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Notable Links
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Round Maine with Bishop Lane
Bishop Steve blogs about his recent visits to the southern end of the diocesan alphabet: Waterville and Wilton.
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NNE - The New Northeast blog
Tracking News, People, Places and Events in the Diocese of Maine
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Encourage your congregation to put a little fun in Lent while gaining a greater appreciation for the saints of the faith.
Beginning on February 23, saints from across time and space will commence a "holy smackdown" with a 32-person bracket similar to college basketball's March Madness.
Visit www.lentmadness.org each day to read bios of two saints who will face-off in an online poll. You can vote (once) for your favorite. The winner of the championship round will earn the Golden Halo.
George Herbert took 2010 honors while C.S. Lewis walked away with the gold in 2011. Who will it be this year?
Canon Heidi Shott will be one of eight contributors (aka celebrity bloggers) who are "assigned" four saints to defend and promote. She can't tell which ones until the second round. That's when the gloves come off.
Join in the fun!
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What's going on in the Diocese of Maine?
Check out the
Diocesan Calendar
or email
Pam McLellan
to post your congregation's events
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Prayers for...
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the family of the Rev. Donald Fowler who died early today, January 31, in Pennsylvania. Don served at congregations in Maine for many years - the Penobscot Mission and as interim at Norway, Auburn, and Bath. He was the long-time spiritual adviser of Maine Episcopal Cursillo. Details to follow.
Congratulations to...
The Rev. Maria Hoecker and the people of St. Columba's, Boothbay Harbor, as she joins them as vicar.
The Very Rev. Stephen Foote and the people of St. Mark's, Augusta, as he joins them as transition priest-in-charge.
The Rev. Alice Downs and the people of St. Anne's, Calais, as she joins them as priest-in-charge.
For an update on congregations in transition, visit the NNE blog here.
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What's New?
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there's still room in Bishop Steve's Epiphany Book Group  Bishop Steve is re-reading Phyllis Tickle's book, The Great Emergence: How Christianity is Changing and Why. He invites members of the diocese to read along with him and to sign up for one of two one-hour webinar discussions on the book. The first will be Wednesday, February 8, at 7:30 p.m. and the second will be on Wednesday, February 15, at 7:30 p.m.
Because participation will be limited to 23 people for each evening, registration is required.
Phyllis Tickle will be one of the keynote speakers at the Downeast Spiritual Life Conference in Ellsworth on August 24 - 26, 2012. The conference which will also feature, Fr. Richard Rohr and Andrew Harvey.
Registration is now open for the conference at www.downeastspiritual.org
The Great Emergence is available for purchase for $12.23 on Amazon.com here.
Take The Bible Challenge with Bishop Steve beginning in Lent
Just a year ago the people of St. Thomas' Episcopal Church in Fort Washington, PA, started a ministry called The Bible Challenge and pledged to read the Bible together in one year.
The plan calls for reading four chapters a day: three chapters of Old Testament, one Psalm, and one chapter of the New Testament.
Bishop Peter Lee, retired bishop of Virginia, says of the exercise, "The Bible Challenge is an imaginative, simple and very Anglican way to 'read, mark, learn and inwardly digest' the rich legacy of Holy Scripture."
Bishop Steve invites individuals and congregations to join him as he endeavors to read the Bible through between Ash Wednesday 2012 and Ash Wednesday 2013. Learn more about The Bible Challenge here as well as this helpful article on the Vital Practices blog.
Download the One Year plan here. Look for more!
six Steadfast Hope study groups on peace in Palestine and Israel offered in Lent
This Lent all are invited to join one of six Lenten study groups to be hosted across the diocese. For a list of programs and contact information click here (pdf) or here (web). Depending on the location, groups - facilitated by members of the Maine chapter of Episcopal Peace Fellowship - will meet at different times and for a varied number of sessions at churches in Blue Hill, Brewer, Augusta, Rockland, Bath, and Portland.
Steadfast Hope challenges common myths and perceptions about the origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, presents a compelling snapshot of the present situation on the ground, and offers a guide to the challenges that lie ahead in the quest for peace.
The program shares conflicting narratives from the Jewish and Palestinian perspectives, as well as Christian attitudes toward Israel and where Americans have been in the conversation. The resource culminates in understanding the issues of today and how peace-making can provide an initiative for change.
discount on Forward Movement's Walking with God Day by Day
It's not too late to catch up on daily meditations in this  new book from Forward Movement. The Diocese of Maine's own Canon Heidi Shott has written 3.66% of the book (ten meditations out of 366) and former rector of Trinity, Castine, the Rev. Melissa Skelton, is also a contributor.
Forward Movement is offering Maine Episcopalians a 25% discount on the book. When you order - either by calling 800-543-1813 or on the Forward Movement website here - use the code AUTH25. (We've been assured that the discount will be taken when the order is processed through it will not be reflected in your "shopping cart.")
