News and Events
Click on the items below for our recent newsletters and other church communications. Scroll down for News and Events.
Click on the items below for our recent newsletters and other church communications. Scroll down for News and Events.
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Past Mailings:
This week's e-bulletin: 12/16/21 Endowment Fund Update This week's e-bulletin: 12/9/21 In-Person Worship Guidelines This week's e-bulletin: 12/2/21 The Mustard Seed: Click HERE for November / December 2021 newsletter 2022 Stewardship Campaign Reimagining Outreach Survey Discernment Committee Report - June 2021 The Mustard Seed: Click HERE for September/October 2021 newsletter Annual Report 2020 |
News
Sunday Services return to online starting January 9th
Due to the rising cases of COVID in the state, we will go back to virtual Sunday services through at least February 13, 2022. We desire to keep our community safe and support the request by the Maine Council of Churches to do our part in reducing risk and supporting the staffing of the health care system which is being strained to the breaking point. Click here for information on each Sunday's service.
Search Committee announces our new Priest-In-Charge
Rev. Amanda Gerken-Nelson has accepted our invitation to be St. Bartholomew’s next spiritual leader. Amanda's tenure will begin on January 3, 2022. Amanda is a Lutheran minister, ordained in 2015. Amanda has spent the last four and a half years as the Executive Director of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM), a nonprofit organization that advocates for and supports LGBTQIA+ leaders in the Lutheran Church in the United States and Canada.
As she said in her introductory letter: “My calling in life is to preach the good news of Christ’s love, to care for God’s people who diligently seek to live out their grace-filled callings as disciples, to wrestle with God’s people as we explore the scriptures and ponder what holy texts are being written today, to administer the sacraments as they reveal God’s presence in our lives: I am called to be a pastor.” We are delighted to have Amanda join us as our spiritual leader. Visit our Welcome Our New Team page to learn more about Amanda and or other team leaders.
Music Search Committee announces our new Organist and Choir Director
The Committee is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. John Schuder to serve as our Organist and Choir Director. John recently retired from a similar post at St. John’s Lutheran Church near Columbus, Ohio, and moved to Maine. He has earned degrees in music from several institutions and has many years of experience directing choirs. Visit our Welcome Our New Team page to learn more.
Stewardship Season--Gratitude for our St. Bart's community
Several of our parishioners shared at Sunday services what St. Bart's means to them. You can read their full reflections by clicking next to each of their names. Thanks to each of you for your inspiring words and support of our congregation.
"You are all generous people, all altruistic people." --Phil C. (click here for full reflection)
"I am inspired by the countless hours people volunteer. I am thankful to be a part of a community that is making the world a better place."
--Arthur W. (click here for full reflection)
"The simplicity of St. Bart’s makes us joyful. And that seems to be what God wants for all of us. The congregation exhibits the kind of courage that is warm and true." --Chrys H. (click here for full reflection)
"Each person we talked to spoke of faith in God as the source of wisdom and guidance, rather than themselves alone."
--Steve H. (click here for full reflection)
Events
Children's Homily for Epiphany
Click here to watch the homily created by our Youth Education Leader Michelle Betz. Click here for songs, further resources and current lessons for our kids, or go to the Youth Home Learning page under Education Programs.
St. Bart’s Adult Education Program --Epiphany study continues January 23rd via ZOOM
Our current Adult Education Series started January 9th with four biweekly sessions focusing on Modern Poets and the Epiphany held on Sundays from 3 PM to 4:30 PM via Zoom. The upcoming session will focus on poems by T.S, Eliot, Ruben Dario, and Anonio Machado, and the gospel narratives (Matthew 1.18-2:21; Luke 2.1-20). Click here for more information on the Epiphany and Lent programs.
St. Bart's Family Christmas Eve afternoon gathering
The Youth Education Program held an informal Family Christmas Eve gathering outdoors in the early afternoon. Families joined together for singing, Bible readings and celebration!
