All Saints by-the-Sea opens for the summer on June 12 with the Reverend Maria Hoecker from Boothbay Harbor’s St. Columba’s. Holy Communion will be celebrated at the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. services. A social hour with refreshments follows the 10 a.m. service. At 9 a.m. on Tuesday June 14, Rev. Hoecker will lead a discussion group on the church porch. All are welcome.

Rev. Hoecker’s presence at the start of the summer season reminds us of the close relationship between All Saints and St. Columba’s. Together these two Episcopal churches work together throughout the year to support a Joint Outreach Committee that administers to the needs of people in the Southport and Boothbay region.

A native of Kansas, Rev. Hoecker received her M.Div. from the School of Theology at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. While in seminary, she was director of Christian Education at the university parish church and guest editor for two issues of The Sewanee Theological Review.  Upon graduation from seminary she served as Associate Rector of St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Brevard, North Carolina and was a member of the diocesan council of Western North Carolina. 

A busy Mom, Hoecker nevertheless finds time to be a on the board of directors and governance committee of the Boothbay Region YMCA, to be legislative advocate for YAlliance of Maine, and to serve on the Standing Committee for the Episcopal Diocese of Maine.

A schedule of other clergy who will be visiting All Saints this summer, with bios and photos, can be found on the All Saints website at: http://allsaintssouthport.org. Services will continue to be held at 8am and 10am each Sunday through September 11, with Holy Communion at all services except the fourth Sunday of the month when Morning Prayer will be celebrated.

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. The very beautiful and simple wood chapel is open for quiet prayer and meditation during the week.