This newsletter sent to Churches, Priests and Deacons (active), Diocesan Council, Standing Committee, Chancellor, Wardens, Treasurers, Parish Administrators, Jubilee Center and Camp Leadership, Trustees, Summer Chapel Leadership, Diocesan Staff and Diocesan Convention Delegates | |
Announcements and Updates | |
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A Banner Evening For "The Philadelphia Eleven"
Thank you to all who joined us for the showing of “The Philadelphia Eleven” on May 14 at the Nickelodeon 6 in Portland. The nearly sold-out crowd experienced a powerful film and a lively post-screening conversation with five noteworthy Maine women priests: the Rev. Merrill Bittner, the Rev. Sukie Curtis, the Rev. Cn. Nancy Moore, the Rev. Dr. Vicki Lovely Smith, and the Rev. Portia Royall Hirschman. In case you missed it, you can watch the video of the panel discussion—moderated by Director of Communications Susan Sherrill Axelrod—here.
The Rev. Merrill Bittner (right), one of the Philadelphia 11, and her spouse, Noppa, at the screening in Portland.
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Host A Screening!
Parishes across the country are invited to join this year’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of women’s ordination in The Episcopal Church by hosting a screening of “The Philadelphia Eleven.” To encourage Maine churches of all sizes to share the film with their parishioners and communities, filmmaker Margo Guernsey is offering a discount code, which will reduce the price for a public performance license to $75.
Scan the QR code to access the registration form to host a screening, and enter SMALLCHURCHLOVE in the Coupon Code box.
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TOMORROW! Celebration of the Life and Ministry of the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray
Thursday, May 23, 7 p.m.
On Zoom
Continue the 50th anniversary celebration of women's ordination with this Province 1 virtual event to learn about the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray—a groundbreaking lawyer, activist, poet, and priest, and the first Black woman to be ordained in The Episcopal Church. Rev. Murray’s niece, Rosita Stevens-Holsey, author and leader of the Preserving Pauli Murray Foundation, will speak about her aunt and the legacy she has left us.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
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Information Needed For Confirmation at St. David’s, Kennebunk by May 30
If there are people from your congregations being received or confirmed at St. David's Kennebunk on June 1, please email the bishop's Executive Assistant, Lauralee Raymond before the May 30 deadline.
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Pride Month Preview
In advance of Pride month (June) this year, the Episcopal Church released this new pride shield (pictured, left). It is a wonderful symbol of the Church's commitment to LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusion.
Each year, our youth host the diocesan effort to participate in pride parades, and they march together in Portland Pride. This year's theme is "Life as Art" and we will encourage any church who wants to participate in the Portland Pride parade to RSVP using this link, but also for any church who marches in their own community celebration to share pictures with us!
Details for the Portland Parade are on the form, but in essence:
- All are welcome. The parade is over a mile so being able to self-ambulate or have adequate accommodations is important.
- We don't yet have a meeting point (the parade organizers will tell us where to meet once they close registration), but it will be at 12:30 on June 15 somewhere around the Portland Public Library.
- Folks are encouraged to wear rainbow colors and to create posters or messages about God's love for all people. Diocese of Maine Pride T-shirts will be available for purchase soon!
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Questions can be directed to Emily Keniston.
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Communications Department Debuts Office Hours
Anyone involved in parish communications is invited to Office Hours—an "open door" virtual information session—on Wednesday, June 12 at 11 a.m. Director of Communications Susan Sherrill Axelrod and Digital Communications Specialist Amy Redfern will answer questions about website updates, social media, email newsletters, video production, and any other communications concerns. Email Susan for the Zoom link.
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Youth at General Convention
Please pray for youth attending General Convention. Catherine Mansir (left), of Christ Church in Gardiner, is one of two teens representing Province I in the Official Youth Presence. She has been preparing for months and we encourage your prayers for her and her ministry. Also, Oliver Nolt from St. Alban's in Cape Elizabeth and Eleanor Keniston from St. Peter's in Portland are attending the Bishops United Against Gun Violence faith-based advocacy training and public witness for gun safety at General Convention. Please pray for their learning and growth in their faith journeys as these young people prepare for, and participate in, that event.
