The Dio Log 
    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
    

news & events in  the Episcopal Diocese of Maine  since 1999

Volume 21, Number 16  ~  August 22, 2019

 

207.772.1953   | www.episcopalmaine.org  

 
Join us Friday, August 23rd 6-8pm via Zoom, for a Christian Education Collaboration gathering! We will explore different methods of storytelling with the Creative Basics for Kids, share resources and more! Email Katie Holicky to get the link to join the webinar.
What's New in the Episcopal Church in Maine
In the News...

Bishop Thomas Brown appears along with four other bishops in this recently released video, The Episcopal Church: Walking with immigrants, all sharing how their diocese is working to support and welcome new neighbors and ways individuals or groups can help.
  
For information mentioned in the video, visit the Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) website at https://episcopalmigrationministries.org/response-to-the-border-education-and-advocacy/. For resources on advocacy and policy education, visit the Office of Governmental Relations website https://www.episcopalchurch.org/office-government-relations.

Consider applying for membership to Partners in Welcome, the online learning and networking community from EMM, where you can engage with others across the Church who are committed to the work of supporting refugees and asylum-seekers.
Around the Diocese...
Proposed Changes to Clergy Compensation 

The Diocesan Compensation Committee is proposing changes to minimum compensation rules for parish clergy. Please follow this link to review the clergy compensation white paper explaining those changes. If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please be in touch with Mr. Peter Bickford, Chair of the Committee, at  pmbick@myfairpoint.net
Four ways YOU can help direct the future of the diocese

Be one of eight Maine deputies to the 2021 General Convention 

At the 200th Convention of the Diocese of Maine on Saturday, October 26 at USM in Portland, eight new representatives to the 2021 General Convention in Baltimore will be elected. T he General Convention is the governing body of The Episcopal Church that meets every three years. In other words, it's a big deal! 

As a Maine deputy, you get to take part in the major work and decisions of the church nationally and report back to Maine all that you've learned. Working with the diocese, you will share the good news, changes and concerns with all of our congregations. 

Nominate yourself for one of the other open governances offices in the diocese
 
Please prayfully consider whether you may be called to serve in any one of the open leadership positions listed below. Learn more about each by clicking the links:
Nominate yourself or nominate someone else (check with them first) by completing the form here by September 9th:

(use for all positions except Diocesan Council which is listed below )

Fill one of the eight open clergy seats on Diocesan Council

Submit a nomination (yourself or someone else) for the two-year Diocesan Council terms for clergy representatives from each of the diocese's eight areas by September 9th using this form: 


Propose a change by submitting a resolution

Resolutions to be considered by 200th Diocesan Convention in October may be submitted until September 9th using the form below.  If you have any questions about resolutions, please contact  John Hennessy


All nominations and resolutions are due September 9th!


Register to attend Diocesan Convention today

Here's the newly released Convention Registration  form. Everyone attending should register. Sign-up deadline is October 4th.

Find links to all of convention forms and materials at:
Register for Reading the Gospel of Matthew with Deirdre Good

Reading the Gospel of Matthew with Deirdre Good is a three week Zoom class preparing for Lectionary Readings in Year A (2019-20). Each class will be recorded. The course is free of charge and will run from 6-7pm on Sept 26, Oct 3 & 10, 2019.

Sign up here (even if you've already been in touch with Deirdre). Questions? Please email deirdregood@mac.com.
Nursery Caregiver Position available

Saint Mary's in Falmouth has an open, paid position for 2.5 hours on Sunday mornings (9:00-11:30), year-round. Experience working with children or in an education setting is preferred. Enthusiasm working with children is required. Email or mail cover letter and resume to admin@smary.org or 43 Foreside Rd, Falmouth, ME 04105. Read full job description here.
Celebrating 200 years as God's People in Maine

The Bicentennial Committee is working to create new hangings, banners, and stoles from no longer used liturgical fabrics that will tie together history of the members of the whole diocese. All of the items will contribute to make our worship spaces, especially the Cross Center, vibrant and joyful, sacred and holy.  

Please dig deeply into your sacristy closets and drawers and find at least one item to send us. Items do not need to be perfect. Particularly welcome will be items from churches which have closed. (We especially need blue fabric.) All items will be treated with respect and blessed for a new use.

