church of Christ, Asheville, NC
Stewardship
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MEET OUR NURSERY MINISTRY TEAM: Katie Skeate and Gabrielle Uliano ! Katie (below) has worked in the nursery for nearly four years, and
she lives with her husband, Patrick, and 7-year-old daughter,
Peighton. She enjoys running, traveling and spending time with
her family. “I love working in the nursery and being a part of the
church family !”
Gabby (right) has worked in the nursery for a little over a year. A 2015 graduate of MDI High School, she’s a first-year student at Thomas College pursuing a degree in Special Education.
CHILDREN, YOUTH, & FAMILY MINISTRIES
Piggly Wiggly Cider Press Fest ‘15
The First Annual Piggly Wiggly Cider Press Fest was a
huge hit ! Nearly 200 people enjoyed fresh-pressed cider,
delicious pork from Brown Family Farm, along with
hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, and scrumptious desserts.
Kids painted pumpkins and turned the cider press. Special
thanks to Tim Smith and all the folks from BHUCC and
Holy Redeemer Catholic Church who put this on, to those
who contributed food, and to everyone who attended.
We’re already looking forward to next year !
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Annual Living Nativity
The Bar Harbor Congregational Church will offer our annual gift of the Living Nativity to the
community on the evenings of Thursday, December 3rd
at 6-7 pm and Friday, December 4th
at
7-8:20pm. Friday’s presentation will co-ordinate with the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce’s
“Midnight Madness.” This event, depicting the Biblical characters at the time of the birth of
Jesus, will take place on the church steps. At least 60 volunteers are needed for the two
nights so we need your help! Sign-up sheets will be placed in the parlor before
Thanksgiving. Participants are asked to be at the church 5:15pm on Thursday and 6:15pm on
Friday. Dress warmly. The massive size costumes fit over most winter jackets. Don’t worry
about supper - as hot soup, cocoa, and sandwiches will be available. Newcomers to our church
and friends in the community are welcome to join in. Stop for a few moments during your
Holiday activities to ponder the true meaning of Christmas. This is our 42nd
year! Contact
Norma Spurling at 266-0459 or [email protected] if you have any questions.
Annual Christmas Fair News
The annual fair will take place on December 9th
, beginning at 10AM. It takes a whole church
to "raise" a Fair, so your ideas, time, and talent are important. There were 42 different
volunteer projects in 2014, so there is always a perfect post for everyone whether before,
during, or after the actual fair. Plan to join in one or more short (30 minutes tops!) meetings
after worship on many (not all) Sundays in November. Keep an eye out for sign-up posters in
the church parlor and announcements in the Weekly Messenger and by email for more info!
Perhaps the greatest delight of our church is its children. We watch their faces and sometimes their
antics and we watch them grow and they bring us joy. I suspect that many of us say a prayer for them
regularly. We pray that God will watch over them and bless them with all good things, and, most of
all, we pray that God will protect them from all danger and harm.
Praying for God’s protection makes all sorts of sense given our affection for these young ones, but it
goes against the nature of life itself. No one is completely sheltered from the dark and stormy aspects
of life. Moreover, most of us would admit that we have grown as mature human beings because we
have faced the difficult challenges of life. While we would not wish some of our experiences and
mishaps on our worst enemies, we do acknowledge that we are better people because of our failures.
They have caused us to become more compassionate and understanding of others. So, in a perverse
way, it would not be kind to shelter our children from all of the dark side of life, even if we could.
Each Sunday Pastor Rob leads us through the intersection of scripture and contemporary life. We are
fortunate to have a good preacher in our midst. But his responsibility for our spiritual lives only goes
so far. He may throw the ball over the plate, but there is no game if we do not bother to swing the bat.
The sermon is not efficacious if we do not engage with the word that is delivered. We must open
ourselves to the challenge of the Christian faith and our shortcomings and our potential.
However, there is one lesson that we must learn for ourselves and it is the same lesson we would
impart to our children: the only way to live a tolerable life on this planet is to trust that God is with us
always. Our mission in life is to live closely with God, and that will make all the difference as we
move through darkness and light.
- Ken Brookes
Along the Journey
About Chimes Devotionals
The Deacons are hoping that one person in our church each month can contribute a devotion, or just write about why church is important to them. If you are willing to submit an article, please contact any of the Deacons.
Let’s work together to make the CHIMES reflect how God is at work in our lives!
- Cindy Fox
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November Birthdays
3 Tabitha Booher 5 Matthew Lambert 5 Susan Ackerman 5 Stephen Moulton 6 Natalie Rechholtz 7 Cindy Fox 8 Carolyn Meader 10 Robert Cooper 12 Richard Fox 14 Owen Kelly 20 Jeremy Bryer 21 Eric Beals 21 Stephanie Kelley-Reece 22 Caroline Woodworth 25 Binky MacQuinn 27 Pat Linscott 27 Owen Craighead 27 Cristy Benson 29 Alaina Duley 30 Betty Bryer
Sunday Worship
Contributors Liturgists- 1: 8: 15: 22: 29 Flowers – 1: Nancy Pelletier 8: Sheridan and Barb Steele 15: George and Billie Mitchell 22: Kathy MacLeod 29: Ben and Ruth Rossi Blaney
Home Bible Readings 1 Ruth 1:1-8
Psalm 146 Hebrews 9:11-14 Mark 12:28-34
8 Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 Psalm 127 Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44 15 1 Samuel 1:4-20 Psalm 16 Hebrews 10:11-14 Mark 13:1-8 22 2 Samuel 23:1-7 Psalm 132:1-18 Revelation 1:4b-8 John 18:33-37 29 Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm 25:1-10 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Luke 21:25-36