Gun Violence Prevention Button Contest
In advance of the General Convention, the Episcopal Peace Fellowship's Gun Violence Prevention (GVP) action group has organized a GVP button contest. The winning design will be awarded a $100 honorarium. Submissions are due May 31st. Find more information here.
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Call to Convention
OFFICIAL NOTICE is hereby given, in accordance with Canon Six, Section I, of the Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, that the 205th Annual Diocesan Convention will assemble, God willing, at the Holiday Inn and Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Portland on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024.
An online pre-convention session will be held on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. We will repeat this session online on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024 at 7 p.m. for those who cannot make the first one. Clergy and lay delegates are asked to please attend one of these sessions.
Certification of Lay Delegates
Lay delegates elected to serve at the diocesan convention must be certified using the form below by Oct. 1, 2024. The sooner we have your delegates' names and email addresses; the sooner they can be added to the convention information distribution list!
This certificate must be prepared and signed by the rector, vicar, or priest-in-charge, if there is one, or a warden or clerk of the vestry or Bishop’s Committee when there is no rector, vicar, or priest-in-charge. Once a congregation has submitted their certificate, the church will no longer appear in the dropdown list on the form.
Certificate of Delegates
Find pre-convention session dates, a list of open positions, and guidelines for resolutions at episcopalmaine.org/convention. Additional information will be posted here as it becomes available.
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Season of Creation Lunch and Learn
Wednesday, May 29, 12:30 p.m.
You are invited to join a lunch and learn about the Season of Creation for clergy and lay leadership, music, stewardship, and formation leaders.
Participants in this virtual event will hear how parishes in Maine and New Hampshire celebrated the annual worldwide liturgical Season of Creation (traditionally Sept. 1- Oct. 5) in 2023. Panelists will include clergy and lay people sharing their experiences with liturgy, preaching, faith formation, coffee hour engagement, and stewardship related to creation.
Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and will leave with ideas and resources for celebrating the 2024 Season of Creation in their parishes. The event is hosted by the ECNH Earth Care Commission, the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, and SpiritBound Digital Mission.
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Marking the Memoryscape
Community Luncheon
May 31, 12-3 p.m.
First Parish, Portland
The Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Markers Project (MPCPMP) was established in 2011 to honor the two million captive Africans who perished during the transatlantic crossing known as the Middle Passage and the ten million who survived to build the Americas. Join MPCPMP founder Ann Chinn and award-winning civil rights historian and activist Danita Mason-Hogans of Bridging the Gap for a community luncheon and conversation facilitated by June Thornton-Marsh about launching a Middle Passage Ceremony and Port Marker Project for Maine.
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Wear Orange for Gun Violence Prevention
June 7-9
Every year on the first Friday in June, members of the movement against gun violence come together to honor survivors of gun violence and to demand a future free from this crisis by wearing orange throughout the weekend. Wear Orange originated on June 2, 2015—what would have been Hadiya Pendleton's 18th birthday. Just one week after performing at President Obama's second inaugural parade in 2013, she was shot and killed at the age of 15. In the aftermath, teenagers in Chicago who wanted to honor their friend wore orange to raise awareness around gun violence.
The Episcopal Peace Fellowship of Maine wishes to honor Hadiya and the more than 110 people shot and killed every day in the U.S. Congregations are encouraged to join in National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend, June 7-9. Learn more here.
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Open Clergy Positions
Is your church hiring? Would you like us to share the job description? If so, let us know!
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See the full events calendar here.
MAY
22 Ecumenical Pentecost with Bishop Brown at St. Ann's, Windham, 5-8 p.m.
27 Memorial Day, diocesan offices closed
JUNE
1 Regional Confirmation, St. David's Kennebunk, 10:30 a.m.
2 Trinity Church Portland, 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
9 St. Luke's Cathedral, 7:30 a.m., 10 a.m., and 5:15 p.m.
16 St. Brendan the Navigator, Deer Isle 10 a.m.
30 St. John Baptist, Thomaston 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
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