Bicentennial Chalices and Patens

As we all know, there were significant changes to the planned celebrations of the Diocesan Bicentennial because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

But soon, the Bicentennial Chalices and Patens, specially commissioned for our celebration will be distributed to congregations across the Diocese! Please tuck them away until Sunday, November 20, 2022, when together the entire Diocese will observe a moment of dedication and thanksgiving. 

More information will be available soon and liturgical resources will be made available —and pictures of your congregation's dedication are welcome! 

If you happen to be near Loring House and could pick up the set for your congregation, and perhaps a neighbor, we'd appreciate the distribution assistance. 

For more information, or to arrange a pickup, please be in touch with Canon Barbara Martin .  

Town Hall Meeting Tonight

We look forward to seeing you at Town Hall meeting tonight! 

Remember that Town Hall meetings take the place of pre-Convention hearings.

Tonight's Town Hall will have updates and worship, and we will have an area caucus to elect area  representatives to Diocesan Council.

Please mark your calendars for these additional Town Hall meetings as we head towards diocesan convention:

• Tuesday, October 4 (budget, rules of order, resolutions)
• Tuesday, October 11 (resolutions, consent calendar)
• Tuesday, October 18 (pre-convention preparation)
• Tuesday, October 25 (post-convention debrief and thanksgivings)

Are these meetings just for delegates? Nope! All are welcome at these learning opportunities!

All Town Hall meetings will run from 7pm to 8pm (with an optional Q&A at 6:30 for the October meetings) and the link to the meeting will be sent out the Saturday morning before the Tuesday meeting.

Watch for your invitations to Town Hall meetings, they will arrive in your email the Saturday before each Town Hall. 

Convention Registration is Open

Register today for the 203rd annual Diocesan Convention!

Who should register? 

• All voting lay convention delegates whose names have been submitted by their congregation
• All voting canonically resident and licensed priests in charge who plan on attending convention
• All diocesan officers who are canonically granted seat, voice, and vote
• All non-voting staff and volunteers

If you are an alternate delegate and won't be voting, no need to register, please join us on YouTube live stream instead. (If you are called to replace a delegate before convention, we will sort it out then. Thank you!)

Resolutions Public Hearing and Forum

September 29, 2022

7:00 pm

Online via Zoom

We are excited to announce a public hearing and resolutions forum this week! Come one and all to discuss and debate and refine the resolutions that will be presented at the diocesan convention.

The resolutions up for discussion include:

• Action to Repent for the Abuses of Native Residential Schools

• In Support of Wabanaki Tribal Sovereignty

• Celebrating Evangelism in the Diocese of Maine

• And more! 

Resolution authors will be at the meeting to share about their resolutions, and all are welcome to share their comments and questions. This will be a working session for grant writers and attendees to preview resolutions and offer ideas and feedback through discussion!

As soon as resolutions are available for review, you will find them here on the website.  

Click here for the Zoom link for the meeting.

Meeting ID: 892 5961 1438

The Intersection of Racism and Christianity

Wednesday, September 28

4 p.m. ET

Online

Offered by the Racial Justice Council 

Your Racial Justice Council here in the Diocese of Maine would like to invite you to an online opportunity to talk and learn about the intersection of racism and Christianity.

You're invited to an online debrief of Carter Heyward's presentation last week about their book, The Seven Deadly Sins of White Christian Nationalism: A Call To Action. We hope you'll bring a snack or some dinner and join us in sharing what we've learned, what we still wonder, and where we feel the Spirit moving us next. Please register for the debrief conversation here.

If you missed last week's presentation by Carter Heyward, you can view it at this link in advance of this week's discussion

Questions? Please contact Emily Keniston, staff liaison for the Racial Justice Council. 

Preventing Burn Out: Tools for Clergy Transformation and Ministry Growth

Wednesday, September 28

3 p.m. ET

Presented by Episcopal Parish Network

Many of the most successful ministry leaders and parish leaders work longer hours and get less return on their investments of time and resources than they typically expect. In this season, as we move into the next phase of the pandemic and clergy are stretched more than ever, burnout is often the result. 

Many clergy persons grapple with:

• Feeling like you lack control over time, vision, or ministry.
• Inconsistent messaging, understanding, or follow through.
• Reactive instead of proactive responses to finances.
• Growth is happening, but can’t break through to the next level.
• Quick fixes that come and go, bringing little change with continued frustrations.

