From the Rector: The Gathering of Leaders
    Last month I returned to a conference I first attended in October, 2006, called The Gathering of Leaders (GOL).
    The theme of GOL is “empowering leaders to be instruments of transformation.” Founded by Bishop Claude Payne, retired, of Texas, the Gathering of Leaders envisions “the renewal of the dioceses and congregations of the Episcopal Church through transformational leaders dedicated to the missionary call of Christ and growing the Church in spiritual depth and in numbers as it effectively serves all sorts and conditions of people through the transforming power of Jesus Christ.”
    Bishop Payne’s hope was that leaders from all over the church, lay and ordained, would come together regularly for support and encouragement and come to know each other. He and his team have been intentional about including people of diverse theological backgrounds, so that they can become friends in Christ. The idea is that, hopefully, later in life when these leaders are working together in the House of Deputies or House of Bishops, their friendship in Christ will be at the heart of their work—rather than the issues that might otherwise divide.
    This particular Gathering had the theme of “Raising up and Forming Leaders for the Missional Church,” and we spent a good bit of time sharing how we form leaders in our varied contexts.
    By “Missional Church” we mean a church that is outward-focused, driven by a desire to share Christ’s love with a world that may not yet know that love. A Missional Church cares about growing disciples. A Missional Church operates under the assumption that the church’s outward reaching and sharing of God’s love are crucial aspects of what it means to be faithful.
    The opposite of a “Missional Church” is an “Attractional Church.”  An Attractional Church is more inwardly focused, and cares about growing members. An Attractional Church assumes that if church is done well for those who are already members, other people will be attracted to that church and become members.
    We do a pretty good job of being a Missional Church at St. George’s. Many of us speak openly about what St. George’s means to us, how we are involved in the parish, how our lives have been transformed here, and invite others to join us.  When newcomers arrive, they are warmly welcomed.
    Even at St. George’s, though, we may occasionally be tempted into more of an attractional mindset. This often happens when we get focused on the day-to-day, nuts and bolts realities. And we do tend to think in terms of membership, and not so often of discipleship—what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, to allow God’s love in Christ to transform our lives.
    And so I am excited that this fall we are offering a number of ways to explore discipleship in addition to our Sunday sermons, which always seek to engage the question of how we live our lives in the light of the crucifixion and resurrection. These include our Sunday Morning Adult Spiritual Formation offerings and the Bible Workbench coming up in October.
    I hope you will join me and your fellow parishioners in these explorations, as we seek to grow more deeply as followers of Jesus. It will be a challenging and transforming way to spend a fall and winter together!
    In Christ,
    Paige+

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Baptismal Preparation by the Rev. Paige Blair
    A host of you have asked about having your children baptized, and so we are planning a baptismal preparation group early this fall. Please contact Paige+ at pblair1@earthlink.net or 363-7376 to let her know your interest and availability. While you are considering godparents, we encourage you to think about having at least one godparent who is part of the St. George’s parish family.

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Deacons Corner: Partnerships... by the Rev. Sudie Blanchard
    In early 2006, as ordination was approaching, I took time off from St. George’s to head up to Biddeford to experience several months of “mentored-practice” at an Episcopal church there.  I was assigned to Christ Church, a small inner-city church located in downtown Biddeford, Maine.  This caring community enveloped me with love and graciously shepherded me through those final months before I was ordained.  I still remember the wonderful community dinners they offered the whole neighborhood, especially the St. Patrick’s Day Dinner—with Bernie, at that time Senior Warden and expert caterer, manning the steam tables with corned beef, cabbage and all the trimmings!
    In 2006, this once-vibrant parish faced ongoing financial challenges.  Those challenges continue—the devoted parishioners are no longer young and their numbers are dwindling.  But the parish has a “can-do” attitude paired with a heart to serve. The church’s location in downtown Biddeford makes it an ideal place for an active outreach ministry—some local agencies are already teaming up with the parish, using the building for meetings.   If only the church had the finances and people strength to make that small effort grow into something bigger…
    Imagine my excitement when I learned last month that Christ Church has qualified as a site for a new Jubilee Center in Maine!   In an ironic twist of Providence, Christ Church’s daughter church, St. David’s Episcopal Church in Kennebunk, is entering into partnership with Christ Church to make this dream possible.  They are providing financial and volunteer support, as well as providing leadership on the Center’s Advisory Board.  As Peter Bowen, Christ Church’s deacon, says, “Through this partnership, both churches see the future through a common lens of caring, compassion and determination, representing Christ in our love for our neighbors.”
    Here are some of the programs that are being planned for the Center:

Ongoing programs:
In-A-Pinch Non-food Essentials Pantry
    Like St. Elizabeth’s at St Luke’s Cathedral, Portland, In-A-Pinch offers assistance to residents in the Biddeford region who have a need for essential items not covered by food stamps.  This program is already operating out of Christ Church.

