The Dio Log
News & Events in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine since 1999
Volume 22, Number 18
September 17, 2020
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A WORD TO THE CHURCH
The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry
What Did Jesus Do?
The video above is a Word to the Church from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and was also his sermon at The Episcopal Church House of Bishops, which met virtually on September 16, 2020. Watch the video or read the full text here.
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Please join us in praying for the diocesan youth and youth leaders engaged in the Dismantling Racism Curriculums offered by the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing. Thank you for your faithful work Sarah Dowling, Matthew Francois, Alex Sudsbury, Kimberley Wallace, Rev. Cn. Sara D'Angio White, Rev. Katie Holicky, and Rev. Eleanor Prior.
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Prayers of congratulations to the Diocese of Oregon and their newly elected bishop, the Rev. Dr. Diana Akiyama, the first Japanese-American woman ordained to the Episcopal priesthood. She was elected at the first all-online Electing Convention held within The Episcopal Church. Read more about Bishop-elect Akiyama's election here.
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The Diocesan Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine will meet on Saturday, September 19. Please keep the Council in your prayers this day.
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Let us continue to pray for those suffering from the devastating fires and those dealing with the damage and flooding from recent hurricanes. |
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We offer prayers and encouragement to the diocesan group, both participants and facilitators, embarking on the ten part film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, Sacred Ground this month.
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Program Officers for Episcopal Relief & Development's US Disaster Program, Lura Steele and Tamara Plummer, were recently asked to answer questions about disaster trends, preparedness and resiliency. Steele says, "If we are people that believe and aspire to be a just and loving society, we have a role to play in creating and building it." Read more here in "Building Relationships, Justice and Hope During Disasters".
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Bill Green, Senior Warden at Trinity, Portland, interviewed The Rev. Cn. Larry Weeks on his upcoming retirement. Larry has been serving as both Rector at Trinity, Portland and Priest in Charge at St. Peter's, Portland. Read a short biography here. His last Sunday will be September 27.
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Bob Buntrock, member of Redeemer Lutheran ELCA in Bangor, includes the experience of Rev. Elaine Hewes of St. Brendan the Navigator, Deer Isle with online church in the piece "Church without walls" in Covalesce, a publication of the Lutheran Alliance for Faith, Science and Technology.
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The Episcopal Diocese of Maine has released a 2020 edition of the Clergy Transition Handbook that guides congregations seeking new priests and priests seeking new calls to enter into a process of prayer and discernment. The Rev. Cn. Michael Ambler, Canon to the Ordinary, says, "The 2020 edition reflects the experience of transitions over the last several years and also offers thoughts about how to adapt the process in light of the pandemic. We hope it's helpful to those anticipating or in the middle of heading towards a new call!"
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John Hennessy, Director of Advocacy and Networks, was interviewed by the Poor People's Campaign (PPC) Maine here on Facebook Live on September 16. The Episcopal Church was the second denomination to officially sign on to the PPC. John spoke how in Maine we consistently try to help our congregations bring their faith to the public square.
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Gather for diocese-wide worship on September 27 |
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Please join worship online on September 27 with a service compiled by a diocese-wide team that includes music and a sermon from Bishop Brown! A video will be available on our YouTube channel to access anytime after 7:30 am that morning or you can watch the video 'premiere' on Facebook at 10 am.
In preparation for this service, children of the diocese are invited to draw, paint or compose pictures of what they think angels look like. Please take a photo of the angel art and send the photo to Director of Communications Katie Clark. Include the first name of the artist and their age. Images can also be dropped directly into this folder. The deadline for angel artwork submissions is Friday, September 18.
The Rev. Cn. Nancy Moore and Michael Turner have created a wonderful e-book to read to children as they embark on this project. Click here to access, download, and share this wonderful e-book.
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Faith community solar farm proposal webinar tonight |
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The diocese continues to explore a community solar farm option to lower church-owned buildings electric bills and support the development of clean energy. Nearly every parish in the diocese has expressed interest as well as other faith communities in Maine. Originally, the concept was to start first in the Central Maine Power service area and then expand. However, we have a new proposal to consider that would be statewide and sounds very promising!
