Volume 28, Number 4

April 23, 2026

On Valentine’s Day weekend, young people from Maine participated in a Confirmation Exploration Weekend at Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in New Hampshire alongside youth from both dioceses in Massachusetts, Director of Faith Formation Emily Keniston, and Bishop Brown. “Our youth did a great job being open to new ideas, sharing their beliefs and questions, and thinking deeply about some really, really big theological concepts,” said Keniston, who helped organize the weekend along with leaders from Massachusetts.



Among the activities were hearing from Bishop Brown about his faith journey, exploring the Baptismal Promises in detail and practicing different kinds of prayer, baking communion bread together, and collaborating on a celebration of the Eucharist.



The adult leaders emphasized that the weekend was not a preparation course, but was intended to open the way to exploring what the rite of confirmation is, and is not. “The choice to be confirmed (or not) will be made in each young person's own context, but we hope they feel better equipped both with information and questions at the conclusion of the retreat,” Keniston said.

Scroll down for more Youth Formation events!

In March, Bishop Brown visited with the parishes of St. Alban's, Cape Elizabeth; Christ Church, Norway; Trinity Church, Lewiston; and St. Luke's, Wilton. Center and top left: St. Luke's on Palm Sunday; top and center right: the choir, and the bishop with rector the Rev. Joshua Hill, associate rector the Rev. Lael Sorensen, and confirmands, St. Albans, March 1; Bottom: confirmands with their families, the bishop, and rector the Rev. Nancy Moore, Christ Church, March 15.

In accordance with their annual tradition, St. Patrick's parishioners put on the green for their celebration of the church's patron saint. After worship, and recessing to all seven verses of “Saint Patrick’s Breastplate," the crowd descended to "the exotic Shamrock Room" (aka the parish hall) for a repast of corned beef and cabbage and assorted supplemental treats. The requisite cake was blessed by priest in charge the Rev. Lisa Fry, and there were even leftovers enough to take to those who couldn’t attend in person.

"For Maine's Episcopal Bishop, Food is More than Pleasure. It's Community"

In the process of writing about Episcopal Maine church members making Muamba Chicken Stew for our immigrant neighbors, Portland Press Herald Food Editor Peggy Grodinsky discovered that Bishop Brown (who adapted the stew recipe) enjoys cooking. Her subsequent feature, (which ran on the front page of the newspaper's "Food and Cooking" section on Easter Day), explored the bishop's introduction to cooking at his grandparents' Michigan dairy farm, the power of food to connect, comfort, and nourish, the Biblical significance of coming together around the table, and included a favorite Midwestern recipe for Layered Salad.

Read the story here (gift article).

Above, from left: In his kitchen in Portland, Bishop Brown puts the finishing touches on his Layered Salad for Easter with Portland Press Herald photographer Brianna Soukup and Food Editor Peggy Grodinsky. Photo by Susan Sherrill Axelrod

New Scam Alert!

There are a couple of newer phishing scams we've been hearing about at Loring House that you should be aware of:

• One is a text message from a (207) phone number purporting to be Bishop Brown and asking you to contact him and or do him a favor; Bishop Brown will never text you to ask you to do something. We advise deleting and blocking the number.

• The other appears to be an Evite invitation from someone you know, sometimes using the headline "celebration of life." Before you click on or open the email, reach out to that person directly to verify whether or not it's real. You can also hover over the address to see if it actually came from evite.com. If not, delete and block it.

Be vigilant and stay safe online!

Sacred Writing in Darkness

Tuesdays, April 28 and May 12, 7 - 9 p.m.

The Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Portland

Poets Shana Rose, parishioner at St. Luke's, Portland, and Julia Baker, Mercy Hospital chaplain and parishioner at St. Alban’s, Cape Elizabeth, have announced the next dates for their new ecumenical ministry. “Sacred Writings in Darkness.” Held in the cathedral's Emmanuel Chapel, these monthly sessions each have a different theme and offer a time for guided sacred writing, including poetry, prayers, songs, and vignettes. The gatherings are designed to help spiritually feed participants' longing for respite from the current chaos of our wider world. They begin with Julia and Shana providing simple grounding content—a prayer or brief message—followed by time for participants to write with a period at the end to share their completed work.

To register, email Sacred Writing in Darkness or message @sacred.writing on Instagram. Reach out to Shana or Julia with questions.

All That Is Within Us: A Research Presentation

Thursday, April 30, 7 – 8:30 p.m. on Zoom

For two years, The BTS Center has been researching the unique role churches can play in a climate-changed world. Now they’re ready to share their findings with us.

At this free presentation you'll hear all about how 12 churches in northern New England discerned their communities’ unique role in a climate-changed world—not whether we should engage the climate crisis, but whether faith communities have something irreplaceable to offer that no solar company, policymakers, or tech startup can replicate.

What's more: you'll learn what this means for your context: your faith community, your neighborhood, the place where you are rooted.

Download a flyer here.

Spring Work Weekend

Friday, May 1 - Sunday, May 3

Camp Bishopswood, Hope, ME

Join us as we help to care for our beloved diocesan camp and get it ready for summer fun. We'll wash windows and walls, clear trails, prepare cabins and camp sites, set up the swim area, and more—and we'll have some time for play together, as well. Youth who come with their families are welcome to join other youth for the day and spend the night with their family in their cabin. Learn more and register here, and reach out to Director of Faith Formation Emily Keniston with questions.