Healthy Families
    Biddeford is one of Goodall Hospital’s outreach communities. The Alliance for Healthy Families provides support for first-time parents for prenatal care up to the time their first child is age five.

T.O.P.S. – Take Off Pounds Sensibly
    This existing program is all about health education and support.

New Efforts:
Drop-In Center
    This program, when it opens this fall, will welcome all people, of every faith, who are in need of a safe place to be if they are unemployed, homeless, or are deprived of social and spiritual contact and support. The Center is to be staffed by trained volunteers to facilitate the needs of those using the center.

Parish Nursing Program
    This program, also starting this fall, will serve members of Christ Church and clients in the area. The nurses will be on site once a month to begin with, meeting the clients and becoming a trusted resource for health issues.

Some hopes and dreams for the future:
A Career Center
    One of the many cuts made by the state forced the local career center to close. Those planning the Jubilee Center have met with the Director of the Career Center in Saco to discuss how they might help provide some of the lost services. They are looking for computers and software to use for a computer lab for clients.  They also have retired professionals from St. David’s who are willing to be mentors to help those who are unemployed with job searching skills.

A Time Bank
    The Center hopes to establish a Time Bank for the Biddeford area. Time banks are significant in that they build community, help people without financial resources to get needs met, and help to empower community members to recognize that everyone has a gift to offer.

    Partnerships make it feasible for amazing things to happen—things that might not be possible in a solitary effort.  Let’s all keep partnership possibilities in mind as we consider ways we might serve Christ in our midst here in York.

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Church School 2008-2009 by Lynn Dube
    Welcome back to St. George’s church school!  I hope that everyone had a wonderful summer vacation.  We are getting ready to start up our 2008-2009 church school year and are looking forward to seeing many new and returning children!  Our Godly Play classroom is for children ages 3-Kindergarten, Godly Time is for children in grades 1-3, and the Jesus Kids is for children in grades 4-6.  Our youngest children, ages birth-3, are welcome to have fun exploring and making new friends in our nursery.
    Sunday, September 7, will be an open house and registration morning (download registration form here).  Parents and children are welcome to join us downstairs after the 9:00 service, to meet our new and returning leaders, explore the classrooms, enjoy a snack with friendly conversation, and register for the 2008-2009 church school year.  I am looking forward to another wonderful year and can’t wait for you to join us!  For more information, please contact Lynn Dube at 384-4741 or lynn.dube@verizon.net.

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Rummage Your Brain—A Quiz! by Mary Anne Smith
    The Fall Rummage Sale is coming up soon. We all know the Rummage Sale is: clothes, coats, shoes, accessories (jewelry, scarves, etc.), handbags, linens (towels, sheets). So, let me know how you’d like to see the Rummage Sale done this year:

•    Should we have a Friday evening preview sale 7:00-9:00 before the Saturday, September 20, Rummage Sale?

•    Would it stir up interest to have volunteers wear their last year’s rummage sale purchases at coffee hour?

•    Should profits benefit a specific outreach project?

•    Are there new spots around town to put posters?  Are there new ways to advertise?

•    Can you help:  Donate, set-up, sort and price, cashier, make or deliver posters, clean up?   See the sign-up sheets in the Parish Hall or call Mary Anne Smith 363-3539.

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Needed: A Place to Stay
    Mary Ezenwa, who fondly remembers her experiences with us last year before she left to attend Yale Divinity School, needs a place to stay in York, from September 8 to December 5, so that she can complete her discernment requirement, which is a necessary component of the ordination process. She is willing to cover her share of rent and maintenance expenses. If you are able to provide accommodation for her, please contact her directly: mcezenwa@gmail.com, or by cell (917) 455-5306.

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