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October 31, 2014

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The Bishop's blog:Read his recent sermon, "How do we bear the image of God?"

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NNE: The New Northeast

Read Gretchen Lane's recent post, "Love Heals: Ministry to address human trafficking starts in Maine."

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What's going on in the Diocese of Maine?

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Prayers for ...


the Rev. John Miller priest of this diocese who lives in Pawley's Island, SC, as he recovers from heart surgery.

the family of Ralph Davison, 70, former member of Standing Committee and Diocesan Council and long-time member of St. George's, York Harbor, who died on October 5. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 1 at 10 a.m. His obituary may be found here.

Congratulations to ...

the Rev. Myrick Cross and the people of St. Patrick's, Brewer, as he joins them in ministry as priest-in-charge and upon their recent celebration of St. Pat's 40th Anniversary. The Rev. Ralph Durgin, St. Patrick's first priest (pictured second from right), and retired rector, the Rev. Ian Bockus, were on hand for the celebration.

the Rev. George Lambert and the people of Grace Church, Bath, as he joins them as interim priest-in-charge.

all those elected to hold diocesan office at Convention last weekend -
Ms Leigh Spahr, St. Patrick's, Brewer; Secretary of the Diocese
Mr. Richard Rozene, St. Ann's, Windham; Treasurer of the Diocese
The Rev. Maria Hoecker, St. Columba's, Boothbay Harbor; Standing Committee
The Very Rev. Ben Shambaugh, St. Luke's, Cathedral, Portland; Standing Committee
Mr. Bruce Dalbeck, Trinity, Portland; Standing Committee
The Rev. Craig Hacker, St. Peter's, Bridgton; Disciplinary Board
Ms Patricia Ryan, St. Paul's, Brunswick; Disciplinary Board

Around the Diocese

Convention news, video, and photos

On the Road Together: Taking Time, Watching for God, Showing Mercy 
  
For results, photo galleries, downloadable copies of Bishop Lane's sermon and address, visit the Convention web page.

Thanks so much to the people of Aroostook County for the warmest welcome imaginable. 

Convention Sermon by Bishop Stephen T  Lane
Convention Sermon by Bishop Stephen T Lane

Convention Address by the Rt.  Rev.  Stephen T.  Lane, Bishop of Maine
Convention Address by the Rt. Rev. Stephen T. Lane, Bishop of Maine

Convention wrap-up...

If someone has lost (seems a lot of keys have gone AWOL this year), forgotten, mislaid or is otherwise missing something that may have been left at UMPI, the lost and found department is part of Campus Safety and Security.

 

If you have not made payment for bus and/or meals, please send your check as soon as possible to: The Episcopal Diocese of Maine  Attn: T Pinney, 143 State Street, Portland, ME 04101. If you have questions about payment, please be in touch with Teresa at [email protected]


 

A message from Bishop Lane on illness and the Common Cup"

The enterovirus outbreak among young children and the specter of an ebola epidemic have caused a number of people to ask about illness and Holy Communion. As you consider what you measures you will take during the upcoming flu season, let me offer the following guidelines:

1. Our churches will continue to offer both bread and wine-in-the-common-cup, until and unless public health officials make other recommendations. I don't expect public health officials to intervene.

2. It is perfectly acceptable to receive communion in one kind only. Many communicants, children and those who do not wish to drink alcohol, already take only the bread. This is complete communion. If you have a cold, receiving in one kind shows regard for others.

3. All myths to the contrary notwithstanding, there is not enough alcohol in communion wine to kill  viruses.

4. Intinction is not a safe alternative. Fingers are dirtier than lips. One touch of a finger to the wine renders the whole exercise pointless. I much prefer the common cup to intinction.

The best practice is also the one we know best: wash your hands frequently and stay home if you are ill.

Please don't hesitate to call with questions.


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 (or maybe to warn about what didn't work), 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. Here are two new resources used by Maine clergy for adult formation:

 Offering our questions to God in the offering plate is how one church built its formation program and helped folks to understand that questions can be offerings.

 Embracing an Alternative Orthodoxy: Richard Rohr on the Legacy of St. Francis - 

was disappointing.

Read more about them both on the Adult Formation webpageTo contribute your favorite resources, contact Jane Hartwell at [email protected].


Up and coming in Maine and beyond


Haiti-Maine Diocesan Partnership informational meeting, Saturday, November 1

 

The Haiti-Maine Diocesan Partnership will hold an informational meeting on Saturday, November 1, at St. Mark's, Waterville, from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
 
All are welcome! Please join us to learn how your church may participate in this exciting and rewarding ministry, sharing spiritual and material resources, stories of faith, hope and love.
 
Refreshments will be available. Please contact Sarah Danser for more information at [email protected].

 

All Souls' Day Solemn Requiem at St. John's, Bangor


 

Sunday, November 2, at 4 p.m. St. John's, Bangor will offer at Solemn Requiem Eucharist in commemoration of All Faithful Departed. 


