The Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith returns to Southport Island for his 18th year where he will preside over the service of Holy Communion for the next two Sundays at All Saints by-the-Sea. Services are at 8 and 10 a.m. The organist for Aug. 13 is Mr. Timothy Harrell from Trinity Church in Solebury, Pennsylvania and the organist for Aug. 20 is Mr. Henry Lowe from Walpole. Worshipers of all faiths are welcome to join our community as we worship God in this sacred space.

Mark Beckwith is the retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark (NJ) a position he held for 12 years.  He currently serves as liaison for Bishops United Against Gun Violence, a network of bishops he co-founded in 2012.  He is a leader of Braver Angels, a national movement to depolarize America, working particularly with faith communities.  He is the author of Seeing the Unseen:  Beyond Prejudices, Paradigms and Party Lines.  He blogs weekly on markbeckwith.net, which includes his recently posted podcasts — Reconciliation Roundtable, featuring leaders who describe their spiritual and political journeys.  A graduate of Amherst College and Yale Divinity School, he lives in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, and has two children and two grandchildren.

On Tuesday, Aug. 15 and Aug. 22 from 9 to 10 a.m., Rev. Beckwith will lead a discussion on the porch of the chapel covering the scriptures for the week and offering insights from his writings and teachings. His passion is to invite people to look beyond and beneath their political and theological positions, which in today’s climate of polarization can be overly confining; and find hope and blessing – and a way forward.

All Saints by-the-Sea is on Southport Island on All Saints Road about two miles on the left driving south on Route 238. An Episcopal Church sign marks the side of the road. Parking is available along Route 238, or if necessary, in the limited number of handicapped parking spaces off All Saints Road. A golf cart will ferry persons from the handicapped lot to the church steps. You may also come to church by private boat. The very beautiful and simple wood chapel is open for quiet prayer and meditation during the week.