News & Events in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine |
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Volume 24, Number 13
July 7, 2022
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Listen to the latest Faith in Maine podcast |
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The latest episode of the Faith in Maine Podcast, "Adapting as a Tool for Growth", is a continuation of our series focusing on the four themes from Bishop Brown's 2021 diocesan convention address: Listen, Connect, Adapt, Hope.
In this episode, Bishop Brown talks about the theme of adapting and the connection between adapting and having a faith-filled life
You can listen to the podcast at faithinmaine.org, download it wherever you get your podcasts, or call 207-223-6402. This number is always updated so that you'll hear the latest episode when you dial-in!
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Deputation heads to General Convention in Baltimore |
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The 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church begins this week!
Bishop Brown and Maine's elected deputies will join the convention, which is made up of all bishops (House of Bishops) and elected deputations representing each diocese (House of Deputies), to make important governing decisions regarding:
- Worship, authorizing new liturgical materials and deciding about revision of the Book of Common Prayer
- Programs and policies in areas like racial justice, congregational and diocesan vitality, and Christian formation
- The Church’s stance on issues such as the economy, poverty, war, health care, violence, climate change, racism, and human rights
- The budget
From July 8th through 11th, here's how you can follow along with the action in Baltimore:
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Watch the livestream of legislative sessions and worship, which will be available on the GC80 Media Hub
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Get updates from our Maine deputation and Bishop Brown on our Episcopal Maine blog and on our social media channels.
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View daily media briefings from the Office of Public Affairs and #GC80 Daily Show video on the Media Hub
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Follow the hashtag #GC80 across social media channels
What will they be voting on this year and when? Where's the link to watch? Find everything you need right here on our website.
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Sacred Ground for northern New England this fall |
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Are you interested in joining others from around the Episcopal dioceses of Northern New England in discussing race and racism in our nation?
Sacred Ground dialogue circles will start in fall 2022. The intro meeting will be held in early September. View a Sacred Ground informational video here. Learn more about Sacred Ground here.
Email Franci Farnsworth if you are interested in joining in these Zoom conversations. Representatives from each diocese are: Franci Farnsworth of Vermont, Betty Lane of New Hampshire, Rev. Katie Holicky of Maine.
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Celebrate at Episcopal Maine Youth's free pool party |
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All rising 6th graders through graduating 12th graders are invited to join us at the pool on Sunday, July 31 from 1:00 - 4:00 pm in Portland (exact address emailed upon registration).
Enjoy delicious snacks, meet new friends, and say farewell to our graduating seniors.
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Diocese updates Digital Onboarding Grant Program |
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The Episcopal Diocese of Maine has updated and extended the Digital Onboarding Grant Program.
Established by Bishop Brown and Diocesan Council in 2020, Digital Onboarding Grants are a program designed to assist churches and diocese-related organizations in pivoting to worship online or via broadcast. This could be through the purchase of livestreaming equipment, extending their Wi-Fi, purchasing video editing software for recorded services, purchasing technology for broadcast and more.
What's changed is the "cap". It has increased to a maximum of $4,000 per church or diocesan-related organization! Those who've already received a grant, you can apply for another one up to the total cap of $4,000. Those that haven't yet applied, may increase the ask to up to $4,000.
The new end date for the program is December 31, 2022.
To learn more about the digital onboarding grants and view the application, click here.
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News From Our Congregations |
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St. Brendan's in Deer Isle is grateful to find ways to put into action the goals of their GPS (Giving our Priorities Shape) venture. Linda Shepard, Nina and Jim Dayton, Julie Pierson, Pete Dane, and Pastor Elaine Hewes took part in the second Gay Pride "Round the Island Motorcade". |
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St. Alban’s in Cape Elizabeth (885 Shore Road) will be hosting a "Food Truck Party: On a Roll with God!” Summer Camp.
Each day will feature a food-related Bible story accompanied by music, science experiments, cooking, creative arts and crafts, outdoor fun, and games.
St. Alban's joyfully welcomes children ages grades 1-5 from August 1-5; Monday -Thursday 9-noon and Friday 4-6pm. Friday features a real food truck!
For more information and to sign up, please contact Debbie Fisher, Director of Children’s Ministries, 207-799-4014, ext. 1003.
