The Rt. Reverend Mark Beckwith returns to All Saints by-the-Sea this week, to conduct the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. celebrations of Holy Communion on Aug. 14. After the 10 a.m. service refreshments are served on the church porch. On Tuesday, Aug. 16, Bishop Beckwith will lead a discussion group on the church porch. All Saints welcomes visitors of all faiths.

Beckwith was elected the 10th Bishop of Newark, New Jersey in September 2006 and was consecrated in January 2007. Prior to his election, he was rector of All Saints Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, in the diocese of Western Massachusetts.  He also served as associate rector of St. Peter’s, Morristown, New Jersey, and rector of Christ Church, Hackensack, New Jersey. Beckwith is a 1973 graduate of Amherst College, and a 1978 graduate of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale.

Throughout his career he has been involved in finding solutions to social problems. During his tenure as rector of All Saints Church, the congregation was nationally recognized for its neighborhood ministry. In the diocese of Newark, Beckwith co-founded Morris Shelter, Inc. and was the first president of the Inter-Religious Fellowship of the Homeless in Bergen County. The Bishop’s Blog, Signs of God’s Grace, can be found at: http://www.dioceseofnewark.org/bishops-blog

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.