Announcements
SUMMER FAIR 2008 - See pictures
Posted Wednesday August 6, 2008
SATURDAY, AUGUST 9TH
9 AM TO 1:30 PM
To view Summer Fair Pictures click here:
Summer Fair 2008.pps
Thank you, thank you all to those who bought, cooked or ate our fabulous chicken salad luncheon; those who baked and contributed to the bake sale; the white elephant; our own St. Thomas’ hot dog stand; Kay’s Boutique—all the exciting parts that made up our 115th annual fair. We are still counting receipts and so far have grossed a total of $5,624.37. Thank you, The Fair Ladies Jean Harper & Ruth Tolman.
RAFFLE:
SEVEN GIFT CERTIFICATES
TO FINE CAMDEN RESTAURANTS
CHILDREN’S GAMES
HOT DOGS AND SODA
BAKED GOODS
PLANTS
BOOKS
JEWELRY
HANDCRAFTED THINGS
WHITE ELEPHANTS
FINE LINENS
GIFTWARE
SUE’S CORNER
BUILDING TOURS
KAY’S BOUTIQUE
(GENTLY WORN FINE CLOTHING)
LUNCHEON: 11:30 TO 1 PM
Our Own Famous Chicken Salad &
Blueberry Buckle with Blueberry Sauce
With harp & viola luncheon music
Apartment For Rent
Posted Monday June 2, 2008
THE OLD RECTORY
St. Thomas’ Church now has a beautifully renovated, two-bedroom apartment available for summer rental. The apartment sleeps four, and a child can be accommodated as a fifth, if required. There are glimpses of the harbor from the windows, and the apartment has its own front door entrance from Chestnut Street. TV, telephone, and high-speed internet access are provided. The rental is $750/week for the months of May, June, September and October; and $950/week for July and August.
To see the apartment, or inquire further, please contact John Doncaster at (207)236-4136 or jaydonc@verizon.net.
To view the Apartment pictures click here:
Apartment Pictures.pdf
VESTRY MINUTES
Posted Wednesday April 9, 2008
Vestry Meetings
St. Thomas’ Church, Camden, Maine
To view the JULY 15, 2008 minutes click here:
Vestry Minutes 071508.pdf
To view the JUNE 10, 2008 minutes click here:
Vestry Minutes 061008.pdf
To view the MAY 20, 2008 minutes click here:
Vestry Minutes 052008.pdf
To view the APRIL 8, 2008 minutes click here:
Vestry Minutes 040808.pdf
To view the MARCH 11, 2008 minutes click here:
Vestry Minutes 031108.pdf
To view the FEBRUARY 12, 2008 minutes click here:
Vestry Minutes 021208.pdf
To view the JANUARY 08, 2008 minutes click here:
Vestry Minutes 010808.pdf
To view the DECEMBER 11, 2007 minutes click here:
Vestry Minutes 121107.pdf
To view the NOVEMBER 13, 2007 minutes click here:
Vestry Minutes 111307.pdf
To view the OCTOBER 9, 2007 minutes click here:
Vestry Minutes 100907.pdf
To view the SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 minutes click here:
Vestry Minutes 091107.pdf
2008 ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
Posted Wednesday January 23, 2008
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
Sunday, January 27, 2008
St. Thomas’ Church, Camden, Maine
by Senior Warden – Robert Furman
We had a very upbeat and enjoyable Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, January 27, 2008. Approximately 60-65 parishioners attended. I did not realize there were so many stand-up comics in our midst.
Fr Rafter thanked all of the departing Vestry members for their dedicated work, and we all welcomed a great slate of new Vestry members: Hank Eaton, Lucy Ebbert, Anne Edmonds, Jan Lyle and Bill Sharp. See below bio on each member.
Karen Laite thanked everyone for their support these past three years, as she carried out the duties of Junior Warden. Elizabeth Moran was unanimously voted in as the next Junior Warden. Fr Rafter announced that Bob Furman has agreed to stay on as Senior Warden for another year.
The new, and much needed, By-laws were approved. See below link to view in detail. The By-laws Committee, consisting of Terry Jewett and Anne Edmonds, were thanked for the great time and effort they put into this task.
Treasurer, Chris Glass, reported that we finish the year in the black, by some $815, and presented the proposed 2008 budget, which was accepted by vote of the parish.
Parker Laite gave justly earned praise to Chris Glass for his wonderful and dedicated work as the architect for our new building, and also for the renovation designs for the old rectory. These renovations include, new church office spaces, library, conference room, and upstairs rental apartment. Parker’s remarks were received with much applause.
