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August 22, 2014

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Prayers for ...


the Rev. Richard Rasner, deacon at St. Luke's, Portland, as he begins treatment for early stage esophageal cancer.

the family of the Rev. William Baxter, 91, of Scarborough, who died on August 20. Bill was rector of Trinity, Lewiston, from 1988 to 1998. During his tenure there both Trinity Jubilee Center and Faithworks were founded. A priest of the Diocese of Washington (D.C.), he also served in Missouri. A service is set for October 4 at St. Nicholas, Scarborough, with the time to be determined. Details to follow. 


Congratulations to...

the Rev. Ann Kidder of Southwest Harbor, who has been called to St. Christopher's by-the-River, Gates Mills, Ohio, to serve as Priest-in-Charge.

the Rev. Aaron Perkins, deacon at St. George's, York Harbor, who has been named by Bishop Lane as the new diocesan Deacon Formation Coordinator.

Around the Diocese

 
Maine Council of Churches launches "Love Your Neighbor: Feed the Hungry" program

The Maine Council of Churches is taking orders for its "Love your neighbor: Feed the hungry" program. The four or five session program will be available by digital sharing (or by means of a physical binder for those churches with limited online resources.)

 

The program includes one 26-minute video with first-person accounts of hunger and food insecurity in Maine.  

 

The program continues with four shorter videos of first-person accounts of hunger and food insecurity. These videos, plus a variety of articles and resources, form the basis of study circles. The ultimate goal of this project, which was funded in part by a donation from the Diocese of Maine, is to educate and to turn your congregations into effective anti-hunger advocates. There is a facilitation guide, as well as forms and resources in each packet.

 

This program is suitable for year-round use, and it could be a powerful tool for use during special seasons such as Advent or Lent. Youth groups, adult education, and confirmation programs can also make use of this resource.

 

To order this free program, contact Pastor Bill Barter at  [email protected]. You may also phone him at 207-772-1918.

  


Now taking Diocesan Council lay representative nominations 

 

At pre-convention hearings in the fall, eight area representatives are elected to a two year term for Diocesan Council. The class of 2014 will be composed of lay members. (The exception is an additional election of a clergy person to fill an unexpired term in Area 3 - Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties.)  

 

Those interested in serving on Council or learning more about what Council does, when and how often it meets are invited to check out the nomination form. Each of the eight areas of the Diocese of Maine will elect a representative at their pre-convention hearing in September or October.  Dates/times and locations of pre-convention hearings for each area will be announced soon.  

 

The deadline for nominations is September 19. To learn even more about Council (meeting minutes and more) visit the Diocesan Council page.

 


Convention registration, including meals, bus reservations now open

195th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Maine

University of Maine, Presque Isle
October 24-25, 2014

 
Online registration and sign-ups for meals, the tour of Aroostook County, display tables, and more is available on the Convention page at www.tinyurl.com/diome2014 (or click the button above).


September 1 is the deadline for nominations and resolutions. Click the link above for details.

The full convention booklet will be printed and distributed to clergy, delegates, and alternates in September.

 
Upcoming in Maine

Update on Maine2Mityana from the Bradshaws

On Wednesday evening, August 27, the Church of Our Father in Hulls Cove will host an illustrated talk about the ministry of the Rev. Chuck and Beth Bradshaw and their first year in Mityana. The gathering will begin at 5:30 p.m. Interested friends are most welcome to gather for a the presentation and light meal of salad and bread.

  

  

St. Francis, Blue Hill, hosts Prayers in the Park on August 31 

 

The congregation of St. Francis, Blue Hill, and the Rev. Claudia Wyatt Smith invites the public to a special "prayers-in-the-park" worship service in Blue Hill Town Park, on Sunday, August 31, at 10 a.m.

The non-denominational service will be held outdoors in the park at the end of Water St. and everyone is encouraged to bring lawn chairs and attend. In the event of rain, the service will take place at St. Francis by the Sea Church, 330 Hinckley Ridge Rd., Blue Hill.

