The Dio Log
News & Events in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine since 1999
Volume 22, Number 15
August 6, 2020
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Let us pray for the Rev. Jean Cavanaugh's new ministry among us. Jean (pictured above with Bishop Brown) was ordained to the Diaconate on August 1 outdoors at St. David's, Kennebunk.
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We offer prayers of celebration and blessing for the eight high school graduates of Maine Episcopal Youth who were sent off by peers and volunteers with prayer shawls donated by parishes. Thanks to St. Paul's, Brunswick, St. Patrick's, Brewer, St. David's, Kennebunk, Sts. Mary and Jude, Northeast Harbor, Grace Church, Bath and St. Mark's, Moscow, PA for the beautiful shawls. They were presented at Compline, at which Bishop Brown prayed that they might, "walk into the darkness of the future with faith, hope, and a great love guided by your light; so that they may use their talents to go forth and set the world on fire."
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Please pray for all of those affected by Tropical Storm Isaias. |
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Join us in praying for the safe operation of our church ministries and their volunteers. May our thrift stores and food pantries continue to bless our communities and share the good news of Jesus Christ through their powerful local outreach. New to You (sign pictured right) is a thrift store operated by Christ Church, Eastport.
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Let us offer prayers of congratulations and thanksgiving for Irene Berry of St. Luke's, Wilton who received the 2020 Salt and Light Award from the Farmington Area Ecumenical Ministry for her 40 years of work organizing Easter sunrise services in Franklin County. Read about her dedication here in the Daily Bulldog.
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We pray for the people of Beirut and for rescue and healthcare workers as they deal with the aftermath and loss of the devasting port explosion. |
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The Rev. Katie Holicky of Arise Portland, a project working to connect seekers and skeptics for meaning-making, spiritual grounding, and healing, offers a reflection in their weekly newsletter asking, "How might you stay open to the expected and unexpected places that may foster your growth?" Read more here. Katie also serves as the Assistant Rector for Families and Youth at St. Paul's, Brunswick.
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Many in the diocese and around the world have been drawn to the great hymn Lift Every Voice and Sing composed by John Rosamund Johnson with lyrics by James Weldon Johnson as awareness of racial injustice rises. The Rev. Dr. Roy Partridge, a member of St. Nicholas', Scarborough and professor of sociology at Bowdoin read the third verse of the lyrics to open a recent Town Hall. Joel Pierce, Director of Choir and Organ Music at St. Alban's, Cape Elizabeth, discusses the song's wide use in his reflection in A Daily Cup. You can listen to Kristen Burkholder of St. Margaret's, Belfast offering a version of Lift Every Voice and Sing in the video posted here.
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The new Diocesan Justice Commission reports that last month's diocesan survey on faith and race results reveal great hope among us. They will be developing an action plan using the data for the diocesan role in addressing issues of social justice, helping our congregants respond to racial justice issues, and organizing prayer efforts for our state and nation. Thank you to those who participated! Read more about the results of the survey here.
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Opening Ceremonies for Oranbega Retreat Center will take place on August 21, 2020. Retreat Director at Oranbega and Maine Episcopal priest, the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Reece invites you to both the small in-person bring-your-own picnic and poetry reading in the afternoon in Orland or the larger gathering by Zoom in the evening for a National Poets' Day Festival. Former Poet Laureate of Maine, Wesley McNair, will be featured at the online festival taking place from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Register here by email to receive the Zoom invitation.
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A photo of the Rev. Dave Dalzell from Trinity, Saco's outdoor worship on Sunday, August 2 was featured in the Portland Press Herald here. See more photographs from photographer Carl D. Walsh here in this Facebook post.
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On July 19, Helene de Boissiere-Swanson, founder of Katrina's Dream, started her third pilgrimage, "Congress - Remove the Deadline of the E.R.A.". She left from New York, heading to St. Saviour’s, Bar Harbor where her mother-in-law, the Rev. Katrina Swanson, one of the “Philadelphia Eleven“, celebrated the Liturgy in Thanksgiving for the Ordination of Women. Swanson is prayerfully petitioning Congress to remove the deadline on the Equal Rights Amendment. Her pilgrimage ends on August 26 in Bar Harbor.
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New diocese-wide Sacred Ground group forming |
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Sacred Ground is a film- and readings-based dialogue program of The Episcopal Church centering on race and grounded in faith. Small groups are invited to walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity.
