The Rt. Rev. Chilton R. Knudsen
Bishop of Maine
September 2001
Message from Bishop Chilton Knudsen
Summer Chapel Snapshots
Thanks to Heidi Shott’s great article
on summer chapels in Maine, published in the July 15 edition of The Living Church (a nationally-circulated magazine of the Episcopal Church), lots of people now know that the Diocese of Maine has more summer chapels than any other diocese in the Church (as far as we can tell, anyway). Episcopalians across the country are beginning to contact us, asking questions like:"How does a summer chapel get started?"
"Do they also get visited by the Bishop?"
"What is different about summer chapels?"
It dawns on me that year-round Maine
Episcopalians might know the answers to most of those questions, but may not know summer chapels "from the inside." So, let me join Heidi as a photo-journalist with word-pictures, and invite you to peruse our web site www.diomaine.org/summerchapels.htm for the visual pictures of our summer chapels. Perhaps because we tend to pay a special kind of attention to our surroundings when we are on holiday, apart from the normal places where we live and move and have our being, Summer Chapels are special Holy Places for many people.I stand on the porch at All Saints-by-the-Sea on the island of Southport, greeting people after a Sunday service. One tells me how she was baptized, and then married, and then had her own child baptized – all in this holy place. Another speaks of discovering this chapel while on a walk long years ago, finding it unlocked, and entering a church for the first time in many years. "I found God in this space…I came back to God and to the Episcopal Church because of this chapel."
The exquisite summer chapel of St. Jude in Seal Harbor has a barely-visible prayer station, a little roofed oratory, out in the woods which surround the chapel. I pause there for a prayer before the evening service at which we will share the Bread and Cup. It’s as though the very wood of the structure has been soaked in prayer…many prayers over many years.
At St. Cuthbert’s Chapel on MacMahan Island, we bless the new needlepoint kneeling cushions (lovingly stitched by members) depicting stories from the life of this little-known saint. As the only church of any kind on the island, St Cuthbert’s is joyfully ecumenical, a true "village church." It’s quite a sight to see people streaming out of their cottages as one of the young people ("It’s my turn!" "No, mine!") hauls on the bell-rope and summons people to worship.
In startling contrast, it’s Sunday morning at St. Ann’s in Kennebunkport. With three services on Sunday morning, there are usually 500-600 people in attendance. Many of them are faithful, long-time members. Some have come today because the President will be here (along with his parents, who have been regular St. Ann’s worshippers for many years). All of us undergo Secret Service screening as we enter. We pray for our President and his family, and I know he’s grateful.
One more snapshot: Early on a foggy Sunday morning, I stand with Mike and Vicki (how good to have her along for this visit!) at the public dock in Portland, watching the morning creep over Casco Bay. We get a private boat ride to Peaks Island for Sunday Eucharist with the people of Holy Trinity Chapel, and afterwards crack lobster while helping one family bond with their new puppy. Everyone is happy and tired, recovering from their successful church fair the day before.
How blessed we are to have our summer chapels as members with us of the Body of Christ. They ARE indeed part of our community; always interested in our diocesan life, generously sharing their resources with us, enriching us with a wide range of perspectives from all over the world. Let’s continue to remember them all in our prayers, and give thanks that our life together in Christ embraces all who participate in this unique ministry. God is so good to us.
Ever yours in Christ, +CHILTON
The Living Church article is featured on the home page of the magazine’s web site at www.livingchurch.org.