News & Events in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine |
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Volume 24, Number 16
August 18, 2022
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Listen to the latest episode of the Faith in Maine podcast |
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The latest episode of the Faith in Maine podcast is out now! We continue our series focusing on the four themes from Bishop Brown's 2021 diocesan convention address: Listen, Connect, Adapt, Hope, with Bishop Brown speaking to us in this episode about "Hope".
Find it here, wherever you download your podcasts, or call 207-223-6402. This number is always updated so that you'll hear the latest episode when you dial-in!
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Sacred Ground circles beginning in September |
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Are you interested in joining others from around the Episcopal dioceses of Northern New England in discussing race and racism in our nation?
Sacred Ground dialogue circles will start in fall 2022. The intro meeting will be held in early September. You can watch a Sacred Ground informational video here and learn more here.
Email Franci Farnsworth if you are interested in joining in these Zoom conversations. Representatives from each diocese are: Franci Farnsworth of Vermont, Betty Lane of New Hampshire, Rev. Katie Holicky of Maine.
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The 203rd Annual Convention of the Diocese of Maine |
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The Convention Virtual Choir is returning for 2022! To lend your voice, sign up here!
The two hymns we will sing haven't yet been selected, but we can tell you that they will be familiar, well-loved tunes with fresh, new lyrics, and the arrangements will allow for melody singing as well as part singing and a descant.
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Resolutions Learning Session Recording Available |
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The Resolutions Committee hosted a learning session and workshop focused on crafting a resolution and the life cycle of a diocesan resolution on August 16, 2022. Watch the recorded session here. The deadline for submitting a resolution for convention is fast approaching (September 16th)!
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Are you or someone you know called to serve in any one of the open leadership positions listed below? Click here (scroll down the page) to learn more about each position.
- Diocesan Council Lay Representative (elect one for each of the six areas to serve a 3-year term)
- Treasurer (elect one to serve a 1-year term)
- Secretary (elect one to serve a 1-year term)
- Standing Committee - Clergy (elect one to serve a 3-year term)
- Standing Committee - Lay (elect one to serve a 3-year term)
- General Convention - Clergy Deputy (elect four to serve at General Convention 2024)
- General Convention - Lay Deputy (elect four to serve at General Convention 2024)
- Provincial Conference - Clergy Deputy (elect one to serve a 2-year term)
- Disciplinary Board - Lay Representative (elect one to serve a 2-year term)
The deadline for nominations is September 16.
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News From Our Congregations |
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The Rev. Peter Swarr, Rector of Trinity, Portland, preached an interactive sermon at Camp Bishopswood. |
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All Saints, Skowhegan is one of six churches accepted to participate in The BTS Center's next "Spiritual Leadership for a Climate-Changed World" classes, plus were awarded $1000. They will be hosting a Climate-Focused Eucharist (liturgy here) with an ice cream social and festivities to follow on Sunday, August 21st at 10:00 am.
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You can catch a presentation with artist Jennifer Booher about her research into stained-glass windows at St. Saviour's, Bar Harbor on August 23 at 6:00 pm. Mount Desert Island has a diverse collection of windows by prominent American and European artists of the 19th and 20th centuries: 37 artists and glass studios are represented, in 21 buildings. |
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Love making music to glorify God and inspire worshippers? St. Philip's in Wiscasset is looking for a Music Director to play organ/piano and direct its choir. If interested, send your resume to the Rev. Tom Junkert or call 218-205-0420. The job description can be viewed here.
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Archbishop of Canterbury calls church back to mission
Episcopal News Service - In his third and final keynote address of the 15th Lambeth Conference, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby called the church back to the Five Marks of Mission - – Tell, Teach, Tend, Transform and Treasure...
Read more
www.episcopalnewsservice.org
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Maine's historic St. Peter's by the Sea Chapel
CAPE NEDDICK, Maine - St. Peter's by the Sea Episcopal Chapel is celebrating its 125th anniversary this summer, with a look back at its long history and a handful of events planned in the coming weeks. George and Nannie Conarroe,..
Read more
www.seacoastonline.com
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Hazel Cross, mother of the Rev. Rick Cross of St. Patrick's, Brewer, died on August 15 at Halldale Manor in Farmingdale at the age of 99. She was Freedom's oldest citizen! A funeral service will be held at Freedom Congregational Church on Saturday August 20 at 4:00 pm with the Rev. John Balicki and Pastor Paul Flynn officiating. Please pray for Rick and family as they say goodbye. Read Hazel's obituary here.
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We offer prayers and thanks for the ministry of Tom Sumner, our Assistant Director of Finance and Insurance, who celebrates 40 years of working for the Episcopal Diocese of Maine!
Tom started his career with the diocese with Bishop Wolf, and was initially hired to manage printings and mailings for the diocese and keep Loring House tidy and continued through the tenure of Bishop Chalfant. Tom says of those times that it was a pretty solitary role with evening work, and "that's when employees smoked at their desks, and the fireplaces in Loring House all worked!"
