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The Dio Log
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news & events in
the Episcopal Diocese of Maine
since 1999
Volume 21, Number 19
~ October 9, 2019
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In honor of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi last week, the Rev. Kerry Mansir of Christ Church, Gardiner offered special blessings to animal companions like Maisie (above) at the Gazebo on the Gardiner Common.
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What's New in the Episcopal Church in Maine
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Prayers for...
the family and friends of the
Rev. Carl A. Russell, Jr.
who died at his home in Cumberland Foreside last week. All are welcome to a celebration of Carl's faithful life in Christ at St. Columba's, Boothbay on Saturday, October 12th at 11am.
Read more about his life here.
the Rev. Ted Kanellakis as he recovers from a torn aorta. He was airlifted to Maine Medical Center on September 28th for emergency surgery and is on the mend.
the people of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont and their newly consecrated bishop, the Rt. Rev. Shannon MacVean-Brown
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Congratulations to...
St. Paul's, Brunswick and the Rev. Carolyn Eklund upon receiving a Lily Endowment grant to support their renewal program,
Deeping the Practice of Christian Hospitality.
Carolyn expressed the congregation's excitement, "St. Paul's sabbatical team, the parish and I are ecstatic about this and are feeling inspired." Read more here.
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The
Rev. Larry Estey
, who is one of Maine's chaplains to retired clergy (along with his wife, Ms Elizabeth Estey and the Rev. Elizabeth Miller), recently attended his 50th reunion at Union Theological Seminary.
He's pictured at right with the current dean of Episcopal Divinity School (EDS) at Union, the Rev. Cn. Kelly Brown Douglas.
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From the Bishop...
Dear Friends,
Will you join me for a pilgrimage in England after Easter in 2020?
A neighbor in Portland asked me, "so, is the Episcopal Church the same as the Church of England?" "Well, " I said, "yes and no." So I proceeded to explain the similarities and differences. She said, "Oh, so they're like the mother ship." It's probably not the way I would have put it, but you know something? It fits.
A tour through England's many cathedrals will take on a quality of vacation, and in one sense it will be a holiday. Yet in another way this will be much more than a vacation, you will return from this pilgrimage with a keen knowledge of our history, and I hope, a stronger sense of your faith in Jesus Christ.
Please prayerfully consider joining this journey designed to foster a deeper relationship
with
God by visiting and praying at holy places, connecting with old friends, and making new ones, and discovering for the first time (or once again) the depths of the English church's spirituality and history.
I will serve as our chaplain, and local guides will accompany us at the various sites. We will be blessed to pray
as a pilgrimage community along the way,
and to be a learning community, too.
All in all, we shall gain great insight as we
love the Lord and the Church.
| Download the pilgrimage brochure for the full itinerary. The brochure contains the booking form that you'll need if you wish to reserve a space on the tour. Deposits and forms should be mailed to: LightLine Pilgrimages, 1829 N Cleveland Ave., Unit B, Chicago, IL 60614. |
Faithfully in Christ,
The Right Reverend Thomas J. Brown
Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Maine
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The 200th Diocesan Convention
and
Formal Seating of the Tenth Bishop
"Dirigo: On Christ the Solid Rock"
University of Southern Maine, Portland 9:00am
Cathedral of St. Luke, Portland 3:00pm
Convention folder updates
Items making up the electronic Convention Folder (
Nominations, Budget, etc.)
are posted at episcopalmaine/convention/maine2019. Please visit the website to view or print the most updated files.
Please note
: the resolutions document will not be posted
until the
Resolutions Committee has completed language
revisions.
Registration closes October 11th
Registration prior to convention is required for all clergy, delegates and guests planning to attend. Please complete this form:
Registration
If you have any questions, please contact Teresa at
[email protected]
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The Seating of the Tenth Bishop of Maine
On
Saturday, October 26th at 3:00pm as part of the 200th Convention of the Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Thomas James Brown, will be formally welcomed at the Cathedral of Saint Luke in Portland and seated in the cathedra, or bishop's chair, that is symbolic of the bishop's office. Bishop Brown will deliver his convention address during the liturgy.
