News & Events in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine |
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Volume 25, Number 13
July 13, 2023
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Celebrate the end of summer with the diocese |
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Come to Summer Finale this August! It's the Episcopal Diocese of Maine's annual celebration at Camp Bishopswood in Hope, ME located on Lake Megunticook, about five miles from Camden.
All are welcome ... we really mean it! Although Camp Bishopswood serves our youth during its regular season, Summer Finale is a time when everyone joins the fun. That means households or individuals, that means friends and family, and that means YOU, whoever you are!
From check-in at 5 p.m. on Friday, August 25 and an optional pizza dinner on Friday night to a farewell breakfast on the morning of Sunday, August 27, you are invited to spend the weekend with us.
There is also a one day-only option that begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 26 and includes lunch.
It's a chance to meet Episcopalians from around the diocese and to be with God in an intergenerational community. Read through the FAQ guide and register using the links below. We hope to see you there! |
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Questions? Please be in touch with Director of Faith Formation Emily Keniston. |
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Registration open for fall Tri-Dio Sacred Ground circles |
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Are you interested in joining others from around the Episcopal Dioceses of Northern New England in a film-based dialogue series on race and faith? The second round of Tri-Dio Sacred Ground dialogue circles will start in Fall '23!
Three circles will be formed to meet at different times: Wednesday morning, Wednesday afternoon, and likely Thursday evening. To register click here.
Learn more about Sacred Ground here.
Representatives from each diocese are: Franci Farnsworth of Vermont, Betty Lane of New Hampshire, Rev. Katie Holicky of Maine.
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Proposed resolutions are now being accepted |
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The Resolutions Committee is now accepting proposed resolutions for the 2023 Diocesan Convention! They may be submitted at any time, by any parish or individual. Effective this year, all resolutions will be reviewed by the Resolutions Commitee on a rolling basis. No reason to delay!
Please consult the brief guide below which includes instructions and important questions you should consider before submitting your resolution. You will also want to look through the online submission form before proceeding.
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Once reviewed by the committee, final resolutions will be published at episcopalmaine.org/convention. They will be discussed at the online pre-convention town halls on the last four Tuesdays of October at 7:00 p.m. and voting will happen at the convention business meeting on Saturday, November 11.
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Youth return inspired from EYE 2023 |
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Episcopal Youth Event ( EYE), the church’s second-largest event after General Convention, gathered nearly 1,500 young people ages 15-19 from every province together in Baltimore last week.
The event, which takes place every three years, began on July 5 with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's opening sermon and concluded on July 7 with workshops, a climate action round table, province meet-ups, karaoke, and a closing plenary featuring Julia Ayala Harris, President of the House of Deputies. Participants share their thoughts on the experience in this ENS story.
Check out the photo from our Province 1 participants above. View the whole gallery here! |
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Summer chapels welcome Bishop Brown |
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All Saints by-the-Sea spent a special morning of worship and celebration with Bishop Brown presiding and the Rev. Martin Smith delivering an inspiring sermon on Sunday, July 9. A great time of fellowship on the deck followed. |
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The previous Sunday, the bishop celebrated at Trinity Chapel, York Harbor congregation who were joined by their friends from St. George’s Episcopal Church (just down the street!). Bishop Brown presented Trinity Trustee President, Will Ethridge, with the new diocesan flag. |
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Climate Justice Council seeks new members |
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The Council’s mission is to bear witness through the people of the diocese to the need for justice in our relations with all living things, with those on the margins who bear the brunt of climate change, and with all creation. They aim to advocate, network, and inspire through education, action, and worship so that the diocese as a whole might fulfill its calling to care for creation. They meet once a month via Zoom.
