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Congratulations to ...
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the Rev. Elizabeth Miller and the people of Christ Church in Norway as she joins them as their transition priest-in-charge.
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Lenten Resources
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Practicing the presence of God: Lenten video meditations by Bishop Steve start on Ash Wednesday
Look for an email from the Bishop on Wednesday with the first of seven Lenten video meditations. A new mediation will be posted each Wednesday throughout Lent. The theme this year is practicing the presence of God.
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 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. If you or a group in your congregation are taking the challenge, please let Bishop Steve know at slane@episcopalmaine.org.
(Virtual) Compline Sunday Evenings in Lent
After this month's success in hosting the Bishop's Epiphany book group with the online conferencing program, WebEx, we've decided to try our hand diocese-wide online worship.
Each Sunday evening in Lent, at 9 p.m., those who wish may gather for virtual Compline. Interested? Please sign up for one or more dates below.
The order of service will be displayed on the screen and the audio will be by phone conference call. Instructions for all will be sent by invitation once you register. Turning on your webcam is optional given the evening hour. (The people of the Diocese of Missouri have a wildly popular version of this they call this RSVP - Robe and Slippers Virtual Prayer.)
To start, each week will be limited to the first 15 people who sign up.
March 4
March 11
March 18
March 25
April 1
Lenten resources from across the Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church's Office of Public Affairs offers this roundup of Lenten resources. Also, listen to the Presiding Bishop's message for Lent.
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, the 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. Lent Madness: Have some fun learning about the lives of saints this Lent Who WILL win the Golden Halo? You decide. Beginning on Thursday (Ash Thursday?), February 23, a full bracket of 32 saints will go head-to-head in a daily poll at www.lentmadness.org. Each day biographies and anecdotes of two new saints will be offered to help you decide which one to support.
Patterned after the NCAA basketball tourney, the first round of 32 will be reduced to the Saintly Sixteen, then the Elate Eight, the Final Four, and finally the Championship round to determine which saint of God will win the Golden Halo.
The Diocese of Maine's Canon Heidi Shott will be an "advocate" for four saints: Augustine of Hippo and his mother Monnica (they are pitted against one another in the first round which is just wrong); the first Native American deacon and priest Enmegahbowh; and Queen Emma of Hawaii.
A pitch was made to the Lent Madness Powers That Be for Francis Perkins, a Mainer who is commemorated in the Episcopal Church's Holy Women, Holy Men, to be included, but it fell upon ears that would not hear. Maybe next year.
Join in the fun each weekday during Lent and learn more about real people of extraordinary faith!
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What's New
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News from Province 1 - The Seven Dioceses of New EnglandTake the environmental stewardship survey for New England congregations
At the 2009 General Convention, the Episcopal Church adopted the Genesis Covenant encouraging congregations to significantly reduce energy use as stewards of God's Creation. Several Province 1 dioceses have adopted the Covenant and many churches are developing a ministry of energy stewardship. Additionally, the Province hired an Energy Stewardship Minister, the Rev. Stephanie Johnson revstephaniejohnson@gmail.com to coordinate resources. This survey is being conducted to learn about congregational energy reduction projects, while offering churches, which may be interested in beginning this ministry, information and ideas about how to start this work. Anyone interested in congregational energy use is encouraged to respond - particularly rectors, Environmental Stewardship Committee chairs and Building & Grounds Committee chairs. The survey will remain open until February 28th. Thanks so much! Take the survey!Learn about ministry grant opportunities and provincial nominations in Province 1
Check it out at www.province1.org St. Andrew's, Winthrop, has an organ for YOU!
As many of you know, the congregation formerly known as St. Andrew's in Readfield is now happily sharing space with the Quakers at their meetinghouse in Winthrop. Their organ (and upright piano) did not, however, make the trip and need to be out of the former building by the end of April. The organ was purchased new in 1995 for $8,000. It has two 61 key consoles, 32 pedals, and 22 stops. At 58" wide by 45" high and a depth with pedal board at 47", it could fit in a home or church. If you have interest in an electric organ (or an upright piano) in very good condition, please contact Edna Smith at ednasmith3@myfairpoint.net or 622-2188. Changes in United Thank Offering financial procedures
Effective immediately, UTO Ingathering checks from parishes as well as memorial gift and UTO trust fund donations are to be sent: United Thank Offering DFMS - Protestant Episcopal Church US P.O. Box 958983 St. Louis, MO 63195-8983 Checks mailed overnight (Fed Ex, Express Mail, and other courier service) to the lockbox should be addressed to: United Thank Offering DFMS - Protestant Episcopal Church US #958983 1005 Convention Plaza St. Louis, MO 63101 Please disregard the address printed on current UTO materials - including the blue boxes and handbooks. UTO materials are available at the Episcopal Marketplace or by calling 866.937.2772.Gussy up your church's listing on the new Episcopal Church website
The "Find A Church" section of the Episcopal Church's new website at www.episcopalchurch.org welcomes church leaders to become administrators of their own church page. Once approved, you can revise your information for accuracy (a page for a church in Tennessee, it is reported, featured a map showing it to be located in Ghana), add photos, and information about your congregation.
Visit the Diocese of Maine section to find your church page, once there click the link that says, "Become the Web Editor of This Page."
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Up and Coming in Maine and beyond
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Second Stewardship Double Header Offered in Belfast
On Saturday, March 3, St. Margaret's, Belfast, will host a second offering of the Stewardship Double Header:
From 9:00-12:00, "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.
Questions? Contact Lisa Meeder Turnbull at mainestewards@yahoo.com
Ready to register, either as an individual or on behalf of a team from your congregation?
Click here!
Safe Church Training in the Diocese of Maine The Diocese of Maine's Safe Church Training program includes healthy church practices concerning the safety of ministry with adults, protection of children and youth, and elder abuse prevention. Participants are requested to attend all three sessions in an effort to build awareness and strive to make our churches safer places. Next up: March 3, at St. Paul's in Brunswick
(Snow date, March 10) Register Here More 2012 trainings will be published soon. For additional information about these trainings, contact Elizabeth Ring, Organizational meeting for Central Maine Integrity Chapter All who are interested in forming a chapter of Integrity in Central Maine are invited to a meeting to discuss the possibility on Sunday, March 4, at 1 p.m. at St. Mark's, Augusta. For more information, contact the Rev. Heather Blais at 882-7184 or heather.blais@gmail.com or Joe Riddick at 622-1831 or jrmcr@msn.com. For more on Integrity, visit the national website at www.integrityusa.org From Youth Ministries
TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) is the big spring high school event, March 23-25 at Trinity, Portland. TEC is about the compassion, authenticity, wisdom and struggles of Jesus. Because relationships are important both to Jesus and to high schoolers, we'll look at relationships with God, friends and others. TEC will have an international flavor - with perspectives from Sudan and Myanmar. We hope that teens from your church will join with their peers from all over our diocese. Here's a TEC application.
Applications for the Diocesan International Youth Mission Team are due on Easter. This is a major commitment, and a wonderful opportunity to serve. The high school team will meet for over a year and will serve in the Dominican Republic village of Jalonga in 2013. Here's a Mission Team application.
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.
Registration is now available for this August's Downeast Spiritual Life Conference to be held August 24 and 25 in Ellsworth. Principal speakers include Phyllis Tickle, Richard Rohr, and Andrew Harvey. Learn all about it (and register) at www.downeastspiritual.org
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