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Churches marching in Portland's Pride Parade delighted the crowd with 300 rainbow love bug rocks! Rock mandalas can also be used to affirm that Black Lives Matter or to offer prayers for Ukraine or paint them just as a centering prayer and best of all, anyone can learn how. Just come to the Chapter Room at the Cathedral of St. Luke’s (143 State Street) on 4th Saturdays, beginning on July 23. Linda Carleton will offer a tutorial from 8:45-9:30; we will paint rocks from 9:30 to 11:30. Children are welcome but must be accompanied by parents. Materials provided. (You can purchase a full rock-painting kit to use at home for $20.) For more info email Linda.
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Thanks to everyone who shared photos of Bishop Thomas Brown and parishioners throughout the diocese marching in Pride Parades in Belfast, Bangor, and Portland! View the pictures here on the diocesan Facebook page.
“God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.” (John 4:16)
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Retired clergy in Maine gathered in Waterville and Portland with Bishop Brown last month for worship and fellowship. |
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Eight parishioners participated in the St. Bartholomew's in Yarmouth first Spirit Walk on June 22 at the Spear Farm Estuary Preserve and enjoyed a beautiful Maine Summer day and a lovely hour of nature and fellowship. |
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The women of St. Matthew's, Lisbon Falls enjoyed their annual Ladies English Garden High Tea, and lucky for us, shared photographs! |
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Read Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's pastoral word sent the night of the shooting at St. Stephen’s in Alabama here.
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The Rev. George Sheats, priest-in-charge of St. Michael's, Auburn, moderated a panel on the "Four Chaplains" at the Maine Military Community Network Annual Conference. |
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Bishop Brown shared the following message after the Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson decision: |
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Hear from UTO Board President Sherri Dietrich about United Thank Offering and working to cultivate gratitude in our diocese."
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Last week, Canon for Administration of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, Barbara Martin, presented a workshop to the Episcopal Church in New Hampshire on copyright law for churches. Watch it here.
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The Rev. Kelly Sundberg Seaman of the Diocese of New Hampshire, School for Ministry joined our diocesan Town Hall to talk about the school which offers blended online and local in-person education and training for those seeking ordination as an alternative to a residential seminary. The school is strongly committed to local formation and three core principles: Common Prayer, Life in Community, and Context and Continuity in Ministry. Learn more here. |
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Please pray for George Cooper, Lisle Blind, and Heather Sylvester who were ordained to the diaconate on Saturday, June 18th. The newly ordained deacons have begun three year appointments in parishes - Blind to St. Ann's in Windham, Cooper to St. Alban's in Cape Elizabeth, Sylvester to Trinity in Portland. (Photo by Nancy Mawhinney)
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We offer prayers and condolences to the family of the Rev. Bob Appleyard, Jr., retired priest from the Diocese of Massachusettes living in Maine, who died on July 3, 2022 at the age of 74. A service will be held at St. Barnabas Church in Falmouth, MA this fall. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
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Let us pray in thanksgiving for the ministry of the Rev. Eleanor Prior among the Episcopal Diocese of Maine. Eleanor was Canon Pastor at the Cathedral of St. Luke and also served as chair of the Diocesan Justice Commission. She now answers a new call in Methuen, MA and left these words for the parishioners of St. Luke's. (Pictured here from L to R: Orion Williams, Emma Tombaugh, Rev. Prior, Madeleine Nowak, Shana Rose and Kate Shambaugh)
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Sign up now for Project Resource's fall stewardship series |
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Project Resource Training - Happening this Fall!
5 consecutive Sundays, September 11 to October 9, 2022 5:00 to 7:00 pm ET, via Zoom
Read more
project-resource.org
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Congregations, program groups, ministries, and committees of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine are invited to participate in "Project Resource" a vibrant new method for transformation in all areas of stewardship. Cohort groups are also encouraged to consider this program.
In order to make this accessible to interested groups, grants are available through the Wolf Fund and Loring Fund, to cover all but the first $100 of the cost of participation. For more information about obtaining funding to participate (1 clergy person and 2 lay leaders, minimum per team), please email Canon Barbara Martin.
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Save these dates below! For the full events calendar, click here.
JULY
8-11 General Convention
26 – 8 August The Lambeth Conference
31 Pool Party & Farewell to Grads
AUGUST
26-28 Summer Finale Weekend
SEPTEMBER
27 Clergy Day with the Bishop, Christ Church Gardiner
27 Town Hall
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