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Ken
Marden, left, with Rev. John Van Siclen
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John
Van Siclen
Priest
in
Charge
John Van Siclen
attended Hobart College in Geneva, NY and Episcopal Divinity School. He
was ordained as a priest in 1977. While a curate at St. Peter’s Church
in Lakewood OH, he met his wife Pam. They have a son, Peter, born in
1984, who plays tenor sax and is in a masters program in jazz
compostion at UMass in Amherst.
John’s ministry has taken him and his family to the Church of the
Advent in Pittsburgh, PA, St. Elizabeth’s Church in Sudbury, MA, St.
Paul’s in White River Junction, VT, and St. Michael’s in Bristol, RI.
He spent the last two years of his clerical career at Christ Church, in
Lincoln, RI. Of all his parishes, John speaks of his time in Vermont
with special affection. “It is a lot like St. Giles: people love the
place, enjoy being together and have a deep commitment to Jesus Christ.”
John and Pam operate Tidewater Way, a small
retreat house on the north branch of the John’s River just above the
swinging bridge in South Bristol, ME. Its doors are open to all, but
our ministry is primarily directed to New England parish clergy and
their families.” Guest come to Tidewater Way to heal and become
spirituall recharged.
Speaking of his own life, John says, “We began our ministry as a clergy
couple with our marriage in 1980. We have lived this challenging life
and know its many rewards and blessings. For about the last ten years
we have envisioned this particular ministry of hospitality and we have
been fortunate to slowly see our calling become a reality.” Tidewater
Way features a barn and guesthouse with three units.
Both John and Pam feel very fortunate to be able to operate the
retreat. Upon their return to Maine, he found he missed celebrating the
Holy Eucharist. He got in touch with Bishop Chilton Knudsen and she
recommended he make himself available to St. Giles on a part time
basis.
In January 2008 John became Priest in Charge of St. Giles, suceeding
the Rev Jeffrey Lewis. He can be
reached at johnvs@tidewater.net.
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Leonetta
Burns
Deacon
What I Love About St. Giles'
What I
love about St.
Giles' church is the spirit of love, faith, and sharing. Love is
always in the air. From our Sunday morning Eucharist where we
proclaim
our love and faith in God to the sharing and conversation that takes
place after the service. The little ones race to the rear of the
church right after the service, they want to be the ‘first' to greet
and hug the clergy. Then, as the adults process out, they stop
and
share their hugs and love as well. We may be going our separate
ways
into the world, but there is a spirit of connection that binds us
together at all times. Put us together in a room and you will
feel the
warmth, joy and love that radiates from us, like the reflection of
God's love, given to us and shared with others.
Curriculum
Vitae
On V-J Day, as my mother listened to the signing of
the peace treaty on the battleship Missouri, I came into the
world of Chelsea, Maine. My mother, Evelyn L. Miller was born and
raised in Chelsea, as was my father, Warren W. Winter. I attended
a one room school until the third grade at which time I entered the
first Chelsea Elementary School. I attended Cony High School (my
grandfather was among the first graduating class) and graduated
in 1964. Married Robert S. Burns in 1967. We have three children,
Christopher, Laura and Tonia. Four grandchildren, Heather, Karlton,
Victoria and Allison. Graduated with an Associate degree in
nursing from the University of Maine in 1981. Practiced as a
pediatric nurse for twenty years at the Augusta Hospital before my
present position as a Medical Oncology Nurse in Augusta. I entered the
discernment process in the Diocese of Maine in 2000. I became a
postulant and entered the Deacon Formation Program in 2002. On 19
June 2004 I was ordained to the diaconate by the Rt. Rev. Chilton
R. Knudsen and assigned to St. Giles' Episcopal Church with the Rev.
Robert A. Jewett.
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John
Atwood
Senior Warden
Why I love St. Giles:
My family and I have been coming to St.Giles for nearly thirty years.
Over these years a lot has changed at St.Giles. We've gone from a
mission to a parish, seen priests and parishoners come and go,
gradually attracted more families and added, a few years ago, a
beautiful parish hall. Some things have remained constant, however,
which have cemented my relationship with this little parish and its
members.
First among these is an unidentifiable spirit at this parish. It's one
of reverence, devotion to each other, intimacy and unrestrained
enthusiasm. People who attend this church often find a way to return
because they see what we see there-loving support for one another and
an active devotion to God. Examples abound. We have sent missionaries
to Liberia and Haiti; we sponsor a successful nursery school, provide
wonderful public suppers,
operate the locally famous annual Country Fair each July, and cultivate
an active outreach effort in the community. Best of all, we welcome new
members to our family without reservation. A new parishoner is as
cherished as the "old-timers"
For me, however, I most treasure the mutual affection one finds at St.
Giles. One truly feels loved here as though we are members of a large
and caring family. You witness this at the "exchange of the peace" each
Sunday, the spirit of volunteerism, (every job, big and small, gets
done woth enthusiasm), the spirit of openness and welcoming and the
response to
parish challenges. Throughout its years, St. Giles has had plenty of
the latter, but the spirit of its clergy and parishoners has always
prevailed so that this
little church contiues to grow and thrive among the pines which
surround it and the greater community which benefits by its presence. I
feel blessed to be part of this loving church community.
Curriculum Vitae
I was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where my father's family had lived for
some years. I grew up in Garden City, N.Y. and Rumson, N.J.. I attended
grade schools there, but went off to boarding school in ninth grade.
Throughout this time, due primarily to my mother's influence, who was a
committed Episcopalian, I was baptized, confirmed and attended large
Episcopal churches. I also attended a boarding school whose headmaster,
and his predecessor, were ordained Episcopal priests. These Episcopal
churches I attended growing up were huge--big buildings, large
parishes, multiple choirs, large multi-class Sunday schools, large
clergy staff, etc. (What a wonderful change to come to Jefferson and
find the intimacy and warmth of St.Giles!).
After boarding school, I attended the University of Pennsylvania and
Cornell Law School. After graduating from the latter in 1971, I came to
Maine and was hired as an Assistant Attorney General. I moved to
Jefferson and rented the house of Canon Herb and Doris Craig, who were
among the
founders of St.Giles in the fifties. Finding them was a happy
coincidence as they became my generous landlords and introduced me to
St.Giles, though my attendance then was inconsistent.
I was married to Pat Ann Sheeran in 1974 and we moved to nearby
Washington. A year later, my oldest, Jennifer, was born, then Sarah in
1978, and Sam in 1982. In '78 I was elected as District Attorney for
Waldo, Knox, Lincoln and Sagadahoc Countys and, coincidentally, began
to attend St.Giles regularly. In 1987, Governor McKernan appointed me
as Commissioner of Public Safety and then, in 1994, as a Justice of the
Superior Court. I retired in
2005.
In the meantime, in 1991, cancer struck my wife and ultimately took her
life in 1993. In 1996, I married Maggie, a licensed clinical
social worker, and became a stepfather to five, Christian, Peter, Amy,
Julia and Elizabeth.
Although all but Elizabeth are grown up and in their own homes, Maggie
and I continue to live in the house we built in Sheepscot which had
been designed for what was then a much larger family.
Over the years, I have served off and on for approximately twelve
years on vestry but now have the privilege to serve as St.Giles' senior
warden. I hope my tenure will be as successful as my predecessors,
trusting that the spirit of this church and its members will continue
to provide mutual support for our shared ministry.
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