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Prayers for ...
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A prayer from the Presiding Bishop for those affected by the Boston bombings
Gracious God, you walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death. We pray that the suffering and terrorized be surrounded by the incarnate presence of the crucified and risen one. May every human being be reminded of the precious gift of life you entered to share with us. May our hearts be pierced with compassion for those who suffer, and for those who have inflicted this violence, for your love is the only healing balm we know. May the dead be received into your enfolding arms, and may your friends show the grieving they are not alone as they walk this vale of tears. All this we pray in the name of the one who walked the road to Calvary. Amen
the Rev. Nathan Ferrell and the people of Saint Mary the Virgin, Falmouth, as they celebrate their ministry together on Sunday, May 5, at 5 p.m. Reception to follow. All are welcome. (Please note: this service has been rescheduled from April 28.)
Bishop Steve, Gretchen, and family in the loss of their oldest and closest friend and godfather to their children, Michael Losinger, of Albany, NY. The Bishop will preside at his service on Saturday, April 27.
the Rev. Gail White, deacon at St. Matthew's, Lisbon, upon the loss of her mother, Dorothy Jean White of Alexander, Maine, who died on April 18.
Congratulations to...
the Rev. Chick Carroll, deacon at St. Paul's, Brunswick, upon receiving the 2013 St. Stephen Recognition from the Association of Episcopal Deacons. Chick will be honored at the annual diaconal assembly held in Williamsburg, Virginia, in June.
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Upcoming in Maine and beyond
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Spring and Fall Eucharistic Visitor trainings
Registration for four Eucharistic Visitor trainings is now open.
May 4, St. John's, Presque Isle
September 21, St. Thomas', Camden
November 16, St. Patrick's, Brewer
Eucharistic visitors are lay ministers licensed by the bishop to take the consecrated Sacrament to members of the congregations who are unable to be present at the celebration of Holy Eucharist. The training will fully prepare candidates for licensing.
Eucharistic Visitor training will be offered by Archdeacon Mary Lee Wile, and include a copy of "A Manual for Eucharistic Visitors" by Beth Wickenberg Ely, along with copies of the approved service.
Enneagram Spirituality Workshop offered on May 11 at Trinity, Portland
Spiritual teachers use enneagram typology to help their disciples know and love themselves and God more deeply through a dynamic spiritual process of movement toward wholeness. Co-sponsored by Trinity, Portland, and St. David's, Kennebunk, this workshop will be held on Saturday, May 11 at Trinity from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Workshop leaders are the Rev. Lyn G. Brakeman, Associate of Religious Sisters of Mercy, pastoral counselor, spiritual director, and currently priest associate at St. John's, Charlestown, MA, and the Rev. Richard Simeone, Associate of the Order of the Holy Cross, spiritual director, parish rector for 45 and currently priest associate, St. John's, Charlestown, MA.
Registration is $40 per person. Please bring a bag lunch; beverages and fruit will be provided. For information and registration, please contact: Lorae Boisvert at lboisvert1@roadrunner.com or 207 467-3085; or Ann Holliday Abbott at catlover3@midmaine.com, 207 775-5016.
Safe Church Training in Castine, May 11
There is still time to register for Safe Church Training at Trinity Church, Castine, on Saturday, May 11. Deadline for registrations is Friday, May 3. This is the last training scheduled until the autumn. We anticipate that there will be four trainings scheduled in September and early October; details to follow. Register for the training in Castine at tinyurl.com/DioMaineSafeChurch. Please read the Policies and Guidelines section for more information.
