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The Dio Log
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news and events in
the Episcopal Diocese of Maine
since 1999
Volume 18, Number 16 ~ August 26, 2016
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At BION camp there is a time for every purpose under heaven...
...a time to be wild
...a time to be prayerful
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What's New in the Episcopal Church in Maine
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congratulations to...
the Rev. Sara Gavit and the
people of St. Anne's, Calais
, as they celebrated their new ministry together in mid-July.
prayers for...
...the people of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast affected by recent record-level flooding.
Episcopal Relief & Development has developed bulletin inserts to share how to help.
...the Rev. Chuck and Beth Bradshaw, Maine missionaries to the Diocese of Mityana in Uganda, as they enter the last stretch of their ministry there and celebrate the completion of the Bradshaw Music School building at the seminary where they serve. Here's their
voices among us...
Bishop Lane recently celebrated with the centennial year with two summer chapels, All Saints by the Sea, Bailey Island, and St. Martin's, Biddeford Pool. His sermons posted on his blog tell of what year round congregations have to learn about summer chapels.
The Presiding Bishop this week offered this message (and toolkit for engagement) to encourage all Episcopalians to exercise their Christian obligation to vote.
the Rev. Rebecca Grant, deacon at Church at 209 in Augusta, shared this account of the unexpected blessings encountered in assisting an Iraqi refugee family at the local Walmart.
Church of 209 has been a recipient of a New Initiative Fund grant and a Domestic Poverty grant to support their ministry among new Mainers. The 2016 grant process for funds to support efforts to alleviate poverty in Maine and internationally is open until September 6. Learn more here.
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Around the Diocese
Today's the last day to comment on the Comp Committee draft resolution offering a living wage to lay employees
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, 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.
Opportunities for Vestries and Bishop's Committee to co-sponsor the resolution will be available until mid-September. The Comp Committee is grateful to the Maine churches that have already indicated their support for this resolution.
Registration for the 197th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Maine is now open
Everyone who will be attending is asked to
register
online here
before
October 7th
.
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.
Nominations for lay members of Diocesan Council are open
Diocesan Council is a decision-making body of the Diocese of Maine comprised of two elected members from each of the eight diocesan Areas. Clergy members are elected to a two year term in odd years and lay members are elected for a two year term in even years.
In 2016, we are electing lay members and elections will take place on October 22 in Portland at Convention.
Diocesan Council serves as our "Convention between Conventions." Council meets four times each year - generally an overnight meeting (Friday evening-Saturday afternoon) in May and December and a Saturday meeting in February and September. Mileage reimbursement is offered and all overnight accommodation costs are covered by the Diocese.
If you wish to nominate someone, please check with that person for a willingness to serve before submitting this form. The nomination form may be found here. The deadline for nominations is September 9.
Coaching and resources to help you plan Sunday School
As a result of hard work by the Christian Ed Collaborative, there are five useful pages on the diocesan website for
Children's Christian Ed. These will give you lots of advice, resources and contacts for designing your fall programs. We'd welcome your suggestions and additions. Send them to Jane Hartwell at
[email protected].
Director of Children's Christian Formation open at St. Alban's, Cape Elizabeth
This position at a joyful parish requires a passionate, well-organized, motivated, creative person to manage all aspects of the Christian formation programs offered for children pre-K - 4th grades. St. Alban's is blessed with two vibrant church school programs on Sunday mornings, as well as an enthusiastically-embraced Christmas Pageant, summer Camp St. Alban's and other seasonal activities. This position provides education and support to the children, parents and volunteers involved with the Nursery, Godly Play and Our PLACE. The Director reports to the Rector and collaborates closely with the Assistant Rector, Music Director, Director of Children's Music, and Parish Administrator. The position is half-time and provides excellent compensation. Interested applicants may write to the Rev. Tim Boggs at
[email protected].
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
[email protected].
Maine congregations invited to participate in the National Concert Across America to End Gun Violence, Sunday, September 25
Faiths United and Bishops United Against Gun Violence are two of a large group of gun violence prevention organizations encouraging Americans, especially churches, to hold a live musical events to remember the victims of the gun violence epidemic and to "raise the volume on the national effort to save lives from gun violence" on
September 25. Learn more at
Concert Across America.
In 2007, Congress designated
September 25 as the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims.
Participation in the concert can include everything from offering a special anthem, to choosing a Sunday's worth of hymns around the theme of peace, to holding a special performance by a choir, musician or musical group.
