News & Events in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine |
|
Volume 24, Number 1
January 6, 2022
|
|
Bishop Brown wishes you a Holy Epiphany |
|
Click here to download a transcript of Bishop Brown's message.
|
|
Take a look back at Facebook in 2020 |
|
Here at the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, we posted to Facebook nearly 300 times this year. These are the posts that you viewed, liked, commented, and shared the most in 2021:
|
|
Check out Maine's January Faith Formation calendar |
|
Keep up with Maine's Faith Formation happenings. Click here or on the image to download the January calendar. The pdf has clickable links! Please share this resource widely.
|
|
Maine Youth are going ice fishing on January 15 |
|
Sign up now for the Maine Youth Ice Fishing Trip on Saturday, January 15! All youth are invited to join in ice fishing, led by world-renowned fly fisherman Macauley Lord, and joined by special guest Bishop Brown. Feel free to invite a friend! And interested parents are invited to register, as well. No prior experience needed, and no equipment needed outside of warm clothing! We'll be fishing near Brunswick. Click here to register. (*Space is limited to 20 people at a time, so register soon to get your preferred time slot of 11 AM to 1 PM or 1 PM to 3 PM. Storm date is 2/5.)
|
|
News From Our Congregations |
|
The ministry of Cathedral and Bishop's Musician, Albert Melton, will be celebrated during his final service at the Cathedral of St. Luke, Portland on January 30 at 10:00 am. After 24 years of his musicianship and leadership as organist and choirmaster, Albert will be sorely missed during his retirement! You are welcome to post short notes of reflection on Albert’s music and what it has meant to you as well as memorable photos to this dedicated Kudoboard.
|
|
|
|
St. Margaret's, Belfast has called a new rector, the Rev. Barbara Briggs. Barbara is presently serving as an Associate Priest in Bala Cynwyd, PA, while her husband, the Rev. Paul Briggs, serves as an interim priest in a parish. They live in Pennington, NJ, but Barbara is originally from Massachusetts,and Paul is a Maine native. She will be serving at St. Margaret's in a three-quarter time capacity when she joins them in April 2022. The picture was taken the night the Vestry and Discernment Committee voted on Barbara's candidacy, and she accepted. |
|
|
|
The people of Christ Church, Norway gathered for a Pop-up Fireside Outdoor Christmas Eve service and shared these photos. It does look like a good time! |
|
|
|
Bishop Thomas Brown released a message to the diocese in light of the Omicron variant surging around the world and here in Maine where it’s impacting our healthcare systems, schools, our work and home lives. He states that our guidance has not changed and in consultation with our COVID Advisory Team, includes additional information about safety protocols. Read the full message here.
|
|
|
|
Klara Tammany uses her faith for neighborhood action
LEWISTON - After 20 years of working for the Episcopal Church, Klara Tammany sought a more ground-level approach to her faith. She moved back to Lewiston in 2006, where a friend was leading the congregation at Trinity Episcopal Church on Bates...
Read more
www.sunjournal.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
On Monday, January 17, 2022, at 12:15pm online, The Maine Council of Churches and The BTS Center will host a public reading of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s sermon “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution.” Join this public reading, reflection, and celebration of Dr. King’s message that will include multiple voices, contemplative music, and space for reflection. Click here to register.
|
|
|
|
The Joint Standing Committee on Planning and Arrangements, during their December 9, 2021 meeting over Zoom, voted to approved a policy which requires proof of vaccination for COVID-19 for all bishops, deputies, guests, staff, volunteers, vendors, and other attendees at the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church (July 7-14, 2022). There is a provision to submit proof of a medical exemption from the vaccination mandate. Additionally, all attendees will be required to wear a mask in all public spaces and meetings, regardless of vaccination status. Click here to read the full text of the resolution.
|
|
|
|
The Maine Legislature has resumed their work in Augusta. John Hennessy, Director of Public Advocacy, offers us a glimpse at the diocese's top legislative priorities such as tribal tribal sovereignty, a healthy environment, criminal justice reform, gun safety, public health, and racial equity and how we can get involved. Read the full update here.