This service, titled "Great Creating Spirit," is a reprise of the enormously successful worship service created by visiting theologian Rev. John Philip Newell at the close of the Downeast Spiritual Life Conference this July. The event was attended by more than 200 people of different faith traditions and many who had not set foot inside a church for decades. The service takes the format of a Celtic Earth Mass in recognition of the oneness of all creation.

Everyone is invited. Just come as you are and bring a lawn chair to sit on.

For more information, call St. Francis by the Sea at (207) 374-5200.

Fall meeting of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship - Maine

The Maine Chapter of Episcopal Peace Fellowship will host its fall meeting on Saturday, September 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Thomaston Baptist Church (Main Street, Route 1, across from St. John Baptist Episcopal Church).

We encourage all members and interested parties to attend the meeting and to join in the preparation of a resolution to be presented at Diocesan Convention on October 24-25. More than ever we are called to attend to the issues of peacemaking in Israel/Palestine and to consider a response to the degrading situation in the Gaza Strip.

Please bring a simple food item to share with other members at the potluck lunch at noon. For further information, contact either member Diane Paterson [email protected] or EPF convener Gretchen Crawford [email protected].


New England Episcopalians invited to participate in People's Climate March in New York City

  

On September 21 tens of thousands of people from across the U.S. are expected to gather in New York City for a massive march that coincides with a major United Nations' summit on climate change.

 

 

Mainers interested in participating in the People's Climate March have three EARLY morning options for bus transportation from Portland and Brunswick to New York. The Universalist Unitarian bus is $40 and the Sierra Club of Maine bus is $30. Both leave from Portland. A Bowdoin College bus is $35 and leaves from Brunswick. Tickets for each option are available at peoplesclimate.org/transportation.

Once in New York, through coordination with Greenfaith and the Diocese of New York, a meeting space in Central Park is being arranged so Episcopalians from all over may gather and march together. Details to follow.  


Registration open for Fall trainings for Eucharistic Visitors and Safe Church

Eucharistic Visitor Training: (Click for more information and a registration link.)
Saturday, September 13, St. Patrick's, Brewer, (9 a.m.- 1 p.m.)

 

Safe Church Training: (Click for more information and a registration link for all three locations.)
Saturday, September. 20, Good Shepherd, Houlton (9 a.m.- 3 p.m.)
Saturday, September 27, St. Paul's, Brunswick (9 a.m.-3 p.m.)
Saturday, October 11, St. Martin's, Palmyra (9 a.m.- 3 p.m.)

 

Preconvention Hearings set

Area 1 - Wednesday, September 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Church of the Good Shepherd, Houlton

Area 2 - Sunday, September 28,  4-6 p.m., St. Dunstan's, Ellsworth

Area 3 - Wednesday, October 1, 5:30-7:30 p.m., St. John's, Bangor

Area 4- Tuesday, September 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Christ Church, Norway

Area 5 - Wednesday, October 1, 6:30-8:30 p.m., St. Mark's, Waterville

Area 6 - Sunday, September 28, 4-6 p.m., St. John Baptist, Thomaston

Area 7 - Monday, September 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m., St. Mary the Virgin, Falmouth

Area 8 - Sunday, September 28, 4:30-6:30 p.m., St. David's, Kennebunk  

 

 

Events with Youth Ministries

 


Fall:
  • Leadership Prep for Middle School Event - October 17 to 18 - Cathedral     
  • Youth at Convention as regular delegates, Diocesan Youth Reps or ambassadors - Oct.24 to 25
  • Leadership Prep for Happening - October 31 to November 2 - Christ Church, Gardiner
  • Fall Middle School Event - November 14 to16 - Cathedral
  • Happening High School Event - November 21 to 23 - Christ Church, Gardiner
 
The place to find more information and applications is always www.maineyouth.org