All are welcome to attend the service and you can be involved in other ways:
Parish Banners: Between 7:30 and 8:30am on Sat. Oct. 26. Someone will meet you at the Tower Doors adjacent to the circle in front of the church so there's no need to park. Questions? Please email Lisle Blind.
Singers: Anyone who wishes to join the choir, should sign up here: http://bit.ly/choir-stlukes. Rehearsal will be on Sat. Oct. 26 at 1:30pm in the Nave. Please bring your vestments or robes. If you have questions, please be in touch with Albert Melton, Cathedral Musician at (207) 772-5434.
Acolytes: Acolytes can sign up here: http://bit.ly/acolytes-stlukes. Please reach out to David Savage at (207) 232-0650 with questions.
Greeters: Want to help greet guests at the service? Please sign up here: http://bit.ly/greet-stlukes. Greeters should meet in the front circle of the Cathedral at 2pm on Oct. 26 and bring a nametag from church. Contact George Cooper or (207) 233-5480 with any questions.
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Diocesan Electronic Communications Alert
Spoofing emails from Bishop Brown and other diocesan clergy and leaders have been circulating. Many of these are emails asking the recipient to be quickly in touch or asking for gift cards. If you look closely at the sender's address, it will not read as the correct one. For example, you'll see an email from the bishop reads "parishpastor0003 (at) gmail (dot) com". Please know that no one in the diocesan office would contact you by email asking for help. The best action is no action. Do not open, click or respond. Simply mark them as 'spam' and hit the delete button. To learn more about spoofing and phishing, and how they are different, please follow this
link
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Miqra: Standing on the Rock Nov. 1-3
Miqra is Hebrew for "the public proclamation of Scripture." Individuals and congregations from across the diocese are invited to join together to corporately read through the entire Bible the weekend of November 1-3. Register to read by yourself for 20-30 minutes, read with a group (parish, Bible study, family, friends, etc) or come to the Cathedral to read in support of youth there.
6th-12th grade youth are invited to Miqra: Standing on the Rock, November 1-3 at the Cathedral in Portland. They will gather to build friendships, play and pray alongside other teens, and crack open their faith. Registration is $48 or $20 with financial aid. 100% financial aid is also available.
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Diocese of Maine Migration Ministries
How is your congregation responding?
Faith communities all across the state have stepped up to assist resettling hundreds of new asylum seekers. We've heard of many Episcopal churches who have welcomed these new Mainers in various ways.
If you are part of an effort in your church who has responded with love to our new neighbors, we would like to know what you have done or are doing. This includes knowing about your current work with all immigrants, refugees, and asylum-seeking neighbors.
Please reach out to
John Hennessy
and share your story.
Our colleagues at
Episcopal Migration Ministries have developed a comprehensive toolkit for congregations who are supporting asylum seekers.
Download the Partners in Welcome toolkit
here
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Creation Care grants available for local eco-ministry efforts
The Episcopal Church's Task Force on Creation Care and Environmental Racism seeks to support and expand the Church's loving, liberating, life-giving relationship with God, with each other and with Creation. At General Convention in 2018, the convening body allocated funds to this Task Force to support local and regional eco-ministry efforts.
There are two different levels for grant funding: Seed Funding ($1,000 to $10,000) and Impact Funding (up to $25,000). For more information about the grants click
here. T
he deadline for applications is November 3, 2019.
Questions about potential projects can be answered during the informational webinar that will be held on October 14, 2019 at 8pm. More information about how to join that webinar will be posted soon at
episcopalchurch.org/creation-care/grants.
Questions? Contact Advisory Council chair: Stephanie Johnson,
[email protected]
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Upcoming in Maine and Beyond
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"We Must Do M.O.R.E. National Tour" stops in Maine Oct. 10
Join the Poor People's Campaign in Portland on Thursday, Oct. 10th. The Episcopal Church has joined a national call for moral revival to stand with those who are poor and have been cast to the margins, and do God's work in the public square. March begins from Lincoln Park (350 Congress Street) at 5:45pm followed by a rally at 7:00pm at First Parish UU Church (425 Congress Street). FMI visit
bit.ly/MaineMORE.