Fr Rafter closed the meeting with prayer.
To view the Proposed Bylaws click here:
Revised Constitution ByLaws – Rev 14.pdf
To view the January 2007 Minutes click here:
01 28 07 Annual Meeting Minutes.pdf
Biographical Information for Newly Appointed Vestry Members
Elizabeth Moran
Junior Warden
Elizabeth, a native of Camden, and her husband Andrew have been members of St. Thomas’ Parish since they moved back to Maine in 1987. Prior to that, they were members of Truro Church in Fairfax, Virginia where Elizabeth was Altar Guild Directress. From 1967 to 1987, the Moran’s were summer parishioners of St. Thomas. At St. Thomas, Elizabeth and Andrew have been involved in the Youth Group and Elizabeth is a member of the Altar Guild. She is also Chair of the Memorials Committee and was a member of the Community Concert Committee. Presently, she is involved in organizing and preserving the historical records of St. Thomas’ and plans to produce a booklet about the needlepoint kneelers. She is also Chair of the Personnel Committee and has been a member of Vestry for two years. She is a member of the Building Committee and Chair of the Decorating Committee. Elizabeth is Interim Director of the Camden Public Library and was the Executive Director of the Camden Area History Center. Elizabeth and Andrew have two daughters, Heather and Melissa, and two grandsons, Tyler and Ethan.
Hank Eaton
Three-Year Term
Henry Eaton is a native of Bellingham, Massachusetts. He graduated from Dean Junior in 1990 with a degree in Computer Science. He is married and has three great children. After running his own business for five years, he decided, along with his family, to move to beautiful Midcoast Maine. He now resides in Lincolnville. Hank has been a member of the Episcopal Church since 2000. As a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Whitinsville, he was a Lay Reader and a Eucharistic Minister. He also maintains Trinity’s website. Once relocating to Maine, he had a very hard time finding a church that fit the needs of his family. After several visits to St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Camden, and various “other” churches in the area, the family agreed on St. Thomas’. In his leisure time, Hank coaches softball for his fourteen-year old daughter and is a very involved father. He is an avid writer, and hopes to have his book published sometime this year. He is also a huge sport fan, and loves watching both the Red Sox and Patriots!
Lucy Ebbert
One-Year Term
After moving to Maine in the fall of 1998, I began attending services at St. Thomas’ Church the following spring. I joined the church and soon became immersed in the many aspects of parish life, including chairing the Summer Fair, providing clerical office support, and eventually becoming a member of Vestry. Additional committee work included chairing Stewardship, scheduling Oblations and serving on the Finance, Personnel and Discernment Committees. With the completion of the building project and the leadership of John Rafter, our new rector, St. Thomas’ has the tools to reach out to our surrounding community. This is evidenced by the many new faces in the pews and in our Sunday school classrooms. At the same time, our parish community is pulling together like never before to worship in a friendly and gracious manner. Professionally, I am on the fulltime staff at Bay Chamber Concerts. I live in Rockland with my husband, Jim. We have one daughter, a newborn intensive care nurse practitioner, who lives in Philadelphia.
Anne C. Edmonds
Three-Year Term
Born in Malaya, grew up in England; confirmed by the Bishop of Bedford in 1940. Retired to Camden in 1995, after 30 years as Librarian at Mount Holyoke College. A Communicant at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in South Hadley, I served on its vestry and was a member of its building committee for a new church.
Joined St. Thomas’ in 1996, filled an unexpired term on the Vestry in 1999, and subsequently served a three-year term. I have completed the Education for Ministry (EFM) program, and have been a member of a deacon’s discernment committee. I currently serve as chair of the Library Committee, the Sarah Davenport Religious Education Fund Committee and, recently, the Constitution and Bylaws Committee.
Over these past years, St. Thomas’ has been roiled by challenges, which have dismayed many of its members, but, by God’s grace, the core has held. We are now blessed with a new rector and an expanded building. I would feel privileged to be part of a vestry that works for the renewal of our community and its continuing spiritual and physical growth.
Jan Lyle
Three-Year Term
I am a life long Episcopalian, baptized at St. John’s in Ketchikan, Alaska, confirmed at Holy Trinity in Juneau, Alaska, and married to my husband Sandy at St. Luke’s in Tacoma, Washington almost 31 years ago. As a teenager, I helped with Sunday school and bible school and was involved in the Community Christian Youth group. I have 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren, none of whom live locally.