Upcoming regional confirmations
Sunday, May 12, 5 p.m. Regional confirmation (reception/reaffirmation/baptism) at the Cathedral of St. Luke, Portland. Clergy or senior wardens of congregations interested in participating should be in touch with Dean Ben Shambaugh at
bshambaugh@cathedralofstluke.org
Sunday, May 19, 4 p.m., Regional confirmation (reception/reaffirmation/ baptism) at St. David's, Kennebunk. Clergy or senior wardens of congregations interested in participating should be in touch with Rev. Dan Riggall at danriggall@stdavidskennebunk.org
Sunday, Oct 6, 5 p.m. Regional confirmation (reception/reaffirmation/ baptism) at St Mary the Virgin, Falmouth. Clergy or senior wardens of congregations interested in participating should be in touch with Rev. Nathan Ferrell at nathanferrell@smary.org
Spirituality and S'Mores - for adults who teach or lead kids
Join other Christian Ed teachers, priests, deacons, youth leaders, pilgrimage leaders, diocesan volunteers - and other people interested in the spiritual growth of teens and kids - on May 31 to June 2 at Camp Bishopswood.
Come and enjoy nature, campfires, colleagues, discussions, new and old ideas. You'll gain skills at responding to kids' tough questions with an openness and faith that encourage spiritual growth, rather than with "right answers." We'll explore ways to help kids look at the world through Christ's eyes.
Lodging and meals provided. Stay for the weekend or join us for some of it. Invite your spouses and friends, or invite them to Bishopwood's Spring Work Weekend, with whom we'll share meals and fun. To register, contact Jane Hartwell at jhartwell@episcopalmaine.org. Click here for more info.
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| Around the Diocese | |
Ministry opportunity in the Diocese of Hawaii
Have vacation or sabbatical time coming up? Need a place to write, read, think, pray, heal, and reflect on the beauty of the natural world? Consider a short-term ministry opportunity at St. Jude's Episcopal Mission, Ocean View, Hawaii. In exchange for preaching and presiding at the Sunday morning Eucharist, visiting clergy are provided with a new, fully-furnished 2-bedroom home and car.
Located on the old lava fields of Mauna Loa, Ocean View is the southernmost Episcopal parish in the US and has an extraordinary outreach ministry. Diocesan clergy are available for pastoral emergencies; all other details of parish life are run (and run well) by laity.
Openings start May 1, 2013. Four Sundays minimum commitment. For more information, write LANDL30@aol.com (Len and Lindsay Freeman who have recently served there) or visit this page on the Diocese of Hawaii site.
All Points Bulletin for materials
The DVD versions of "The Story of Anglicanism" and "The Story of the Episcopal Church" need to make their way back to the diocesan library. At least two congregations would like to be able to borrow them this spring. Please take a look and if they turn up, return them as soon as possible to the diocesan office at 143 State Street, Portland 04101.
More outstanding stuff --
Reports and forms
Please submit your parish officers report and certificate of delegates to diocesan convention. Many thanks to those who have shared them to date. Forms are available for download at tinyurl.com/DioMaineForms.
If you have questions about filling out these forms, please contact Elizabeth Ring, Registrar of the Diocese, ering@episcopalmaine.org.
Is your congregation listed below?
- St. Mark's, Augusta
- Grace Church Bath
- St. Patrick's, Brewer
- St. Peter's, Bridgton
- St. Thomas', Camden
- St. Alban's, Cape Elizabeth
- St. Luke's, Caribou
- Trinity, Castine
- St. Brendan the Navigator, Deer Isle
- St. Augustine's, Dover-Foxcroft
- St. Dunstan's, Ellsworth
- S. Mary the Virgin, Falmouth
- St. Paul's, Fort Fairfield
- St. Matthew's, Hallowell
- Good Shepherd, Houlton
- Church of Our Father, Hull's Cove
- Church of the Advent, Limestone
- St. Anne's, Mars Hill
- Christ Church, Norway
- St. James', Old Town
- St. Martin's, Palmyra
- Trinity, Portland
- St. John's, Presque Isle
- St. Nicholas', Scarborough
- Sts. Andrew and John, Southwest Harbor
- St. Stephen's, Waterboro
- St. Mark's, Waterville
- St. Luke's, Wilton
- St. Thomas', Winn
- St. George's, York Harbor
If so, your congregation has not yet (as of April 25) filed its 2012 parochial report. This report is due March 1 of each year and is critical to both the diocesan budget process and the aid to congregations grant process.
If your congregation is having difficulties in completing the report, please contact Canon Terry Reimer at 772-1953 x134 or treimer@episcopalmaine.org
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