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The Dio Log
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news and events in
the Episcopal Diocese of Maine
since 1999
Volume 19, Number 2 ~ January 20, 2017
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St. John's, Bangor, hosted A Service of Light on Sunday, January 16, to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Community members joined St. John's choir, the Bangor Area Children's Choir, and members of the Destiny Worship Center in the celebration. Thanks to Michael Gleason of St. Patrick's, Brewer, for the photo.
Read Bishop Lane's sermon, "Sharing in God's Dream," on his blog, Round Maine. |
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What's New in the Episcopal Church in Maine
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prayers for...
Our nation and our leaders
On this Inauguration Day...
O Lord our Governor, bless the leaders of our land, that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth. Lord, keep this nation under your care.
To the President and members of the Cabinet, to Governors of States, Mayors of Cities, and to all in administrative authority, grant wisdom and grace in the exercise of their duties.
Give grace to your servants, O Lord
To Senators and Representatives, and those who make our laws in States, Cities, and Towns, give courage, wisdom, and foresight to provide for the needs of all our people, and to fulfill our obligations in the community of nations. Give grace to your servants, O Lord.
To the Judges and officers of our Courts give understanding and integrity, that human rights may be safeguarded and justice served. Give grace to your servants, O Lord.
And finally, teach our people to rely on your strength and to accept their responsibilities to their fellow citizens, that they may elect trustworthy leaders and make wise decisions for the well-being of our society; that we may serve you faithfully in our generation and honor your holy Name. For yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Amen.
the Rev. John Allison, as he prepares for the ordination to the priesthood on Thursday, February 2, at 4 p.m., at St. Mary's Chapel at St. Mary and St. Jude, Northeast Harbor. Clergy are invited to vest, white or festive stoles.
in the news
Read Maine Episcopal Network for Justice Director
John Hennessy's column,
"Creating a Moral Movement," in the January issue of the MENJ newsletter.
Sign up for the monthly newsletter to receive additional urgent action updates during the Legislative session.
Check out this moving feature in the
Bangor Daily News of the first refugee family to be settled in a small Maine town with a video interview with
the Rev. Peter Jenks of St. John Baptist in Thomaston.
Want to learn what you can do to support and advocate for refugees and other new Mainers? Sit in on
the Immigration Advocacy Webinar offered by the Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations on Thursday, January 26, at 3 p.m. Register
here. Even if you can't participate but would like to have access to the resources and materials offered by presenters, you are encouraged to register.
voices among us...
In this
letter to the editor in the Portland Press Herald,
the Rev. Richard Rasner, deacon at St. Luke's Cathedral, and other Portland-area clergy support Muslim neighbors whose business was recently vandalized.
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Around the Diocese...
Introducing Faith Formation Connect
Beginning January 29, Emily Keniston will lead an online learning community for faith formation sponsored by
the Maine Episcopal Christian Ed Collaboration and Province One.
The goal is to support Christian ed directors in all Episcopal churches in Maine. The first on-line discussion is open to all - come and find out more. After January's meeting, the group will be closed to allow a more intimate community to develop. Monthly meetings will be held on the last Sunday of the month at 1 p.m., and resources and questions will also be shared in a new members-only Facebook group. Register here to participate.
Church Insurance, Inc. to end its safety inspection program
Church Insurance's congregation facility safety inspection program will end on June 1. If any congregation would like to have a safety inspection conducted by Hugh Savage, our Diocesan Facilities Consultant, please be in touch with Hugh at husavage64@gmail.com. He will schedule inspections beginning in mid-March through the end of May.
Email updates greatly appreciated
The old saying, "You don't know what you don't know," is especially true when it comes to changes in email addresses by churches, clergy, and lay leaders. As the new year kicks off, please be in touch with Teresa Pinney, who maintains the diocesan database, with any email updates. She may be reached at
tpinney@episocpalmaine.org. Much thanks.
Episcopal Relief & Development Lenten tookkit and meditation booklet available online
Other featured resources include hope chests, pew envelopes, bulletin inserts, and special prayers.
"Lent can be a time of lone introspection, but there is also tremendous power in joining together in community to examine our lives and consider what we can do to become reconciled to God, to one another and to Creation," said Sean McConnell, Senior Director of Engagement for Episcopal Relief & Development. "Under the theme of 'Together We Can...', this year's Lenten Meditations explores how strong relationships and strong communities enable people of faith to share God's love with each other and with the world around us."
Check out ER&D's Lenten resources here.
Grant funding available for your church's new or expanded ministry
At its meeting on December 2 and 3, Diocesan Council issued a call for the first round of New Initiative Fund grants in 2017.
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.
All applications must be submitted to the online form by the end of business on Friday, February 17. Council will review applications at its March 4 meeting. Download this
application worksheet Word doc to use as a working copy of your application. Then cut and paste your responses at
www.surveymonkey.com/r/2017NIF-Round1.
2017 UTO grant applications now accepted
The focus for the 2017 United Thank Offering grants is The Jesus Movement - evangelism, reconciliation, and following Jesus' way of creating loving, liberating, and life-giving relationships with God, each other, and all creation.
Applications must be submitted to Heidi Shott at hshott@episcopalmaine.org by February 17, 2016. Each diocese may submit only one grant application, so all applications must be reviewed by the diocesan UTO screening group. One grant will be recommended by Bishop Lane.
Please be in touch with Heidi or the Diocesan UTO Coordinator Sherri Dietrich at ssdietrich@gmail.com if you have any questions about the application process.
UTO ingathering resources may be found here.
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Upcoming in Maine and Beyond
Mid-Winter Music Workshop - Soul Tending on January 28
Everyone who leads or loves music is invited to the diocesan music workshop on Saturday, January 28. We'll share the joy we all know as we sing, and we'll experiment with new songs. We'll also explore the question of how we keep our souls in love with music-making. We'll have time for conversation and collective sharing of best practices for rehearsals, communication, collaboration, etc. Workshop leader Thew Elliott says, "I hope we'll leave this time together feeling buoyed, affirmed and more connected to each other as resources."
The workshop will be in Augusta at Prince of Peace/The Church at 209. Program begins at 10 a.m. and ends by 3 p.m. Coffee starts at 9:30. Bring your own lunch. (Snow date is the following Saturday.) The workshop is free, but please register by Wednesday, January 25, so we can make appropriate plans for supplies and space.
EPF to meet in Thomaston on February 4 - all are welcome
The Maine Chapter of Episcopal Peace Fellowship is holding its winter meeting on
Saturday, February 4
, at St. John Baptist, Thomaston. We will gather at
10 a.m.
and meet through a simple potluck lunch until about
1 p.m.
On the agenda will be the November 2016 pilgrimage to Israel/Palestine and ways to share the members' experiences. A subcommittee of EPF is also working on addressing gun violence. The door is open to anyone interested in attending. Snow cancellation will be announced via email.
Winter Middle School Event - March 10-12
Leadership and Music - February 3-4
Diocesan Winter Middle School Event is a great time for your kids in grades 6-8 to be part of something bigger. There'll be discussions, games, swimming, music, activities, youth-led worship, new friends and fun. We'll explore the stories Jesus told and how they relate to the lives of Maine middle schoolers. Fred Fowler and Jane Hartwell are heading the leadership team of adults and kids and the priest is Sara Gavit of St. Anne's in Calais. It's located at St. Paul's Church in Brunswick. For more info, contact Fred Fowler at
mainebeachpf@myfairpoint.net or Jane Hartwell at
jhartwell@episcopalmaine.org.
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