March 10, 2023

Dear Beloved of God,

Since the first Christians decided to gather in Jesus’ name, baptism has been the mark of belonging to the body of Christ. In it, baptismal candidates pass through the life-giving and dangerous water of death and resurrection. Your baptism is a means of sharing in Christ, dying with him and being raised with him, of being baptized in him, becoming a member of his body and of receiving his spirit.

Since early in the church’s history, and even up until today, initiation by baptism has been the prerogative of the bishop. As churches proliferated, it became increasingly difficult for bishops to be at every baptism. Bishops, therefore, delegated the celebration of the rite to local parish priests, reserving for themselves the part of the rite that included the laying on of hands (and anointing), for the gift of the spirit. This later became the rite of confirmation. At the outset, baptism was administered at Easter. Catechumens, (those preparing to be baptized), were instructed by the bishop during Lent. Both the catechumens and those who would administer the rite would fast during all or part of this time.

Lent and Easter are therefore a wonderful time for us to remember the gift of baptism which we have received. To this end, Bishop Thomas Brown has invited us to join him and the members of Christ’s body in Maine for a celebration of renewal of vows to take place during the Chrism Eucharist—a celebration of the Holy Eucharist by the bishop during which the oil used in healing and baptism is blessed. The diocese will come together for Chrism Eucharist on Tuesday, March 28 at 9:30 am at Grace Church in Bath.

Please do consider attending this celebration. Bishop Brown will lead us in renewing our promises of baptism, and holy oils will be blessed for the coming year. Bishop Chilton Knudsen and Bishop Steve Lane will join us!

RSVP here before March 20.

The Rector’s Office Hours:T-TH Mornings: 9:30AM-12:30  /  T Afternoons: 2-5PM  /  W & TH Afternoons: 1:30-4:30
In case of emergency or urgency, please text or call my cell phone and leave me a
voicemail @ (860) 560-6992.

Join our community of knitters for our March Knit-a-Thon to benefit the Waldo County Woodshed and heating assistance. 
Make checks payable to   “Women of St, Margaret”s” with Knit-a-Thon in the memo field.

When: Saturday, March 18

Time: 8am to 8pm

5:00 pm Informal fashion show   

Bring 1 or 2 items to share.Stay for as long or as short as you like. 

Where: St Margaret’s Episcopal Church.95 Court Street, Belfast

      All members of the diverse Belfast-area faith community are invited to join in a series of brown bag lunches every Wednesday in March that will be hosted by St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 95 Court St., Belfast.  The gatherings from noon to 1 p.m. in the parish house are presented by the Greater Bay Area Ministerium (GBAM). Each week will focus on a different aspect of “Encountering God, the Spirit, the Holy, the Divine, the Sacred in the Arts and in the World Around Us.”  Bring a brown bag lunch.  Coffee and tea will be provided.

     Following is the schedule of speakers:

March 1: The Rev. Barbara Briggs, Rector of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church and the Rev. Vicki Sirota,

“Encountering God through Music”

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March 8: The Rev. Julie Daley, retired United Methodist Deacon,

“Encountering the Spirit through Practices of Silence”

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March 15: The Rev. Amy Fiorilli, Minister,

the Unitarian Universalist Church of Belfast,

“Encountering the Spirit through Poetry”

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March 22: The Rev. Jean Ashland, Chaplain, 

Waldo County General Hospital,

“Holding Love and Loss”

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March 29: The Rev.Ted Chaffee, Pastor,

First Baptist Church of Belfast,

“Encountering the Divine through Art”

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ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES

        St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Belfast, will observe the start of Lent with two services on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22.  The service at 9:30 a.m. with Eucharist and the imposition of ashes will be without music.  The second service at 5:30 p.m. will be the same, with music.  All are welcome at the church, 95 Court St., Belfast.

The Outreach Committee met on February 11 and came up with many ideas on how we can assist our local community and others in need nationally and internationally.

We voted to send $2000 to ERD for their work with Action by Churches Together Alliance in Turkey and Syria following the horrendous earthquakes in that region. An additional $2000 will be sent to Doctors without Borders also for Turkey and Syria. Funds will be added to the $1070 raised on the Fifth Sunday of January to send $2000 to the World Central Kitchen for their work in Ukraine.

We are exploring the needs to assist with homelessness in the Waldo County area and how we can also support other local initiatives both locally and internationally.

Epiphany feast on January 6. The hall was prepared for a feast, frivolity, and fun. Three lucky people were crowned queens for the evening. King cake was served. Games and song, bagpipes and trumpet were all part of the evening of fun.

COME ONE! COME ALL! Come to our Epiphany celebration this Friday, January 6. We shall begin with church service in the sanctuary at 5:00 to remember the arrival of the Magis. We shall then process into the great hall (the parish hall) led by bagpiper Shaun King. The hall will have been prepared for a feast and frivolity, fun. Everyone should bring a potluck dish (fit for a king). Dessert will be provided. Bakers, Nancy Perkins and Nan Cobbey will provide a king cake. Three lucky people will be crowned king/queen. Louis Pelletier will blow his trumpet for the royal fanfare.Thre will be crowns and capes. After dinner the games and music will begin. Kristen Burkholder will be the Mistress of Fools. Please bring a small, wrapped gift for men in the Reentry Center, or for women in need. Costumes are optional, but part of the fun. Wear something festive, silly, outrageous, or with a medieval or renaissance flair. Have fun being creative. A nonalcoholic punch will be provided, but you are welcome to BYOB. Come and share in this festivity this Friday evening.

Meet our choir! Under the direction of Kristen Burkholder!

Back row from the left: Bob Sirota, Shaun King, Caleb Briggs, Judy King, Craig Watson, Francis Stewart. Middle row: Vicki Sirota, Jean Goldfine and Mary Bigelow. Front row: Cindy Grohdahl, Ruth Shaw, Alexandra Stewart & Linda Dunson. Choir Director: Kristen Burkholder.

They’ll be singing at the 8 p.m. Christmas Eve service!

The much anticipated booklet on the history of our parish church, and in memory of Ron Whittle, our unofficial Historian, are now available! On Sunday they will be on the back table in the church and at the Annual Meeting. They will also be available in the office. A donation of $5 per copy is requested.