Because the calendar entries are not dated by year, buy a bunch and give them away as gifts next year. (Please note: Authors receive no royalties from sales. According to the publisher, rewards are found in heaven.) three groups want to hear from you Help Episcopal Relief & Development with strategic planningEpiscopal Relief & Development is developing its next strategic plan, which will cover 2013 to 2015. The agency is seeking advice from supporters and friends around the Episcopal Church. An online survey is available for supporters to share their insights. It can be found here. Completed surveys must be received by Sunday, February 5, 2012. How is your congregation assisting veterans in your community?Maine Council of Churches has been appointed to the Maine Military and Community Leadership Council. This group was recently formed to understand how Maine can better serve the 137,000 veterans living in Maine. The Council has asked MCC to find out what churches and faith communities are doing as part of their outreach to Mainers who are currently or who have have previously served in the military and their famililes. Please take a few minutes to answer this quick survey: Thank you for your help! For the last 18 months, a new diocesan website has been in the works. It is finally (nearly) ready to become the official diocesan site. Just as a new restaurant has what is called a "soft open," to work out the kinks and correct glitches and oversights, the new diocesan website will remain at its test address for another month before it assumes the official diocesan web address. When a new restaurant opens in the soft phase, the proprietors often invite family and friends in early to try things out. We invite you to do that now at the test site: www.episcopal-maine.org. Please visit and kick the tires a bit. One big change from a conventional website is the lack of an extensive system of pull-down menus. In their place is an A-Z directory. Such a navigation system doesn't require the user to know the diocesan structure cold...or at all. You just need to know the subject you're looking for. Another improvement allows for people in congregations to submit and categorize events. Someone visiting the calendar can filter for Bishop visitations, or congregational events, or diocesan events. So please take a look, noodle around a bit and then tell us what's missing or what's confusing or what you like about it. Your detailed comments are most welcome at www.surveymonkey.com/s/newmaineweb . Thank you. |
February 10 deadline for 2012 New Initiative Fund Grant Apps
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Applications for New Initiatives Fund Grants due February 10 In December Diocesan Council approved a process to award $40,000 in new initiative grants to Maine congregations and ministries in 2012. The funding is derived from the 2012 diocesan budget for new initiatives and funds available each year in the Outreach and Services Grant program. The latter is revenue generated from the Foundations for Ministry capital campaign of the early 1990s. In 2012 the two grant programs will be conflated into one. The basis for Council's awarding the grants will be the "Seven Criteria for Mission" that were passed at Diocesan Convention in October. (See below.) Members of Diocesan Council are excited to offer the opportunity to congregations and diocesan ministries to think big about collaborative mission opportunities in their communities. The deadline for applications is February 10. Awards will be announced after the March Diocesan Council meeting no later than March 15. Download the Grant Application Here  Seven Criteria for Mission
(as adopted by Diocesan Convention on October 23, 2011)
1) Diocesan resources will support program/ministry efforts that are Christ-centered and Gospel-oriented. 2) Diocesan resources will support program/ministry efforts that collaborate with other churches, communities and affinity groups and demonstrate a willingness to share personnel and resources. 3) Diocesan resources will support those program/ministry efforts led by those who can demonstrate their experience as well as passion for their particular ministry 4) Diocesan resources will support program/ministry efforts with evaluation processes in place and those that can articulate a plan to achieve sustainability. 5) Diocesan resources will support program/ministry efforts whose leaders are willing to share their successes and best practices as well as failures with other congregations or collaborative groups that wish to replicate their work in other parts of the Diocese. 6) Diocesan resources will support program/ministry efforts that demonstrate a willingness to move from a centralized approach to ones that will involve and benefit a wide range and number of people within the diocese and beyond. 7) Diocesan resources will support program/ministry efforts that demonstrate the values of transparency, equity, fairness and collaboration. |
Up and Coming in Maine and beyond
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"The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King: A Revolution of Values" at UNE -Portland Campus, Wednesday, February 1
At noon on Wednesday, February 1, at the Ludcke Auditorium of the Portland campus of the University of New England, the Rev. H. Roy Partridge, Jr., Ph.D., Episcopal priest and Visiting Professor at Bowdoin College, will present a lecture titled "The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King: A Revolution of Values."
All are welcome.
The Awakening middle school event is almost here! It's for kids in grades 6-8 on February 3-5 at St. Ann's Church in Windham. So far, kids are coming from all over the Diocese of Maine, including Rangeley, Cape Elizabeth, Calais, Portland, Camden, Gardiner, Eastport, Scarborough, Bangor, Brunswick, and Windham. If you're in grades 6-8 or if you're an adult who leads middle schoolers, this weekend is for you! Awakening is a weekend of new friends, fun and God. There's laughing, talking, an option of swimming, eating and all around good times. Sherry Sivret will lead the event and the Rev. John Rafter will be our priest. Download applications here. For more info, go to www.maineyouth.org or contact youth@episcopalmaine.org or Sherry Sivret at ssivret@episcopalmaine.org.
