News & Events in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine
Volume 23, Number 22
November 18, 2021
Around The Diocese
Listen to the latest Faith in Maine podcast episode
The latest episode of the Faith in Maine podcast is out now! It features a sermon from the November 14th diocese-wide service by the Rev. Peter Jenks of St. John Baptist, Thomaston.

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!
New Sacred Ground groups open to whole community
Sacred Ground, a film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, was launched in 2019 by The Episcopal Church. It's been so well-received that St. Paul’s, Brunswick has recently adapted it to be suitable for folks of all faiths (or no particular faith).

The program is open to the greater community and will include online options so that anyone in the diocese may participate!
Groups meet for 90 minutes over the course of ten sessions. During this time they watch and discuss films exploring the history and impact of race and racism in American society.

Learn more and register here.

Questions? Please email St. Paul's Sacred Ground Program Coordinator.
News From Our Congregations
Part of the All Saints Day tradition at St. David's, Kennebunk is to inscribe the names of the departed Saints in their lives on a cloth that covers the altar. It reminds everyone that in this place, heaven and earth are close to one another, and that those who have died are a part, with us, of the Communion of Saints.
The Trinity Service Corp of Trinity, Portland took a trip to Maine Needs to help a dozen families dealing with all kinds of tough situations obtain boots, jackets, books, socks, shoes, hats, and more.
On Veterans Day — and every day — St. Anne's, Calais honors their parish members who have served in the military and holds all veterans in prayer.
Congratulations to Rev. Ann O’Sullivan who has been newly-appointed as deacon to St. Nicholas, Scarborough. Her first official day was November 1.
St. Peter's, Rockland will hold their annual Thanksgiving Community Meal on Thanksgiving Day from 12:30 to 2:00 pm. This year, to be Covid-safe, it will be exclusively take-out, but still available for no charge! The free turkey dinner will still have all the traditional dishes: roast turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, squash, cranberry sauce, peas and carrots, and lots of pies. Meals can be picked up at the parking lot entrance to the parish hall, 11 White Street in Rockland. Read more on their website. (Pictured here: St. Peter's Fall Clean-up Crew)
St. Ann's, Windham is having a "COVID-Safe" Christmas Fair on December 4. The online fair features the opportunity to reserve a variety of gift baskets and decorated Christmas wreaths — all from the safety of your home! The fair features a raffle -- first prize of a pre-lit 6.5-foot tree, decorated with handmade crafts, and a quilt. Second prize is a quilt, and third prize, a children’s quilt. Purchase of raffle tickets and pick up of reserved wreaths and gift baskets will be at St. Ann’s (40 Windham Center Road) 8:30 am to noon on Saturday, December 4. Masks are required. For more information including a catalog, contact Dick Rozene at 207-232-5268 or email.
Voices Among Us
St. Francis steeple restored - The Ellsworth American

BLUE HILL - The historic steeple of St. Francis By the Sea Episcopal Church has been restored thanks to a grant from The Maine Steeples Fund which supports local efforts to restore church steeples of historic, cultural and community significance.

Read more
www.ellsworthamerican.com
Rt. Rev. Thomas Brown on Crossings Conversations podcast

Bishop Brown was a guest on Crossings Conversations, a podcast by Church Divinity School of the Pacific. Listen to the interview here.

Read more
www.buzzsprout.com
Waterville church members hold diaper drive

WATERVILLE - St. Mark's Episcopal Church held its annual diaper drive October 25 to benefit the Waterville Essentials Closet, collected more than 3,000 diapers from church member donations and gathered to pack and deliver the donations.

Read more
www.centralmaine.com
Interview with the founder of Seeds of Hope

The Rev. Shirley Bowen, Executive Director of Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center in Biddeford, was recently interviewed by WMPG. Listen here.

Read more
chirb.it
The last two years have upended many of the assumptions about what The Episcopal Church is and where it is going. Join Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and his canons for an online conversation about how the past two years will inform the ministries and mission of The Episcopal Church in 2022 and beyond on Thursday, December 9 at 6pm. There will be time for questions, and the event will be recorded for later viewing. Registration here is free, but required.
Prayers
Collect for Thanksgiving

Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Please join in praying with the diocese using the 2021-2022 Diocesan Cycle of Prayer. It's available to download here and you can also view the cycle here on episcopalmaine.org at any time. For those of you who are avid Google Calendar users, the Cycle of Prayer is now available as an add-on calendar. Click the link here to add it as an additional Google Calendar. For an iCal link, click here.
We offer prayers of thanksgiving for and congratulations to Rev. Sudie Blanchard, deacon at St. George’s, York Harbor, who has retired from the York Public Library. Watch this video tribute from the library.
Please pray for the people of St. Philip's, Wiscasset and the Rev. Thomas Junkert who will celebrate their new ministry together on Sunday, November 28 at 2:00pm. Bishop Brown will preside at the Eucharist. All are invited. Mask are required.
Please pray for the work of Episcopal Migration Ministries and consider helping them continue their life-giving, life-saving ministry by making a gift to the Afghan Allies Fund here or by texting "GIVEWELCOME" to 41444. All gifts will be matched by an anonymous EMM donor, up to $50k!
Employment Opportunities
St. Philip's, Wiscasset and First Congregational, Wiscasset
Part-time Office Administrator/Bookkeeper

First Congregational Church and St. Philip’s Episcopal Church are hiring a part-time shared Office Administrator/Bookkeeper to support their work and ministries in
Wiscasset, ME. The Office Administrator will be hired by both churches to
fulfill the specific duties needed in their separate and shared ministries. The
position of Office Administrator will begin January 2022 and will require 15-20
hours per week. The successful candidate will be literate and comfortable using
Office programs, Word, Excel and Publisher as well as QuickBooks. A job description can be found here. For more information, please contact Rev. Tom Junkert, Priest in Charge at 218-205-0420 or by email.
Trinity Church, Portland
Part-time Music Director (Pianist/Organist/Choir Master)

Trinity, Portland is seeking a skilled, dynamic and enthusiastic music director to support their 10am Sunday worship services and to provide music on other Holy Days and special occasions. A job description can be found here. For more information, please contact Rev. Peter Swarr, Rector at 207-772-7421 or by email.
Trinity Church, Castine
Part-time Administrative and Bookkeeping Position

This position requires a good working knowledge of QuickBooks for non-profits and Office programs such as Publisher, Word and Excel. If you have interest or know of someone who would be interested, please email St. Philip's Treasurer, Kate Noel.
St. Bartholomew's, Yarmouth
Part-time Organist/Choir Director

St. Bartholomew's in Yarmouth is looking for a part-time Organist/Choir Director. Click here for the job description and contact information.


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