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March 25, 2020
Volume 9 Number 13 
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TRINITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL PARISH OF CASTINE
 
The Main Street Church


Coronavirus Update
Church Program Update

On March 13th  the Church Council decided to suspend all public worship at the Trinitarian Congregational Parish of Castine for the remainder of the month. 
 
On March 19th the Council voted to close the church to the public for the same period, suspending Morning Prayer and office hours. 
 
On March 24th, Governor Janet Mills ordered all nonessential, public-facing businesses and organizations closed to the public until April 8.  The suspension of church worship and programs will be extended for that period.
 

Worship Resources
 
Worship services are being recorded for posting to our Podcast and Sermon Blog sites (see the links below).  You may subscribe to these services so that new programs are sent to you via email.  Podcast services are available for listening by 9:30 am Sunday mornings.
 
Devotional materials (Our Daily Bread) are available, and can be mailed or delivered to your home.
 

Community Services
 
Witherle Memorial Library
 
The library is closed to regular business.  Please keep all borrowed books and materials until the library reopens.  Materials will be renewed automatically.  Staff are working, and can be contacted by phone or email for assistance and questions. 
326-4375.
 
Castine Town Office
 
The town office is closed to the public, but staff are working.  If you need to conduct town business, contact the town office at 326-4502 (8:00 am to 3:30 pm).
 

Local Retailers
 
Windmill Hill Gardens and Market is open with foods and supplies.  Call ahead for assistance, especially if you are self-isolating (207) 460-1719.
 
Markel’s Bakehouse has temporarily closed.
 
Compass Rose Books is open, and can assist you with your reading needs  (326-5034).
 
T&C Market has reduced its hours, but remains open and ready to assist those who are self-isolating (326-4818)
 
Are you working at a Castine/Penobscot business that is still open?  Let us know your hours and contact information, and we’ll share it with our community.
We’re Still Here!
 
Despite the suspension of worship services and church programs, our ministries have not ceased.  You can still contact Pastor Tim by email or telephone at the numbers below.  We will check the church phone for messages on a regular basis.  Amy and Tim will mostly be working from the safety of their own homes during this period.  Please feel free to reach out to them if you have spiritual needs or church business.
 
Church telephone:  326-9486
Pastor Tim’s home:  326-1008
Pastor Tim’s cell phone:  991-4645
Pastor Tim’s email: 
trhall@tcpoc.org
Amy's cell phone: 266-4386
Amy’s email:  amy@tcpoc.org


Weekly Podcast

Our church building may be closed, but we’re still offering praise and thanks to God in worship. An audio podcast of our service is recorded each week, and is posted on our podcast site:

https://podpoint.com/trinitarian-congregational-parish-of-castine-podcast  (click on the link to go there)
 
Join us for worship Sunday morning or anytime it’s convenient for you.  Worship services are usually recorded and posted on Saturday afternoon.  You can listen or download any of the last three worship services on our website.  Copies of the worship bulletin can also be downloaded so that you can follow along and participate (look for and click on the the “Show Episode Notes” button on the podcast page).
 
Dress as you like, come as you are.  No hand sanitizer needed.  You are always welcome here.


Sermon Blog
 
Don’t have time for a full hour of worship?  You can listen to and read the week’s sermon (with supporting Scripture) on our Sermon Blog Site:
 

https://tcpoc.wordpress.com/  (click on the link to go there)
 
Sermons are archived on the site for the past year.  Links on the site let you listen to the sermon and download the worship bulletin.
Weekly Meditation

The Lord is My Shepherd

Given the state of the global pandemic, my mind is filled with the words of the 23rd Psalm.  We read and sang that psalm together last Sunday during our podcast worship using the King James translation.  But whenever I hear the psalm read, I cannot help but recall a musical version of the song arranged by Virgil Thomson, based on a paraphrase of the psalm by Issac Watts.  The rhyming meter and different words give a new perspective to the psalm, but deliver the same meaning:  God walks with us in these days, leading us, supporting us, protecting us.  We need not fear. 


My Shepherd will supply my need,
Jehovah is his Name.
In pastures fresh he makes me feed
Beside the living stream.
He brings my wandering spirit back
When I forsake his ways.
He leads me for his mercy’s sake
In paths of truth and grace.

