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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 17 ~ September 9, 2016
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The restored rose window on the east wall of St. Luke's Cathedral in Portland looks spectacular. Scaffolding is finally down and the window is on display.
All are welcome to the official unveiling on Sunday, September 18, at 4 p.m.
as part of a special Choral Evensong.
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What's New in the Episcopal Church in Maine
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prayers for...
all those affected by violence and terrorism across the world, especially as we mark the 15th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Episcopal News Service shares videos reflections by Episcopal leaders who were in lower Manhattan that day.
our congregations across the Diocese of Maine kicking off a new program year this Sunday.
voices among us...
Bishop Stephen Lane's remarks at yesterday's press conference with Maine faith leaders in support of Question 3, the minimum wage referendum. The text version may be found on his
blog. To listen to all speakers, watch the
on-demand version of the live webcast. Here's another
account.
In his column in
Maine Episcopal Network for Justice's September newsletter, Director
John Hennessy writes, "The
Episcopal Church recognizes voting and political participation as acts of Christian stewardship. Beyond voting, our engagement in the electoral process should include protecting and upholding voting rights, equipping others to take part in the electoral process and, calling for civility and respect in the public square."
The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Evangelism and Reconciliation, will offer a TED talk on "Revolutionary Listening" at the TEDxNewYork event on Saturday, September 10. She joins a group of 20 diverse speakers recognized as some of the most interesting, innovative thinkers and leaders in New York City.
The event will be livestreamed at
www.tedxnewyork.com and runs from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Canon Spellers is scheduled to speak at 5:15-5:30 p.m. One of the only religious leaders invited to speak in the festival, she will share about the power of deep, "revolutionary" listening for healing and transforming racial injustice.
After Saturday, the talk will be available on the TED website and on YouTube.
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Around the Diocese...
New! Diocesan Youth Music Team
Musicians in grades 6-12, young adults and adults are invited to join the new Diocesan Youth Music Team, which is forming under the direction of Thew Elliott. Their first gig will be the Miqra Fall Youth Event. FMI go to www.maineyouth.org and register for Miqra or contact Jane Hartwell at jhartwell@episcopalmaine.org.
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Register for Convention now!
Free coffee for everyone!
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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
.
Click for registration and to discover more information about convention at
Nominations for Diocesan Youth Reps to Convention due
Sept. 26
:
Do you know someone who is either in high school or a young adult (up to age 20) who would like to be part of your delegation to Diocesan Convention? Eight young people will be selected to assist their congregations as Diocesan Youth Reps, with voice but not vote. The diocese will pay for their meals and fees. Click
here for the simple on-line nomination/application
form. Or go to the
Convention webpages.
For more info, contact
jhartwell@episcopalmaine.org
.
Two Pre-Convention hearings scheduled in September
Traditionally, we have held Pre-Convention meetings in each of the Areas of the diocese. These meetings are not always well-attended, and some congregations never make it because of the distance to the meetings.
This year, we will hold just
two
Pre-Convention meetings: the first at St. Mary's, Falmouth, on Thursday, September 22, from 7 - 8:30 p.m. and the second at St. Patrick's, Brewer, on Thursday, September 29, from 7 - 8:30 p.m. These meetings will be open to anyone and will be videotaped. The video will be made available online so that any delegate or delegation can view them at a convenient time and location. We hope that the video will be comprehensive and cover all the matters coming before Convention.
The election of Area representatives to Diocesan Council (lay this year) will take place at Area caucuses held at Convention. This will make it possible for every congregation to participate in the election.
ChurchNext offers online course with Parker Palmer
The course takes about 45 minutes. So far 1,600+ people from 24 countries have registered, which means the discussion and interaction should be insightful and thought-provoking as we open ourselves to live faithfully and respectfully through this divisive election cycle.
Learn more about the course in this article at
Episcopal Cafe.
Concert Across America to End Gun Violence at Congress Square Park, Portland, Sunday, September 25, noon to 3
Concerts Across America to End Gun Violence is a nationwide event that will take place in hundreds of locations around the country.
Be part of a national day of mourning on Sunday, September 25 from 12-3 in Congress Square Park in Portland, Maine to honor the victims of gun violence and their families.