Congregations can publicize their concert by using the "Add your Concert" link on this page
concert.faithsunited.org. Ready-made bulletin-style announcements, graphics and flyer-templates are available by clicking on the "Resources" link on the same page.
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Upcoming in Maine and Beyond
Gather with the Christian Ed Collaboration network - September 8
The next Christian Ed Collaboration meeting will be Thursday, September 8, from 10 a.m. to noon. Everyone interested in Christian formation for children and teens is invited. We'll meet at the Diocesan Office, 143 State Street in Portland. If distance is prohibitive, contact Jane Hartwell, [email protected] about participating remotely. Bring your questions and great ideas to share with your colleagues. Please RSVP to Jane or to Chairperson Emily Keniston [email protected].
All welcome to EPF's fall meeting on September 10
Episcopal Peace Fellowship, Maine Chapter, welcomes its members to the fall meeting at St. John's, Thomaston, on September 10. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. with a business meeting and concludes with a simple potluck lunch at noon.
All new members and interested parties are invited to join us in the parish hall (entry on the south side of the church). Your input is desired in articulating our ideas, dreams, and plans for the coming months and year.
St. Luke's Cathedral to offer a Choral Evensong to celebrate the unveiling of the restored rose window
On Sunday, September 18, St. Luke's Cathedral in Portland will celebrate the unveiling of the restored rose window with a Choral Evensong at 4 p.m.
Here Dean Ben Shambaugh shows where the window used to be.
Living Local: Joining God--October 1 Training Day
Living Local is an adventure into new ways of connecting with our neighbors. Think of it as a trek into unknown territory, supported by expert outfitters, in company with one another and congregations from three partner dioceses.
The process started last May, when we shared a day in Gardiner learning about changes in the relationship between the church and the world, looking observantly at the neighborhood surrounding Christ Church, and outlining the Living Local journey.
Now that summer's end is on the horizon, it's time to move ahead.
Next up is a gathering and training session on
Saturday, October 1
. This is for all congregations contemplating the Living Local journey. You'll learn more about Living Local, and get trained to take first steps. These first steps will be about discernment and preparation; those who decide to commit after this will then begin the two year journey starting first thing in the New Year.
We expect this meeting will be in the Augusta area; specifics TBA in the next couple of weeks. Time will probably be 10-3, but that too will get firmed up soon. For now, hold the date! And don't hesitate to call either Michael Ambler at [email protected] or Jane Hartwell [email protected] with questions or wonderments.
With excitement about the journey we will share...
Miqra at the Cathedral - the big diocesan fall youth event for middle and high schoolers
Save the date of October 8-10 and plan to join with kids in grades 6-12 from all over Maine for this big event. More news coming soon!
Regional confirmation at St. Columba's, Boothbay Harbor, on October 16
Bishop Stephen Lane will preside at a regional confirmation service on Sunday, October 16, at 4 p.m. at St. Columba's, Boothbay Harbor.
This service is open to any congregation in the diocese. If your congregation is interested in participating, please contact the Rev. Maria Hoecker at
[email protected] to start to collaborate on a joyful worship and confirmation experience for all.
From Mudslinging to Mutual Respect: How To Make Politics More Civil
Featuring Keynote Speaker Senator George Mitchell
7:30 am to 9:30 am, October 20, Best Western Hotel, Waterville
Join Bishop Lane and other Maine Episcopalians in Waterville as the Maine Council of Churches hosts an important election year event on Thursday, October 20, at the Best Western Hotel in Waterville. Keynote speaker will be Senator George Mitchell, a member of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, New York City. Doors will open at 7:30 am for a continental breakfast, the program will begin promptly at 8:15 am, and the event is free and open to the public. Space is limited, so advance registration is strongly recommended: go to
www.mainecouncilofchurches.org and click on the photo of Senator Mitchell to reserve your seats.
The event, titled "From Mudslinging to Mutual Respect: How to Make Politics More Civil," will focus on what grassroots constituents and voters can do to support those candidates and elected officials who abide by the principles of civil discourse, and to hold accountable and change the behavior of those who do not. Senator Mitchell will reflect on these questions in light of his own experiences building bipartisan coalitions in the Senate from 1980 to 1994, and working for peace as U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland (1995-2001) and to the Middle East (2009-2011).
A companion study guide, "A Faithful Call for Civility in Politics," designed for clergy, churches, and small groups is available
here.
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