When I walk through the shades of death,
Thy presence is my stay.
One word of thy supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.
Thy hand, in sight of all my foes,
Doth still my table spread.
My cup with blessings overflows,
Thine oil anoints my head.

The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days.
Oh, may thy house be my abode
And all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come.
No more a stranger or a guest,
But like a child at home. 


Traditional American melody; arr. Virgil Thomson (1896-1989)
Paraphrase of Psalm 23,  Isaac Watts, (1674-1748)
No Neighbor Left Behind
 
In these times of pandemic and social distancing, our feeding ministry is even more important than usual.  Schools are closed, workers are laid off, and families are isolated from one another.  The meals we prepare and distribute not only bring important calories to our neighbors; they maintain an important, if modified contact with the community.  People know that people care.
 
Our NNLB meal will take place this Friday following enhanced safety procedures.  If you are dropping off food, we’ll ask you to leave your donation on a table in the vestry and let yourself out while maintaining the recommended six-foot distance from others.  Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer following drop-off.  Volunteers packaging meals will practice enhanced safety procedures as well.  There will be no community meal in conjunction with delivered meals, but additional packaged meals will be prepared for distribution. 
 
Packaging and delivery will take place this Friday (March 27) at 2:00 pm.  For more information, contact Ruth Anne Vagt at 326-9244. 
How Are You Coping?
 
Many of us are “self-isolating” during the COVID-19 pandemic, staying at home as much as possible to avoid close personal contact with others.  And that can become a bit tedious as we discover our limits for watching TV, reading, or cleaning our closets.  But many of us are discovering new ways to learn or discover new things as well as pass the time at home.  Here’s one idea:
 
Many of the world’s finest museums have websites with “virtual tours,” where you can look at exhibits and even plan visits for when the pandemic eases.  For example, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston has an excellent website at https://www.mfa.org/ So why not set your Google Search to “museums,” and see what you can see.  It’s easy on the legs, too.
 
Do you have an idea for something to do at home while self-isolating?  Send your suggestions to info@tcpoc.org and we’ll publish them in an upcoming edition of News & Notes.  Be safe out there, but have some fun!
What about Easter?
 
As the pandemic progresses and passes through Maine, we will continue to observe the restrictions ordered by Governor Janet Mills, including the closing of the church and the suspension of all public worship services.  Although the restrictions are currently scheduled to expire on April 8th, we are not currently planning public worship services for Maundy Thursday (April 9th) or Easter Sunday (April 12).  We will encourage our members and friends to remain safe in their social distancing practices while reaching out to neighbors and family with Easter calls, cards, flowers, and greetings.  Whatever happens, we will not leave Jesus in the tomb on Easter morning, but will again witness the glorious resurrection from the safety of our homes.  Watch News & Notes for a special Easter edition on April 8.
Scripture for Sunday

March 29, 2020
Lent V


Ezekiel 37:1-14

Psalm 130 

Romans 8:6-11

John 11:1-45
 
Sermon Theme:    New Life
 
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Check Us Out!


See our Web pagewww.tcpoc.org 
 
Check out the Blog!  Sunday sermons are posted on line every week right here:  http://tcpoc.wordpress.com/

Miss worship?  Our entire worship services are now available on our free Podcast!  Listen, download, or subscribe here:  https://podpoint.com/trinitarian-congregational-parish-of-castine-podcast 


 
Meeting coming up?  Check the calendar here:  http://www.tcpoc.org/calendar.html
 
Are you a Facebook member?  Check out our page:  http://www.facebook.com/tcpoc 
 
Please feel free to send your announcements to Pastor Tim using the contact points below.  If you’d rather not receive this weekly newsletter, please use the “unsubscribe” feature below.    If you know someone who might benefit from this newsletter, let us know their email or US Mail address.  And please let us know if there is someone who needs our prayers, offered individually or corporately in our worship together.
 
Trinitarian Congregational Parish of Castine
PO Box 108
68 Main Street
Castine, Maine 04421
(207) 326-9486
info@tcpoc.org


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Trinitarian Congregational Parish of Castine · PO Box 108 · 68 Main Street · Castine, ME 04421 · USA

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