. At
the start of the meeting, the rector and standing
vestry members warmly welcomed new members.
Susan Buell and Michele Nadder, as survey
committee representatives, submitted a survey on
the scheduling of Sunday services; the revised
survey is now available, through March 11, at the
back of the Church. Committee members and
vestry thanked Cass Wright, who was also present.
Although Cass completed her term as Senior
Warden, by keeping an eye on the survey from
inception to presentation to the new vestry, she
honored both the vestry’s December motion to
create a survey and the parishioners whose concerns
the motion addressed.
In the continued spirit of community recognition
and appreciation, the rector happily announced the
first youth program, [to be] held on Friday,
February 9. Pizza, a movie, and Compline were the
order of business. The Worship Committee and
Christian Education Committee will also meet in
the upcoming weeks. Fr. Richard said pastoral
visits are gathering in momentum and number, and
a “little congregation” is forming at Colliers Center
where he visits Avis Higgins and Rita Kenway. For
the larger congregation, Fr. Richard wishes
everyone at St. John’s would reach out to
parishioners who have not recently attended or been
active at church. After Fr. Richard told of his
conversation with Jean Rohrer at a meeting of the
Diocesan Committee on Indian Relations, the vestry
explored how St. John can better serve the native
Indian community. Discussion may continue in a
between-service meeting; a viewing of the film,
“Invisible,” commissioned by the Diocese, is also
being considered. Fr. Richard ended his report with
the joyful “decree” of Pamela’s return – scheduled
for early March.
Also scheduled in March is a vestry retreat to help
orient the vestry’s newest members. The gathering
will include a discussion of vestry goals and goal-
setting as well as quiet time for reflection and
prayer.
Joan Bromage, our newly elected Senior Warden,
announced she has met at Sips with four other
senior wardens from MDI Episcopal Churches and
St. Dunstan’s. As the senior wardens became
acquainted with one another, they also shared
concerns of their respective Churches. They will
meet again in April. Joan also read two thank you
letters to the vestry: one from Michele Daley and
the other from Bangor Theological Seminary, which
thanked St. John for its donation.
Joan presented Every Village Green’s flier for its
March 17 peace rallies, one of which will be held in
Southwest Harbor. The vestry suggested a notice
be written with the relevant information for the
parish. It is possible the Church will be available for
a time of quiet prayer and meditation before the
EVG rally begins.
Paul Haertel, as our continuing Junior Warden,
reported we are progressing in finding the most
cost-effective solution to St. John’s hot water
problem. Possibilities run from providing a
completely new Boilermate to St. John’s kitchen, to
taking the Boilermate from St. Andrew’s, to
installing an on-demand system that would rely on
propane. Turning from St. John to St. Andrew, Paul
said St. Andrew’s new cross is here and the work on
its ceiling tiles shall be completed by spring.
Mary Mitchell suggested we ask volunteers to help
Bill Voorhies keep St. John’s pathways free of
snow and ice. If you wish to volunteer, please
contact Paul or any other vestry member. Tina
Baker called on everyone to honor the work that
went into arranging St. John’s kitchen and stated
that all parishioners should become more mindful of
the kitchen’s order and beauty and of our need to
maintain our recycling efforts.
Prompted by a request by Karen Craig, the vestry
cheerfully and unanimously voted to have Cass
Wright’s poem honoring the vestry service of Frank
Barnes, Chris Peterson and Onorio Cerrato written
into the Annual Meeting Secretary’s Report. The
vestry also agreed to Karen’s second request to
distribute the Annual Meeting agenda with all
pertinent information at least one week prior to the
meeting. Karen’s third request was a petition to
evaluate the Church’s role in supporting local
merchants. It was proposed that the Congregation
discuss the nature of St. John’s responsibility in a
between-service meeting.
At meeting’s end, everyone adjourned upstairs for
Compline, which was lovingly guided by Mary.
Joyfully and respectfully submitted by