November 14, 2014

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The Bishop's blog:

www.roundmaine.org

Check out two of the Bishop's recent sermons
"Still waiting" and "Citizens of two worlds."

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From the Diocese of Maine's youtube channel:

An updated version of the video shared at Convention

Remembering St. Stephen the Martyr, Waterboro, Maine

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NNE: The New Northeast

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What's going on in the Diocese of Maine?

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Prayers for ...

the young people and adults from across Maine attending the middle school youth event this weekend at St. Luke's Cathedral in Portland.

the family of the Rev. John LeSueur, former member of this diocese, who died suddenly on November 10 in New Hampshire where he served as deacon at Faith Church, Merrimack. The Rev. Susan LeSueur, his wife, served as rector of St. Anne's, Calais, prior to their move to New Hampshire. No service details are available at this time.

the victims and families of the six young people lost in the Noyes Street fire in Portland earlier this month. Jump down to upcoming events to learn about the benefit sponsored by Trinity Church this weekend.

Congratulations to

the Rev. Nancy Moore and the people of Christ Church, Norway, and Trinity Lutheran, South Paris, as they celebration their new ministry together on Tuesday, November 18, at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome to the service to be held at Christ Church.

the Rev. Lael Sorensen (Diocese of Washington) and the people of St. Peter's, Rockland, as she joins them in ministry beginning in January.

the Rev. Maria Anderson, who joins St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church in Portland as associate pastor and mission developer. Maria's work developing a young adult community in greater Portland is a project jointly sponsored by the New England Synod of the ELCA and the Diocese of Maine and underwritten by funding from the ELCA and from the diocese. It is a good example of our growing collaboration with the ELCA, and our desire to create a new way of being church in Maine.

All are welcome to celebrate this new partnership and Maria's ministry as she is installed at St. Ansgar's on Sunday, November 23, at 3 p.m.

A message from the Lanes

We are deeply thankful for all your prayers and the many expressions of care we have received during Gretchen's bout with thyroid cancer. We're happy to report that Gretchen's most recent test indicates that she is free of cancer, and the necessary intervention is at an end.

With grateful hearts,

Steve and Gretchen

Around the Diocese

Godly Play storytelling circle, in person or online

A series of online Godly Play workshops will be offered by the Diocese of Maine to support and advance the practice of Godly Play in churches across the state. If you are interested in deepening your Godly Play practice or finding out what Godly Play is all about, please consider joining us. No experience required!

November 19^th 6:00-7:30 pm at St. Ann's in Windham

January 7^th 6:00-7:30 pm at St. Ann's in Windham

Or join us online with Webex at episcopalmaine.webex.com.

2015 UTO grant applications now available

Applications are now available for the 2015 United Thank Offering grants. The application forms are available here along with guidelines for applying for the grants and information about how to write grants. Two experienced Maine grant-writers ave volunteered this year to help applicants refine their proposals and write compelling grants. Contact the Maine UTO Coordinator, Sherri Dietrich, (ssdietrich@gmail.com), with any questions or for help with grant ideas/proposals.

The focus for the 2015 United Thank Offering grants is Mark Four of the Anglican Marks of Mission: To transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation.

Important notes

The United Thank Offering will accept:

* one grant application per diocese within The Episcopal Church;

* one additional application for a companion grant from a diocese of The Episcopal Church may be submitted. This relationship may be formed with an aided diocese from The Episcopal Church or with a diocese from The Anglican Communion. The sponsoring bishop with jurisdiction will be responsible for the accounting of the grant.

The deadline to submit applications to the Diocesan office is December 15.

Next up: adult formation resource exchange

Each edition of The Dio Log will point to a few new resources. Below is this week's new resource:

Practicing Reconciliation in a Violent World is an evocative book about reconciliation that occurs when we affirm that God is present and acting in the midst of tragedy. The author, Michael Battle, is an African American who worked with Desmond Tutu. from the Rev. Nina Pooley, St. Bartholomew's, Yarmouth

Read more about this recommendation on the Adult Formation webpage. To contribute your favorite resources, contact Jane Hartwell at jhartwell@episcopalmaine.org.

Use your cell phone to contribute to an Anglican Communion-wide online Advent calendar

The Anglican Communion Office and the Society of Saint John the Evangelist (SSJE) are teaming up to offer Anglicans and Episcopalians around the world a daily word, meditation, and beautiful image sent to their email inboxes.

Learn more about how to contribute images and how to receive daily Advent messages here.

Tech Soup offers QuickBooks to churches

Tech Soup has long offered donations of popular and otherwise expensive software to non profit organizations. For the first time churches may receive donations of QuickBooks 2015 financial software to assist with automated bill paying, compiling expenses, reporting donations, tracking gifts, and other financial tasks. Churches must pay only a small administrative fee to receive the donation.

Learn more here.

The new Cycle of Prayer is now available

With the advent of Advent 1 on November 30, the new diocesan Cycle of Prayer begins. Copies have been mailed to each congregation, but it is also available on the diocesan website here.

Outstanding Convention payments definitely welcome

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 tpinney@episcopalmaine.org.

Executive Council asks to share its recent resolutions with all dioceses

Here are two resolutions passed at the October meeting of the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church. The first deals with the repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery (which the Diocese of Maine approved at its Convention in 2007 and introduced to the General Convention in 2009) and the second reiterates condemnation of the sin of racism in light of recent deaths of young men in Ferguson and around the nation.

Up and coming in Maine and beyond

Trinity, Portland, to host benefit for five victims

Trinity Church, at 580 Forest Avenue in Portland, will host a benefit for the Noyes Street Fire Victims on Sunday, November 16 at 6:30 p.m. with Maine comedian Bob Marley. All proceeds go to the fire victims. Tickets are $20 and available here.

Genocide and ME at USM on November 20

The Diocese of Maine joins 20 community organizations, including the Wabanaki Truth and Reconciliation Commission, in co-sponsoring an event titled, "Genocide and ME: Shining the Light of Truth" to be held at Hannaford Hall at the Portland campus of the University of Southern Maine on Thursday, November 20, at 5:30 p.m.

Former Maine congressman Tom Andrews, of United to End Genocide, will sit on a panel with representatives from Wabanaki Reach and the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project. Readings and music will also be offered. All are welcome to this free event to learn more about genocide.

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, mainestewards@yahoo.com.

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.