It is also our hope that Diocesan quilters, fiber artists, designers and seamstresses will volunteer to help with this project. All ideas will be welcome. Items may be sent to, or dropped off at, Loring House c/o Barbara Martin, 143 State Street, Portland, Maine 04101. Questions or comments can be sent to Rev. Virginia Urbanek ( mainebrat@hotmail.com); Rev. Stephanie Batterman ( sjbatterman@gmail.com) or Rev. Kerry Mansir ( kerrymansir@gmail.com).
Episcopal Peace Fellowship marks 80th anniversary
On Sunday, September 15, Grace Episcopal Church (1100 Washington St.) in Bath is hosting a celebration of Episcopal Peace Fellowship and the coming anniversary of its founding 80 years ago (Armistice Day, 1939). The Executive Director of EPF, Melanie Merkle Atha, is visiting Maine on her tour of the U.S. to highlight local acts of peace and reconciliation and to promote the ongoing work of EPF.

Following the 10:15 service at Grace there will be a reception in the parish hall featuring remarks by Melanie on Episcopal Peace Fellowship with an informal Q&A. Everyone -- EPF-Maine members along with anyone interested in helping to advance peace -- is welcome to come meet Melanie on this special occasion. If you can't attend worship, you are more than welcome to join the reception in Tubbs Hall at 11:30. Download a poster here.

All are also invited to attend the fall meeting of the EPF-Maine chapter on Saturday, September 7th at 11am, at St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church in Blue Hill where new officers will be elected. Read more here. If interested in EPF's peacemaking mission, come join the efforts of a core group of faithful members! FMI, contact co-conveners Diane Paterson or Kathy Coughlan.
Celebrating Baptism video series and guides now available

The sacrament of baptism is an opportunity for joy, power, and a deep connection with tradition.

Celebrating Baptism offers an opportunity to teach and learn about this sacrament through a free video series and accompanying reflection guides available from The Episcopal Church hereSelect an episode the click the "Watch Episode" button to see a link to the available guides. 
Take part in the Ignatian Spirituality Exercises in Everyday Life Retreat
 

An Ignatian Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life retreat is available in Portland and Kennebunk this academic year from the beginning of October 2019 through June 2020.  This ancient/modern ecumenical retreat provides a series of tools for exploring scripture, making decisions, growing closer in authentic friendship with Jesus, and finding a greater awareness of God working in our lives. Bring all of yourself - your imagination, memories, heart, and intellect. These practices are meant to be engaged with, rather than studied.  

Apply and find details on the Spiritual Exercises page of www.IgnatianME.org . The Portland group will meet from 6:30 - 8:30 on the first Wednesday of every month and also offers individual or group spiritual direction monthly. The Kennebunk group meets weekly.  Both require 1/2 hour of prayer daily, which is the crux of the retreat. Please direct questions to ignatianme@gmail.com  or ellieflavin@roadrunner.com  for Kennebunk.  
Les Petits Chanteurs benefit concerts throughout Maine
 

Les Petits Chanteurs,  the renowned boys' choir of the Holy Trinity Music School of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, start their series of concerts hosted by Maine Episcopal churches this weekend.

By performing their choral and instrumental arrangements of Haitian folk and sacred music throughout the U.S., the boys' choir is raising funds to support the rebuilding of the Holy Trinity Music School, which was destroyed in Haiti's 2010 earthquake along with the cathedral complex. Before the disaster, the music school served more than 1,000 students.  They'll also get to visit our own Camp Bishopswood while here!

Concert venues and times are listed below and available as a pdf here. 
  • Sunday, August 25 ~ Newcastle, Maine ~ 10:00am during service  St. Andrew's 
  • Monday, August 26 ~ York Harbor, Maine ~ 7:00pm  St. George's
  • Tuesday, August 27 ~ Waterville, Maine ~ 7:00pm  St. Mark's 
  • Thursday, August 29 ~ Windham, Maine ~ 4:00pm  St. Ann's 
  • Monday, September 02 (Labor Day) ~ Bangor, Maine ~ 7:00pm  St. John's 
Committee on Indian Relations meeting September 14

The next meeting of the Episcopal Committee on Indian Relations will take place on Saturday, September 14 from 11 am until 2 pm in the Parish Hall of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, 95 Court Street, Belfast.  The guest speaker will be Mr. Paul Thibeault, Managing Director of the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission. He will be talking about the Task Force on the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act.
Trinity Concert Series presents Schooner Fare



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