The Faith Formation Calendar for October is here! It includes resources and ideas for various ways of living out your faith and includes links for youth ministry gatherings, ideas for bringing faith practices into your home, and resources to celebrate the diversity of our call to follow Christ. Download the calendar here. If you have questions, comments, or want to reach out to connect, please contact Emily Keniston, Director of Faith Formation or Rev. Cn. Sara D'Angio White, Canon for Youth Ministry.

The Rev. Dr. Mark Jefferson, Assistant Professor of Homiletics at Virginia Theological Seminary, will lead a free seminar for lay preachers in the Diocese of Maine and Province 1 on Sunday, October 24 from 12-2:30 pm on Zoom. The goal of the seminar is to inspire and guide lay preachers in both inner, spiritual and practical preparation of sermons.

This event is hosted by the churches of Mount Desert Island Episcopal Partnership (Church of Our Father, Hulls Cove, St. Saviour's, Bar Harbor, St. Andrew's and St. John's, Southwest Harbor). Folks who live on MDI may attend in person, if they desire. Click here to register for Zoom. If you have questions or would like more information about attending in person, please contact the Rev. Holly C. Hoffmann.

Elections for clergy representatives to the Diocese of Maine's Diocesan Council were held Tuesday, October 12 in Area Caucuses at Town Hall. 

This was the first election using the new diocesan area structure which Diocesan Council voted to adopt in September. Click here to view a map and here to see a list of the new six areas.  

Congratulations to these newly elected clergy representatives joining our currently serving lay representatives:

Area A: The Rev. Lynn Rutledge

Area B: The Rev. Thom Rock

Area C: The Rev. Nancy Moore

Area D: The Rev. Lisa Fry

Area E: The Rev. Suzanne Roberts

Area F: The Rev. Lauren Kay

Maine Episcopal Youth is offering Dismantling Racism, a youth antiracism curriculum designed by the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, in collaboration with the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Reconciliation. Recognizing that not all are able to be together in person, and that not everyone can meet consistently online, there will be three tracks offered tracks with dates in November and December. Find more information, the dates, and register here. 

Still have questions? Join us for a Virtual Parent and Youth Info Session on Monday, October 25, 5:30-6:30 pm on Zoom. This session is for youth grades 6-12 and parents who want to learn more, and for those who are already registered. Learn what the expectations will be, explore the three tracks, take a look at the breadth of the curriculum, and have your questions answered. Get the link for the meeting by emailing Rev. Cn. Sara D'Angio White.

St. Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center invites you to help them celebrate 20 years of serving those in need in the Greater Portland area with amazing volunteers! The commemoration will take place Wednesday, October 27 4-5:00 pm on Zoom. The featured speaker is the Rev. Peter Swarr, a founder of the Essentials Pantry, with additional remarks by Bishop Thomas Brown, Sarah Coburn Borgeson, St. Elizabeth's Executive Director, and Dean Benjamin Shambaugh. Download an invitation that includes the link to join here.

The Climate Justice Council has released this new list of resources. They hope that these can educate and inspire Maine congregations and help each promote sustainable living.

The Cathedral of St. Luke hosted special speaker, John Dieffenbacher-Krall, Executive Director of the Wabanaki Alliance and former chair of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine Committee on Indian Relations, on Sunday, October 10 for a service honoring Indigenous People's Day. Watch the video or read his sermon "Reflections on Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Atonement and a Call to Action" here.

United Nations Day annually observed worldwide on October 24, falls on a Sunday this year. The Rev. Al Niese, a member of the Maine chaper of the United Nations Association, explains the history of UN Day and encourages diocesan clergy and laity to observe UN Day in this letter to Bishop Thomas Brown.

We pray for the Rev. Laura White and the congregation of St. Martin's, Palmyra. They will hold a Celebration of New Ministry with Bishop Thomas Brown on Sunday, October 17. May God bless their ministry together!

We offer prayers for those who are preparing for and those who will attend the 202nd Convention of the Diocese of Maine "Go forth with Hope and Grace" on October 23. May the online convention be faith-filled, and may the Holy Spirit guide the decisions made affecting the future of the diocese.

The Episcopal Church has released ‘My Way of Love for Small Groups’, a resource for spiritual growth. Responding to a hunger for deeper discipleship among Episcopal congregations, the creators of the initiative offer a spiritual journey guide, video and other materials designed for nine weekly small group gatherings. “We hope that this resource will support Presiding Bishop Curry’s call to become a new and re-formed church, to deepen our lives as the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement — as individuals, small gathered communities and congregations — in order that we can become a people who look and act like Jesus and live his way of love,” Jerusalem Greer, staff officer for evangelism for The Episcopal Church said. Find these resources here. Please let us know if you plan to use this resource or have questiosn! Contact Emily Keniston, Director of Faith Formation.

The Episcopal Province of New England will host its Annual Conference (formerly Synod) online October 30th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Together we will worship, share news about leadership changes, explore ministry networks and their work in our province, and review the budget that guides our ways of being together. While this is the formal business meeting of the province, we also celebrate the successes, collectively problem solve to support emerging needs, and to worship together as the Body of Christ. 

All delegates to Province I are encouraged to attend, as are all bishops in the province. Additionally, this meeting is open to any Episcopalian in the province who would like to learn more about the ministries of Province I and the people who serve in them! Register to attend here.