On the next three Sundays, July 12, 19 and 26, All Saints by-the-Sea in Southport welcomes back the Rev. Martin Smith.

Holy Communion will be celebrated at the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. services with the exception of the 10 a.m. service on July 26, when the service will be Morning Prayer. A social hour with refreshments follows the 10 a.m. services. At 9 a.m. on Tuesday mornings (the 14th, 21st and 28th), Smith will lead a discussion group on the church porch. All are welcome.

Smith is well known throughout the Episcopal Church as writer, spiritual director, retreat leader, and teacher exploring contemporary spirituality. A priest since 1971, he most recently served as the senior associate rector at St. Columba’s Church in Washington, D.C., in the Diocese of Washington, while continuing to travel widely for his teaching ministry. He retired in July 2012, and continues to devote himself to writing, preaching and the leading of retreats and workshops.

He was born in the northwest of England in 1947 and received a bachelor’s degree from Oxford University in 1970. He trained as a theologian and prepared for the ordained ministry at Cuddesdon College, Oxford. After several years in the parish ministry, he joined the oldest religious order for men in the Anglican Communion, the Society of St. John the Evangelist, and served in the community in Oxford before transferring to the North American branch of the community in 1979.

After completing three terms as superior of the community, he left the order in 2002. From 2002-2006, he was on the staff of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington. He is the author of a number of books including "Nativities and Passions: Words for Transformations" (1995) and "Love Set Free: Meditations on the Passion According to St. John" (2012).

All Saints by-the-Sea is on Southport Island on All Saints Road about two miles on your left as you drive south on Route 238 (look for the Episcopal Church sign by 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 or by the tour boat Novelty, which leaves Boothbay Harbor from Pier 8 at 9 a.m. Novelty picks up passengers from the church dock at 11:40 a.m. for return to Boothbay Harbor. The very beautiful and simple wood chapel is open for quiet prayer and meditation during the week. More information about the church and its history can be found at http://allsaintssouthport.org.