December 2008, Dragon Tales:
Articles & Notices Continued
Nominee Biographies
Following are short bios on some of the parishioners who will appear on the slate of nominees to be elected at the annual meeting in January.
Vestry nominees:
I am David Dube and I am married to Lynn. We have two wonderful daughters, Melanie (7) and Alisha (5). We live in South Berwick and have been attending St. George's since Melanie was 6 months, so that would be 6 1/2 years. Over this time, we have tried to give back a small part of what St. George's gives us. Currently, I am working with our first-, second- and third-grade children on Sunday mornings in Godly Time. This chance to share stories with them and listen to their insights about the stories is truly a gift. I am looking forward to continuing this ministry and also serving in a new way, as part of the Vestry.
Heather Hesse-Stromberg: My family (husband, Greg, and four-year-old daughter, Haiden) and I joined St. George's in September of 2007 after searching for a church that felt like the right fit closer to home (we live in Rochester, NH). The search was over within minutes of stepping across the threshold of St. George's. While we are not able to give much by way of "treasure," we have tried to give of our time and talent. I have served as a Chalice Bearer, Lector, Greeter/Usher, coordinated the Easter Brunch, and am in training this year to be the Director of Church School for the next three years. It is an honor and a pleasure to be able to give back to the community that has given my family so much.
Diocesan Convention nominees/alternates:
Peter Blanchard: I have been a member of St. George’s since 2001. Since my arrival, I have sung in the choir and served at the services as a lay reader and chalice bearer. For the past few years, I have been part of our prison ministry, driving up to the Cumberland County Facility in Portland twice a month to offer Bible study and communion to the inmates. I also help Lorrie [our parish administrator] by folding and collating various communications to the congregation as well as subbing for her in the office when she is away on vacation. I am the wedding coordinator and assist in the tuning of the organ whenever necessary.
For the past three years I have been a delegate to the diocesan convention and have found it to be an uplifting, spiritual, fascinating, and educational experience.
I am a father of two grown children and a new grandfather. Best of all, I am married to Sudie!
Gail Marshall: Dick and I have been members of St. George’s for 28 years. I have served on the Vestry, I coordinate the Meals on Wheels program, and am a Lay Eucharistic Visitor. Our daughter Kate Ford (she is the youngest of our four daughters) and I serve together on the Altar Guild. With several others, I serve on the “Clean Church Committee” and have been a member of the Nominating Committee a few times over the years. I have been lucky enough to be a delegate to our Diocesan Convention for many years. This year I am glad to serve as an alternate, giving someone else the opportunity to be a delegate. It has been a privilege.
Ralph Davison: I am a current member and secretary of the diocesan Standing Committee. I have found this service to the Diocese to be among the most satisfying tasks of my life and hope to continue through a second term and the transition for the new Bishop.
I am a sometime Lay Eucharistic Visitor for St. George’s, a lay reader and lay preacher. I served six years as Vestry member, Vestry clerk, and stewardship chairman. I have been a delegate to the diocesan convention eight times and a member of the Diocesan Council for two years.
I am chairman of the Cable TV Regulatory Commission for York, Ogunquit, Wells, and North Berwick and a member of the Board of the Ogunquit Arts Collaborative.
Senior Warden nominee:
Ken Barrett: My wife, Eve, and I have been parishioners at St. George's for about twenty years. I have served on the Vestry for several years, and as a warden during 2008. In addition, I am the treasurer of the Diocese of Maine, and one of the Trustees of Diocesan Funds. I attend St. George's because it is my spiritual anchor.
Poinsettia Sale
The York High School Music Program is selling poinsettias again this year as a fundraiser. To order, call 363-3621 (specify red or white poinsettias). $8 apiece. Pick up is on Saturday, December 6, 9:00-12:00, in the high school auditorium.
Give Green Power!
“Maine Wind Watts” are a great way to give a “green” gift this holiday season. Clean power cannot (yet!!) compete with the traditional sources of power generating electricity. Maine Wind Watts is a way to support clean power and help this idea “get on its feet,” so to speak. Mars Hill Wind Farm in Maine is one such source of power. By purchasing Maine Wind Watts, you can help them offset their higher costs for selling watts into the northeast power grid. These certificates cannot be used to pay for the power you purchase from CMP (unfortunately), but are great for giving to someone who supports clean power and other green causes. FMI go to http://www.meipl.org/Pages/Products/Certificates_upc_new.html.