Learn more at a diocese-wide informational Zoom webinar on Thursday, September 17 at 6 pm. All are welcome! Please join using this Zoom link. If you have questions, feel free to contact John Hennessy for more information.
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Help us create a new season of Faith in Maine |
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You are the ideal listener! We want to cover the topics and stories most important to you. What do you want to explore? Do you have an interesting story to share yourself? Who do you want to hear from?
Please send ideas for future podcasts series or individual episodes to Director of Communications Katie Clark.
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Join EPF-Maine in supporting the people of Gaza |
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Episcopal Peace Fellowship - Maine Chapter has received a number of appeals for assistance to the people of Gaza where the COVID-19 pandemic poses an especially severe threat in recent weeks. Many of the organizations serving the needs of Palestinians, already handicapped by a shortage of water, electricity, and medical supplies, are in urgent need of attention and aid.
EPF-Maine feels called to help respond to the medical crisis in Gaza! Members of the diocese are invited to join them in making a donation to the people of Gaza via the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. From the office of AFEDJ, priority will be given to resources in Gaza serving the neediest and funds will be disbursed accordingly. The people of Gaza urgently need your help. Members of Episcopal Peace Fellowship encourage you to give as generously as you can. Please donate by check made out to EPF-Maine and sent promptly to: EPF-Maine, PO Box 2,
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News from our congregations |
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Spreading distant smiles and not the virus! Pictures above are from when St. Michael's, Auburn's organized a drive-by parade to visit parish friends they missed while isolating.
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All Saints by-the-Sea Chapel, Southport posted a virtual organ concert of fourteen cherished hymns played by Henry Lowe to share with anyone who may miss singing these hymns during the pandemic. They hope you enjoy it all year.
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The people of The Cathedral of St. Luke, Portland are building a new Columbarium at the Cathedral. The first phase of construction has begun. You have until October to order your columbarium niche! Click here for information about ordering, pricing details and here to access the reservation form. Please contact the Cathedral office at 207-772-5434 to be referred to a Columbarium Committee member if you have any questions.
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In St. Alban's, Cape Elizabeth A Daily Cup for September 9, Debbie Fisher, Director of Children's and Family Formation, wrote about the Shore Road lawn being filled with parishioners to watch Joel Pierce, Director of Choir and Organ Music, perform rodeo rope tricks he learned during his youth chorus days in the Tucson Boys Chorus. She writes, "The young and the young-at-heart marveled and applauded as he wowed us with his routine. He taught us the ropes and two children even tried their hands! It was short and sweet and was made even more special because people were able to meet Transition Priest-in-Charge Rev. Lynn Carter-Edmands in person."
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St Brendan the Navigator, Deer Isle is collecting donations in memory of Bishop Sam Hulsey. Susan Mangam gifted her painting, “Last Sunset II, Isle of Iona,” to St. Brendan’s for the benefit of the Deer Isle community. Because the painting reflects a scene likely viewed by St. Brendan the Navigator during his missions, the vestry has decided to solicit contributions to cover the $2,200 price of the painting, and to dedicate the effort to the memory of Bishop Sam who loved both St. Brendan and the Isle of Iona. For those wishing to contribute, please mail a check to St. Brendan the Navigator, PO Box 305, Deer Isle, ME 04627 and indicate "painting purchase" in the memo line.
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New violence prevention curriculum available |
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The Diocese of Missouri has released a new curriculum developed by the Rev. Marc D. Smith, Ph.D., the Bishop's Deputy for Violence Prevention that they are offering for free for your consideration and use. The curriculum is titled "Each Other's Keeper: The Church's Response to Violence."
The program is made up of six chapters, each on different violence-related topics:
- Violence in Scripture
- Violence in American Popular Culture
- Gun Violence: A Public Health Crisis
- Youth Bullying and Suicide
- Domestic Abuse and Sexualized Violence
- Forgiveness and Reconcilliation
Each chapter can be used alone, or combined with others, and designed to take about an hour for your study group. Each chapter contains prayers, study objectives, Bible readings, video or audio commentary,discussion questions, slide presentation (for teaching), and resources for further study.
All of the materials are available at https://www.eachotherskeeper.org/ and can be used electronically or downloaded. Everything is free with the hope that using the curriculum leads to discussions that will promote healing for individuals as well as communities.
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