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Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has urged Episcopalians to observe the Second Sunday in Advent, December 7, as a day of prayer for those in the Diocese of Liberia and the entire Anglican Church of the Province of West Africa, areas heavily affected by the current Ebola pandemic. Learn more here.

Additional messages from the Presiding Bishop this week:

the Rev. Chuck and Beth Bradshaw, missionaries in Uganda. Here's their Thanksgiving Maine 2 Mityana newsletter.

Congratulations to ... the people of the Rev. Erik Karas, the pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Augusta, who has been called by the people of St. Mark's, Augusta, to be their minister. 

Godspeed to ... 800 five-pound bags of Maine potatoes that were purchased with one-half of the Convention Eucharist offering and delivered last week (with a Diocese of Maine sticker on each bag) to Good Shepherd Food Bank for distribution to food pantries across Maine. Many thanks to Jason Briggs, native of Presque Isle and member of Trinity, Saco, for making this happen.

The balance of the offering, $577, was sent to the Episcopal Relief & Development Ebola Crisis Response Fund.

Bishop Lane's Advent Message

 

Waiting in the dark for the coming of the light; thirsting in the desert for springs of cool water; locked in conflict seeking for peace; fearing the stranger, yet looking for angels: we live in an Advent world. We know that the way things are is not the way they're supposed to be. So we live in hope, looking for a new day.

 

Yet our hope does not ignore what's real. The darkness is real. Our thirst is real. The conflict is real. Our fear is real. Our hope for a savior only matters if the savior will make a difference.

 

Advent is not a time to turn away from the darkness, to cover what's wrong with "sweetness and light." Advent is, rather, a time to dwell IN the darkness, to recognize the truth of the darkness, and, then, to pray fervently for the light.

 

We know we are not the answer we seek. Christ is the answer. Yet, we - as members of Christ's body - are invited to live in the light. We are invited to BE light in our many and varied ways to the world around us. So... we light a candle; we share a cup of cold water; we reconcile with a neighbor; we make an effort to befriend a stranger. In these ways, we fan the flames of the light that is coming - and receive as well as give.

 

Advent Campaign for Bucksport Mill Employees

Visit the Advent Campaign page on the diocesan website to find out how you may lend your support to the famlies of 579 Verso Paper Company workers who will be out of a job at the end of December. You'll find Bishop Lane's letter of invitation to participate in the campaign, a bulletin insert, a sheet detailing donation options, other ways your congregation can help, and links to news stories on the mill closure.

The page may be accessed from the diocesan home page at www.episcopalmaine.org. 

 

 

2015 UTO grant applications now 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.

 

To transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation. 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

The payroll services offered by the Diocese through ADP issues paychecks every two weeks, i.e. makes direct deposit of pay to employees. Pay day is usually the Thursday following the end of the pay period (a Sunday). In the normal course of a year there are 26 pay days. However, the normal course of pay days in 2015 would result in 27 pay days. (Doing the math, a 14 day pay period gives rise to 365/14 = 26.07 paydays.  This means that every 11 to 12 years that extra 0.07 pay days must accumulate to a 27th pay day in a year, i.e.

 

The Diocesan Finance Office is suggesting that the 27th pay day be moved into 2014 on Wednesday, December 31, 2014. Do you have a preference, question, or need for clarification? We would appreciate hearing from you. Please email Terry Reimer at treimer@episcopalmaine.org with your concerns. 

 

 

Organist/Choir Director opportunity

 

St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Waterville, Maine seeks an organist with strong choral skills to begin in February, 2015. We have a tracker action pipe organ, newly refurbished and enhanced by the Andover Organ Company, and our Roland HP-508CB digital piano which was just purchased this year. 

 

St. Mark's Church has a 16-member SATB choir and uses the 1982 Hymnal as its primary foundation, but frequently uses the full gamut of Episcopal resources to provide hymns and service music for worship. The choral library is extensive, and includes music from the 15th through 21st centuries. 

 

Responsibilities include playing at one Sunday service throughout the entire year, holy days and other liturgical

 

Salary and pension benefits will be commensurate with experience. We will conform to AGO guidelines for the candidate with appropriate professional certification.

Cover letter and resume should be e-mailed to jbalicki17@gmail.com.

 

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis with final deadline for applications of January 1, 2015.

 

Sign up for an daily Advent calendar from SSJE

 

The Society of St. John the Evangelist offers a daily online Advent calendar. Sign up at www.ssje.org/adventword for a daily word and meditation, accompanied by a stunning image, delivered daily to your inbox starting November 30.

 

SSJE also offers resources for communicators and clergy at  www.ssje.org/adventwordresources.