There are tools available to help clergy overcome and thrive. During this workshop our panelists will present a methodology to alleviate some of the pressure of these challenges and move into a more productive space. 

The Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) is a comprehensive set of tools proven in the business world to bring vision, traction, and health to any organization. Based on the work of Gino Wickman and his landmark book, Traction, EOS is a revolutionary but time-tested way of seeing true transformation and growth. Our panel lead, Preston Yancey is a certified EOS Implementer, but a priest first and foremost. 

As a priest, Preston has implemented these tools in parish and ministry settings, resourcing God’s people to do the work of building and flourishing the Kingdom of God. Joined by Jason Ingalls, Rector of Holy Spirit, Waco, who uses EOS in his parish, and moderated by Jerusalem Greer, Staff Officer for Evangelism for the Episcopal Church, you will learn how EOS could be used in your own ministry context immediately.

Panelists include:

• Jerusalem Greer - Staff Officer for Evangelism, The Episcopal Church; New York, New York
• Jason Ingalls - Rector, Church of the Holy Spirit; Waco, Texas
• Preston Yancey - Interim Campus Missioner, St. Lydia’s: The Episcopal Student Center; Waco, Texas

For more information, and to register, click  here.

The Rev. Canon Sarah Snyder Habits of Reconciliation Program

Monday,  Oct 3

3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

In-Person

Emmanuel Church, 42 Dearborn Street, Newport, Rhode Island

Province 1 diocesan clergy and laity are invited to a faith-based reconciliation conversation exploring useful habits of conversation across differences in perspective that we all find in our congregations, communities, country, and families. 

The Rev. Canon Sarah Snyder, former reconciliation advisor to the Archbishop of Canterbury and Founding Director of Rose Castle, together with her Rose Castle team, will lead a conversation at Emmanuel Church on Monday October 3 from 3:30 to 6:00, discussing habits of hospitality, curiosity, presence, imagination, and lament we can cultivate to help us to build the relationships and trust that support human flourishing. The program will be centered on hospitality and food in a reception hosted by the Diocese of Rhode Island from their Emmanuel kitchen, renewing the Emmanuel tradition of welcoming the broader community with nourishment for our bodies and our spirits.

You can read a recent interview with Rev. Cn. Snyder here.

If you plan to attend, please let the Emmanuel team know by emailing them. 

Communications Office Hours

Are you interested in a working session regarding technology, social media, or how to communicate your message?

These are all topics for discussion at CommsChat - aka Communications Office Hours. The discussion each week is guided by the questions of those who attend. This is a non-mandatory, come-if-you'd-like open discussion session with Canon for Communications, Katie Clark.

This week's CommsChat is on Thursday, September 29nd from 11 am - 12 pm.

Click on the "Register Here" button below if you'd like to attend.

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, click here. To apply, send a cover letter and resume to Rev. Lauren Kay.

St. James in Old Town is looking for a high school student or someone older to take care of the children on Sunday mornings. The compensation is generous! Contact Senior Warden Cass Wright via email or at 207-475-6830.

St. Bart’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 use this email address to apply.

Christ Church in Gardiner has an opening for a part-time, salaried Children and Youth Ministries Coordinator. The Children and Youth Ministries Coordinator is responsible for overseeing and implementing spiritual formation for children, youth, and their families. This is a salaried staff position for approximately 10 hours per week for 10 months a year. 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 for this position and email to the Rev. Kerry Mansir.

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.

St. George’s, York Harbor is hiring a part-time communications-focused Administrative Assistant. Use your creative gifts to help them connect people and build community through print and digital media.They are excited to work with someone creative and curious about how to build greater connections in the community and tell their story through digital engagement. Click here for a full job description. To apply, email a cover letter and resume to the Rev. Ryan Mails.

St. David's in Kennebunk is seeking an experienced, technically-minded individual to contract to run their audio and video system to livestream and prerecord their worship services and other events. For more information, and to apply, please email  Cathy Zub, Parish Administrator.

Is your church hiring? Would you like us to share out the job description in the CLL (this email), the Dio Log, and/or the diocesan LinkedIn page? If so, let us know!

As a reminder, churches that are in the search process for a new clergyperson are listed on the diocesan website here.

Save these dates below! For the full events calendar, click here.

SEPTEMBER

27 Clergy Day with the Bishop, Christ Church Gardiner

27 Town Hall: Intro to Convention / Area Caucus

29 Public Hearing and Resolutions Forum

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