Deadlines... by Lorrie Whittaker
Here are some upcoming deadlines to keep in mind:
- Sunday, December 14, for getting Giving Tree gifts, gift certificates and food items to the church. (PLEASE get these in on time, because if gifts are not here for the family pick-up date, we CANNOT get the gifts to them later.)
- Sunday, December 21, notices and laity changes for the Christmas bulletin. This bulletin will cover all services from Christmas Eve through Sunday, January 4.
- Sunday, December 21, for handing in Christmas flower dedication envelopes (these flower dedications will appear in the Christmas bulletin).
- Monday, January 5, for the individual committee/ministry chair reports for inclusion in the big Annual Report for the Annual Meeting.
Auction Wrap-Up by Barb Poulin
Thanks to everyone who donated, everyone who came to buy and all those who worked with me—I certainly could not have done it without you!
As we put our Outreach Auction “to bed,” we have three silent auction items still unclaimed. I am having difficulty deciphering who the final bidders were. If you remember bidding on any of the following items, please contact me ASAP at 363-8731 or barbpoulin@aol.com.
- $75 gift certificate to Freedom Salon & Day Spa
- Gift certificate for a spa manicure by Heather at York Shears
- Gift certificate valued up to $14.50 for 2 Breakfast Specials at Norma’s
Weekly 2009 Offering Envelopes by Lorrie Whittaker
Weekly offering envelopes for 2009 will be in the parish hall for pick-up starting Sunday, December 7. They come in a booklet and you tear out each week’s envelope. These envelopes are suitable for putting directly in the U.S. mail. Just put your check inside, secure the envelope with the little gummed flaps, stamp it and toss it in the mail. (Please don’t mail cash!) Special offering envelopes are included—these have a colored border so you won’t mix them up with regular the Sunday envelopes.
Each envelope packet will have your household name on it. You will have a packet of envelopes there if you requested these envelopes when you filled out your pledge card. PLEASE pick up your envelopes from the parish hall—it saves the church a lot in postage for each packet we don’t have to mail.
Lenten Icon Workshop by the Rev. Paige Blair
St. George's resident iconographers are planning a Lenten Icon Workshop led by the Rector, on March 3-7, Tuesday-Saturday (Saturday if 
necessary), 9:00–4:00, at 50 Spruce Street, York Beach, the home of Barbara Boschert. We will be doing an icon of the Crucifixion similar to this image. The icon will be 11"x17" in order to make the images large enough to accommodate a broad range of experience levels. Because of the size of the board and the quantity of gold leaf, the price of the workshop will be $150 for St. George's members and $175 for non-members. Scholarship assistance is available. Please contact the Rev. Paige Blair at 363-7376 or pblair1@earthlink.net or Barbara Boschertat 363-7412 or babinmaine@aol.com for more information. Payment in full by January 15 will be necessary in order to secure our supplies in a timely fashion.
Diocesan Youth Events
Leadership Training, January 16-17. Youth and adults prepare to serve. St. John’s, Bangor.
Winter Middle School Event, January 30-February 1, Grades 6-8. Weekend of fun, faith and new friends. St. John’s, Bangor.
Find out more about youth events at www.maineyouth.org or call 800-244-6062 x-29, or email youth@episcopalmaine.org. Also see downstairs bulletin board.
Welcome New Baby!
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Thank You From Micki Pollock
To my dear St. George's family—I want to thank you all for your prayers and well wishes during my recent downtime. A special shout out to our fantastic Pastoral Care Team. The prayers before surgery and the yummy food afterward left me wanting for nothing! I want to thank you also for the wonderful return you all gave me when I came to church on November 9 for the first time in awhile. I am truly blessed to have each and every one of you! God bless you all and thanks again! Love from Micki Pollock.
UTO Fall Ingathering by Linda Huls
Contributions to the UTO Fund has shown a downward trend nationally over the past few years. However, the people of St. George’s continue to show their thanks by using their little blue box. This fall’s ingathering amounted to $313. Thank you for your show of thankfulness.
HandCrafting Justice Thank You
On behalf of Handcrafting Justice, we would like to extend our gratitude for the support and generosity that St. George's Episcopal Church gave to our project. The Craft Sale on November 2 was a great success. Sales amounted to $2000. We especially enjoyed the friendly community that is alive in your parish. By your purchases, you enable women to support their families as they confront poverty and hardship. Special thanks go to the Rev. Paige Blair and the wonderful volunteers who helped us.