Youth Climate Justice Event

June 29 - July 2, 2026

Schoodic Institute, Winter Harbor, ME

Registration is now OPEN for this Province 1 youth gathering at Schoodic Institute in Acadia National Park! Intended for middle and high-school students, the event offers an

opportunity for youth to come together, build community, and learn about protecting our earth—in beautiful Downeast Maine. Participants will engage in national science-standard aligned, hands-on science programming through the National Park Service rangers, work with our own Public Policy Director John Hennessy, hear from Wabanaki neighbors about Indigenous stewardship at Acadia, and more. It will also be a fun way to form friendships, explore faith in action and spend time outside on the Maine coast this summer.

Registration is expected to sell out, so don't wait! Find more details here and reach out to Emily Keniston with questions.

St. Peter's in the coastal city of Rockland seeks a warm, deeply spiritual, and collaborative two thirds-time rector. This welcoming and inclusive congregation has strong lay leadership, a love of liturgy and preaching the Word, and a proven track record of providing impactful outreach to the community. Currently, the vestry is exploring ways to collaborate administratively with neighboring Episcopal churches. Applicants should send their Vocation Hub profile, resume/CV, and a cover letter addressed to the Search Committee to Transition and Deployment Officer, the Rev. Suzanne Roberts. Read the complete Position Profile here.

St. Ann's in Windham, a growing community and the gateway to Maine's lakes region, seeks a three quarter-time rector to guide the congregation with wisdom and care, empowering them to live more fully into their shared mission. With thoughtful planning already underway and strong lay leadership emerging, the people of St. Ann's are eager to partner with a rector who will help them build on their foundation of faithful worship, a warm welcome for all, compassionate service, and joyful community life. Applicants should send their Vocation Hub profile, resume/CV, and a cover letter addressed to the Search Committee to Transition and Deployment Officer, the Rev. Suzanne Roberts. Read the complete Position Profile here.

The Parish of St. Mary and St. Jude in Northeast Harbor and Seal Harbor, respectively, is looking for a full-time rector who will respect their long history on Maine's Mount Desert Island while providing the steady, thoughtful guidance necessary to move them into their next chapter of growth. Applicants should send their Vocation Hub profile, resume/CV, and a cover letter addressed to the Search Committee to Transition and Deployment Officer, the Rev. Suzanne Roberts. Names are being accepted through June 10, 2026. Read the complete Position Profile here.

Note: We will soon be listing an open clergy position in Aroostook County. Please check our website employment page for updates.

The Cathedral Church of St. Luke and Loring House (143 State St., Portland) seek a half-time facilities director to oversee the maintenance, operations, and long-term stewardship of a shared property, which includes the cathedral, diocesan office, and chapel, with buildings dating back to 1867. This role balances hands-on facilities work with administrative coordination, vendor management, and supervision of custodial and event staff. The position reports to the Dean of the Cathedral and the Executive Assistant to the Bishop. The salary is $40,000 – $45,000, depending on experience. Members of the Cathedral are not eligible to apply. Learn more here.

St. Michael’s in Auburn is looking for an organist for the 9:30 a.m. Sunday services. The small but active congregation with a one-third-time priest seeks a musician to play the church’s restored 1921 Hook & Hastings organ and accompany the choir and congregation for weekly services and Christmas Eve (if not on a Sunday), practice with the choir for 45-minutes prior to the services, and accompany the choir singing hymns during communion. Learn more, including how to apply here.

Trinity Church in Castine seeks a part-time minister of music (6-8 hours/week). The church is looking for an adaptable, collaborative musician to play its Allen Renaissance electronic organ, provide liturgical music for Sunday 9 a.m. worship, and accompany its summer choir (with an optional opportunity to direct the choir for increased compensation). Target start date is this summer and the application deadline is June 14. See the full job description and how to apply here.

St. Thomas’ in Camden seeks a part-time parish administrator (15-19 hours per week). Qualifications include: excellent organizational and communication skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel) or Google Workspace; familiarity with or willingness to learn church management software, social media platforms, and online communication tools (e.g. Realm); and ability to maintain confidentiality and provide a welcoming presence. Position open until May 26, 2026. To apply or for more information, email the Rev. Paul Briggs.

St. Andrew’s in Newcastle seeks a part-time parish administrator (20–24 hours per week) to manage office operations, communications, records, bookkeeping support, scheduling, and receptionist duties. Strong organizational, communication, and computer skills required. Microsoft Office proficiency required; QuickBooks, Constant Contact, and church database experience helpful. Learn more, including how to apply here.



Is your church hiring? Would you like us to share the job description? If so, let us know.

See the full  events calendar here.

See the bishop's visitation schedule here. 

May 1 - 3 Spring Work Weekend at Camp Bishopswood

May 3 - 5 Clergy Conference, Schoodic Institute, Winter Harbor

May 9 Ordination of Emily Keniston and Maribeth Payne to the Transitional Diaconate, St. Luke's, Portland

May 29 and 30 Faithful Givers Roadshow, St. John's, Bangor, and St. Mary's, Falmouth

May 31 Celebration of New Ministry, the Rev. Liz Marshall Casasola and Trinity Church, Castine

June 7 Celebration of New Ministry, the Rev. Myrna Koonce and St. Peter's, Portland

June 24 - October Bishop Brown on sabbatical

June 28 Deacons Day in the Diocese of Maine

June 29 - July 2 Youth Climate Justice Event, Schoodic Institute, Winter Harbor

Nov. 7 207th Diocesan Convention, Abromson Community Education Center, University of Southern Maine, Portland

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