I served on St. Thomas’ Vestry a few years ago, during a sabbatical leave and during the early part of the Dick Gilchrist’s interim. I have been an alternate and a delegate to Diocesan Convention. Being a member of the vestry is an honor and it is also hard work to do. As a vestry member, I worked hard to listen to parishioners and to direct their questions or concerns to the correct person. Besides serving on the Vestry I have been 1/2 of the Queen of Rummage for 5 years. You have seen my goods at the Summer Fair and the Christmas Fair. I have just recently been teaching Sunday school to the 4th grade and older children and am on the roster for Usher at the 7:30 service.
I feel that I am called to serve on the Vestry and to represent the entire parish on the matters that come before the Vestry.
Bill Sharpe
Three-Year Term
I was born in Buffalo, New York and was raised a Methodist Episcopalian. After college, I worked for General Motors and was transferred to New York in 1966. I retired and moved to Camden in 1990, and was confirmed and accepted into St. Thomas’ congregation in 1994. I served on the Vestry 200-2003, and was head usher for ten years. I have a strong commitment to our church and our community, and am anxious for us to continue to grow and reach out to all with Christian love and charity.
Chapter & Verse Newsletter
Posted Tuesday November 6, 2007
2008 Chapter & Verse Newsletter
St. Thomas’ Church, Camden, Maine
To view the AUGUST 2008 NEWSLETTER click here:
CVAug2008.pdf
To view the JUNE 2008 NEWSLETTER click here:
CVJUNE2008.pdf
To view the APRIL 2008 NEWSLETTER click here:
CVAPRIL2008.pdf
To view the FEBRUARY 2008 NEWSLETTER click here:
CVFEB2008.pdf
To view the DECEMBER 2007 NEWSLETTER click here:
CVDEC2007.pdf
To view the NOVEMBER 2007 NEWSLETTER click here:
CHAPTER & VERSE NOVEMBER 2007.pdf
St. Thomas' New Email Address
Posted Monday October 29, 2007
Our new email address is stthoscamden@roadrunner.com
The old email address (stthoscamden@adelphia.net) will be inactive January 1st. Both email addresses can be used for the remainder for the year, but please make a note of the new one.
DIOCESE OF MAINE ANNUAL CONVENTION
Posted Monday October 29, 2007
DIOCESE OF MAINE 189th ANNUAL CONVENTION
Friday & Saturday, October 24-25, 2008
Bangor Civic Center
Lay Delegates
Sandy Adams
Jane Schroeder
Elphie Owen
Manette Pottle
Alternates
Jan Lyle
Chris Glass
Hank Eaton
Clergy
The Rev. John Rafter
The Rev. John Lewis
The Rev. Rosalee Glass
DIRECTIONS TO THE BANGOR CIVIC CENTER
From I-95 North or South
Take Exit 182A to I-395 East. Follow to Exit 3B, Main Street. Take a right onto Main Street. Take a left onto Dutton Street at the second light. Auditorium parking is to the left; Civic Center parking is behind the building.
From Route 1A
From Ellsworth, travel to I-395 West. Follow to Exit 3, Main St. Take a right onto Main Street. At the first light, take a left onto Dutton Street. Auditorium parking is to the left; Civic Center parking is behind the building.
St Thomas’ Sunday School and Youth Programs
Posted Thursday August 16, 2007
Welcome, St. Thomas offers nursery care, Sunday School, and programs for youth.
Nursery and childcare for those 4 and under is available during our 9:30 am service, and sometimes during special events.
Regular Sunday School is held during our 9:30 am service, from 9:15 to 10:20 am. Sunday School begins on the first Sunday after Labor day and runs until approximately the second Sunday in June.
We have two groups for Sunday School, the first for those ages 4-9 and another for children ages 9-12. The children in the 4-9 year old class learn stories from the bible using Godly Play, a Montessori-based teaching method using an assortment wood and felt pieces. After each lesson the children are invited to play with the pieces and retell the story themselves.
Children in the 9-12 class hear stories more directly from the bible, followed by discussion, and also participate in readings from the bible.
Both classes include crafts as part of their lesson time, and there is frequently opportunity for plays and music as part of the day’s fun.
Children also join in special events throughout the year, such as in the appearance of saints on All Saint’s Day and in our Christmas Pageant.
New this year we will also be offering a program called Rite 13 for youth ages 12 and up, which guides them using lessons designed to help them in real life situations.
We hope you’ll join us!
Download the registration form here:
Sunday School Registration Form.pdf
Return completed registration form to
St. Thomas’ Church
P.O. Box 631
Camden, ME 04843
attn: parish administrator