Under Bishop Knudsen, Tom's role shifted to bookkeeping in the Finance Department, a ministry he enjoys, especially in working with people regarding questions around insurance, pension, and pay. Through Bishop Lane's tenure and now Bishop Brown's, Tom enjoys coming to work (or working from home during the pandemic) and enjoys a sense of satisfaction after a day's work. Join us in giving a hearty contratulations to Tom on his 40th anniversary!
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Together let us pray for Nancy Ludwig who was ordained to the Transitional Diaconate on Monday, August 15 by Bishop Thomas Brown. |
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We offer prayers of thanksgiving for the Rev. Dr. William Hague. Last weekend, Bill's Ruby Jubilee, four decades of ministry, was celebrated and honored by St. Jude's in Seal Harbor and the people of Mount Desert Island. The tribute included a letter from Ted Fletcher, Senior Warden at St. Andrew and St. John, along with this letter from Bishop Thomas Brown.
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The Committee on Indian Relations (CIR) notes the passing of long-time member and acclaimed Wabanaki scholar Nicholas Smith of Brunswick. A 1950 graduate of the University of Maine, Nick was a noted scholar of Wabanaki cultures and was instrumental in establishing both the Maine Archaelogical Society and the Maine Ethnomusicology Society. He was awarded an honorary degree in humane letters from the University of Maine in 2007 in recognition of more than 50 years of research and work with the Wabanaki. Nick passed away on August 8, at the age of 95, just two weeks after participating in his last CIR meeting. He devoted much of his life to the work of social justice for the Wabanaki peoples. A celebration of his life will be held at St. Paul’s in Brunswick. Read his obituary here.
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Please pray with us for three church members taking up work on behalf of the diocese with new appointments: |
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Robert Ludwig, Music Director and Parish Administrator of Church of the Good Shepherd and member of the Diocesan Convention Planning Committee, has been appointed Chair of the Diocesan Worship Committee. Together with the Rev. George Sheats, Rev. Victoria Sirota, and Rev. Ryan Mails, the Diocesan Worship Committee will organize worship for Pre-Convention Town Hall Meetings, Diocesan Convention, Chrism Eucharist and Renewal of Vows, Ordinations and other diocese-wide services. |
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Seth Stewart, member of All Saints Chapel, Southport and member of the Diocesan Convention Planning Committee, has been appointed Assistant Registrar for Convention. This is a new role for the diocese. Seth will be assisting Canon Barbara Martin, Registrar, and Wendy Kopera in verifying Certificates of Lay and Clergy Delegates to Convention and Convention Registration. |
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Lisa Lindsay, Parish Administrator of St. Luke's, Wilton and Clerk of the Diocesan Standing Committee, has been appointed Assistant Secretary for Convention Resolutions, another new role for the diocese. Lisa will assist Canon Barbara Martin, Registrar, Karen Perka, Secretary of the Diocese, and the Hon. Marge Kilkelly, Chair of the Resolutions Committee, in tracking resolutions and amendments to resolutions during convention. |
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Heywood discusses new book with Maine on September 21 |
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The Maine Council of Churches and The BTS Center have invited world-renowned theologian and Episcopal priest, Rev. Dr. Carter Heyward (one of the “Philadelphia 11” women ordained in 1974, two years before the Episcopal Church authorized ordination of women) to lead us in a conversation about her upcoming book, The 7 Deadly Sins of Christian Nationalism: A Call to Action (Rowman & Littlefield, September 2022). Rev. Dr. Heyward will address the rise of white Christian nationalism and offer perspectives for moving forward with hope and action.
Bangor Theological Seminary Professor Emeritus of Christian Ethics, Rev. Dr. Marvin Ellison, will facilitate the online event on September 21 at 4:00 pm. Register here.
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Register now for Ignatian Retreat in Everyday Life |
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The Ignatian Spirituality Partnership of Maine invites you to practice the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life with a retreat beginning in early October 2022 and running through June 2023. It's for people who live in or near Maine, and there are options that would permit someone to be fully remote.
In this retreat, pray imaginatively with scripture and explore spiritual resources for decision making, growing closer in authentic friendship with Jesus and finding a greater awareness of God working in your life. Meetings will take place from 6:30 - 8:30 pm on the first Wednesday of every month online, and they also offer individual or group spiritual direction monthly (online or in person). It requires you to set aside 3/4 hour for prayer and reflection each day, which is the crux of the retreat.
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Save these dates below! For the full events calendar, click here.
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
16 Nominations and Resolutions Due
16 Diocesan Convention Registration Opens
27 Clergy Day with the Bishop, Christ Church Gardiner
27 Town Hall: Intro to Convention / Area Caucus
OCTOBER
4 Town Hall: Budget, Rules of Order, Resolutions
11Town Hall: Resolutions, Consent Calendar
18 Town Hall: Pre-Convention
19 Diocesan Convention Registration Deadline
22 Diocesan Convention
25 Town Hall: Convention Debrief and Thanksgivings for the Town Hall Program
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