Siasconset Union Chapel

Letters from Our Ministers

Letter from Rev. Rigdon

Fall 2011

Dear Friends,

I will remember the summer of 2011 as one of the most active in the long history of the Chapel. Services were held on Sundays and Thursdays from June 12th to September 18th, save for the weekend when Hurricane Irene paid our island a windy and wet visit. I would like to thank all of those who served our community as readers, greeters, ushers, docents and participants in the service commemorating the tenth anniversary of 9/11. And it goes without saying that those who serve on the Board of Trustees and its committees deserve the appreciation of all of us for the good work that they do on our behalf!

Our film series is growing in the number of people who are attending on Wednesday evenings, and the Chapel was the venue for the first showing in Sconset of the marvelous new documentary on Nantucket. In addition, we welcomed the first showing on the island of a powerful documentary on the coal industry in West Virginia and its implications for our life as a nation. The showing was followed by a lengthy discussion of some of its most significant implications.

The Chapel was also a place for good music this summer, beginning with the musicians who added greatly to our services and including special concerts and recitals. Our very special thanks to Diane Lehman who with her special musical gifts serves the Chapel faithfully.

As always, the Chapel was a place for baptisms, weddings, funerals and memorial services and its grounds were used for picnics for both of our congregations, as well as a special place for the village children to celebrate with their families the joys of the Fourth of July celebration. We were the location this year for rehearsals for On The Isle and for the Yale Whiffenpoofs who came to pay their annual visit.

What all of this activity represents is the Chapel's growing desire and commitment to serve everyone in our Sconset community and beyond. For example, our Outreach Program helps to meet the needs of Nantucketers the year round and includes projects in the wider world, as well. All of the things which I have mentioned belong to our understanding of our mission as an ecumenical Christian community. At its center is a worshipping, praying, compassionate congregation which seeks to discern God's will for our life and work and to be of help to those who need us.That is a high calling indeed and I am very grateful as your pastor to have a role in helping you to carry it out. Thank you for giving me that opportunity!

In closing, I would like to recognize all those who have given so generously of their time and resources in behalf of the Behold Campaign. For the Chapel to carry out the mission which I have just described requires volunteers and financial resources, especially in times like these. We still have a considerable distance to go to achieve our financial goals. If you have not already done so, please consider giving a generous gift to undergird the Chapel's mission and programs. If you have made a gift, please help us by talking with your Sconset friends to encourage them to make their pledge as well.

May God be with you in the months ahead "til we meet again."

Faithfully yours,
Bruce
The Rev. Dr. V. Bruce Rigdon

Letter from Father Bouchard

Fall 2011

This was my second summer as pastor of St. Mary's, and it was even more interesting and exciting than last summer. Once you get to know your way around and know more people, ministry becomes more engaging.

Except for our brush with Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene we had great weather in July and August, and the crowds, both on the island and at the Chapel showed it. It seemed that every Sunday the chapel was bright, cool, and over-flowing with worshipers. We at St. Mary's are grateful for the opportunity to worship as a community in Sconset during the summer. A special thanks to our summertime "choir," which did so much to enhance our worship. It included some of our adults and some of our teens.

And, of course, we enjoyed the opportunity to gather with our Protestant brothers and sisters at the two great picnics we had.

We look forward to welcoming Catholics back to the chapel at 8:45 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012, which will be our first Mass for the next summer season. Our last Mass will be September 2, 2012, Labor Day weekend.

Father Marcel