News & Events in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine |
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Volume 23, Number 12
June 30, 2021
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Maine Youth are invited to Play, Pray, Connect LIVE! |
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All youth completing 5th to 12th grades are invited to join us to Play, Pray, Connect LIVE! Youth will play fun games, work on an outreach project, connect with one another, and gather around good ice cream and good worship. Sign up for one of the two upcoming Sunday dates or both!
July 25 1:00-4:00 pm
St. Luke's Cathedral, Portland
August 29 1:00-4:00 pm
Camp Bishopswood, Hope*
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We can't wait to meet outdoors -- LIVE and IN-PERSON! Click here to register. Families who register will be provided with a list of fun things to do in the area while you wait. We take your child's safety very seriously, and will be in communication about safety precautions during these events. Questions? Contact Rev. Cn. Sara D'Angio White.
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Opportunity to worship with the diocese on July 11 |
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Please join us for a full online worship service for The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost which includes music, a sermon from Bishop Brown, and participation from across the diocese.
How to find us on the morning of Sunday, July 11th:
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On the diocesan YouTube channel at 7:30 am
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On the diocesan Facebook page at 10:00 am
More diocese-wide worship is planned for 2021! See the schedule here. Please be in touch with Director of Communications Katie Clark if you would like to take part in an upcoming service.
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Cathedral programs offer vaccine clinic next week |
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Help Addie's Attic in Augusta during this busy time |
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Addie's Attic, a clothing bank that is part of Bridging the Gap at 209 Eastern Ave., Augusta, has been super busy lately! The increased foot traffic is energizing, but it means their racks and shelves get cleared out more quickly.
The items they are most in need of are:
- Shorts-- All Sizes for Men, Women, Kids, and Teens
- Swimwear-- especially for Men
- Short Sleeved Shirts-- All Sizes for Men, Kids, Teens and Medium Size for Women
Click here for the full list of clothing needs, but keep in mind that Addie's Attic's capacity and needs change frequently. Please call or text 207-458-7088 for more information before dropping off donations. They also welcome monetary gifts and you can make your donation here.
Bridging the Gap is a non-profit program of Emmanuel Lutheran Episcopal, Augusta.
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News From Our Congregations |
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Rev. Andrew D'Angio White of St. David's, Kennebunk participated in the seafaring community tradition by "Blessing the Fleet" at Camp Porpoise Pier. May all have a safe and bountiful season!
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St. Paul's, Brunswick is seeking a full-time parish administrator who will
report to the rector, supervise a part-time administrative assistant, coordinate financial work with the treasurer and bookkeeper, supervise building and grounds volunteers, and manage all digital platforms including hardware. Full job description is available here. Please apply with cover letter and resume to St. Paul’s Church. Application deadline is July 5.
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The congregation of St. Dunstan's, Ellsworth feels blessed to have had the Rev. Cn. Michael Ambler as celebrant and preacher on their first full Sunday with in- person worship since March of 2020!
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St. Giles, Jefferson enjoyed each other's visible smiles for the first time since March 2020 in a mask-less, outdoor service on June 6. With a new tech set-up, Rev. Dana Stivers (pictured above with camera) and team can now stream the service to those who may still wish to attend from home. Things are happening at their little church in the pines!
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Bishop Brown enjoyed the lake and time with Rev. Thom Rock (pictured above with the bishop) and the people of Church of the Good Shepherd, Rangeley on June 20.
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St. George’s, York Harbor is hiring a part time parish administrator. This position is partly office administration. Above all though, the role is about engaging people. They're excited to work with someone who wants to connect people and tell their story through digital engagement. Read full job description here. To apply, email a cover letter and resume to the Rev. Ryan Mails.
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St. Patrick's, Brewer took part in the 2021 Bangor Pride Parade on Saturday, June 26 with a stationary float. People loved their eye-catching banner!
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Trinity Day School in Portland is looking for a Preschool Teacher for older preschool classroom ages 2.5 to 5 years old as well an an Infant Teacher. Read both job descriptions here. If you are interested, email Trinity Day School with a cover letter and resume. Please specify the position for which you are applying.
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Watch a video recording of the June 3rd meeting of faith leaders across Maine with the Maine CDC and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. The session covered best practices for communicating about the vaccine as well as time for Dr. Nirav Shah and other officials to answer questions.
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Contessa Brewer joined CNBC's 'The News with Shepard Smith' to discuss coming back to church as religious leaders across the country encourage the return of in-person services. The video features Rev. Kerry Mansir, Christ Church, Gardiner, and other Maine clergy. Watch here.
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The latest episode of Faith in Maine features an interview with Bishop Thomas Brown focusing on the fourth practice in the Way of Love: Worship. Find our podcast here, wherever you download podcasts, or access the most recent episode by phone - dial 207-223-6402.