Sunday Services return to online starting January 9th
Due to the rising cases of COVID in the state, we will go back to virtual Sunday services through at least February 13, 2022. We desire to keep our community safe and support the request by the Maine Council of Churches to do our part in reducing risk and supporting the staffing of the health care system which is being strained to the breaking point. Click here for information on each Sunday's service.
Search Committee announces our new Priest-In-Charge
Rev. Amanda Gerken-Nelson has accepted our invitation to be St. Bartholomew’s next spiritual leader. Amanda's tenure will begin on January 3, 2022. Amanda is a Lutheran minister, ordained in 2015. Amanda has spent the last four and a half years as the Executive Director of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM), a nonprofit organization that advocates for and supports LGBTQIA+ leaders in the Lutheran Church in the United States and Canada.
As she said in her introductory letter: “My calling in life is to preach the good news of Christ’s love, to care for God’s people who diligently seek to live out their grace-filled callings as disciples, to wrestle with God’s people as we explore the scriptures and ponder what holy texts are being written today, to administer the sacraments as they reveal God’s presence in our lives: I am called to be a pastor.” We are delighted to have Amanda join us as our spiritual leader. Visit our Welcome Our New Team page to learn more about Amanda and or other team leaders.
Music Search Committee announces our new Organist and Choir Director
The Committee is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. John Schuder to serve as our Organist and Choir Director. John recently retired from a similar post at St. John’s Lutheran Church near Columbus, Ohio, and moved to Maine. He has earned degrees in music from several institutions and has many years of experience directing choirs. Visit our Welcome Our New Team page to learn more.
Stewardship Season--Gratitude for our St. Bart's community
Several of our parishioners shared at Sunday services what St. Bart's means to them. You can read their full reflections by clicking next to each of their names. Thanks to each of you for your inspiring words and support of our congregation.
"You are all generous people, all altruistic people." --Phil C. (click here for full reflection)
"I am inspired by the countless hours people volunteer. I am thankful to be a part of a community that is making the world a better place."
--Arthur W. (click here for full reflection)
"The simplicity of St. Bart’s makes us joyful. And that seems to be what God wants for all of us. The congregation exhibits the kind of courage that is warm and true." --Chrys H. (click here for full reflection)
"Each person we talked to spoke of faith in God as the source of wisdom and guidance, rather than themselves alone."
--Steve H. (click here for full reflection)
Events
Children's Homily for Epiphany
Click here to watch the homily created by our Youth Education Leader Michelle Betz. Click here for songs, further resources and current lessons for our kids, or go to the Youth Home Learning page under Education Programs.
St. Bart’s Adult Education Program --Epiphany study continues January 23rd via ZOOM
Our current Adult Education Series started January 9th with four biweekly sessions focusing on Modern Poets and the Epiphany held on Sundays from 3 PM to 4:30 PM via Zoom. The upcoming session will focus on poems by T.S, Eliot, Ruben Dario, and Anonio Machado, and the gospel narratives (Matthew 1.18-2:21; Luke 2.1-20). Click here for more information on the Epiphany and Lent programs.
St. Bart's Family Christmas Eve afternoon gathering
The Youth Education Program held an informal Family Christmas Eve gathering outdoors in the early afternoon. Families joined together for singing, Bible readings and celebration!
Christmas Eve family and evening services
St. Bart's Christmas Eve Evening Service held in person and recorded to view
Our evening Christmas Eve service was in person this year. The service officially started at 9 PM, but our new Organist and Choir Director began playing Christmas Carols starting at 8:30 PM. If you missed the service in person or streaming live, please click here to view the recording of the service and beautiful music.
Christmas Fair held December 4th--all net proceeds will be given to 6 local charities
The annual Christmas fair returned this year to St. Bart's on Gilman Road Yarmouth and was another huge success. The sanctuary was filled with beautiful handmade crafts, holiday greenery arrangements, wreaths, frozen foods to go, homemade fudge, baked goods, books, and a silent auction. Net proceeds will be given to support 6 local non-profits: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland, Hope Acts, Cousins River Fields and Marsh Project, Growing to Give, Portland Opportunity Crew, and Racial Equity and Justice of Bangor.