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Learn about the "Faith Behind Bars and Beyond" network online Oct. 17
Join others in Province I for an online discussion on October 17 at 7pm with Deacon Ellen Adams who is involved with New Life Ministry of SECT (a re-entry program for women leaving prison), St. Francis House (a center for peace and justice) and St. James Episcopal Church, New London, CT.
Ellen will tell us about Faith Behind Bars and Beyond, an Episcopal Church of Connecticut network engaged in all aspects of the criminal justice system. Ellen and other steering committee members will tell us how the network grew since 2005 to a vital means of support for those who are and have been incarcerated as well as their families.
Learn more and register here
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Films on climate change showing in Portland churches Oct. 13 and Oct. 20
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Chili Supper at Saint Mary's, Falmouth Oct. 18
Saint Mary's invites the entire community to a complimentary "Celebrating Partnerships in Recovery" chili supper on Friday, October 18 from 5 to 7pm. They ask everyone to join in this opportunity to nuture relationships old and new in support of recovery for substance use disorders. FMI contact the parish office at
[email protected] or (207) 781-3366.
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New biographical film about Frances Perkins premiere screening Oct. 24
A reception and screening of "Summoned: Frances Perkins and the General Welfare" a new biographical film to be broadcast by PBS in March 2020 will take place on Thursday, October 24th in Portland. Reception will be at 5:30pm and screening at 7pm at Hannaford Hall, 88 Bedford Street, University of Southern Maine. The Frances Perkins Center is offering this event free of charge, but please pre-register at
http://francesperkinscenter.org/events/.
Download an invitational
flyer
here. Glimpse a preview here.
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Trinity Butterfield Series: Partners for World Health Oct. 30
Trinity Episcopal Church, 580 Forest Avenue in Portland, presents their ninth program in the Butterfield Series on Wednesday, October 30 at 630pm. This year, they welcome Elizabeth McLellan who founded the unique organization, Partners for World Health. A reception will follow her talk.
Trinity offers the Butterfield Series
in memory of Lou Butterfield, a Trinity parishioner, Senior Warden, husband, and father of two young girls. Lou was a Portland lawyer who died suddenly at age 47.
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"Stand Sunday" for children in foster care Nov. 10
Stand Sunday
is a nationwide effort to stand up for all of the children in foster care. Join fellow churches across the state of Maine in standing up for children in need of a safe and loving home. In Maine and across the US the number of children entering foster care far exceeds the number of available foster homes. Many of these children do not have the care and love they so desperately need. Together, with your congregation's support and a united purpose we believe we can help all of our children know the safety of a home.
We are asking that churches agree to display two portraits of children who are waiting for adoption, along with an informational table. A Stand Sunday observance can take on many other expressions. Here are a few ideas for those wanting to do more:
* Display our digital presentation about foster care and adoption
* Plan a foster care related sermon
* Prayer gatherings for a child waiting for adoption
* Invite a former foster youth to speak
* Invite a foster/adoptive parent to speak
* Kickoff or relaunch a foster care ministry
Contact us to register and let us know which ideas you would like to see at your church and we will help with the rest!
[email protected]
or (207) 922-2583
ONE DAY. ONE VOICE. ONE PURPOSE.
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Rooted in Jesus in Atlanta Jan. 21-24
It's time for the Episcopal Church to come together as disciples of Jesus and take a bold new step into the next decade. Spend four days together this January in Atlanta, Georgia talking about discipleship, leadership, evangelism, formation, preaching, and how to be the Body of Christ.
Tracks reflecting the various aspects of discipleship will be offered: formation, mission, stewardship, evangelism, preaching, leadership, and communications, or you can chart your own course from our long list of workshops, panels, and plenaries. For more information, please visit:
rootedinjesus.church. Group discounts available!
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