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Save the Date
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2012 Global Episcopal Mission Network Conference, May 3-5, Diocese of Connecticut
"Mission? Whose Mission? Responding to our Baptismal Covenant" Click here for a flyer and registration information.
"Journey through a Hard Terrain: Caring and Being Cared for in the Shadows of Alzheimer's"
with the Rev. Martin Smith, Saturday, May 19, at St. Nicholas', Scarborough, online, and at satellite sites.
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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Join our list
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Thanksgiving for ...
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the safe return and recovery of Micah Thomas, the 12 year-old parishioner at St. Philip's, Wiscasset, who was rescued on the Eastern River in Dresden late last week.
Congratulations to...
the Rev. Levering Sherman and the people of St. Andrew's, Millinocket, and St Thomas', Winn, as they join together in ministry beginning April 9.
members of the newly formed Central Maine Integrity chapter. Their first meeting and pot luck will be held on Sunday, April 15, at 1 p.m. at St. Mark's, Augusta. Click here for a flyer.
the Rev. Shirley Bowen, rector of Christ Church, Biddeford, and director of Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center pictured here at the State House with Rep. Alan Casavant of Biddeford after she offered the opening prayer
in the Maine House on March 8.
Prayers for...
the Rev. Ann Kidder and the people of St. James', Old Town, and St. Patrick's, Brewer, as they gather for a Celebration of New Ministry on Saturday, March 24 at 1 p.m. beginning at St. James' and moving to St. Patrick's.
the Rev. Ed Garrett of Bar Harbor as he recovers from broken ribs sustained in a recent fall.
and, last of all, the Anglican Communion and the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, in the wake of his announcement last week that he will retire later this year to take a post as Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge. He makes the announcement here.
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Lenten Resources
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(Virtual) Compline Sunday Evenings in Lent
Each Sunday evening in Lent, at 9 p.m., those who wish may gather for virtual Compline.
Interested? Please sign up for one or both of the last two 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.
March 25 / April 1
Offer to share easy-to-read Passion Gospels
Here's an offer from the Rev. John Rafter, rector of St. Thomas', Camden: Over the past few years, I have prepared an easier-to-read alternative to the commercial small-print tri-folds of the Passion Gospels for Palm Sunday and Good Friday. I have arranged each of the Passion Gospels on four sides of 8 1/2 x 11 paper, arranged for reading by at least three voices. I am happy to share these free to anyone in the diocese who would like them (provided that they are not re-sold). They use the NRSV translation (including copyright information), and are available in .pdf and .docx formats. To see a sample, view the Mark Gospel here. Please be in touch with John at jrafter@webmail.us or 236-3680 if you would like to take him up on his kind offer. Quiet Morning at St. Andrew's, Newcastle, Wednesday, March 21 The Benedictine spirituality group at St. Andrew's, Newcastle, welcomes all to a Quiet Morning in Lent on Wednesday, March 21, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Don Kraus of Oxford University Press will lead the meditations on reading and praying the Psalms, with time set aside for prayer, quiet reading, reflection, and rest. For more information, click here for a flyer.
Lenten Quiet Day and Eucharistic Visitor Training
St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, Dover-Foxcroft March 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Our meditation for the day will be on the meaning and experience of the Eucharist, and will include Eucharistic Visitor training and a celebration of the Eucharist. Please RSVP to Nancy Moore, 943-5168 or nlmoore67@gmail.com by March 21.
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What's New
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Ten New Initiative Grants funded
For the second year, Diocesan Council has awarded grant monies to support new ministry in Maine congregations.
On Saturday, March 3, Council - a representative, elected body which serves as the "Convention between Conventions" - met at Saint Mary the Virgin Church in Falmouth. While new working groups on leadership development, mission review, and aid to congregations were meeting, other Council members evaluated the 16 New Initiative Fund grant applications. The full body then met to discuss and deliberate with an eye to how closely each application fit the Seven Criteria for Mission adopted by Diocesan Convention last October. A total of $23,885 was awarded for new ministry in the diocese.
Applications for Bishopswood director position welcome; Camper registration is open
 After 34 camping seasons Camp Bishopswood director, Georgia Koch, will retire at the end of the summer. The Trustees of Bishopswood have put out a call for a new director and are accepting applications through March 31.
Camper registration is open. Please see the website for a 2012 brochure and registration forms.
Seeking college students!
If you have students attending college at one of our universities in Maine, or even outside of Maine, the diocesan Campus Missioner, the Rev. Shirley Bowen, would LOVE to hear from you!
With a diocesan chaplain at USM, an emerging chaplaincy at UMaine, Orono and Bowdoin college, and other parishes that wish to offer hospitality to local college students, we can only extend hospitality when we know where the students are. Campuses can no longer supply that information. We count on parish clergy and leadership, as well as parents.
