The Dio Log

News & Events in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine since 1999

Volume 22, Number 16
August 20, 2020

207.772.1953 I episcopalmaine.org
The Rev. Larry Weeks baptized Jackson Samuel Cashman in an outdoor service August 8. Jack is the son of Emily Green Cashman and Andy Cashman and the grandson of Bill and Pam Green of Trinity, Portland.
Prayers
Let us pray for the repose of the soul of Nancy Taxson, mother of Betsy McCandless, Trustee of Diocesan Funds. She died on July 27 at Gosnell House in Scarborough. Read about Nancy's life here.

We pray for students returning to school, teachers, administrators and parents in the midst of uncertainty. Pastor Kimberly Knowle-Zeller offers this Back to School Prayer on Episcopal Cafe with the preface, "Wherever you find yourself this back to school season – at the computer, in a classroom, at home, wearing a mask, keeping distance, gathered in small groups, disinfecting every surface, learning with parents – this prayer is for you."
We offer prayers for Rev. Lauren Kay of St. George's, Sanford and Shauna Kay's recent marriage. Congratulations! May God bless their union!
Join us in offering prayers of thanksgiving for our Finance Summit Team - the diocesan treasurer, finance committee and staff - who met to work on a 2021 budget to be brought before the Diocesan Council and Convention this fall. 
Voices among us
Join us for a diocese-wide service this Sunday that includes music and a sermon from Bishop Brown! A video will be available on our YouTube channel to access anytime after 7:30 am that morning and will "premiere" on Facebook at 10:00 am. We are also looking for volunteers for the September 27th service. These worship services compiled by clergy and lay leaders throughout the diocese are reaching thousands of viewers online! If you or your church have not yet participated, now is the time! Please email Director of Communications Katie Clark.
Myrna Koonce of St. Paul’s, Brunswick works as a palliative chaplain and shared some words with her congregation about her work at Maine Medical Center during the pandemic. " 'Be still, then, and know that I am God.' I find myself reciting these words from Psalm 46 often these days...." Read more here
This month’s Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) issue of Vestry Papers highlights several voices sharing their experiences of racism including that of Heidi J. Kim, who writes about her experiences with anti-Asian racism and her support of Black Lives Matter. Find the ECF issue here.
Valerie Marier writes about how Trinity Chapel at Kennebunk Beach is a special place in her blog, Wandering with Val. She visits the chapel and discusses what it's like to worship with the community during the time of COVID.
Dr. Cynthia DeSoi, MD of St. Michael's, Auburn joined the Androscoggin Home Health and Hospice team as announced in this Twin City Times article in which she explains, "What I've learned is that what matters most is often not the number of degrees, or credentials on your wall, or how smart you are, but simply listening, caring, and letting the patient know that no matter what, you will be there for them."
Around the diocese
Episcopal Church Women of Province 1 meet Saturday
Province 1 Episcopal Church Women will hold their annual meeting/day of enrichment virtually on Saturday, August 22nd from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The meeting information is posted here.

Highlights include keynote speaker, Julia Renaud of the Center for Reconciliation (RI) and stories from ministries around the Province:
  • Amazing Grace - Adult Correctional Institution Ministry (RI)
  • Dinner for A Dollar - Community Suppers (CT)
  • ProGente Connections - Brazilian and American community partnership (MA)

Questions? Email or find the Province I ECW on Facebook.
Explore race and faith with the diocese this September
Join the diocese in exploring Sacred Ground, a film- and readings-based dialogue program of The Episcopal Church centering on race and grounded in faith. Small groups will walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism.

Episcopal Peace Fellowship-Maine Chapter have opened up this opportunity to anyone in the diocese. The program will begin on September 16th (2:00 to 4:00 pm) and will run every three weeks up to 10 sessions ending November 18th. It will be conducted over Zoom and co-facilitated by the Rev. Mary Lee Wile of St. Paul's, Brunswick and John Hennessy, Directory of Advocacy and Networks. Register in advance for this program here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Questions? Contact John Hennessy.
Maine Episcopal Network for Justice supports Emergency Election Protection and Census
Earlier this week, John Hennessy, Director of the Maine Episcopal Network for Justice (MENJ), joined the Rev. Jane Field, Executive Director of the Maine Council of Churches (MCC), and Sr. Quincy Howard from NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice on an advocacy call with senior staff from Senator Susan Collins’ office.