If you are interested in joining the Council or need more information, please email Sarah Braik or call her at (207) 415-6556. |
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News From Our Congregations |
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St. Paul's, Brunswick Family Ministries includes a non-traditional Eucharist held each Sunday at 9 a.m. in-person and via Zoom. They also connect over the summer for fun and fellowship with Intergenerational Gatherings - getting together at parks, beaches, and homes. The Rev. Mary Lee Wile snapped this pic of the Rev. Katie Holicky as she headed out well-prepared for a one of the gatherings at Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park! |
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Emmanuel Lutheran Episcopal, Augusta partners with the Unitarian Universalist community to volunteer at the 'Public Suppah' at South Parish Congregational Church. That's a lot of food! And denominations! We thank them all for helping meet basic needs in their community. |
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This winter, the vestry of St. David's, Kennebunk decided to host a series of community-building dinners, to help them get to know one another again after nearly three years of virtual church. Ice cream delivery was included at their recent "Summer Foods" dinner! |
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People of all Christian faiths are invited to a Taize candlelight service on Mount Desert Island on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. at Church of Our Father, 91 Route 3, Hulls Cove (Bar Harbor). The meditative service calls worshippers to dwell deeply on Christ's presence around and within us. Next service: July 26! |
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The Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska invited Bishop Brown to preach at the LGBTQ Pride Eucharist on July 12. The liturgy was livestreamed and recorded by Trinity Cathedral, Omaha. |
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The Rev. Peter Swarr and family are in Uganda at the Glenburnie Butega Primary School, Mityana, Here is Peter holding Bible study by the light of his mobile phone with some of the children. |
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Presiding Bishop Michael Curry delivered the opening sermon at ‘It’s All About Love’ festival on July 9 to hundreds of Episcopalians gathered in Baltimore.
"It is all about love. And when you listen to Jesus of Nazareth, he points us to God, who the Bible says is love. And at one point, he said in John 13, 'A new commandment I give you'—Moses gave you 10; I’ve got one more—'A new commandment I give you that you love one another as I have loved you.' Love one another as God loves us. Love one another as Jesus loves all the little children of the world. Love one another as the Spirit, that sweet, sweet Spirit—sweet, sweet Spirit, who, when the Spirit shows up, we will leave this place and know we have been loved and can love—love one another as I have loved you."
Click the logo above to watch the video. Read the sermon transcript here. |
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Guest dignitaries fill St. John's Church with Spirit
St. John's has been serving the Randolph, VT community since 1867, but that doesn't mean it's stuck in 1867. On June 4, they celebrated in a unique way with Bishop Thomas Brown, who serves as Bishop of Maine and Assisting Bishop of Vermont and...
Read more
www.ourherald.com
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Musician James Kennerley to join Falmouth church
Kennerley has recently been hired as the music minister of the Episcopal Church of Saint Mary. “James is a musical genius, and he’s an internationally-renowned musician,” Ferrell said. “To have someone like that here in Falmouth is remarkable.”
Read more
www.pressherald.com
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Prayers for the congregation of St. Anne's, Calais as they celebrate 170 years of worship July 22-23. Bishop Brown will join them to lead a Festive Eucharist on Sunday. All are welcome and a special invitation is extended to those who haven't been to St. Anne's for awhile. May it be a joyous occasion! |
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Please pray for our neighbors in the Northeast experiencing severe flooding. |
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Thomas Sumner finished his work as Assistant Director of Finance and Insurance on June 30. Tom has lovingly supported the diocesan community for 42 years. Bishop Brown, diocesan staff, and his family gathered to thank and celebrate him last week. (Tom is pictured here with his husband Jon and daughter Melissa.) |
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Possible funding available for church and nonprofit energy-efficiency improvements |
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The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the launch of the Renew America's Nonprofits grant program, and Interfaith Power and Light (IPL) is planning to apply as a Prime recipient. This program aims to provide funding of up to $200,000 per project to support the reduction of energy use and emissions, as well as lower utility costs in nonprofit facilities.
The first step involves IPL submitting their applications to the DOE without specific sub-recipients (congregations/nonprofits) listed. To assist with this process, IPL has designed a survey to gather information. It's important to note that participating in this survey does not guarantee or diminish the chances of your organization receiving a sub-recipient grant from IPL in the event of an award. Therefore, there is no cause for concern if your congregation is not fully prepared at this time.
If your congregation would like to be considered as a potential applicant for the DOE's energy efficiency funding, please the button below to fill out the survey.
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Surveys are due by July 28. Please feel free to email Sarah Braik with any questions.
If awarded, IPL will then contact eligible congregations that have submitted a survey to provide more detailed information and an invitation to submit a longer proposal.
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Save the Date: Province 1 Conference to be held Dec. 14 |
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The 2023 meeting of Provincial Conference for Province 1 will be held on Thursday, December 14 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom. The meeting will include a review of the work of the province in 2023, reports from provincial delegates and bishops about the 2024 budget, and election of a new Executive Committee member.
The Provincial Conference will meet again in early 2024 to offer more opportunities for interaction and for deputies to the 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church to connect with one another.
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