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In the Bangor Daily News op-ed, "When power, control and rules get between people and God, the priorities are wrong", Marge Kilkelly of Christ Church, Gardiner and member of the Maine Council of Churches, writes about action by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to deny communion to politicians — particularly President Joe Bide. She describes her own experience of being denied communion by the Roman Catholic Church and says about her first Episcopal service, "When I heard the communion call, “This is the Lord’s table, and everyone is welcome,” I knew I had found my real spiritual home." Read more here.
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The Very Rev. Ben Shambaugh received a tribute for his 12 years as a member of the board of Preble Street, an organization that provides services to those experiencing problems with homelessness, housing, and hunger. St Luke's Cathedral, Portland was also honored for their decades of work. Read more here. Ben has been with Preble Street through great changes, growth, and adaptions to community need. He remarked to the board, "As staffing continues to grow and our programs and funding get ever more complex, my prayer is that we continue to remember the foundation of faith – of loving our neighbor as ourselves, caring for the neediest among us, striving for justice, and respecting the dignity of every human being – that guides our work and expressed so well the new Preble Street logo based on the letters of the word 'love'."
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Presiding Bishop Michael Curry said in his statement issued in light of the ruling by the Supreme Court in Fulton v. Philadelphia, "For us, the affirmation of equal rights for all people is a moral and religious conviction; it is grounded in the Bible, which declares that all people have been created equally in the image of God. LGBTQ siblings, we stand with you in this moment, and we continue to affirm that you are — and have always been — a blessing to our church." Read his full statement here and find more information on the brief The Episcopal Church submitted to the Supreme Court here.
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The Rev. Tim Higgins of St. Ann's, Windham addressed our Diocesan Town Hall this month to remind us that because many have lost connection with their churches during the pandemic, we need to be sure to seize this opportunity to let everyone know that our church is here and welcomes them during this "time of new beginnings and new promise." Read Tim's letter to the community that he sent to papers here.
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Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
–Book of Common Prayer, p. 258, Collect 17
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Let us pray for the members of Trinity, Portland and the Rev. Peter Swarr who gathered with friends and neighbors this past Sunday for a Celebration of New Ministry. Upon his arrival in Portland at the end of 2020, Peter could not even meet his parishioners because of COVID restrictions! He began his ministry by sitting down and calling every member on the telephone to introduce himself. Read more about their story here in this piece by Trinity parishioner, Dibbie Appleton.
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We offer prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving for the ministry of Dave and Mary Haeger at Holy Trinity Episcopal Chapel on Peak's Island. They have retired from leadership after many years of loving and guiding their chapel community, supporting the diocese, and engaging in ecumenical partnerships on the island. Bless and keep them and the congregation as they navigate this change.
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Please join us in praying for the community of Surfside, Florida as they find their way through this devastating tragedy. |
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May God's wisdom be with the members of the Convention Committee as they take up their work to prepare for the 202nd Convention of the Diocese of Maine. The planning, resolutions, and worship teams of the committee include: Holly Sargent, St. George's, York Harbor; Rev. Dave Dalzell, Trinity, Saco; Steve Mine, Church of the Good Shepherd, Houlton; Seth Stewart, All Saints by the Sea, Southport; Marge Kilkelly, Christ Church, Gardiner; John Atwood, St. Giles, Jefferson; Lis Ingoldsby, St. Brendan the Navigator, Deer Isle; Tracy Shaffer, St. Dunstan's, Ellsworth; Rev. Brent Was, St. Francis by the Sea, Blue Hill; Robert Ludwig, Church of the Good Shepherd, Rangeley.
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Let us ask God to bless all graduates that they may use all that they've learned to make world a better place. We pray in thanksgiving for all teachers who helped get them to this moment. |
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Centering Prayer Retreat offered by newly formed COOM |
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Contemplative Outreach of Maine (COOM) is a newly formed Maine chapter of Contemplative Outreach founded in 1984 by Thomas Keating and a group of Christians practicing Centering Prayer.
The new chapter is made up of Centering Prayer practitioners who want to offer support, information and programming for all those in Maine who are interested. The coordinating committee, under the leadership of Deacon Darrell Blackwell, includes Paula Hastings, Ruth Oakley, Suzanne Robinson, Suzanne Roy, and Eric Vaughan. Read more about the group here.
Join them for their upcoming event “Come Away with Me: An Intensive Centering Prayer Experience” with Fr. Bill Sheehan, OMI. This Centering Prayer Retreat at Marie Joseph Spiritual Center, Biddeford will take place from July 5 at 3:00 pm through July 10 at 10:00 am. Register online here.
If you would like to join the COOM mailing list to learn about our events, prayer groups, and resources or have any questions, please email Paula Hastins.
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National Worship Conference registration open |
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Every two years, the Anglican Lutheran National Worship Conference (NWC) gathers worship leaders, musicians, clergy, and interested people from across Canada to learn and reflect on the worship life of the church. This year, it's all online --making it easier for Americans to take part!
The conference theme, "Disruption and Grace: Learning Edges in Liminal Times", reflects the many ways COVID-19 has challenged our worship to adapt and grow.
Click here to register for this online conference (July 6-7). The conference is for all - clergy and lay - interested in discussing and exploring our common worship.
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