 |
The Dio Log
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
news & events in
the Episcopal Diocese of Maine
since 1999
Volume 21, Number 6
~ March 21, 2019
|
________________________________________________________________________
|
|
Emmanuel Lutheran Episcopal Church
will celebrate what began at our 2018 Diocesan Convention as they become one church in Augusta at a Festive Eucharist service of Federation with Bishops Hazlewood and Lane on Sunday, March 30 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at Emmanuel, 209 Eastern Ave., Augusta. FMI call 207-623-9486
|
|
What's New in the Episcopal Church in Maine
|
Prayers for...
the high school youth and volunteers participating in this weekend's diocesan youth event "Called to Serve: The Way of Love" in Bangor.
all those affected by the horrific attacks on two mosques in Christ Church, New Zealand last Friday. Anglican archbishops in New Zealand, Australia and England have spoken out about the attroci. Read the full article here.
|
Reconnecting with Creation
The 5th annual retreat hosted by the Diocese of Maine will be held June 14-16. Join us for a weekend on beautiful Lake Megunticook in Hope, Maine near Camden. As human beings, we are each part of the divinely created world. In spite of our busy lives, we are connected to nature, to one another and to Christ. The annual retreat is an opportunity to explore these connections through deep conversation, scripture, worship, poetry, art and quiet reflection.
2019 Spring Training: Diocesan Workshop Day on Saturday April 27
Gather with Bishop Lane and Episcopalians from all across the diocese for a day of learning, sharing and growth. With 22 diverse workshops to choose from, you'll find what you're looking for. It will be held at South Parish Church in Augusta. Coffee begins at 8:30, workshops are at 9:30, and we'll gather together at mid-day for worship and an address by Bishop Steve. There's no charge. But
registration by Easter is required.
Here are the workshop choices for 2019:
- Year-Round Stewardship: An Exercise in Program Design
- Talking About Faith in Everyday Life
- Creative Approaches to Prayers of the People
- Let's Talk About Vaping and Youth
- Parables of Jesus
- Praying in Paint
- Taking the Mystery Out of Diocesan Convention Resolutions
- Engage in Global Mission
- Vestry Roundtable
- Community and Privilege and Diversity
- Creative Basics for Children
- World Café Discernment Session
|
- Centering Prayer: A Practice to Still the Waters Within
- Making Clergy Compensation Fair for All
- Singing Together in Community
- Creative Uses of The Way of Love in Your Church
- Finance and Administration: not Just the Church Treasurer's Job
- Congregational Transitions
- Laundry Love
- The Church and Social Media
- Christ's Hands and Feet: Social Justice as Formation for Everybody
- Creation Care
|
Exhibit space at the event is available as an opportunity to share information and materials about a ministry in your congregation or a diocesan program or network.
Reserve a display table here
.
Share Spring Training with members of your congregation! Download a
flyer or a
bulletin insert here.
We are offering an optional $8 brown bag lunch for pre-purchase this year along with drinks and South Dakotan delicacies for purchase. All proceeds will benefit the Diocesan Mission Exchange trip. (Scroll down to find more info about this trip!)
Pledge to Care for Creation
Episcopalians and friends concerned about all of God's creation are invited to join Presiding Bishop Michael Curry in pledging to take action to protect and renew God's world and all who call it home. The goal is to gather at least 1,000 pledges with concrete, personal commitments by Earth Day, April 22.
The
Pledge to Care for Creation is part of living as the Jesus Movement. It's a promise to protect and renew this good Earth and all who call it home. It's a promise to share our stories, stand with those who are most vulnerable, and live more gently on the Earth.
Read the Pledge here
Have you held your Annual Meeting?
Please remember to file your
Annual Congregational Report to
help the diocesan office keep parish records and archives current. Co
mplete the online report within 30 days following your meeting. Anyone in a leadership role at the parish may fill out the form. Clergy: please complete your
Clergy Annual Report to the Bishop for 2018 by March 31st.
If you have any questions (including "did we already do this?" and can't find the confirmation notice in your email), please avoid duplicating work! Check with Teresa at 207.772.1953 x132 or tpinney@episcopalmaine.org.
|
Diocesan Mission Exchange Trip
|
|
|
to learn more about Thunderhead Episcopal Center's camp.
|
A team of teenagers and adult chaperones from Maine will travel to the Black Hills in South Dakota July 7-14, to meet youth and young adults there engaged in living into God's vision for their local community. We will partner with staff at Thunderhead Episcopal Center's overnight camp during their 5th-6th grade session, creating and teaching fun and faith-informed games and activities for the campers. In 2020, camp staff from South Dakota will return to visit and partner with us on a project here in Maine. Teens currently in 9th-12th grade are invited to come and experience God at work between and within these two communities.
Applications still being accepted here: Application Mission Exchange 2019. Application includes an information page with details about itinerary, costs, fundraising, and more. Mail application and a $50 deposit to Episcopal Diocese of Maine Youth Events, 143 State St, Portland, ME 04101. Contact Youth Missioner, Sara D'Angio White, with any questions at 502-7742 or sdangiowhite@episcopalmaine.org.
Five Resources on Investing and Maintaining Endowments
ECF Vital Practices highlights five resources this month that can help your faith community invest in and maintain an endowment.
