The Dio Log - September 1, 2022

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News & Events in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine

Volume 24, Number 17

September 1, 2022

Around The Diocese

Season of Creation begins today

Yes, it's time for caring for creation to be the focus of our worship in the Diocese of Maine!

“The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the Earth, and their words to the end of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4)

The Season of Creation is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together. During the Season of Creation, the Episcopal Diocese of Maine joins our siblings in the ecumenical Christian family in prayer and action for our common home.The season starts today with the World Day of Prayer for Creation, and it ends on 4 October with the Feast of St.Francis of Assisi.

The Climate Justice Council shared this letter last week welcoming us to prepare for the Season and pointing us toward liturgical resources. Find these and more on the Creation Care page of our website.

Stay up to date with 2022 Diocesan Convention news

The 203rd Convention of the Diocese of Maine will convene online on Saturday, October 22. Clergy and delegates who are voting will meet via Zoom. The meeting will be livestreamed on YouTube for everyone to watch!

Finding Convention Information

Convention information is sent out in the weekly Clergy and Lay Leaders (CLL) email newsletter. We also have an all-in-one place diocesan convention webpage here. Scroll through to find the information you need.

If you'd rather subscribe to updates, all of the same info sent out in these enewsletters is also placed on our website's blog.

Afraid you missed something in a past newsletter? This page on the website lists all convention communications that have gone out. (To find it, type "Convention Communications" in the search bar.)

Finally, for all clergy and lay delegates, an "all you need to know" email will arrive in your inbox closer to convention time.

Important Convention Dates

Mark the important dates below and watch for Town Hall invitations via email!

September 16 Resolutions and Nominations Due; Registration Opens
September 23 Virtual Choir Videos Due
September 27 Intro to Convention & Area Caucus (Town Hall 7 pm)
October 4 Budget, Rules of Order, Resolutions (Town Hall 7 pm)
October 11 Resolutions, Consent Calendar (Town Hall 7pm)
October 12 Changes to Certificate of Elected Delegates Due
October 12 Registration Deadline
October 18 Diocesan Convention (Town Hall 7 pm)
October 22 Day of Convention (Convenes at 9 am)
October 25 Convention Debrief (Town Hall 7 pm)

The Convention Virtual Choir is returning for 2022! To lend your voice, sign up here!

We welcome singers of any age!

Soon after you register, look for a confirmation email containing detailed instructions. We will be singing two hymns: we will sing "All Creation Danced" and "O Wondrous Souls of Light" with hymn text written by Vicki Sirota especially for our convention - which will be its world premiere!

The hymn here was presented at convention in 2021.

Summer Finale concludes with smiles

Families and kids celebrated the end of summer together at Camp Bishopswood last weekend.

Fun was had! Here's a group of happy campers with Emily Keniston, Director of Faith Formation and Rev. Sara D'Angio White, Canon for Youth Ministry.

Thanks to participants and to everyone who helped make this happen!

Swords to Plowshares demonstration coming to Maine

Grace Episcopal Church in Bath (1100 Washington St) will be hosting "Swords to Plowshares: Transforming Guns into Garden Tools" on Saturday, September 24 from 1-3 pm. This demonstration from Bishop Jim Curry of Swords to Plowshares Northeast will feature hands-on participation at forge and anvil, creating gardening tools and jewelry from guns that have been previously surrendered. (Please note: this event is NOT the time or place to turn in guns.) Learn more about the organization here. Download an event flier here.

News From Our Congregations

Christ Church in Gardiner has an opening for a part-time, salaried Children and Youth Ministries Coordinator who will be responsible for overseeing and implementing spiritual formation children, youth, and their families. This is a staff position for approximately 10 hours per week for 10 months a year. Salary range is $10,000 to $13,500 annually with two weeks of paid vacation. Read the full job description here. Applications will be accepted until September 30, 2022. Please include in the application: a current resume, 3 references with contact information, and a letter of interest. Send all materials to the R ev. Kerry Mansir.

St. Bartholomew's in Yarmouth is seeking an organized, energetic, and creative part-time Youth Religious Education Leader to coordinate their youth ministry program. The leader will work 12-16 hours/week during the school calendar year with a salary ranging from $14,000-18,000 based on qualifications and experience. Click here for the complete job description. Please email to apply.