Please send names and contact info to shirleybowen@maine.rr.com and we'll be sure to reach out to them.
Changing our Community, Changing the World
Do you wish your parish had more of an outward focus? Are you a new deacon or parish leader? Do you long to explore how your congregation can take a more diaconal approach with your community and with the world?
Changing Our Community, Changing the World is a six week non-credit course with weekly video presentations. You watch on your own schedule and arrange small live group discussions with your team, along with theological reflections, readings, and an integrative project to help your parish become more outwardly focused.
Offered by EDSConnect, the lifelong learning component of Episcopal Divinity School from April 16 to June 10. Live web gatherings evenings April 24, May 15 and June 5. Contact ccull@eds.edu to register or edsconnect@eds.edu for questions. $300 for teams of 2-4 people, $200 per individual. 1 CEU. Click here for a flyer.
From the Clergy Day Committee
The Clergy Day originally planned for Tuesday, May 8, has been cancelled. The Clergy Day Committee hopes to reschedule; stay tuned for details...the alternate date will be published as soon as possible. In the meantime, alternatives include the Doug Babkirk seminar being held at St. David's, Kennebunk, and the Martin Smith event in Scarborough. Registration information re: Chrism Day of Quiet at St. John's, Bangor, on Tuesday, April 3, has been sent via Constant Contact. If you have trouble registering, or have questions, please be in touch with Barb Martin bmartin@episcopalmaine.org The program for clergy will begin at 10 a.m. Members of the laity are invited and welcome to attend Eucharist at noon. Registration information will soon be available for the Spring 2012 Clergy Gatherings with Bishop Steve: Saturday, April 28, Presque Isle, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. lunch details TBA Thursday, May 3, Old Town, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., bring your own brown bag lunch Tuesday, May 15, St. Mark's, Augusta, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., bring your own brown bag lunch Thurs, May 17, Cathedral, Portland Eucharist at 12:10, followed by brown bag lunch, meeting from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Bricks for Haiti project continues The Episcopal Church's plan to assist with the rebuilding of the Holy Trinity Cathedral complex of worship space, offices, and diocesan schools continues. If your congregation does not have a direct parish partnership with a church in Haiti, consider learning more about the Bricks for Haiti campaign. Click here for all the information and resources you need to start a parish campaign.
Thanks for your website patience With the migration from the old diocesan website to the new, we've encountered some tedious technical difficulties. The most simple way to describe it is that our new server is allergic to Loring House's IP address. We appreciate your patience as we work out the unanticipated kinks in the new system. |
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Four Quartets at the Cathedral
T.S. Eliot's, poetic masterpiece, Four Quartets, will be performed, a recitation from memory, by John Farrell of Figures of Speech Theatre at St. Luke's Cathedral, on Saturday, March 24 at 7 p.m. Since this will take place in the Emmanuel Chapel, seating is limited and reservations are suggested at 865-6355 or quartets@figures.org.
Treasurer/Wardens Finance Workshops
Do you have questions on how to fill out your parochial reports each year?
Do you wonder how to properly handle priest discretionary funds and designated donations?
Wondering about the New Revolving Loan Program?
Please join Terry Reimer, the Canon for Finance and Stewardship as he presents these topics and others about finances in a church setting. The topics he will cover are the New Audit Program, Parochial Reports, the new Compensation Handbook, Employee Health Benefits, the Diocesan Payroll Program, the Diocesan Revolving Loan Fund, and Diocesan Insurance Program. Terry will also provide ample time for questions and answers. The workshops are open to all who have an interest in church finances. There is no fee and no need to register. Please come and learn!
March 24 - St. Stephen the Martyr, Waterboro - 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
April 28 - St. John's, Bangor - 9 a.m.- 1 p.m.
There will be no break for lunch, although morning beverages will be provided.
Fauré's Requiem at St. Saviour's, Bar Harbor, April 1
On Sunday, April 1, at 3 p.m. the St. Saviour's Festival Choir will present Gabriel Fauré's Requiem. This exquisite work, offered at the beginning of Holy Week, will be accompanied by a small orchestra and organ.
There is no admission charge for the concert; however donations to St. Saviour's Friends of Music will be gratefully received. For more information see our website at www.stsaviours.me.
"A Rabbi, A Priest, and a Minister..." How People of Faith Support Marriage Equality
A panel discussion sponsored by the Religious Coalition Against Discrimination will feature the Very Rev. Ben Shambaugh of the Cathedral as the priest at Congregation Bet Ha'am in South Portland on Tuesday, April 3, at 7 p.m. Q&A to follow. Click here for an informational flyer.
A Bonhoeffer Celebration St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church in Portland will host a series of events to commemorate Dietrich Bonhoeffer on April 27 - 29. All are welcome. Click here for an informational flyer. |
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