BRINGING CARE, SUPPORT, AND CHEER TO MAINE’S ISLAND COMMUNITIES By Sheila D. Grant
Above: Engineer Storey King, Director of Island Outreach/Chaplain Douglas Cornman, Captain Michael Johnson, Director of Island Health Sharon Daley, and Steward Jillian aboard the Sunbeam. 32 • MAINE SENIORS
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any Mainers have not heard of the Maine Seacoast Mission, but for island residents, the organization provides caring, community, and year-round support. It all began 115 years ago, when Mount Desert Island pastors and brothers, Alexander and Angus MacDonald, sailed a small sloop to islands and lighthouses in an effort to relieve the desolate conditions often found there. With funding from wealthy acquaintances, the duo founded the Maine Seacoast Mission in 1905. Ever since, the organization has delivered medical care, spiritual guidance, holiday gifts, and more to the islands. “I’ve been part of the crew for the past five years,” said Douglas Cornman, 52, Director of Island Outreach/Chaplain. Mike Johnson, 51, is captain of the Sunbeam; Storey King, 51, is its engineer; Jillian, 53, who uses no surname, is the steward; and Sharon Daley, RN, is director of island health services. Cornman’s job is to help islanders access
programs and activities that might otherwise be difficult to obtain due to geography, and to encourage a strong sense of community. Overall, the creative arts psychotherapist’s focus is on the spiritual health, as well as the mental, emotional, and behavioral health, of the residents of Islesford, Great Cranberry, Frenchboro, Isle au Haut, Matinicus, Monhegan, and Vinalhaven islands. “Within that focus, I do a wide variety of things,” he said. “I lead worship on the islands, particularly in the fall, winter, and spring when the communities don’t have seasonal ministers that come to lead worship in the churches.” The Mission is a nondenominational Christian organization, Cornman said. “Not everyone on the island now is a Christian. So, I will do an interfaith service, trying to make it as inclusive as possible, but still have it be meaningful.” This type of service “brings together people from diverse backgrounds to listen to one another and realize what they have in common,” he said.
PHOTOS: (ABOVE) FRED FIELDS; (RIGHT) COURTESY MAINE SEACOAST MISSION
Maine Seacoast Mission
