Volume 28, Number 10

Oct. 15, 2026

Four-Legged Friends Welcomed on St. Francis Day

The Feast of St. Francis on Oct. 4 was celebrated with the traditional blessings of creatures great and small, both indoors and out. Clockwise from top left: The Rev. Myrna Koonce at St. Peter's, Portland; a pup waits patiently at St. Thomas', Camden; the Rev. John Balicki at St. Luke's, Wilton; the Rev. Carol Morehead at St. Luke's, Portland, the Rev. Suzanne Colburn from St. Philip's, Wiscasset on the town green; the Rev. Gwen Fry at St. Mark's, Waterville. Center: the Rev. Lisa Fry at St. Patrick's, Brewer.

St. Nick's Displays Rooster for Autism Awareness

St. Nick's in Scarborough has added a colorful metal rooster to its lawn in solidarity with a family in the nearby town of Ogunquit, who ran afoul of the local zoning board with their displays of roosters, which are beloved by their six-year-old autistic daughter. The rooster at St. Nick's was blessed by the Rev. David Robinson on Oct. 4 as "a symbol of community support and acceptance for individuals with autism—and a celebration of the creatures who share our lives."

Cape Elizabeth and Bangor Choirs Join to

Remember Longtime Parishioner

The chancel choirs of St Alban’s in Cape Elizabeth and St John’s Bangor made a rare combination for the memorial of a longtime member of each parish, Dr. Lew Phillips, on Sept 19. The collaboration honors both Lew and Joan, his spouse, who served for a time as organist in both parishes. The Phillips’ commitment to the Anglican choral and organ tradition has made way for a powerful revival of traditional music at St. Alban’s. Above is a scene from their rehearsal under the direction of Dr. Hentus van Rooyen.  

'A long search for a new priest in Aroostook County'

A story published this week in the Maine Monitor explored the challenges of finding clergy for rural churches while showcasing the resilience and hopeful spirit of the Aroostook Cluster—a trio of Episcopal congregations searching for a shared priest.

Diocesan Deployment and Transition Officer, the Rev. Suzanne Roberts provided key perspective to reporter Sean Scott. "Rural churches often serve important functions beyond their congregations, Roberts said, hosting addiction recovery programs, managing or supporting food pantries, and serving as community gathering places. 'If a church closes,' Roberts said, 'that resource and that safe space for the community is lost.'"

The Revs. Ginny Urbanek and Robert Smith, along with several parishioners, were also interviewed for the piece. Read it here.

Applications Open for General Convention Official Youth Presence

Episcopal teens ages 16 to 19 are invited to apply to become part of the 82nd General Convention’s Official Youth Presence, a group whose members have seat and voice in the House of Deputies and can testify at hearings before and during the summer 2027 convention. The deadline to apply is Nov. 20—members will be announced in February.

Up to two youth from each of the church’s nine provinces will be selected to participate in the Official Youth Presence (OYP) from July 3-8, 2027, in Phoenix, Arizona. Youth who are selected must also attend orientation and training in Phoenix from March 4-7. The Episcopal Church budget covers travel, lodging, and meals for those attending orientation and General Convention.

Maine Council of Churches Offers Voter Empowerment Guide

Prepare for Election Day on Nov. 3 with "Our Voice Our Vote 2026," a non-partisan guide chockfull of information and resources designed to "empower Mainers of faith and good conscience to get informed and take action." Download it here. See more election events and resources here.

Saturday, November 7

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Abromson Center at the University of Southern Maine, Portland

Everyone attending should register! Guests are welcome to join us in person or watch the livestream of Convention business and Eucharist on the diocesan YouTube channel.

Our guest preacher will be the Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, Bishop of South Carolina. The offertory will be donated to Window Dressers.

Parking is conveniently located in the garage attached to the Abromson Center; the garage entrance is on Surrenden Street (see this map). The diocese will cover the $10 per car fee for the day, and carpooling is encouraged!

NEW! For those traveling from a distance, we have reserved a limited number of hotel rooms at a discounted rate for Friday, Nov. 6 at the AC Hotel Portland Downtown/Waterfront. See more details and book here.

CALLING ALL YOUTH! There will be a youth event alongside Diocesan Convention! Youth will gather on Saturday, Nov. 6, the night before Convention, at Embassy Suites hotel in Portland for a fun youth event (and pool time!), and then will bring the fun to convention the following day! Learn more here.