|
|
|
|
Our Diocesan Council is at work! The Rev. Cn. Nancy Moore, Vice Chair of the Diocesan Council's Executive Committee, offers us a recap of both Council's meeting on December 4 and the Executive Committee's December 16 meeting. Read the update here. Attend the next Town Hall meeting (January 11 at 5:00 pm) for the opportunity to hear more and meet with your Area representatives in breakout rooms. Look for the Zoom link to join in Saturday's emailed invitation. Please reach out to staff liaison, Canon Barbara Martin, with any questions.
|
|
|
|
Collect for The Epiphany
O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
|
|
|
|
Please join us in offering prayers of thanksgiving for the Rev. Suzanne Roberts, a physician and a priest associate at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke. During the late-night liturgy on Christmas Eve, Bishop Brown commended Suzanne for her leadership to religious communities in Maine throughout the pandemic. Suzanne has been a member not only of our own diocesan COVID Advisory Team, but also a resource to clergy and lay leaders in other denominations, and in the wider Episcopal Church.
"In our celebration of God becoming one of us in Jesus Christ we remind ourselves that our cathedral is named for St. Luke, a beloved physician, who cared for others, and whose story of the incarnation has become our way, our truth, and our life.
Among us is another physician, and also a priest, who has tirelessly worked to keep up the side of public health, and to help faith communities throughout Maine do everything possible to stop the spread of the coronavirus, while continuing to proclaim the Good News of God in Christ.
Suzanne Roberts: thank you for being you, for shepherding us with the words, “fear not” and for doing it with an ocean-depth of grace and truth.
May God bless you for blessing us. Merry Christmas, Dr. Roberts.
We are in your debt and forever grateful."
|
|
|
|
Let us pray for the Rev. Cn. Michael Ambler as he begins his four month sabbatical. May it offer him a time of renewal, refreshment, and study. |
|
|
|
Please pray for those suffering from the Colorado fires and those providing aid. Episcopalians are beginning the long task of recovering from the devastating wildfire that destroyed about 1,000 homes and burned over 6,000 acres.
Read more
www.episcopalnewsservice.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epiphany video study offered by Office of Global Partnerships |
|
Join The Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion partners for a lectio divina-style study on the Gospel reading. The study spans the eight Sundays of Epiphany, starting Jan. 9 and concluding on World Mission Sunday (the last Sunday of Epiphany), with a special recorded sermon in the final session.
The videos are designed to help individuals, small groups, congregations, and dioceses do the following:
- Reflect on the Gospel
- Remember and honor The Episcopal Church’s international relationships and partners
- Ponder our global interconnectedness and opportunities to see Christ in one another
- Celebrate the many ways the church participates in God’s mission around the world.
Click here to access the video series beginning January 9 as well as "Sermons that Work" for the season. Find accompanying bulletin inserts and additional Epiphany resources here.
|
|
Montreal Dio offers online winter classes to everyone |
|
Open enrollment courses at Montreal Dio equip students for life in a changing church. After a busy fall, they've released a full schedule of Winter semester classes —pastoral care, the Acts of the Apostles, Christian education, and more.
These online, low-cost courses are aimed at anyone who is interested in deepening their Christian faith and knowledge, and cultivating leadership skills in the church. There is no homework or written assignments. All you need is a desire to learn and a willingness to participate. Whatever your background in the church and however you serve in ministry, we hope that you will find in these offerings something that will help you grow as a follower of Jesus Christ.
See the schedule and register for courses here.
|
|
Oneida Nation to host Native voices during Winter Talk |
|
The Episcopal Church Office of Indigenous Ministries invites all Episcopalians to watch a livestream of Winter Talk 2022, an annual multiday conference that honors and highlights Indigenous and Native American traditions and contributions within the church. The event will be hosted for the first time by the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin.
Winter Talk will be livestreamed January 15-17 from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Themed “A Chain Linking Two Traditions,” it will include special greetings and speakers, a session with the presiding bishop and president of the House of Deputies, a “Doctrine of Discovery” video, a discussion of Indigenous theological education with the Rev. Mary Crist, “A Native Way of Giving” presentation by Forrest Cuch and the Rev. Michael Carney, and the creation of an altar containing items significant to Native cultures and ministries.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