Our evening Christmas Eve service was in person this year. The service officially started at 9 PM, but our new Organist and Choir Director began playing Christmas Carols starting at 8:30 PM. If you missed the service in person or streaming live, please click here to view the recording of the service and beautiful music.
Christmas Fair held December 4th--all net proceeds will be given to 6 local charities
The annual Christmas fair returned this year to St. Bart's on Gilman Road Yarmouth and was another huge success. The sanctuary was filled with beautiful handmade crafts, holiday greenery arrangements, wreaths, frozen foods to go, homemade fudge, baked goods, books, and a silent auction. Net proceeds will be given to support 6 local non-profits: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland, Hope Acts, Cousins River Fields and Marsh Project, Growing to Give, Portland Opportunity Crew, and Racial Equity and Justice of Bangor.
Christmas Fair Festivities
13th Annual Yarmouth Art Festival achieves a new record for sales
The 2021 Yarmouth Art Festival is a premier juried showcase for Maine artists since 2009. Jurors selected 179 pieces from 108 Maine artists from the 575 pieces entered. The in-person show ran from October 20 - 23 and continued online until November 6th. We had record sales of 98 pieces, raising over $10,000. All net proceeds will go to our Outreach programs: St. Elizabeth's Jubilee Center in Portland, Friendship House in South Portland, and Yarmouth Food Pantry. Click here for the Show Catalog. Follow the festival Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/yarmouthartfestival.
The 2021 Yarmouth Art Festival is a premier juried showcase for Maine artists since 2009. Jurors selected 179 pieces from 108 Maine artists from the 575 pieces entered. The in-person show ran from October 20 - 23 and continued online until November 6th. We had record sales of 98 pieces, raising over $10,000. All net proceeds will go to our Outreach programs: St. Elizabeth's Jubilee Center in Portland, Friendship House in South Portland, and Yarmouth Food Pantry. Click here for the Show Catalog. Follow the festival Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/yarmouthartfestival.
Our Annual Lobster Bake on August 14th was a success! Fun was had by all!
For the second year, we provided lobster dinners to go. Each dinner included one lobster, potato corn salad, cole slaw and blueberry buckle. Many thanks to Captain Jeff Diggins for supplying and cooking the lobsters. Thanks to the Membership team headed by Anne Berg and Susie Soule for making it all come together. Thanks to all the volunteers who cooked and put together the dinners for pick up. The workers enjoyed their lobster dinners together after all the meals had been distributed. All net funds generated went to our our community outreach programs.
For the second year, we provided lobster dinners to go. Each dinner included one lobster, potato corn salad, cole slaw and blueberry buckle. Many thanks to Captain Jeff Diggins for supplying and cooking the lobsters. Thanks to the Membership team headed by Anne Berg and Susie Soule for making it all come together. Thanks to all the volunteers who cooked and put together the dinners for pick up. The workers enjoyed their lobster dinners together after all the meals had been distributed. All net funds generated went to our our community outreach programs.
St. Bart's families donate 20 Kits to Maine Needs!
As part of the Education program's Youth Spring Service Project for our Sunday School kids, our families contributed 20 "kits" to donate to the non-profit organization Maine Needs. Maine Needs will send these kits to families in need. The "kits" varied from "Moment for Mom" to "Spring Care" to "Cleaning and Toiletries." Our Education Coordinator, Pal Covie, said the non-profit was "thrilled and so thankful" for our donations. Thank you St Bart's kids and families!
As part of the Education program's Youth Spring Service Project for our Sunday School kids, our families contributed 20 "kits" to donate to the non-profit organization Maine Needs. Maine Needs will send these kits to families in need. The "kits" varied from "Moment for Mom" to "Spring Care" to "Cleaning and Toiletries." Our Education Coordinator, Pal Covie, said the non-profit was "thrilled and so thankful" for our donations. Thank you St Bart's kids and families!
