October 10, 2014

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The Bishop's blog:

www.roundmaine.org

Read about his trip to Taiwan and Japan with the House of Bishops

or his latest sermon, "Give it all away: the unlikely business plan of God's vineyard."

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NNE: The New Northeast

Maurine Tobin of Episcopal Peace Fellowship writes about two convention resolutions: "Church funds should not support militarism."

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What's going on in the Diocese of Maine?

Visit the online calendar.

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Prayers for ...

...the people of the Bucksport community with the announcement of the December closure of the Verso paper mill which will affect 570 workers and their families. Maine clergy who serve churches in the surrounding areas are in conversation about how the Episcopal Church in Maine might provide support in the coming months.

Congratulations to...

Erin Reed, who will step up to become the new executive director of Trinity Jubilee Center in Lewiston as Kim Wettlaufer steps down after nine years in that position. Erin, who started volunteering at Trinity as a Bates student in 2004, currently serves as development director. Thanks, Kim! Click here for a story in today's Sun Journal.

...new (and in some cases reelected) members to serve a two-year term on Diocesan Council at recent pre-convention hearings:
Betsy York, St. Paul's, Fort Fairfield
Liz Graves, St. Saviour's, Bar Harbor
Mark Spahr, St. Patrick's, Brewer
Rita Steadman, St. John's, Bangor (to fill an unexpired clergy term)
Peter Bickford, Christ Church, Norway
Joseph Riddick, St. Mark's, Augusta
Jane Schroeder, St. Thomas', Camden
Kim Wallace, St. Ann's, Windham
Elizabeth Phipps, Trinity, Saco

Around the Diocese

Convention is just around the corner....

195th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Maine

University of Maine, Presque Isle

October 24-25, 2014

On the Road Together: Taking Time, Watching for God, Showing Mercy

Visit the Convention web page

Click here for to view the "all you need to know" email sent to all those registered today.

If you have hotel reservations in Caribou...

An unexpected number of rooms are still available at the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center (which also owns the Caribou Inn and Convention Center). The management is happy to help you switch your reservation and the rate will stay the same. Whether you're driving yourself or taking the bus, the Presque Isle Inn is .25 from UMPI compared to the Caribou's ten miles. Click the "all you need to know" link above for how to make the switch.

Tellers needed for counting ballots

It's that time of year, and we're looking for volunteers to help count ballots at Convention. If you're interested in helping out, please be in touch with diocesan staffer Tom Sumner at 772-1953 ext 138. No experience necessary, and you'll never have a nicer boss than Tom.

Share your successes at Convention

Has your congregation launched a great for adult formation program? Have you learned some lessons about how to do formation for children or teens? Please bring your resources to share at Convention on the Adult Formation and Christian Ed Collaboration display tables. FMI contact Jane Hartwell at 772.1953 x129 or jhartwell@episcopalmaine.org.

Introducing the adult formation resource exchange

In response to requests from many clergy and parishioners for a simple way to find out what's working in adult formation in other churches, a new page on the diocesan website is dedicated to a resource exchange.

Each edition of the Dio Log will point to a few new resources. Check out the details about the first round of suggestions listed below here on the Adult Formation page.

A Thrill of Hope (Advent) and What Wondrous Love (Lent) use the artwork of John August Swanson, the reflections of several Bible scholars, music and hymnody to invite participants to delve deeper into Gospel readings for those seasons.

The Education for Ministry (EfM) program includes in-depth study and spiritual support.

Sacred Stories provides an opportunity for small, intimate groups to share their spiritual journeys - to tell their stories and to listen to others as they tell theirs.

To contribute your favorite resources, contact Jane Hartwell at jhartwell@episcopalmaine.org.

Task Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church (TREC) church-wide webcast available on demand

On October 2 members of TREC, the group charged with making recommendations to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church that meets next summer in Salt Lake City, held a church-wide meeting at the Washington National Cathedral. More than 4,000 people watched the live webcast, including members of Maine's General Convention deputation gathered at Loring House and online. The video broadcast is available now to watch (or listen to as you to other things) on demand at reimaginetec.org/video.

Upcoming in Maine

Gather with the Christian Ed Collaboration group

The next Christian Ed Collaboration meeting will be Thursday, October 16, from 10 a.m. to noon. Everyone interested in Christian formation for children and teens is invited. The Bishop will be with us for the last part of the meeting. We'll meet at the Diocesan Office, 143 State Street in Portland. You can also join us by web conferencing. Here's the link to WebEx or, if you don't have a web cam, you may connect by phone at 650-479-3208 (a toll call) - the meeting number is 284 890 957. If you have trouble connecting, call Jane Hartwell at 776-0460. For more info, email Emily Keniston or Jane Hartwell.

Episcopal Peace Fellowship-Maine co-sponsors talk on Israel and Palestine on October 21

Dr. Mark Braverman will speak at First Parish Church at 425 Congress Street in Portland on Tuesday, October 21, at 7 p.m. about his new book, "A Wall in Jerusalem: Hope, Healing, and the Struggle for Justice in Israel and Palestine." Click here for an informational flyer.

Presiding Bishop to host webcast on Civil Discourse on October 22

On Wednesday, October 22, at 2 p.m., the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Pennsylvania will host " Civil Discourse in America: Finding Common Ground for the Greater Good," a forum for political, interfaith and educational leaders. A 90-minute webcast will be streamed live from historic Christ Church, Philadelphia, and will be available to watch on demand.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will deliver the keynote address, and the forum will be moderated by Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, executive Religion editor for The Huffington Post. Panel discussions will focus on the themes "Civil Discourse and Faith" and "Civil Discourse in Politics and Policy."

Prior to and during the live webcast, questions may be emailed to publicaffairs@episcopalchurch.org.

Click here for more information and a bulletin insert.

Haiti-Maine Companionship Committee hopes to see new faces at its November 1 gathering

Please join members of the Haiti-Maine Companionship Committee at St. Mark's, Waterville, on Saturday, November 1, from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.. We'll have coffee, tea and hearty snacks available since we'll be going through lunch hour! We will share experiences with partnerships, fundraising events and other projects and be updated on current events in Haiti, learn about recent and upcoming mission trips, and discuss new ways to reach out to our friends in Haiti.

We have moved from four to two meetings a year and all will be held in Waterville to make them more accessible to Maine parishes. [Thank you, St. Marks!] Those interested in learning more about ministry in Haiti and partnerships among parishes are welcome and encouraged to attend.
If you have questions please contact any of the following: Karin Draper, agoodOT@gmail.com; Sarah Danser, sdanser@alum.bucknell.edu; or Emily Scribner, escrib@myfairpoint.net.

We hope to see many new faces at our November meeting!

Province 1 Christian formation event:
The Once and Future Church

Weaving popular culture and faith formation, nationally-known speakers Lisa Kimball and Patricia Lyons will help participants from across New England explore how Christians are part of an epic story that takes the world seriously and connects God's Story with their own. Their humor-filled blending of theology, game theory, and Harry Potter will open imaginations. Participants will leave with practical tools for Christian formation in a changing church. The event will be held on December 11-13 in New Hampshire. Register by October 30. Learn more here.