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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 16 ~ August 11, 2017
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Congratulations and blessings to the people of St. John Baptist, Thomaston, as they celebrate 150 years of worship and service to their community, and to the Rev. Peter Jenks as he marks 25 years as their rector this month.
Click
here for a news story about last Sunday's celebration.
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What's New in the Episcopal Church in Maine
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Prayers for...
Catherine Amy Kropp on her ordination to the transitional diaconate on Wednesday, August 16, at 5 p.m. at Trinity Church at 150 Perkins Street in Castine. Reception to follow; clergy, white or festive stoles.
the Rev. Jane Chatfield, deacon at St. Peter's, Rockland, upon the death of her husband, John Chatfield, on Sunday, August 6. A funeral will be held at St. Peter's on Saturday, August 12, at 11 a.m.
Welcome, farewell and congratulations...
Welcome to
the Rev. Kerry Mansir as she joins the people of Christ Church, Gardiner, as their new assistant priest and clergy intern.
Farewell to
the Rev. Ian Bockus, as he completes this Sunday his time as a member of the rota of priests serving at Trinity, Castine. And congratulations to Ian as he celebrates the 60th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood.
Voices among us...
Read
Bishop Steve Lane's sermon on the Feast of the Transfiguration preached at Holy Trinity Chapel, Peaks Island, last Sunday.
"[T]his power is not simply to be admired and worshiped. It is to be used for the benefit of others. And here, I think, is the sticking point for the disciples and for us. The disciples believed that closeness to such power should benefit them, should give them some exceptional place and status, should lift them up. They wanted to sit at the right hand of power, to be the viziers of omnipotence.
But Jesus would have none of it."
Follow along with
Averyl Hill, a member of Saint Mary's, Falmouth, as she writes about her visits to many of Maine's
s
ummer chapels.
The
Journal Tribune features
Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center in Biddeford, one of the three Jubilee Ministry sites in the Diocese of Maine, in a profile titled, "Seeds of Hope compassionate about service community."
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Around the Diocese...
Summer in Maine!
Worship on the Waterfront in Brewer
Members of
St. Patrick's, Brewer; St. John's, Bangor; and the UCC churches in Dedham and Holden gathered on the shores of the Penobscot River for their 15th annual outdoor summer service and celebration on July 23.
Thanks to Michael Gleason for sharing photos.
Episcopal congregations on Mount Desert Island celebrated 150 years of Episcopal worship and presence on the island at the Bar Harbor village green on July 23.
Local clergy led a re-enactment a service of Evening Prayer drawn from the 1798 Book of Common Prayer, which would have been current at the time of Bishop Henry Adams Neely's visit in July 1867. Thanks to Lee Garrett for the photos.
House of Deputies Committee on the State of the Church requests information about local social justice ministries
From the Committee: "President Gay Jennings asked the House of Deputies Committee on the State of the Church to examine ways in which our dioceses and congregations are involved in justice issues. Our focus is on General Convention resolutions that have spurred action at diocesan and local levels. The committee defines justice as: contesting against structures that produce structural inequities and barriers as we advocate for structures and systems that increase equity and access. We hope to learn about local responses to resolutions that addressed such issues as economic justice, labor relations, fair wages, racism, poverty alleviation, food security, hunger, faith-based organizing, and asset-based community development. We are asking about all areas of community assistance. However, although we recognize that food pantries and feeding programs constitute faithful and essential responses to the Gospel, they are not the transformational, justice-focused programs we are attempting to identify."
The survey is open through August 18 and may be found here.
Which church membership program do you use?
Staff members at St. Alban's, Cape Elizabeth, have developed a brief survey to learn more about church membership programs and how they are used across the Diocese. They will share the results in an upcoming edition of The Dio Log.
They write, "St. Alban's is currently using Church Helpmate to manage our membership data and to track pledges and contributions. Church Helpmate has merged with the ACS Technologies program, Realm. Technical support for Church Helpmate will be ending soon. We are exploring other options and are interested to learn what software you are using and how it is working. Here's a link to a brief questionnaire. We are hoping that one representative from each church will respond. Thank you so much for taking the time to complete the questionnaire."
You may find the survey
here.
Creation grants deadline approaches
The Episcopal Church Advisory Council for the Stewardship of Creation is accepting applications for grants that focus on local faith-based projects for mitigating climate change and safeguarding the integrity of Creation. The deadline is August 20.
This marks the next cycle of grantmaking by the Episcopal Church Advisory Council for the Stewardship of Creation, enabled by
Resolution A030, Create Task Force On Climate Change,approved at General Convention 2015 and charged with the responsibility to develop a grant process to support local ecologically responsible stewardship of church-related properties and buildings.
Recommendations will be made for grants up to $10,000.
Further information regarding this grant process and how to submit an application is available
here
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Vital Practices summer issue focuses on small and rural church ministry
This summer the Episcopal Church Foundation's online newsletter for churches, Vital Practices, features resources for small and rural churches.
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Upcoming in Maine and Beyond
Workshop Day about Children's Christian Formation - August 14
Everyone interested in Christian formation for children and teens is invited to be together on Monday, August 14 for Connect the Dots - a day of learning, conversation and connections.
The day will start with coffee at 9:30, and the program will be 10:00 - 3:00 at St. Paul's, Brunswick. Bring your lunch and one thing to share with the group. It could be a lesson, a story, a brochure, a song a practice for including young people in liturgy, a parent communication strategy, etc. Let's learn form one another!
For more information, contact Emily Keniston or Jane Hartwell. RSVP to
[email protected]
Register now! "Faith-Rooted Organizing with Alexia Salvatierra," September 15-16, is filling fast
The Maine Episcopal Network for Justice, in partnership with The Episcopal Church's Office of Social Justice and the Diocese of New Hampshire, will host a workshop with the Rev. Alexia Salvatierra at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center on Friday, September 15 and Saturday, September 16.
A registration fee of $75 will cover the program, materials, one night lodging (double), and three meals. A registration fee of $50 is open to commuters.
Register today. The first 25 people to register will receive a free copy of the book.
Registration for the 198th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Maine is now open
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
- Early Registration Fee through October 2nd: $30.00
- Regular Registration Fee through October 11th: $35.00
Also, check here for online submission forms for
nominations to diocesan office (and a list of open offices) and
resolutions to be considered by Convention. The deadline for both nominations and resolutions is Friday, September 8.
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