The program is slated to begin on September 16th (2:00 to 4:00 pm) and will run every three weeks up to 10 sessions. Are you interested in receiving registration information? Please email if this program calls to you.
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Hunger Initiative continues partnering with USDA |
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Today, the Diocesan Hunger Initiative is distributing free food to residents of Cumberland County from 2:00 to 6:00 pm (or while supplies last) at the Fitzpatrick Stadium Deering Avenue entrance. View details here.
Help us continue to find ways to help our struggling neighbors. If you are able, we ask you to please consider a financial contribution.
The next USDA food distribution will take place the week of August 17th. Stay tuned for date and location. Questions about the program and how you can help? Please be in touch with John Hennessy.
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"Seeking the Gift of Hope" podcast series concludes with episode eight |
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"Seeking the Gift of Hope", the eight-part Faith in Maine podcast series featuring audio essays by the Rev. Martin L. Smith, concludes this week. Check out episode 8 here: "The Resurrection of the Body and the Life of the World to Come". If you aren't caught up, don't worry! All of the episodes remain available for you to listen at any time. Faith in Maine can be found on any platform where podcasts are found, including iTunes, Spotify, Pocket Casts and more.
What's next for Faith in Maine? What do you want to explore? Please send ideas for future podcasts - series or individual episodes - to Katie Clark.
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Construction of new Cathedral Columbarium underway |
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St. Luke's Cathedral, Portland has introduced the beginning of the new Columbarium at the Cathedral. The columbarium niches have been ordered, and they expect the first phase of construction to be completed this fall with a dedication before year end.
St. Luke's is now taking orders. During this construction period, there is a special incentive to encourage early commitments. Click here for information about ordering your niche, pricing details and here to access a reservation form. Please contact the Cathedral office at 772-5434 to be referred to a Columbarium Committee member if you have any questions.
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News from our congregations |
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The Rev. Cn. Michael Ambler joined St. Matthew's, Lisbon for Eucharist last Sunday where all were greeted by this smiling duo!
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St. Margaret's, Belfast continues to support and engage with the work of The Game Loft in Belfast, an organization that promotes positive youth development through free programs and provides meals. Meals have continued, and The Game Loft recently launched a way to take their work out of the space and continue to engage with youth digitally during the pandemic. They held their Annual End of Year Party on Zoom this year with 'party packages' delivered to the homes of attendees in advance where their new online program was launched. We wish them success in their mission.
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St. Andrew’s, Winthrop celebrated an open air Eucharist on July 26 and August 2. The church purchased an InfoSpot AM radio transmitter to transmit to vehicle radios on frequency 1650. They have a range of a little less than one half mile. The Maine State YMCA Camp in Winthrop (305 Winthrop Center Road) has allowed them to use their Smith Building porch as a covered elevated pulpit, the interior for a studio, and the parking lot for vehicles. Congregants bring their own prayer books, hymnals, bread, and wine/juice. St. Andrew's intends to celebrate every Sunday this way until they can meet again safely at the Friends Meeting House. All are welcome to attend!
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Ignatian Retreat in Everyday Life registration is open |
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Ignatian Partnership of Maine will offer the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius again in 2020-2021. “Finding God in All Things” is the primary mantra of these exercises. Developed over 300 years ago, the prayer practices and spiritual strategies are surprisingly modern. They use all our faculties including the experiential, the imaginative and the rational. The Retreat in Everyday Life allows us to move through the exercises over a nine-month period from October to June, allocating about ¾ hour of prayer and reflection each day. Participants meet the first Wednesday evening of every month via Zoom as a group and at least once a month with a spiritual director. In the process, we develop new capacities for exploring scripture, making decisions, and growing closer in authentic friendship with Jesus. Applications are available now. Find out more and apply at IgnatianME.org or ignatianme@gmail.com.
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Traveling the Way of Love video available with guides for groups or individuals |
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Traveling the Way of Love, the Way of Love video series, is offering a special episode, focusing on the Triangle of Hope. In this special episode, filmed in late 2019, Sikkema visits with the Tsedaqah community and others from the Diocese of Liverpool in England. Tsedaqah is a community of young adults representing dioceses in locations that participated in the Triangle of Despair that fed and nourished the transatlantic slave trade. Through worship, communal life, and service to the community, they work toward reconciliation and transformation of the Triangle of Despair to a triangle of hope. To facilitate the use of this video by individuals or small groups for discernment and reflection, an episode guide and other resources are provided here.
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