Cabin Fever Saturday at St. Stephen's, Waterboro
On Saturday, February 4, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., (snow date Feb. 11), St. Stephen the Martyr Church, 424 Sokokis Trail (Rte.5), Waterboro, invites everyone for fun and friendship. Gather for a potluck supper, feel free to bring something you like (no charge). Play cards and board games, bring your own games. Kids are welcome! Please RSVP with the number of people coming, to the church, 247-6458, or Jane McCarthy, 727-3228.
Konbit Sante's 10th Anniversary Concert
On Saturday, February 4, at 7:30 p.m, the DaPonte String Quartet will perform at St. Mary's in Falmouth. The concert will commemorate Konbit Sante's 10th anniversary of service in the Cap Haitien region northern Haiti. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased online at or at the door that evening. The February 4 program will include Shubert and Maine's first performance of Dyalòg by Haitian composer, Gifrants. Gather for an evening of wonderful music, Haitian art, and good company For more event information, please contact 347-6733 or email info@konbitsante.org.
National Council of Churches launches webinar series on energy The first in the series: Using Emerging Technologies for Energy Stewardship will be held on Friday, Feb. 10, at 1 p.m.
Learn how emerging technologies such as smart grids can help save energy in our personal lives, work lives, and faith lives. This webinar will explore, from a faith perspective, issues related to smart grid technology. This webinar will be the first in a series of six energy ethics presentations that we will host throughout 2012.
Register Now for a Stewardship Workshops
On Saturday, February 11, 2012, St. John's, Bangor, will host two stewardship workshops for clergy and lay leaders.
From 9:30-12:30, Money and More will introduce year-round, holistic stewardship, taking a fresh look at time, talent, and treasure through the lenses of the liturgical cycle, the unique seasons of the individual congregation's life together, and our commitment to mission and ministry in all that we do with all that we have.
From 1:00-3:00, Organs and Boilers and Roofs, Oh My! will look at the principles of capital and legacy stewardship, with practical discussion around how and when to approach what are sometimes sensitive conversations.
Our time together will include the praying of the Daily Office and a lunch break, with a simple sandwich platter and beverage provided. Participants are welcome to bring a "brown bag" supplement as well.
Ready to register, either as an individual or on behalf of a team from your congregation? Click here! Episcopal Peace Fellowship meets Saturday, February 11 Join members of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship - Maine Chapter at St. John Baptist in Thomaston on Saturday, February 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. All are welcome. For more information, contact the Rev. Carol Huntington at 443-5777.
Midcoast churches host Haiti Benefit Dinner on February 17
The third annual Haiti benefit bowl dinner, which will be held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Newcastle at 6 p.m. on Friday, February 17, will feature Haitian food prepared by local professional chef Tom Schwarz. Haitian music and art will also grace the festivities. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children with all proceeds going to support health and education programs in the Gros Morne region of northern Haiti through the Ecumenical Emergency Group.
Other churches involved include St. Andrew's, Newcastle; St. Giles, Jefferson, St. Philip's, Wiscasset; Second Congregational, Newcastle; Midcoast Friends; and South Bristol Congregational.
Tickets are available at the door.
Safe Church Training in 2012 Safe Church trainings are planned regionally around the diocese in order to make the best use of our trainers' time and be mindful of our budget parameters. The first Safe Church training of 2012 will be held on Saturday, March 3, at St. Paul's in Brunswick (snow date March 10). ECF Webinars Over the next several weeks, the Episcopal Church Foundation will host a number of free webinars on topics of stewardship and planned giving. All you need is an internet-connected computer and a telephone. Below are the topics and dates. All are scheduled in early evening. Visit here to learn more and to register for specific webinars. Basics of Planned Giving, January 31 Basics of a Parish Capital Campaign, February 8 & March 19 Vestry Leadership 101, February 15 & March 13 Basics of Endowments, February 28 Making a Planned Gift to Benefit your Congregation, March 14 Befriending our Losses - a one-day workshop on March 10
The Rev. James Gill will offer a one-day workshop at the Living Water Spiritual Center in Winslow on Saturday, March 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Judith Viorst writes of "Necessary Losses" in life, and that we have the power to choose how we meet them. In contrast to a world that often asks us to deny the darker emotions in our lives, such as grief, fear, anger and despair, we will explore ways in which to befriend and even to surrender to them as our teachers. Mindfulness and meditation exercises, along with centering prayer, all offered in a quiet and supportive setting, will help us to gain inner peace. The fee of $50 includes the program and a noon meal. Click here for a registration form. |
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