How We Spent Our Summer...
We remember, when we were in elementary school, that the teachers really did ask for an essay on how we had spent our summer vacation. Now that we live in a town that is a summer tourist destination with an additional annual influx of seasonal residents, it is more appropriate to drop the 'vacation' from the essay topic. So, here is our back-to-school essay.
During July and August, we change our worship schedule by adding a Saturday afternoon service and dropping the middle Sunday morning service. But we don't slow down at all. There is a Summer Choir each Sunday at the Holy Eucharist Rite II service. There are education and formation opportunities throughout the summer, the Vestry continues its mission, Overnights of Hospitality continues to welcome our guests every other Wednesday, and our host of committees continue their ministries. In addition, we host Lobster on the Lawn dinners each Monday evening - a wonderful way to open our beautiful campus to the community.
Our usual blog photographer was working in the kitchen most Mondays, so we do not have as many pictures this year from the suppers. However, we are delighted to report that we have seen at least 200 dinners sold each week - and the number of free PB&J suppers for kids has seen a marked rise! One week we gave out 45 PB&J suppers! In addition, we meet wonderful people - local folk and summer visitors!
An added benefit is the fellowship with other parishioners while we prepare, serve, and clean up from the weekly event. We have made a number of new acquaintances and friends this way. Kitchen crews meet on Sunday to bake pies, prepare the lobster meat and pack pickles. Mondays, one group of volunteers sets up the Parish House, bags the dinners, and serves our supper guests. The kitchen crew cuts the pies, prepares the lobster salad, and makes the lobster rolls.
Discussions in the kitchen are fascinating. We have discussed sermons, music, backyard birding, children and grandchildren, hopes and dreams. And we have found out about each other in ways we have not had time to on Sunday mornings. This correspondent especially loves the mixing of parishioners who normally attend different services from each other. People one usually sees arriving or departing on Sunday are visiting with each other while we work- our sense of parish as a large family is enhanced.
But Lobster on the Lawn is not the only large event on our calendars. As September approaches, planning is underway for saying a special farewell to our Rector, Bob Appleyard, who will retire at the end of September. And, with the start of the school year, the rhythm of parish worship and activity changes.
September 8th is our Karaoke Spaghetti Dinner - another opportunity to work together and play together. This is our kick-off for the fall - Family Registration forms may be turned in at the event, and this is the Perfect Time to sign the kids up for Children's Choir (rehearsals on Mondays from 5:30 to 6:15)!
September 9th is our first Second Sunday of the school year. This year, we are having our brunch at 9:00, right after the 8:00 Rite I spoken service, followed by Education Hour at 10:00 and Holy Eucharist Rite II at 11:00. The Stewardship Committee is hosting the September brunch - please join us!
September 26th will be a parish-catered reception for Bob's retirement (4:30-6:30) followed by Evensong with Bishop Shaw at 7:00pm.
And all this is in addition to our usual worship, education and other parish activities!
Please join us!
During July and August, we change our worship schedule by adding a Saturday afternoon service and dropping the middle Sunday morning service. But we don't slow down at all. There is a Summer Choir each Sunday at the Holy Eucharist Rite II service. There are education and formation opportunities throughout the summer, the Vestry continues its mission, Overnights of Hospitality continues to welcome our guests every other Wednesday, and our host of committees continue their ministries. In addition, we host Lobster on the Lawn dinners each Monday evening - a wonderful way to open our beautiful campus to the community.
Our usual blog photographer was working in the kitchen most Mondays, so we do not have as many pictures this year from the suppers. However, we are delighted to report that we have seen at least 200 dinners sold each week - and the number of free PB&J suppers for kids has seen a marked rise! One week we gave out 45 PB&J suppers! In addition, we meet wonderful people - local folk and summer visitors!
An added benefit is the fellowship with other parishioners while we prepare, serve, and clean up from the weekly event. We have made a number of new acquaintances and friends this way. Kitchen crews meet on Sunday to bake pies, prepare the lobster meat and pack pickles. Mondays, one group of volunteers sets up the Parish House, bags the dinners, and serves our supper guests. The kitchen crew cuts the pies, prepares the lobster salad, and makes the lobster rolls.
Discussions in the kitchen are fascinating. We have discussed sermons, music, backyard birding, children and grandchildren, hopes and dreams. And we have found out about each other in ways we have not had time to on Sunday mornings. This correspondent especially loves the mixing of parishioners who normally attend different services from each other. People one usually sees arriving or departing on Sunday are visiting with each other while we work- our sense of parish as a large family is enhanced.
But Lobster on the Lawn is not the only large event on our calendars. As September approaches, planning is underway for saying a special farewell to our Rector, Bob Appleyard, who will retire at the end of September. And, with the start of the school year, the rhythm of parish worship and activity changes.
September 8th is our Karaoke Spaghetti Dinner - another opportunity to work together and play together. This is our kick-off for the fall - Family Registration forms may be turned in at the event, and this is the Perfect Time to sign the kids up for Children's Choir (rehearsals on Mondays from 5:30 to 6:15)!
September 9th is our first Second Sunday of the school year. This year, we are having our brunch at 9:00, right after the 8:00 Rite I spoken service, followed by Education Hour at 10:00 and Holy Eucharist Rite II at 11:00. The Stewardship Committee is hosting the September brunch - please join us!
September 26th will be a parish-catered reception for Bob's retirement (4:30-6:30) followed by Evensong with Bishop Shaw at 7:00pm.
And all this is in addition to our usual worship, education and other parish activities!
Please join us!
