 |
The Dio Log
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
news & events in
the Episcopal Diocese of Maine
since 1999
Volume 20, Number 11
~ June 8
, 2018
|
________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
Celebrating Youth/Family Sunday at St. John's, Bangor, with a bouncy house, lemonade, and an ice cream truck.
and at St. Michael's, Auburn, with lots of music and a neighborhood picnic.
Check out the St. John's photos here and St. Michael's video here
.
|
|
What's New in the Episcopal Church in Maine
|
|
Prayers for...
members of the Discernment Committee as they meet tomorrow to review candidates for the next Bis
hop of Maine. Here's an update from the Rev. John Balicki
of St. Mark's, Waterville. Please keep all the candidates in your prayers as well as they engage in discernment.
The Diocesan Discernment Committee has closed the process of submitting nominations and applications. We received dozens of nominations, and they produced more applications than we anticipated. There was a high interest in being the Tenth Bishop of Maine from around the Episcopal Church. The Discernment Committee now moves towards a busy summer of reviewing applications and interviewing applicants.
Please continue to keep the Discernment Committee in your prayers,
The Rev. John Balicki,
Chair
Congratulations to...
The Rev. Shirley Bowen, Executive Director of
Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center, our Jubilee Center in Biddeford, upon being named a member of the Leadership Maine Class of 2018-19. Leadership Maine is a program of the Maine Development Foundation.
Also, to Seeds of Hope, as the ministry
celebrates its tenth year. Here's a great profile of the center in the
Journal Tribune.
the
Ven. Joseph Kerwin Delicat,
dean of Holly Trinity Cathedral in Port au Prince, Haiti, who was elected bishop coadjutor of our companion diocese during the electoral convention of June 2. He will be consecrated in January 2019.
voices among us
Check out what's going on at
St. Elizabeth's Jubilee Center, including a wish list for needed items and news from volunteers and neighbors, in the
summer edition of its newsletter.
|
|
|
|
The sun is finally out! #TBtG And the Diocese is now on Instagram!
Follow us @episcopal_maine
|
|
On Instagram? Follow the Diocese of Maine's newest social media adventure.
It will be a great way to keep up with the
Mainers in Austin as they represent our diocese at the 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Austin beginning July 5.
We'll follow you back!
In the news...
The recent departure of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland from the Maine Council of Churches has received a good deal of press.
Bishop Steve Lane has met with Bishop Deeley, and they remain committed to working together on issues of common concern, particularly on issues of poverty, hunger, human trafficking, and budget issues.
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry joins other faith leaders and denominational heads to speak out on separating families at our borders
"We affirm the family as a foundational societal structure to support human community and understand the household as an estate blessed by God. The security of the family provides critical mental, physical and emotional support to the development and wellbeing of children...
Tearing children away from parents who have made a dangerous journey to provide a safe and sufficient life for them is unnecessarily cruel and detrimental to the well-being of parents and children."
|
|
Around the Diocese...
Looking toward Diocesan Convention in the fall without disrespecting summer
The Call to Convention, our 199th Annual, was recently shared with each congregation in the Diocese. The Certificate of Delegates to Diocesan Convention is due on June 30 and may be found here.
Nominations for diocesan office and resolutions to be considered by Convention must be submitted by September 7. (Watch this space for links to forms.)
Lay members to Diocesan Council from each of the eight areas will be elected to two-year terms by area caucuses at Convention. Information about serving on Council and the nomination form is available here.
That's all for now.
Speaking of summer...
|
|
|
Emmanuel Chapel under the bubble in late March.
Photo by Barbara Martin from the Top of the East. |
|
A couple of updates about the diocesan office in Portland.
If you've visited Loring House or St. Luke's Cathedral lately, you'll have noticed that the Emmanuel Chapel rehabilitation project is well underway. It turns out
the front entrance to Loring House also needs attention and, for everyone's safety, it
will be closed for about two weeks starting on June 8.
During this period, please enter Loring House through the back (Bishop's Garden) door by way of the path from the parking circle. Turn to your left toward the red door and ring the bell. Please note: Teresa is usually on the second floor, so it might take a minute for her (or someone else) to run down and unlock the door.
If you need assistance at the door, please call Teresa at 772-1953 x132 or Barb's cell 207-650-6070.
Info about parking: there is no parking available in the Cathedral parking lot off Park Street or in the parking spots immediately in front of Loring Horse.
There is
very limited
parking in the Cathedral circle. Please use metered parking on State Street (we have an abundant supply of quarters to share), or use one of the nearby parking garages.
Also, beginning on July 6 and running through August 31,
Loring House will close on Fridays at noon, as it has done - in the words Bishop Fred Wolf who started the practice in the early 1970s - since God was a toddler.
New this summer: Because your diocesan staff is a good deal smaller than it once was, we often find that on summer Mondays and Fridays - because of vacations, clergy days off, and staff members out of the office for meetings or consultations - there is often only one person in the building. Therefore, this summer
Bishop Lane and other members of the staff will schedule appointments and meetings at Loring House on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only.
In other words, for the safety of any diocesan employee who may be alone in the building on Mondays and the Friday half-day, if you turn up unexpected and ring the doorbell, we won't answer it. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, we will, as usual, welcome visitors with the hospitality to which you've become accustomed.
Thanks for understanding.
