The Dio Log
News & Events in the Episcopal
Diocese of Maine since 1999
Volume 23, Number 1
January 14, 2021
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Worship with Episcopal Maine this Sunday |
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Join worship online with the diocese this Sunday, January 17! Watch a service compiled by a diocese-wide team that includes music (including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s favorite hymn "Take My Hand, Precious Lord") and a sermon by Bishop Thomas Brown. Find the diocesan worship offering on our YouTube channel, anytime after 7:30 am, or watch the video 'premiere' on our Facebook page at 10 am.
We are looking for volunteer readers for the upcoming diocesan-wide online services! If you would like to share your gifts with the diocese in this way, please contact Director of Communications Katie Clark.
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Diocesan Council awards grants to address poverty |
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Diocesan Council considered proposals for both the domestic and international poverty grant programs at their December meeting. A total of $18,060 was awarded to the following Maine congregations and program groups:
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Trinity Jubilee Center in Lewiston to prepare for safe winter operations during the pandemic ($1260.00)
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St. Luke’s Food Pantry in Portland to meet increased need for food ($5000.00)
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Trinity Church, Lewiston to provide emergency shelter, hotel rooms and transportation, to those on the streets on nights below zero degrees ($5000.00)
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Christ Church, Gardiner to be put toward salaries of teachers in Morne Rosette, Haiti ($3800.00)
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Cathedral of St. Luke, Portland for the Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza to provide psychiatric support for traumatized children and caregivers ($3000.00)
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Racial Justice Council invites you to a conversation about race |
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Have you been in a book club or reading a book about anti-racism? Have you been participating in Sacred Ground, Becoming Beloved Community, or wanting to have more space to discuss racial justice? Or are you still wondering about what all of this means for you?
Join members of our Racial Justice Council Sunday, January 17 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm for a Zoom conversation about our experiences with race. Wherever you are on your journey with this topic which is central to being the Church that we are called to be, the council hopes you will join them. All are welcome. Bring an open mind and open heart. Join with this Zoom link.
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Free public reading of MLK's Letter on Monday |
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News from our congregations |
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Lydia Mae Dawson, age 7 and Cora Lou Dawson, age 5, assisted St. Barnabas', Rumford with their Essentials Pantry. They are the grandchildren of St. Barnabas' deacon, the Rev. Cindy Dawson.
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Here's a behind-the-scenes look at Rev. Peter Swarr and senior warden, Bill Green, as they prepared for Trinity, Portland's first livestream.
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The Rev. Cn. Nancy Moore and the people of Christ Church, Norway and Trinity Lutheran, South Paris organized three "Christmas Eve Pop-up Church" services. They sang a few carols, heard the story from the Gospel according to Luke, wore warm clothes, and prayed together. See more photos of outdoor Christmas Eve services that took place in the diocese here.
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The Rev. Tom Mousin has been called to serve the people of St. Peter's, Portland. Before moving to Maine, Tom was the rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Prior to his ordination in the Episcopal Church, he served several churches in Vermont as a United Methodist pastor, and also worked there as an elementary school teacher. Tom also serves as a chaplain with Hospice of Southern Maine. May their ministry together be blessed!
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Over the snowy days preceding Epiphany, the good people of Good Shepherd, Rangeley were wondering...would their new priest, Rev. Thom Rock, make it up the steep driveway? Would he find his way along the back road around the lake in order to bless their home? Would he get lost on roads still unfamiliar to him and where there is often no cell service? While the temperature dipped as the day went on, a determined Fr. Thom donned additional layers of thermal insulation and carried on. Wheels stayed on the path they were meant to follow and homes were blessed and doorways chalked with holy initials. Praise Christ!
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Let us share news about your church, ministries, and parishioners!
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Bishop Thomas Brown's Epiphany Message offers us a way that we can focus our gifts and our love this season by supporting the Zoorob Scholarship Fund. Watch the video here and visit LebanontoLincoln.org to learn more.
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Maine Seniors invites us to "Meet John Lewis: Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer, Veteran, Episcopal Deacon" in their November issue. The Rev. John Lewis, originally from Texas, has lived in Maine for 20 years. In a conversation about his life and work, John says, "What is God? For me, God is a collective humility. I know there's a remarkable cosmos out there." Read more here.
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Presiding Bishop Michael Curry shared A Word to the Church - Who Shall We Be? on January 8 in which he asks us to make a renewed commitment to live the way of love by blessing somebody. "Bless somebody you disagree with. Bless somebody you agree with. But go out and bless somebody by helping somebody along the way. Go out and bless somebody by listening to their story and their life." Click here for a Word document containing the transcript.