1. In Four Steps to Maintain and Increase Your Endowment, Jerry Keucher shares the Dos and Don'ts of how to use your church's endowment. If your church in considering establishing an endowment or wondering how an endowment might be beneficial, this is a very helpful read.
2. Ever wonder how vestry, the finance committee, and the endowment committee work together? In Church Endowments: Blessing or Curse, Ken Quigley proposes several things to consider while managing your endowment.
3. When is the last time your church issued a request for a proposal (RFP) for an investment advisor for your endowment funds? This tool will answer your many questions to get started with issuing an RFP for your endowment.
4. Do you know the laws that govern your endowment? In this webinar, Spending Rules and Investment Allocations, Ken Quigley reviews best practices and how your investment spending rule and asset allocation are intimately related and how proper policies and procedures will build trust with your donors.
5. Sometimes, the obstacle to creating an endowment is simply, "we don't have the money." In Building a Legacy, Demi Prentiss shares the story of how a smaller church, made smaller by a church split, found a way to build one.
Do you want to receive these resource-rich articles right to your email box? Sign up here to receive ECF Vital Practices to receive Vestry Papers and the monthly digest.
|
Upcoming in Maine and Beyond
Plan to participate in a Lenten Quiet Day in Maine
Silence and Slow Time ~ March 23 ~ Falmouth
The Maine Chapter of the Society of the the Companions of the Holy Cross
will host a Quiet Day this Lent.
During this Quiet Day, they will explore the mystery and beauty and fear of silence, and also have a chance to spend some intentional time in silence. Join us March 23rd at St. Mary the Virgin, Falmouth from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. All are welcome, and lunch will be provided. Download a flyer here. FMI or to RSVP contact Sarah Braik sbraik642@gmail.com or 207-415-6556.
Lenten Quiet Day ~ March 27 ~ Norway
Christ Church, Norway and St. Peter's, Bridgton, invite you to join us for a Lenten Quiet Day based on The Interior Castle by Teresa of Avila. Feel free to bring journals, prayer beads or stones, sketch book--anything that will help you settle in. Soup lunch will be provided. For more information or to RSVP, email christchurchnorway@gmail.com or 743-6782. Christ Church is located at 35 Paris Street, Norway.
Lenten Quiet Day ~ April 6 ~ Kennebunk
To his tired disciples, Jesus says, "Come away with me to a quiet place." He responds to their request, "Teach us to pray." He models humility and deep love and invites us to tdo the same. Come away with us for a quiet day in the middle of Lent as we explore ways of being in prayerful companionship with Jesus. Join us at St. David's Episcopal Church, 138 York Street, Kennebunk on April 6th from 9am to 3pm. To register, email
office@stdavidskennebunk.org or call 985-3073.
Lenten Quiet Day ~ April 6 ~ Waterville
St. Mark's Waterville invites all to join us for a Lenten Quiet Day, April 6, from 9 to Noon. We'll center on exploring the Way of Love practices of Bless, Go, Worship and Rest. The day will be a mix of prayer, discussion and individual reflection. There is no charge for this. RSVP if possible to
stmarkschurch60@gmail.com. If you wish to share lunch after the quiet day at Noon, please bring a lunch or a potluck dish to share.
Episcopal Peace Fellowship - Maine Chapter Meeting March 23
Episcopal Peace Fellowship - Maine Chapter is holding its next meeting on Saturday, March 23, at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, Thomaston. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. and concludes around 1 p.m. Members are invited to bring a simple potluck offering for lunch to be enjoyed at the end of the meeting.
On the agenda is a discussion of the BDS movement, of recent congressional legislation on gun violence prevention, news from the EPF-PIN annual meeting, and report on use of the Palestine/Israel Lenten curriculum. We welcome anyone interested in issues of peace to come join the meeting.
For further information, contact co-conveners Kathy Coughlan (
irishlass@roadrunner.com) or Diane Paterson (
dcp@gwi.net). In case of snow cancellation, an email will be sent out to listed members by 8 a.m. the morning of March 23.
Responding to Maine's Opioid Crisis: Education, Compassion & Community
Paths that Created It, Paths that Heal
The Maine addiction crisis affects us all, directly or indirectly. Working with experts from non-profits and in coordination with the Town of Falmouth, Saint Mary's invites you and the greater community to play a role in responding to this crisis. Join guest speakers: Robert Fowler, Executive Director, Milestone Recovery & John Kilbride, Falmouth Chief of Police, on Sunday, March 24th from 4-6pm at Saint Mary's Episcopal Church, Falmouth auditorium with the first of several educational presentations, where people of every age will be provided with the opportunity to learn about:
*Sources and causes of the crisis
*The physiological consequences of addiction
* Identifying signs of addiction,
*Responding to an addiction concern
*Reaching out for long term recovery assistance
* Reaching out to help those currently affected
Admission free; families encouraged; light refreshment served
Presentations will also be held: Sunday, April 28, 4-6pm & Sunday, June 9, 4-6pm
2019 BTS Center Convocation
Brave Change: Courageous Churches
The Bangor Theological Seminary Center's Convocation 2019 theme is
Brave Change: Courageous Churches being held Saturday, April 6 at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport, Maine. This event is a collaboration of the Maine Conference, United Church of Christ, the Maine Council of Churches, and The BTS Center.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