Zoom for all: offering free, online meetings for all groups and congregations
|
|
|
The Maine General Convention deputation meets in Portland with members joining by Zoom from York Harbor and Brewer
|
If you've been involved in any diocesan group over the past few years, you know that the online meeting platform, Zoom, is easy to use. A few congregations and diocesan groups avail themselves of the diocesan account: to allow for virtual face-to-face gatherings of committees to keep people from having to drive hours for a short meeting or to allow a Vestry member to join a meeting while out of state.
It is so easy to use and the demand is such that we have created an additional Zoom account for all congregations, program groups, and committees of the Diocese of Maine to use at no-cost.
Anyone who, on behalf of their congregation, committee, or program group, would like the log-in information, a one-page how-to guide, and a personalized test meeting to take advantage of this excellent communication tool, please be in touch with Heidi Shott at [email protected].
The Bicentennial Committee begins its work
|
|
|
| Clockwise from top, Rachel Zoller, chair; Jim Begley, St. Columba's, Boothbay Harbor; Billie Ellis, Christ Church, Gardiner; Peter Jenks, St. John Baptist, Thomaston; Chris Glass, St. Thomas, Camden; Margaret Reimer, St. Peter's, Bridgton; Elizabeth Estey, St. Brendan's, Deer Isle; Yet to arrive when the photo was taken: Bob Publicover, St. Francis, Blue Hill; Ginny Urbanek, Good Shepherd, Houlton. |
|
In the spring of 1820, a few months after the creation of the State of Maine, the Episcopal Diocese of Maine parted company with the Diocese of Massachusetts and began to chart its own course as the Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement. Crazily enough, that was almost 200 years ago!
Earlier this year, Bishop Steve Lane created a Bicentennial Committee to begin to plan how we will mark this important milestone in our diocesan life.
Rachel Zoller, a member of St. Andrew's, Newcastle, has agreed to chair the committee which had its first meeting at the end of May. Its
members bring a great variety of gifts and ideas to the table. The May meeting generated no end of creative ideas to spread the celebration far and wide.
The celebration will kick off at the 200th Annual Convention in October 2019 and continue through Convention 2020. A big celebration - with, it is hoped, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry in attendance - will be held in the spring of 2020.
Stay-tuned for more. Lots more.
Applications for the 2019 diocesan budget are now online
The Finance Committee has posted information and application forms for two processes open to congregations and diocesan groups for funding.
Strategic Mission Support (SMS) is open to all congregations. The criteria, application materials, and instructions are available
here. Questions? Contact SMS Subcommittee Chair Lael Sorensen at
[email protected].
Funding for diocesan programs and committees from the diocesan budget is also available. The criteria, application form, and instructions are available
here. Questions? Contact Mission Priorities Subcommittee Chair Paul Beaudette at
[email protected].
The deadline for applications for both processes is June 30.
|
Upcoming in Maine and Beyond
Prayer service for the opiate crisis in Portland
The Portland Interfaith Clergy Association and its partners are hosting an opportunity for people in Maine to come together to pray and consider a response to the opioid crisis in Maine.
All are invited to St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Avenue, on Monday, June 11, at 7 p.m. Dan Mahoney will speak about the crisis in Maine. Click here for a
flyer.
It's not too late to sign-up for the Adult Retreat at Camp Bishopwood
Where Do You Find God?,
a diocesan retreat - June 15-17
Join us for a weekend on beautiful Lake Megunticook, at Bishopswood near Camden, Maine.
This year, we'll use Celtic and Ignatian resources to help us connect with Christ in nature, scripture, community, and the depths of our hearts. We'll also enjoy delicious home-cooked meals, the out-of-doors, campfires and the lake. Leaders will be Merle Marie Troeger, the Rev. John Rafter, and Jane Hartwell.
Check out the details, see what people are saying about past retreats, and register on the webpage.
July is Celtic month at St. Andrew's, Newcastle
During the month of July, St. Andrew's, Newcastle, will host a series of special service and events exploring Celtic Chris
tianity.
Sunday liturgies will draw from our sister church, the Scottish Episcopal Churc
h and from the Northumbria Community, with readings taken from the Gaelic oral tradition. We will lead a walking pilgrimage, have talks and movies to discover Celtic faith and history, oh and there will be music! Yes, lots of Celtic music!
Summer Finale Camp for all ages at Bishopswood in August
The Episcopal Diocese of Maine and Camp Bishopswood invite you to join us for Summer Finale Camp, August 20-26.
Families, couples, and individuals will share a week - or half-week - of typical camp activities - swimming, boating, running around in the woods - while at the same time deepening their spiritual lives. U
nplug, relax, grow, play and enjoy life in God's creation.
We hope you will join us this summer!
Youth Cabins at Summer Finale Week, August 20-26
It's almost summer, which means it's time to register for the Youth Cabins at Summer Finale Week.
Youth completing 6th-12th grade are invited to join youth from around Maine at Camp Bishopswood for a week of friends, fun and faith. We'll have dedicated, staffed youth cabins during Summer Finale Week, which runs from
August 20-26.
NEW: We are now offering $50 scholarships to all new campers, and have other scholarship money available to families who need it.
We can't wait to toast marshmallows, play in the gaga pit, worship in the great outdoors, and just generally have a great time at camp!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
