APRIL

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Committee on Aging offers book discussion on "Being Mortal" by Atul Gawande

Atul Gawande -- award winning author, physician, and researcher -- has written a wonderfully enlightening book. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End explores many questions and situations we will all likely face, but ones we are tempted to avoid. His reflections on his own family, his choices, and how he as a doctor advised his own patients are relevant for all of us. Ultimately, he says our goal should not just be "a good death," but instead how we live and interact with our loved ones during the period before the end arrives. His book helps ask great questions that we as people of faith should consider. 

• How do our priorities change as we age?  Why?
• How is medicine helping and hurting us, our parents, and our elderly friends and neighbors?  Is there something we should do to avoid the hurt?  Where things better in the good old days?
• What does he mean when we speaks of "a better life" and having "hard conversations"?
• What, if anything, does all this mean for being a new church in a new way?  How can we all help each other?

Gawande's book is the beginning of an important conversation for our time. Join members of the Committee on the Spirituality of Aging at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, for an online discussion of the book.  Various versions of the book (hardcover, paperback, audio, or kindle) may be purchased on Amazon. A link to instructions for joining the meeting may be found in the "Featured" box at www.episcopalmaine.org or by this direct link.

 

The Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, will be in Maine in April. She will be here on Sunday, April 26, to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of St. Mary the Virgin in Falmouth beginning with Eucharist at 9 a.m.with a reception and open forum time to follow in the Parish House.

She will also speak at an open forum on "Change and the Church" at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Portland on Saturday, April 25, from 1 - 3 p.m.

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May

A day of Godly Play training in New Hampshire

Maine Episcopalians are invited to join folks from the Diocese of New Hampshire for a day of Godly Play training in Dover, NH, on Saturday, May 2. Godly Play is Montessori-based Christian Ed program which many congregations in our diocese use. This is a one day retreat-type workshop, perfect for a refresher or an introduction for those who are new.  Details may be found on this flyer.

June

God's Story/My Story: A Diocesan Retreat for Adults in June

August

BION Camp will be August 18-22 at Bishopswood for kids completing grades 6-12. Download a flier here and register at www.maineyouth.org . Join us for summer fun!