All across the country, thousands will band together through music on September 25 to fight this epidemic in America.
Join us in Portland as we sing, play music, speak out, and learn what can be done to stop gun violence.
Music will be presented by the Phoenix Chorale, Pihcintu, Lyle Devinsky, Wes Covey, Rhonda Dale, and others.
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.
To learn more, here's a
post in Episcopal Church Foundation's Vital Practices blog.
Happy September, Maine congregations! New contact or revised information is most welcome
Please remember if you have updated contact information for your congregation, staff, or volunteers, please let your diocesan office know by emailing updates to Teresa Pinney at
tpinney@episcopalmaine.org. Thank you.
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Upcoming in Maine and Beyond
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.
All welcome to gather with New England deacons
The New England Deacons' Network invites all, lay and ordained, to its biennial conference,
Friday, September 30 to Saturday, October 1, 2016, at the Four Points by Sheraton Wakefield in Wakefield, Massachusetts.
"Walking Together in Hope" will focus on equipping us to go out into our communities--both rural and urban--as we build partnerships with other local stake-holders.
- Our keynote speaker is Sarah Jane Knoy, Executive Director of the Granite State Organizing Project, a coalition of religious, community and labor organizations addressing issues of affordable housing, jobs, access to healthcare, quality education, and immigrant/refugee rights in New Hampshire.
- The conference will include a panel conversation with our bishops--this year, every diocese in Province One will be represented by a bishop.
- Rounding out the program will be sessions presented by deacons in Province One that focus on current community-based ministries. There will also be information about Province One's new online continuing education opportunity.
Living Local: Joining God--October 1 Training Day
"We haven't failed... the world has changed."
Bishop Steve Lane has been saying that since he first arrived in Maine. Things are different. The world has changed, and the church is affected, and many of us are wondering what God has in mind for us.
Living Local: Joining God
is all about that question. It's a scary question, but an exciting one: it puts us in company with Abraham and Sarah, with Moses and the Israelites, with Mary and Joseph, and with people throughout history who got to be there when new things began.
Next up is a training session for people who want to help their congregations ask whether the
Living Local
journey is for them. We'll learn steps congregations can take to see if they're ready, willing, and able to try new ways of connecting with the world beyond the church walls. The session will be in the Waterville/Augusta area (specifics coming soon), from 10-3 on Saturday October 1. We'll have coffee and morning snacks; bring a lunch.
All are welcome
. If you can come with other members of your congregation that's ideal, but if it's just you, that's great as well. And if you missed the earlier session in May, it's not too late to start! Questions? Email Michael Ambler,
mambler@episcopalmaine.org
, or call him at 772.1953 ext 123.
Miqra at the Cathedral - the big diocesan fall youth event for middle and high schoolers
Miqra (pronounced "Meekra") is our big diocesan Fall Youth Event.
This event is for all middle and high schoolers (grades 6-12) and their adult chaperones.
It will be at St. Luke's Cathedral for part of the Columbus Day weekend from Saturday afternoon, October 8, to Monday morning, October 10. The leadership teens, musicians and most adults will meet on Friday, October 7. Like at all diocesan events, there'll be depth, laughter, music, activities, discussions, teen-led worship, swimming, great food, new friends and fun. We'll explore the Cathedral and you'll meet great people.The underlying theme is the Exodus story, and its epic themes as they relate to Maine middle schoolers and high schoolers and to the issues of freedom, justice, courage, wilderness, the Civil Rights movement and trust in God.The middle schoolers will have sleeping spaces and many activities separate from the high schoolers. Leaders include Kim Wallace, Fred Fowler, Jane Hartwell and the Rev. Reed Loy.
Annual Province One Faith Formation Leaders Gathering: Alternative Methods of Sunday School/Faith Formation
Join faith formation leaders from around New England on October 6 to 8 at Barbara Harris Camp in New Hampshire for informal networking, resource sharing and continuing education. Topics include Messy Church, Formation for Tiny Congregations, Online and Hybrid Formation, Living Compass, and Learning with Legos. Emily Keniston from Maine will be one of the presenters. Scholarships are available through the Wolf Fund and the Christian Ed Collaboration network.
Here's more information and registration.
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