That's Deacon Marcia Richardson ringing the bell during the Gospel Medley at St. Philip’s, Wiscasset on Sunday, August 28! "St. Philip’s Musical Treats & Sweets: A Service of Praise in Honor of God" filled the pews! Songs of faith, hope and joy, love and goodness filled the sanctuary, and then spilled outside with ice cream, toppings, and a crowd of Wiscasset neighbors. The choir and Rev. Tom Junkert joined musicians from area churches to perform 11 pieces accompanied at different times with a cello, guitar, tambourine, chimes, triangle and bell. Ginny Freeman, local Maine poet, read several of her poems celebrating God’s wonderous nature. Rev. Amy Harkin from Wiscasset’s First Congregational Church helped lead the congregation in prayer. St. Philip's gives special thanks to their summer organist and music director, Lorna Lee “Rocket” Curtis for organizing this wonderful program.

Are you a creative type who also likes to keep things organized? St. George’s in Sanford is hiring a Communications and Administrative Assistant. This position is focused on print and digital communications along with some administrative assistance in the parish office. To see the full job description, visit their website here. To apply, send cover letter and resume to Rev. Lauren Kay.

Bishop Brown visited St. Peter's-by-the-Sea in Cape Neddick this month and is seen here with the Rev. Craig Burlington and Addie Burlington. The summer chapel congregation celebrated their 125th anniversary with a benefit brunch. All proceeds will be used to support their outreach ministries in York County.

Voices Among Us

Please join members of the Maine chapter of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship (EPF) who will be leading EPF-National Compline at 8:30pm via Zoom on Tuesdays in September. Open to all and they hope you will join them! Click here to join on Zoom. Meeting ID: 817 7614 5441 Passcode: 863435

Join "Faith in Our Homes" a private Facebook group for households in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine to connect with one another as we walk the path of faith. We have made this group private so that we can freely share ideas, photos and thought processes.

St. Ann's to celebrate annual 'Welcome Home Sunday'

Members of St. Ann's Episcopal Church in Windham are eagerly awaiting the calendar turning to September and are preparing for one of the highlights of the year as the church celebrates "Welcome Home Sunday" on Sept. 11.

Read more
news.thewindhameagle.com

Prayers

The Collect For Labor Day

Almighty God, you have so linked our lives one with another that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but for the common good; and, as we seek a proper return for our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of other workers, and arouse our concern for those who are out of work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer, 1979, p. 261)

The Rev. Cn. Sara D'Angio White, Canon for Youth Ministry, is departing the diocesan staff to begin a new chapter. Please join us in prayers of thanksgiving for Sara's ministry among us. Sara's focus on youth ministry with middle- and high school-aged people throughout Maine, working both with congregations and directly with the youth of the diocese has had a lasting impact. Sara's last day with the diocesan staff will be Friday, September 9.

We pray for students and teachers and their families at the start of a new school year.

The Rev. Alfred Moring Niese, Jr. died on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. Canonically resident in the Diocese of Newark, he retired to Woolwich and served as a supply priest at the Church of Our Father in Hulls Cove, St. Augustine’s in Dover Foxcroft, St. David’s in Kennebunk, St. Andrew’s in Winthrop and other Episcopal churches, including St. Paul’s in Brunswick where he was a member. May God receive Al into the arms of his mercy. A memorial service at St. Paul’s Episcpal Church, Brunswick is yet to be scheduled. Read Al's full obituary here.

The Rev. Jane Milliken Hague's time at Saint Mary's, Falmouth has concluded. The congregation is deeply grateful for her guidance and leadership during Rev. Nathan Ferrell's deployment. Please join us in prayers for her in her new assignment at All Saints' Church in Princeton, NJ.

Let us pray together this World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation: Lord, you entrust us to be stewards of your creation. May we renew our commitment to you and our neighbors with love and action. Amen.

Resources

St. Elizabeth's hosts COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic

Tuesday, September 6

8:45 - 11:00 am

134 Park Street, Portland

St. Elizabeth's Jubilee Center is hosting a COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic on Tuesday, September 6 at its Essentials Pantry.

Anyone is welcome to receive a vaccine or booster at the clinic, including children, and there will be translators in attendance to answer questions for those who don't speak English.

Tri-diocese Sacred Ground Circles begin in October

This fall, Sacred Ground circles open to those in the dioceses of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine will meet on Zoom. There will be three circles: Wednesday mornings, Wednesday mid-afternoons, and Thursday evenings. The first sessions of these circles will be held in October and each circle will establish its own rhythm for the rest of the sessions. The circles are sponsored by the Diocese of Vermont's Anti-Racism Action Group, the Diocese of New Hampshire's Reconciliation Commission and the Diocese of Maine's Racial Justice Council.

Those interested in participating should contact Franci Farnsworth right away. We are limiting the size of each circle to no more than 8 people plus the two facilitators. Learn more about Sacred Ground by watching this invitational video.

Heywood discusses new book with Maine on September 21

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.

Download a flyer here.