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The Dio Log
news & events in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine since 1999
Volume 22, Number 10
May 28, 2020
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News for the Episcopal Church in Maine
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We can incorporate the gravity of the pandemic into our worship by praying a new collect, composed by Episcopalians and Lutherans, during this crisis.
Presiding Bishop Curry
and his Lutheran counterpart,
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
, invite congregations to pray it from Pentecost through the first Sunday in September.
A Prayer for the Power of the Spirit Among the People of God
God of all power and love,
we give thanks for your unfailing presence
and the hope you provide in times of uncertainty and loss.
Send your Holy Spirit to enkindle in us your holy fire.
Revive us to live as Christ’s body in the world:
a people who pray, worship, learn,
break bread, share life, heal neighbors,
bear good news, seek justice, rest and grow in the Spirit.
Wherever and however we gather,
unite us in common prayer and send us in common mission,
that we and the whole creation might be restored and renewed,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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We offer prayers for
George Sheats
of
St. Michael's, Auburn
who will be ordained to the Transitional Diaconate at
St. Mark's, Waterville
on Wednesday, June 3 by the
Rt. Rev. Thomas J. Brown
. Watch the livestream
here
on St. Mark's Facebook page.
Cameron Smith
,
father of the
Rev. Lisa Smith Fry
and parishioner of
St. Paul's, Brunswick
, died on Tuesday, May 26. A funeral will be held at a later date. May God comfort and strengthen family and friends who grieve his death.
Margery Thomas Clark
, mother of the
Rev. Holly Hoffman
, died on Wednesday, May 27. We pray for Holly and family in their grief. Read Margery's obituary
here
.
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Please join us in offering prayers of thanksgiving for the
Rev. Elizabeth Miller
of South Portland who has served faithfully as a Chaplain to the Retired in Maine. Recently, with sadness, she has resigned. Elizabeth has also retired as a violist from the Portland Symphony Orchestra. Watch this performance from the viola section of Tchaikovsky's "
Dance of the Little Swans"
offered as a special tribute to her.
Margaret Beaven
, wife of the
Very
Rev. John Beaven
, who once served as Dean of St. Luke’s Cathedral, died in Brunswick on Friday, May 15. Margaret’s cremated remains will be interred in the memorial garden at
Grace, Bath
. A public memorial service will be held at a later date. Please pray for all who mourn her passing. Read Margaret's obituary
here
.
Let us pray for the repose of the soul of
George Floyd
and an end to racial injustice using these words from the Prayers of the People from the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music of The Episcopal Church:
God of freedom, we pray for our nation, and all the nations of the world:
For peace and unity across barriers of language, color, and creed; for elected and appointed leaders, that they would serve the common good. Inspire all people with courage to speak out against hatred, to actively resist evil.
Unite the human family in bonds of love.
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During this period of self-isolating, the Trinity Virtual Choir has been formed by members of
Trinity Episcopal Church
,
Portland
. Here they are singing "Come Spirit Come" by Mary Kay Beall, in a video inspired by Flowerandfriends Music's Virtual Choir.
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Camp Bishopswood
has cancelled camp for the summer.
Mike Douglass
, Camp Director, describes this as "one of the hardest decisions they've ever had to make". Read more and donate online
here
.
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Bill Gould
, vestry member at
St. Francis-by-the-Sea, Blue Hill,
shares Memorial Day thoughts on what a life of service has meant to him, "I serve because it is my civic duty to live up to the title of public servant. I feel like there is no greater calling to be able to provide high quality services and support to our fellow citizens. The pledge of defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic is a sacred duty that we as public servants are privileged to take. I have been fortunate to take that pledge as a member of the Army Reserve and now as [Center for Program Integrity] CMS employee. Both times I felt huge pride and respect to be able to uphold that pledge."
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Tonya Sands
, shelter manager at the
Trinity Jubilee Center
, says in a profile in the Lewiston Sun Journal, "
Our team is dynamic. We go above and beyond each day and do the best we can...[I love] seeing a smile on the face of a person who feels lost, at their lowest point. Simple things such as a conversation, food, a winter coat, soap, a safe place to receive mail, help with a job application etc., can change a person’s view of their life." Read the article
here.