The group expressed grave concerns about the need to protect election integrity in Maine and nationally. Believing that no one should have to choose between their health and the fundamental right to vote, the group presented the staffers with ideas to conduct fair elections during a pandemic. Some of those ideas included expanding vote-by-mail options with paid postage, adjusting polling place operations to avoid crowding and allow for social distancing. You can read the letter from MCC here. The removal and destruction of key mail processing equipment from post offices around the country, including Maine, was raised.

Senator Collins, along with Senator King, are two of about 17 senators who are co-sponsoring a bipartisan bill in the Senate (S.4174) to try and address the urgent issues.

The Episcopal Church is one of 32 national faith-based organization and congregation who are part of the Faithful Democracy coalition working to safeguard two foundational aspects of our democracy: the general election in November and the decennial Census count. The group urged Senator Collins to support an extension of the Census deadline, not a reduction as the administration is recommending. Maine remains one of the lowest percentage states in terms of compliance with the reporting expectations.
News from our congregations
St. Martin's-in-the-Field in Biddeford Pool invites you to Sunday Morning Prayer on Facebook or in-person with registration at 8:30 or 11:00 am. You will be welcomed by Rev. Lauren Kuratko and family. The small members are "...having a good...time?" View aerial photos of St. Martin's-in the-Field by Dean Hawthorne here at Hawthorne Studios.
St. Bartholomew’s, Yarmouth is accepting applications for the position of Education Coordinator (part-time). The parish is searching for an enthusiastic and organized individual to oversee and further develop its Sunday School and youth programming. Given the current challenges of COVID-19, these programs may take place in several different formats. View the job description here. Applications will be accepted until August 21, 2020.
Looking for a quiet place to pray? St. James' Church, Prouts Neck keeps their church and memorial garden open for quiet contemplation. They ask that you stay safe and maintain physical distance. Live stream of their Sunday services is available on Facebook at 9:45 am.
Volunteers from Trinity, Saco, Representatives Gramlich and Bailey, and the Diocesan Hunger Initiative team distributed 1,000 boxes of fresh potatoes, mashed potatoes, milk & cheese and 700 boxes of Maine produce to families at OOB on Monday, August 17. Help us continue finding ways to help feed our struggling neighbors. Visit episcopalmaine.org to donate.
The Knitting Group of St. Andrew's, Newcastle is taking advantage of the weather to gather safely under the tent and do what they do best - together!
Let us know what's happening in your church! Send to diolog@episcopalmaine.org!
Faith resources
Season of Creation begins September 1st
Season of Creation is an annual Christian celebration of prayer and action for our common home. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and the leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada have prepared a series of devotions to observe the Season of Creation 2020, September 1–October 4.

The season, which begins on September 1 with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, is a time to join with the global Christian community in renewing, repairing and restoring commitments to God, to one another and to all of creation. For the four churches, it is also a time for strengthening relationships with one another. Through Scripture, hymns, advocacy and action, the weekly devotions, which are designed to be bulletin inserts for each of the five Sundays during the Season of Creation, begin Sunday, September 6, and invite people to live out their vocation as stewards of creation. The Season of Creation devotions are available here.
Practice Ignatian Spiritual Exercises in 2020-2021
Ignatian Partnership of Maine will offer the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius again in 2020-2021 as a "Retreat in Everyday Life". The retreat will allow us to move through the exercises over a nine-month period from October to June, allocating about ¾ hour of prayer and reflection each day. Participants meet the first Wednesday evening of every month via Zoom as a group and at least once a month with a spiritual director. Applications are available now. Find out more and apply at IgnatianME.org or ignatianme@gmail.com.  
Redeeming Dementia course offered by ChurchNext
It’s terrible for family members and friends to watch the people they love apparently disappear into the confusion — like people’s lives are over, though their bodies remain alive. ChurchNext is offering this recorded course by dementia author and speaker Dorothy Linthicum. She discusses what dementia is from a scientific standpoint, what it means to be human, and what it means to be a Christian. The course, recommended for those who want to learn how to care, pray, and understand patients and their caregivers, is available here.