The deadline to register is Nov. 2. Early registration fee is $35 by Oct. 25; Oct. 25 - Nov. 2 fee is $50.

Show Us Your Newly Planted Trees

Let's welcome back Bishop Brown with a slide show at Convention!

In his address to the 2025 Diocesan Convention, Bishop Brown charged congregations with planting a tree before the next convention. Last week, members of the diocesan staff planted our tree—a Northern Red Oak—at Mt Sinai Cemetery in Portland (Above, from left: the Rev. Aaron Perkins, Sherri Quint, Lauralee Raymond, the Rev. Suzanne Roberts, the Rev. Emily Keniston, Teresa Pinney.)

A couple of churches have shared photos of their new trees, and we’d like to have a lot more in time to create a slideshow for this year’s convention! Please send photos and information about your trees no later than Friday, Oct. 30 to Susan Sherrill Axelrod.

SAVE THE DATE! Trans Day of Remembrance Service

Friday, Nov. 20, evening time TBD

St. Mark's, Waterville

The entire diocese is invited to gather at St. Mark's for the Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR), observed annually on Nov. 20 by and for the trans and non-binary community and allies. According to this post on The Episcopal Church website, TDOR "is a day to name and mourn our losses, call out patterns of structural violence, and be strengthened in community for the work before us: the eradication of transphobia and transmisogyny, racism, sexism, and classism; and the uplifting of trans and non-binary people as beautiful, creative, powerful, sacred." More information coming soon.

Exploring Full Communion: A Province 1 Webinar on the General Convention 2027 Proposal for TEC-UMC Relations

Wednesday, Nov. 4, 6:30 p.m.

Next summer, General Convention will vote on entering a Full Communion relationship with the United Methodist Church. This webinar, led by Rev. Jason Wells and Rev. Dr. Dan Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, ecumenical officers for New Hampshire and Massachusetts respectively, is meant for all Episcopalians in Province 1 but is especially appropriate to General Convention deputations or other audiences. It will explore the shared history of Episcopalians and Methodists, including our shared theology of sacraments and ministry. We will discover what Full Communion means in theory and also in what we practical blessings we can anticipate in Province I.

St. Dunstan’s in Ellsworth is in search of a half-time priest in charge who will joyfully accompany them in their next chapter working in God’s mission field. Ellsworth, “The Crossroads of Downeast Maine,” offers year round opportunities for outdoor recreation and is located near Acadia National Park. The church’s mission and focus are about care and connection, about our shared understanding of the dignity of every human being. This includes discerning and responding to community needs; many of the city’s essential service organizations bubbled up from the people at St. Dunstan’s. With trust in God’s plan for them, an open and welcoming attitude towards newcomers and ever-expanding presence in the community, the church hopes to continue to attract new members, regardless of demographics. See the complete Position Profile and learn how to apply here.

The following clergy positions are also open. Visit the employment page on our website to learn more about them:

• Two-thirds time rector, St. Peter's, Rockland
• Full-time rector, the Aroostook Cluster
• Half-time priest in charge, St. Andrew's Millinocket

Bridging the Gap, an outreach ministry of Emmanuel Lutheran Episcopal Church in Augusta, is looking for a part-time resources lead to manage its Centralized Helping Fund and provide support to guests both in person, through digital communication, and on the phone by making referrals to community resources. Ideal candidates will have experience in case management and/or social services. For more information and application instructions, see the complete job posting or contact the Rev. Ben Cooke, priest in charge at Emmanuel.

Church of Our Father in Hulls Cove seeks a part-time musician, starting in January, 2027, to lead music at its 9 a.m. Sunday services (about 46 per year, plus Easter Eve and Christmas Eve). Working closely with the parish rector, the musician will play the prelude and postlude, five to six hymns and the service music each week on the church’s baby grand piano or electric organ. Services are live streamed. The musician will also have first option on weddings and funerals, and room to grow the program by teaching new hymns, forming a choir, or bringing in guest musicians for special occasions. To apply, please email Parish Manager Lisa Walker.

Visit the employment page on our website to learn about other job opportunities.



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. 



Oct. 27 Pre-Convention Meeting

Oct. 29 Pre-Convention Meeting

Nov. 2 Last day to register for Diocesan Convention

Nov. 3 Election Day

Nov. 4 Province 1 Exploring Full Communion Webinar

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

Nov. 20 Trans Day of Remembrance Service, St. Mark's, Waterville

Do you have a story to submit to The Dio Log? Did someone forward you this newsletter? Join our community and help us share the good news!