News & Events in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine |
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Volume 25, Number 11
June 8, 2023
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March with Episcopal Maine Youth at Portland Pride |
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Please email Director of Faith Formation Emily Keniston if your church (or individuals from your church) would like to join them. They'll meet at 11 a.m. at the statue in Monument Square, across the street from the Portland Public Library.
Walkers are invited to make posters with messages of welcome and God's love for all people.
Not near Portland but want to participate? There are Pride parades across Maine! Find your closest event and please take some pictures to share with us if you or your church walk. |
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Loring House Task Force seeks your input |
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The Loring House Task Force continues to work toward carrying out their charge to study the best and highest use for Loring House (143 State Street, Portland) which is the location of the bishop’s office, offices of diocesan staff, and archives. As part of their work, they want to hear from the Episcopal community throughout Maine and have created a short 13-question survey to gather perspectives on Loring House and its future. |
Please complete the survey by July 10. The results will help them to better understand how the building can serve the needs of the diocesan community. Please email the Task Force any comments or questions. |
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Take part in the final Diocesan Listening Session |
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Every faith community’s voice is necessary for us to have a diocese-wide vision!
You're invited to attend the final of five Diocesan Listening Sessions on Tuesday, June 20, at 7 p.m. on Zoom.
The Listening Sessions serve as one way for clergy and laity to share their hopes for the future and for how the diocese will engage God’s mission in the next 3-5 years.
All baptized people have authority for how a diocesan community engages God’s mission. A former Bishop of Alaska, William Gordon, once said, “If bishops aren’t sharing in casting a vision then it becomes about the bishop, instead of God’s people.”
We will report back on themes gathered at the sessions this summer, leading to a clear and comprehensive presentation on our ministry together by Bishop Brown and Diocesan Council at Convocation on October 21.
If you haven't yet lent your voice to the discussion, please join us on June 20, at 7 p.m.! Find Zoom info here. |
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Celebrate Deacons on Sunday June 25 |
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Deacons are one of three distinct orders of ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, along with priests and bishops. Theirs is a special servant-ministry modeled upon Jesus’ particular care and concern for the poor, the weak, the sick, the oppressed, and the lonely. This year, we set aside Sunday, June 25, to celebrate all the ways their ministry enriches our churches and communities.
Include this special collect and prayers of the people, written by the Rev. Stephanie Batterman, Deacon at Grace Church, Bath.
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The Bishop has authorized use of these prayers, and the special Collect should be used in addition to the Collect of the Day.
You might also wish to share the bulletin insert here prepared by the Province I School for Deacons with parishioners.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Ven. Aaron Perkins, Archdeacon. |
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First Assisting Bishop swap with Diocese of Vermont |
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Bishop Brown visited St John’s in Randolph, Vermont as Assisting Bishop this past Sunday. It was a nice return to the state for the bishop and a good visit with the congregation of St. John's, filled with creativity, joy, and commitment to the gospel. |
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News From Our Congregations |
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Dedication of the Labyrinth at St. Mark's |
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
60 Eustis Parkway, Waterville
Wednesday, June 21, 4 p.m.
All are welcome!
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The Labyrinth at St. Mark's in Waterville will be dedicated on Wednesday, June 21, at 4 p.m. Last summer, St. Mark's broke ground on this new labyrinth which they designed to be part of the surrounding community, including Colby College and the Waterville Maine General Thayer campus.
Bishop Thomas Brown will be with them for the celebration, followed by a reception with light refreshments. All are welcome!
The labyrinth is outdoors and open to the public at all times. Learn more and find a brochure here. |
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The Rev. Suzanne Roberts, Acting Transition and Deployment Officer for the Diocese, recently preached at St. George's in Sanford. After leading the service, she spoke to the congregation about their search for a new rector. Please remember the people of St. George's in prayer during this time of transition. |
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St. Ann's Episcopal Church in Windham is looking for a part-time music director who can play the organ/piano and direct the choir. The music director plays the doxology and one hymn at their 8 a.m. service and directs the choir at their 10 a.m. service for a full musical celebration. Please consider joining their team to celebrate God's presence in the Lakes Region! If interested, please email the Rev. Tim Higgins. |
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Have you attended any of Province 1 Formation Network's Conversations with Noted Speakers events? These monthly online learning opportunities are free and open to all. Sign up for an upcoming session or view a recording of a past session on YouTube. Click here to watch any time! |
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Hunt receives Yarmouth's 2023 Latchstring Award
Carla Hunt, member of St. Bart's, was recognized for her leadership and service. She founded the Yarmouth Compassionate Housing Initiative, which helps asylum-seeking families and co-created an alliance committed to identifying and disrupting racism.
Read more
www.pressherald.com
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Church of the Good Shepherd, Houlton invited community members to learn more about the history of the Maliseet people in Aroostook County. Ambassador Osihkiyol (Zeke) Crofton-Macdonald spoke on his personal experiences and his historical research, in which he used traditional knowledge and written documents.
He shared information about current legislation important to advancing the welfare and culture of tribal members who live on the reservation and elsewhere. Zeke took questions from the audience, answering each with frankness, expertise, and patience.
This event was meant to bring about understanding and to begin to build a new relationship based on respect and sense of environmental justice. A recording of the presentation is available on the church's Facebook page. Watch it here. |
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The Episcopal Church Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop issued a letter to the church announcing the availability of the “Profile for the Election of the 28th Presiding Bishop” and inviting Episcopalians to submit the names of bishops for the committee to consider as nominees. The deadline is July 15. Read the letter here. |
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Let us ask God to bless all graduates that they may use all that they've learned to make the world a better place. We pray in thanksgiving for all teachers and parents who helped get them to this moment. |
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Celebrating the gift of the Spirit on Pentecost to guide us “in the deeper ways of God’s love,” Presiding Bishop Michael Curry invited Episcopalians to pray for the hundreds of young people gathering July 4-8, at Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) in Maryland.
Pray for participants and leaders from the Diocese of Maine preparing to attend as part of a tri-diocesan group with the dioceses of New Hampshire and Vermont!
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Please join us in praying for the people and wildlife threatened by the devastating wildfires and air pollution from the fires. |
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We observe the holiday of Juneteenth on Monday, June 19. In 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were the last to learn of their emancipation, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Let's recall the struggle to overcome slavery in our country and pray for justice and an end to oppression everywhere. |
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Deadline to submit a prayer to UTO is July 14 |
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Every Triennium, UTO releases a beautiful Book of Prayers comprised of prayers written by folks from around the world, and the 2025-2028 Prayer Book is now in the works! UTO encourages everyone to submit a prayer, no matter your age, profession, or language.
For instructions on how to submit your prayer before July 14 or to download the 2021-2024 Prayer Book, visit the UTO website here. |
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Save these dates below! For the full events calendar, click here.
JUNE
10 Regional Confirmation (St. Alban's, Cape Elizabeth)
13-14 CPG Planning for Wellness Conference
16 Retired Clergy Gathering (St. Margaret's, Belfast)
17 Portland Pride Parade with Episcopal Maine Youth
18 Celebration of New Ministry with Rev. Douglas Beck and Trinity, Castine
20 Retired Clergy Gathering (St. Mary's, Falmouth)
20 Diocesan Listening Session (Zoom)
21 Dedication of the Walking Prayer Labyrinth (St. Mark's, Waterville)
25 Deacons Day
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