 

The Choir of St. John's, accompanied by instrumentalists from the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, will sing Maurice Durufle's beautiful setting of the Requiem texts in the context of the service. It was composed in 1947, in the shadow of World War II, and has a combination of moments of extreme beauty and peacefulness while also containing musical passages of a more unsettling and darker character. The overall effect is a thoughtful, profound reflection of life and death. 

 

Anyone is welcome to submit names of loved ones to be remembered during the service - either by mailing them to the parish office or by emailing them to [email protected]. Donations received at the service will benefit the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter.


 


 

St. Paul's, Brunswick, offers Evensong for the Feast of All Saints, Sunday, November 2 at 4 p.m.

 

All are welcome to gather with members of St. Paul's, Brunswick, for Evensong this weekend. Evensong is a service of choral prayer led by a choir, and has been part of the Anglican and Episcopal tradition for centuries. The music is rich, worshipful and beautiful. 

 

The St. Paul's choir and Bowdoin's George Lopez, organ, under the direction of Bob Judd, will present music by Stanley Marchant, Herbert Murrill, Charles Stanford, and William Smith. Fellowship and refreshments will follow the service.



 

Register now for Fall Clergy Day, "Receiving Grace and Power"


Maine clergy are encouraged to respond to the invitation from Bishop Lane and the members of the Clergy Day Committee to attend the event scheduled for Thursday, November 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at St. Mark's, Waterville. The invitation link may be found here.


Gather with the Christian Ed Collaboration group

Everyone interested in Christian formation for children and teens is invited to the Christian Ed Collaboration meeting on Monday November 10, from 10 a.m. to noon. Either come to the Diocesan Office, 143 State Street in Portland or join us by web conferencing at episcopalmaine.webex.com or connect by phone at 650-479-3208 (a toll call) - the meeting number is 805 722 170. If you have trouble connecting, call Jane Hartwell at 776-0460. For more info, email Emily Keniston or Jane Hartwell.

 

Join teens from all over our diocese this November....


 
Kids and adults from Bangor, York, Cape Elizabeth, Portland, 

Calais, Camden, Windham, Millinocket, Gardiner, Falmouth, Jefferson, Stetson, Gorham, Hulls Cove, Bridgton, Brunswick, Pembroke and Randolph .... are already registered for these diocesan youth events.  We hope that kids from your church come, too.

Please publicize these and invite teens from your church:

 

 

Fall Middle School Event (for grades 6-8) is at St. Luke's Cathedral in Portland. Here's a flyer.

 

Happening high school event is at Christ Church in Gardiner. Here's a flyer.
 
Registration for all diocesan youth events is at www.maineyouth.org.


Mainestewards offers fall and winter discussion series 

The Mainestewards Discussion Series offers focused conversations around specific aspects of stewardship and leadership in our congregations. Whether you are a seasoned veteran able to offer insights and experience, new to congregational leadership and looking for resources and ideas, or interested in meeting and networking with fellow leaders who may be sharing similar challenges, these discussions are for you! 

 

The web-based conversations will be held on the second Monday of each month from 7-8 p.m. To register for one, a few, or all of these, or you have questions or suggestions for future topics, e-mail Lisa Meeder Turnbull, [email protected].

  • Why Not? November 10, 7-8 p.m. 

Now is the time when stewardship committees are asking, "What about the people we know will give, but don't pledge?" We'll talk about some of the reasons people choose not to pledge and explore ways of honoring that decision in light of our own responsibility for planning and budgeting in the coming year.

  • New Folks Comin' December 8, 7-8 p.m.

Advent, and particularly Christmas, is traditionally a season of visitors, seekers, and newcomers in our congregations. Participants will share experiences and learn from one another's successes and challenges with invitation, welcome, and engagement. 

  • Planning for Planned Giving January 12, 7-8 p.m.

Is your congregation ready to launch a planned giving ministry? Or do you have a feeling that you should find out more about it and whether it's right for your community? Do you have a robust planned giving program in place that others might learn from and adapt? January is the perfect time to plan a Lenten or Eastertide program that engages members of the congregation not just in planned giving for the church, but in the many aspects of planning that bring comfort to our most cherished relationships in times of grief and loss. 

  • Strategic Thinking February 9, 7-8 p.m.

As vestries and Bishop's Committees settle into their work for the year, now is a great time to develop the habits of strategic thinking. In this session we will look at the distinction between strategic planning and strategic thinking, discuss the importance of both in our leadership toolbox, and learn how strategic thinking can make the ministry of leadership more dynamic.

  • Know Your Stuff March 9, 7-8 p.m.

Inventories and maintenance schedules aren't just for insurance purposes. They have a valuable role in stewardship planning, too. We will talk about why these tools are important, how they can be used to support strategic thinking, and look at some templates that can be adapted to fit your situation and particular needs.