Dreaming about a new ministry in your community?
Apply now for a 2016 Round 2 New Initiative Grant from Diocesan Council.
Each congregation and organization in the Diocese of Maine is eligible to apply for funding to support new ministries or expanding existing ministries in new directions. Applications will be evaluated on the how closely they meet the Diocese's Seven Criteria for Mission.
Learn more and apply
here.
The deadline for Round 2 applications is 4 p.m. on Monday, August 15. Diocesan Council will make grant recommendations at its September 10 meeting.
Ways to offer hospitality to Pokemon GO players who turn up at your church
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Sign at St. Luke's Cathedral in Portland
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Many churches in Maine as designated by the developers of Pokemon GO as "stops" or "gyms" where players can get free items and practice their skills.
Here's a guide to how your church can offer hospitality and welcome people who visit while playing the game.
The sign on the front door of St. Luke's, Portland, reads, "Please feel free to enjoy the shade of our beech tree while you use the guy. Our wifi password is "trinity3."
"We welcome all to our services and hope to see you again."
The Comp Committee welcomes your comments on a draft resolution affecting minimum lay compensation for 2017
At its June meeting the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church issued a resolution offering support for a Living Wage of $15.00 per hour. The resolution converged with a conversation members of the Clerical and Lay Compensation Committee were about to have with Bishop Stephen Lane about lay compensation in the Diocese of Maine.
The result is the Compensation Committee, as it has done in the past, asks Maine Episcopalians to offer comments on a draft resolution over the summer. In late August, after the deadline for comments (August 26) has passed, members will consider your comments and propose a final version of the resolution to go before clergy and delegates at our Diocesan Convention in October.
The following links offer the opportunity to read the draft resolution, a letter of explanation and invitation from Bishop Lane as well as the language of the resolution passed by Executive Council. Additional links include the comment form and a sign-on form for churches that wish to co-sponsor the resolution.
Positions open in Maine churches
Part-time Music Director/Choirmaster at Trinity, Saco
Trinity, an Episcopal congregation in Saco, seeks a part-time organist/choirmaster to further develop our already strong music program. The organist/choirmaster serves at the pleasure of the Rector and is the central figure ensuring the quality, substance and appropriateness of the music that serves an integral part in the Rector's and the parish's vision of ministry, to include maintaining our strong Episcopal musical tradition with contemporary Christian music. The candidate for this position should demonstrate an ability to have a good working relationship with the Rector, choir, and ensemble and have proven experience in choral directing, organ performance, working with an ensemble and preferably experience in the Episcopal tradition.
A detailed version of the job description may be obtained by emailing the Rev. David Robinson at
trinitysaco@aol.com.
Part-time Faith Formation Director at St. John's, Bangor
Do you love kids? Interested in helping youth in their faith formation? If the answer is yes, then St. John's has a paid part-time position that might be perfect for you. The position of Faith Formation Director for Families is a 10-hour a week position that provides faith formation for families with emphasis on Sunday education to children and youth of St. John's. To view the full job description, go to
www.stjohnsbangor.org or contact Vanessa for more information. Resumes can be sent for review by Mother Rita Steadman at
execassist@stjohnsbangor.org .
Part-time Christian Education Coordinator at St. Thomas', Camden
St. Thomas' Episcopal Church in Camden is seeking a candidate for Christian Education Coordinator. Responsibilities include development and oversight of educational programs and ministries: to plan, oversee and coordinate all aspects of church school for children pre-K through grade 7. Candidates should possess demonstrated passion for working with children, excellent organizational and planning skills and at least two years' experience working with children/youth and/or administrative experience in the education field. Average weekly time requirement: 12 hours. Send resume to
stthoscamden@roadrunner.com. No telephone calls please.
Diocesan Wordpress Hosting project offers resources to all congregations
Since January many congregations in the diocese have been at work on a new website offered through the Diocesan Wordpress Hosting project. The project offers each congregation in the diocese free web hosting on the Wordpress platform with a choice of one of three themes, help with domain names, training, and technical support. (The project does not support domain-based email service.)
If your congregation is interested in a new website, please visit
www.diomainehosting.org to view the themes and the websites of Maine churches already launched, then be in touch with Heidi Shott at
hshott@episcopalmaine.org to get the ball rolling.
The project site
www.diomainehosting.org is also intended to serve as a resource for
all those working on a church website, even if you are not involved in the project. You'll find a
how-to guide for using Wordpress, an ever-growing list of links and resources on Christian formation, spiritual growth, church news sites to include on your church site as well as lots of information about online giving and the Episcopal Asset Map tool. Check it out!
Nominations for diocesan offices are open through September 9
The following offices in the Diocese of Maine are open for nominations. Elections will be held at the Convention in Portland on Saturday, October 22.
Secretary (1 year term)
Treasurer (1 year term)
Standing Committee-Clergy (3 year term)
Standing Committee-Lay (3 year term)
Disciplinary Board-Lay (3 year term)
Provincial Synod-Lay Deputy (2 year term)
Provincial Synod-Clerical Alternate Deputy (2 year term)
General Convention Deputation (4 Clergy, 4 Lay)
Trustee of Diocesan Funds (4 year term)
*Nominations will be reviewed by the Trustees before being added to the ballot.
Consider serving the diocese in a new way! The nomination form is available
here. Nominations must be received by the September 9 deadline.
Other information about Diocesan Convention - the form for submitting resolutions, the lay delegate form (deadline June 30, ahem,) information about the convention site at the University of Southern Maine, and more - may be found on the
Convention page.
Mid-year updates to the Diocesan Directory and Congregation Directory
