The Rev. Robert Jewett
A Celebration of Life
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I previously wrote you with the sad news that The Rev. Robert Jewett,
Priest-in-Charge of St. Giles' Church in Jefferson died on 23
February after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Ordained to the priesthood in
1963, Bob served congregations in Connecticut and New York before
moving to Maine, where he served as Interim at St. Mark's, Augusta and
St. Peter's, Rockland before joining in ministry in 1998 with his
beloved people of St. Giles'.
In addition to parochial service,
Bob offered spiritual leadership in Cursillo, in diocesan youth events,
as Co-Chair of the Committee on Holy Orders, and as pastor,
mentor and consultant in both church and community settings. Bob
was a poet, a writer and teller of stories, an artist in the
medium of words. Whether on the amateur stage, in the pulpit,
designing a sewing project or out milking his goats, Bob was so
alive, so gifted: wondrously creative, funny, wise and
compassionate.
Leading the retreat portion of the
2006 Chrism Eucharist (when the bishop and clergy gather to renew
our ordination vows), Bob drew his themes from the best-seller
GILEAD by Marilynne Robinson*. GILEAD gathers a harvest of
memories and reflections, written by a gravely ill pastor
as he looked back over years of pastoral ministry. I know I
was not the only person in the room who was struck with awareness
that Bob was in fact living that book with us, as he looked back
over his long and faithful ministry in his meditations.
Because he was open and vulnerable, we knew that his illness
might advance at any time. Those meditations, and the
authenticity of his presence with us, now stand as one of his
many legacies in the diocese he called home for over a dozen
years. The hole which his death leaves in our branch of the
Body of Christ is large indeed.
We will gather to share sorrow and
hope, to remember Bob, to sing music he loved, to hear words of
strength and comfort and to make Eucharist on WEDNESDAY 28
FEBRUARY at 2 PM at St. Giles' Church, (Rt. 126, West Jefferson,
ME). All are welcome. Clergy of all denominations are
requested to vest (white stole) and process.
Condolences may be sent to Bob's
wife, Gail Montgomery, at:
122
Atlantic Highway
Waldoboro
ME 04572
Memorials may be sent to:
The Fellowship of
Reconciliation OR St.
Giles' Episcopal Church
521 N.
Broadway
PO Box 34
Nyack, NY
10960
Jefferson ME 04572
Thanks be to God for the life and
ministry of The Rev. Robert Jewett. Be at peace, Bob.
Well done, good and faithful servant.
+CHILTON
The Right Rev. Chilton R. Knudsen
Bishop of Maine
* Robinson, Marilynne,
GILEAD. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2004 and Picador, 2006