News & Events in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine since 1999 |
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Volume 23, Number 4
February 25, 2021
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Diocesan stewardship webinar series starts next week |
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The diocesan office has partnered with The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) to create three free webinars just for clergy, lay leadership, and stewardship volunteers in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine! These will be information-packed sessions with ample time for you to ask questions and get answers.
Learn about "Legacy Societies and Planned Giving Basics" at the first of the series on Saturday, March 6 from 10:00 to 11:30 am. Register here.
Upcoming webinars will be held on March 27 and May 15. Read more and find registration links here on our website.
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Ashes-to-Go distributed around the state |
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Here's a look at Ash Wednesday Imposition of Ashes outdoors in Downtown Winthrop, at the Windham Post Office and in St. Paul's parking lot in Brunswick. As the Rev. Eleanor Prior of St. Luke's Cathedral, Portland told WMTW about this year's Ash Wednesday celebrations, “It’s maybe especially meaningful this year, not just personally, but as a people, we realize who we really are and what we need to do."
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Watch the launch video for the new diocesan logo |
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The Episcopal Diocese of Maine has a new look!
Click here to learn more about the design inspiration for the new branding.
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News From Our Congregations |
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St. David’s, Kennebunk is seeking a Children’s Formation Coordinator. St. David’s is looking for a creative and dedicated individual to help coordinate Christian formation for children and families during the pandemic and beyond. This part-time position will help to build on our successful Sunday School program and our recent Zoom service, PJ Church. Read the full description here. Interested?Contact the Rev. Andrew D’Angio White.
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St. Peter's by the Sea, Cape Neddick has donated $5,000 to the local HOPE Fund administered by the York County Community Action Corp. The summer chapel's Grants Committee chair, Karl Sanford, told Seacoast Online, ”It’s our mission to reach out during this difficult time to help our neighbors. This is who we are as Episcopalian Christians.” Read the full story here.
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The Brunswick Police Department gave a shoutout here on Facebook thanking St. Paul's, Brunswick for their generous donation of winter bags. he bags will be placed in patrol vehicles for officers to distribute to those the interact with who are in need during these cold winter days.
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St. Alban's, Cape Elizabeth has an opening for a three-quarter time (30 hours per week) position as Parish Administrator. The person in this role must love working with people! Read the full job description here. To apply, please send a letter of interest and resume via email to Rev. Lynn Carter-Edmands, Transition Priest-in-Charge.
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Enjoy a sermon preached by Yvonne O'Neal on February 14, 2021 for the Episcopal Diocese of Maine online worship service honoring the Rev. Absalom Jones - now in podcast form. Call 207-223-6402 to listen
or click here. The Faith in Maine podcast can be found on any platform where you get your podcasts!
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Each month, St. John’s, Bangor holds their “Big Red Truck Event”. Parishioners park a truck outside the church and collect community donations of food and clothing to benefit the Hope House. Speaking to WABI, the Rev. Rebecca Liberty said, "And I think one of the most beautiful things about it is it shows how even in this time of pandemic, churches are not closed.” Read more here.
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The Rev. Bill Blaine-Wallace's book When Tears Sing: The Art of Lament in Christian Community has been selected as one of Spirituality and Practice's "50 Best Spirituality Books of 2020"!
Bill is a retired priest, spiritual director, and serves on the diocese's Clergy Formation Committee. Read a full review of the book here.
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Come and experience a special World Too Beautiful s ervice Wednesday, March 3 at 5:45 pm here on Zoom. Linda Carleton will share why sacred geometry has a hold on her by sharing a visual meditation on how the tetraktys manifests in our natural world and in our soul.
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In his Good Friday letter, Presiding Bishop Curry asked each of us to consider providing assistance for the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. The Good Friday Offering continues to provide support churches, medical programs and schools. Gifts can be made online or via text or by mail. Information available here.
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Let us pray that the Rev. Virginia "Ginny" Peacock be welcomed into God's everlasting peace. Ginny, formerly of Stonington, died on February 22 after a multi-year struggle with lung cancer. Funeral services will be private. Read her full obituary, here.
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The Rev. Kenneth Gordon White of Sabattus died on January 17 in Auburn after a long battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at a later date at Grace Church, Bath. Let light perpetual shine upon him. Read his obituary here.
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Please pray for all those impacted by the winter storms and power outages. Donations to the US Disaster Response Fund will enable Episcopal Relief & Development to continue to respond to the winter storms and other disasters.
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St. Martin's, Palmyra has named the Rev. Laura White to serve as rector. Continued blessings on their ministry together!
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Dr. Sonja Birthisel was named Director of the Wilson Center at the University of Maine effective September 1, 2020. The Center continues to live into its mission as a space for progressive, ecumenical and multi-faith dialogue at the university. with programs that include a student-led Monday Meditation group and a four-week series entitled "Talking Together About Race and Privilege". To learn more, follow The Wilson Center at UMaine on Facebook.
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Episcopal Church offers a Global Mission Toolkit |
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The Global Mission Digital Toolkit is now available. The toolkit explores The Episcopal Church teaching that the mission of the church is “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ” (Book of Common Prayer, p 855) in a global context and offers resources to help Episcopalians live into this teaching.
Intended for individuals, small groups, congregations, dioceses, and our partners across the Anglican Communion, it includes webinars, videos, downloadable PDFs, articles, and other online resources exploring the biblical, theological, historical, ecclesial, and cultural dimensions of God’s call to global mission. Find some of the available resources below:
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Help your community with COVID-19 vaccination |
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Maine residents age 70 and older are now eligible for vaccination against COVID-19 as part of Phase 1b.
If you are age 70 or over, you may hear directly from your health care provider about getting a vaccine, or you may contact the locations listed here for an appointment. All sites require an appointment.
Please note:
- Because Maine’s supply of vaccine is limited, appointments may not be immediately available and will be scheduled on a rolling basis.
- There is no charge for the COVID-19 vaccine, but you should be prepared to provide any insurance information and proof of eligibility at the vaccination site.
The state will post vaccination information for other Phase 1b groups, including Maine people aged 65-69, here when available.
The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations has developed the set of tools available here to help all of us facilitate and promote COVID-19 vaccine distribution in the U.S. It shows ways parishes have already been doing this work, shares best practices, and offers ideas for ways that communities to facilitate vaccination, overcome vaccine hesitancy, and find information.
Churches and church leaders (lay and ordained) can serve as an important trusted bridge between public health officials and communities.
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