St. Columba’s Episcopal Church

Tue, 04/05/2022 - 7:15am

A vision! Most individuals or groups, when they start something, have a vision of what that something will do or be. Even when we give birth to a child, we often look at that new, tiny being and have a vision of what he or she will become.

But how often does that vision become reality? Most children, most individuals, most groups grow in unexpected ways. The old question, “nature or nurture,” applies. And yet we need a vision just as we need road signs to point us in the right direction — to inform us as to where we are, and where we are headed.

“To declare the Glory of God

by building a strong, faithful,

and committed community of Christ’s people,

who worship in the Episcopal tradition

and are dedicated to doing Christ’s work

through our daily lives, making a difference

in the Boothbay Region.”

This statement is the vision of St. Columba’s founders and remains the congregation’s vision today. Note the verbs “declare,” “build,” “worship,” “dedicate,” and “make.” Not easy tasks. Visions rarely are. But they are like roadsigns. They can direct our journeys and keep us from getting lost, or get us back on the right road when we are lost, and spur us forward.

We do not have to follow this vision alone. We are in community, and we have only to reach out for the ever steady love of God, the propulsion available to us for the journey. May St. Columba’s vision or a similar one, lead you on through a life of joy, fulfillment, and peace.

Meetings at St. Columba’s are “Stretch for Life” on Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. The vestry meets on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. with bible study later that day at 2 p.m. either in person at the church or by Zoom.

You are invited to the Palm Sunday service on April 10, which will include commentary on the biblical record of the events at the end of Jesus’ life in place of a sermon, or you may participate in the service by accessing the video at www.facebook.com/stcolumbasmaine/.

It is not too late to donate through the church either locally or directly to the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund (ERD) to support the people of Ukraine. You may write a check to St. Columba’s with ERD on the message line or donate directly to the fund at www.episcopalrelief.org. Erik Bertelsen is still making bright yellow, wooden sunflowers, symbols of Ukraine, to plant in your yard or at the end of your driveway. Contact Erik at ecbertelsen@gmail.com, or call him (319-6352) to ask that he make one for you in exchange for $25, which he will donate to the ERD fund.

VIP, a program for visually impaired persons, is still looking for substitute readers to record the text of the Boothbay Register for the blind. Please call Joan Stark at 633-2498 or email her at joanstark59@gmail.com if you can help.