(
Please note that there is a Sun Journal paywall.
)
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The Rev. Peter Jenks
of
St. John Baptist, Thomaston
reflects on the importance of singing together as we face the reality that we will not be able to do so for awhile in his post, "
It is Time to Sing
".
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Gather to watch a diocese-wide Pentecost service
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Tune-in for a diocese-wide full online Pentecost service this Sunday, May 31! The service will include music and a sermon from Bishop Brown. Clergy and lay leaders will be provided with a downloadable video file on Friday, May 29 to use as they wish. The video will be broadcast on
Facebook
and
YouTube
on Sunday morning at 10:00 am.
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Maine podcast returns with new content
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In an effort to provide content across different platforms, the diocese has re-launched the podcast,
Faith in Maine
. The first few episodes of this new season will include recent sermons from Bishop Brown followed by an eight-episode series of audio essays by Rev. Martin Smith on the concept of hope.
The Faith in Maine podcast can be found on any platform where podcasts are found, including iTunes, Spotify, Pocket Casts and more.Click
here
to listen to the first episode of the new season.
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Join a diocesan conversation about formation on June 1
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All people interested in formation in the Diocese of Maine, regardless of whether they have a formal parish role or not, are invited to join a conversation on Monday, June 1 at 6:00 pm. Share what is working in your own parish and dream together about what could happen going forward.
For the Zoom link to participate, please contact
Emily Keniston, Consultant for Formation, at
christianformation@episcopalmaine.org. Emily would also like to hear from anyone interested in joining future conversations but unable to attend this meeting.
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Episcopal Peace Fellowship meeting June 5
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The agenda will include updates on EPF's actions against gun violence and the annexation of Palestinian land. Please join them in their peacemaking intention and efforts!
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Retired Episcopal clergy in Maine connect on Facebook
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Maine's Chaplains to Retired Clergy have started a Facebook group where retired Maine clergy can join in discussion and share resources. The group is private so that other people on Facebook cannot see what is posted in the group. You can 'find' the group in the search bar by typing in search words such as 'clergy' 'Maine' 'retired' but cannot enter or participate unless a moderator approves you to enter and participate. Click here to join:
Retired Episcopal Clergy in Maine.
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Good news from our congregations
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St. Luke's Food Pantry
operating out of
St. Luke's Cathedral in Portland
had a banner day last Thursday! They had 24 clients, serving 76 people and gave away milk, eggs, butter and oranges received from Wayside Food Programs, along with the onions, bananas and tomatoes that they bought. The Food Pantry thanks their Park Row neighbors who held a food drive, Allagash, Wayside, the Diocese of Maine, and many others for their donations of food! We thank them for taking care of our neighbors!
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Grace Church, Bath
parishioner and retired physician,
Dr. Mark Wheeler
, has been collecting unwanted bicycles and repairing them for asylum seekers. In the past three years, he has delivered about 25 bikes to very appreciative people. If you have a bike you do not want and would like to donate it to this project, please call Mark at 443-5712.
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Understanding the impact of pandemic on youth
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The pandemic has psychologically displaced 1.54 billion students across the globe who are forced to navigate an unprecedented and uncertain reality. How exactly are youth being impacted, and what helps to support their healthy development, even through a pandemic? As youth pastors and youth workers, what should we keep in mind when supporting youth through times of crises? "
Fear, Isolation, & Anxiety: Understanding the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Youth
" is a free
Yale Youth Ministry Institute
webinar being offered on Wednesday, June 3 at 12:30 pm to provide a glimpse into the minds of youth and offer insights to mitigating prolonged impacts of unexpected twists in life. Register
here
.
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eFormation 2020: a daylong digital ministry conference
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This online event reflects over six years of the
eFormation
learning community providing a space for leaders to grow and experiment with digital media for ministry practical tools and resources. eFormation provides relevant, forward-thinking, and vocation-grounded workshops and connections.Ministry leaders will discuss practical resources as well as future-forward initiatives. This all-day, all-online conference will also feature opportunities for prayer and small groups throughout the day.
The event takes place on Wednesday, June 3 beginning at 9:30 am and concluding at 4:30 pm. Purchase a ticket and register
here
.
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