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On the remaining days leading up to the inauguration, The Washington National Cathedral will offer brief (5 minute) prayers every day at 5:00 pm, joined by ecumenical and interfaith partners. Join here.
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Presiding Bishop Michael Curry added his name on January 8 to an open letter addressed to Vice President Mike Pence, members of Congress and the U.S. Cabinet, calling for the removal of President Donald Trump from office. Read the full letter, distributed by the National Council of Churches, here.
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The Episcopal Diocese of Maine posted over three hundred times to Facebook in 2020. These are the most liked, commented on, and shared posts:
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Director of Communications Katie Clark
was featured in this Digivangelism video,
Watch to learn communications best practices for your church. You don't need a big budget or a dedicated 'expert' to take advantage of these tips!
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Bishop Thomas Brown spoke with News Center Maine about encouraging parishioners to attend services online:
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Connie Schmucker, Deacon and Assistant to the Bishop for Leadership of the ELCA Florida-Bahamas Synod, stumbled upon one of our Convention Virtual Choir videos on YouTube, and it inspired her! She wrote to ask for permission to use the video in their Bishop's January message and her sermon. (Fast forward to 3:22 for that piece.)
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The Rev. Elaine Hewes of St. Brendan the Navigator, Deer Isle will serve as reflector, speaking on the topic of rivers, this Wednesday, January 20 at 5:45 pm at the World Too Beautiful service. World Too Beautiful is musical and meditative gathering that focuses on beauty, interconnection, harmony, mutual encouragement, and healing offered by the Cathedral of St. Luke with support from the diocese. Join them here using this link or by phone 301-715-8592.
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In honor of Martin Luther King Day, let us pray in his words, "O God, make us willing to do your will, come what may. Increase the number of persons of good will and moral sensitivity. Give us renewed confidence in nonviolence and the way of love as taught by Christ. Amen." Consider taking part in A Virtual Teach-In and Call to Action Honoring Dr. King's Memory on January 18 sponsored in part by The Episcopal Diocese of Maine. Click here to register for this event.
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We offer prayers upon the death of the Rev. Cn. Linton Studdiford on December 29. Linton served at congregations throughout Maine - All Saints, Skowhegan, St. George's, Sanford, St. Alban's, Cape Elizabeth, and St. Philip's, Wiscasset. Following parish life, he worked for the Episcopal Diocese of Maine as a Canon to the Ordinary. A celebration of Linton’s life will held this summer in his gardens which he so loved. May his soul, with the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Read more about his life here.
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Please pray for those engaged with Christian Formation throughout our diocese and for those who will be taking part in Forma21 from January 26 through 28. Learn more about the Forma network and their annual conference here.
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Lloyd Day, spouse of the Rev. Peggy Day died peacefully with a smile, and with Peggy holding his hand on January 6, 2021. Lloyd was active in our parishes in St. James', Old Town and St. Patrick's, Brewer. Please pray for the repose of Lloyd’s soul, and continue to remember Peggy as she grieves. There will be a Masonic graveside memorial service at a later date.
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Emily Keniston, Diocesan Consultant for Christian Formation and member of St. Ann's, Windham, had surgery last week for a broken arm and is at home recovering. Please offer prayers of healing for Emily.
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We offer prayers of thanksgiving for Maine's retired clergy community. Are you retired and interested in connecting? Please visit episcopalmaine.org for more information.
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Statewide assistance available through StrengthenME |
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Maine DHHS has launched a program to help people deal with COVID stress. StrengthenME is collaborating with a coalition of community organizations and agencies to offer free stress management, wellness and resiliency resources to anyone experiencing emotional challenges in response to the pandemic.
If you or someone you know is looking for support, call (207) 221-8198, seven days a week, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. StrengthenME is free, confidential, anonymous, and available to anyone in Maine.
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Apply for the second round of UTO grants |
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The 2021 United Thank Offering grants are focused on "Recovering with Love and Gratitude: An Episcopal Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Local Contexts". The first round was awarded in October 2020 and the second will be in April 2021. The deadline for submission of a completed application or the second round of grants is 5:00pm on Friday, February 26, 2021. All forms necessary for the completion of a United Thank Offering are available here online. Subscribe to the UTO e-newsletter for updates about upcoming webinars to help applicants.
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Watch a new episode of Tell Me Something Good |
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Tell Me Something Good, a web series from The Episcopal Church, highlights positive stories from around the church through conversations with a variety of guests.
In this fifth episode, hosts talk with Dylan C. Mello about the Make a Meal, Make a Difference ministry, a collaboration of several Episcopal churches. They provide prepared, frozen meals for people in their communities. Dylan shares the joyful and organic way this ministry started and shares these tips on how other congregations can begin their own food-based missions. Listen here.
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