June 5,
2015
Volume 17 
No. 11
 The Dio Log 

news and events in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine since 1999


The Very Rev. Ben Shambaugh, Dean of the Cathedral; The Rev. Dick Rasner, Director of St. Elizabeth's Essentials Pantry, and The Rt. Rev. Stephen T. Lane, Bishop of Maine, celebrating St. Elizabeth's Essentials Pantry recent designation as a Center for Jubilee Ministry by the national church.

  


WHAT'S NEW IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN MAINE
 
prayers for...
  
the participants and leaders at God's Story/My Story, the diocesan adult retreat, at Camp Bishopswood, next weekend.
  
the Rev. Dr. Henry A. Male, Jr. of Norway upon the death of his wife, Ellen Male, 87, on
May 20, 2015. Ellen's obituary may be found here.
  
the healing and comfort of The Rev. Tom Benson.  
  
the healing and comfort of The Rev. Edwin Garrett III.  
  
in the news...   

Bishops United Against Gun Violence, a group of more than 60 Episcopal bishops, will sponsor a prayerful procession, "Claiming Common Ground Against Gun Vilolence", through the streets of Salt Lake City during the church's General Convention.  The gathering on Sunday, June 28th is intended to urge people of faith to seek common ground in efforts to curtail gun violence.
Read Bishop Lane's op-ed in the Bangor Daily News regarding concealed handgun carry permits here. 
  
voices among us...
  

The Rev. Bob and Maurine Tobin of St. Brendan's, Deer Isle share powerful video and narration from their most recent trip to Palestine in December 2014. One video covers their tour of the destruction of middle-class neighborhoods in Gaza and the other is their tour of the Al Ahli Arab Hospital, a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, that the Diocese of Maine has supported since 2012. Click for the "Eyewitness to Gaza" video playlist.  

 

The Rt. Rev. Chilton Knudsen spoke to NPR about her upcoming assignment in the Diocese of Maryland and how addiction counseling has been a key part of her ministry. Listen here.

 

Members of our diocese, (pictured left, Jen Tarling and Triss Critchfield from St. Alban's, Cape Elizabeth and Kim Wallace, Judy Dickson and Emily Keniston with daughter, Meredith from St. Ann's, Windham), attended a Living Compass Training in Chicago this spring and report that they have, "...returned to Maine ready to complete work in our parishes and diocese as Congregational Wellness Advocates." We thank you! 

 

 

  
AROUND THE DIOCESE

 

General Convention

 

Get the latest news and updates from the 78th General Convention of The Episcopal Church in Salt Lake City.

 

Bishop Steve Lane and clerical and lay deputies will gather with representatives from the 108 other dioceses of The Episcopal Church from June 23 to July 3. Bishop Lane will serve in the House of Bishops while four clerical deputies and four lay deputies will represent Maine in the House of Deputies at the 78th General Convention.

 

At this Convention a new Presiding Bishop will be elected and confirmed, recommendations from the church-wide Task Force to Reimagine the Episcopal Church, and much more.  

 

Read reports of the Committees, Commissions, Agencies and Boards to the General Convention in The Blue Book (pdf).

 

Subscribe to the diocese's news blog, www.newnortheast.me to receive the Deputy of the Day posts from a new Mainer each day, Bishop Lane's brief daily video recaps, and links to news, features, sermons from the daily Eucharist, and lots of other developments that will affect the Diocese of Maine and the wider Episcopal Church.  

 

 

General Convention editions of the Episcopal Journal offered to Maine congregations

 

In late June and late July, each Maine congregation will receive 20 complimentary copies of the national newspaper, the Episcopal Journal, to share with their members. The July edition (actually published before General Convention begins) will highlight issues to come before GC, and the August edition will offer a wrap-up of decisions and actions. 

  

Please be on the look out for these newspapers and share them with all interested members. 

 

 

World Refugee Day is June 20th, resources available for congregations

 

June 20 is World Refugee Day and Episcopal Migration Ministries has prepared resources to observe this important event. World Refugee Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2000. The Episcopal Church welcomes and resettles refugees in partnership with 30 resettlement affiliates in 26 dioceses across the country.

  

 

Access the tools listed below for use in your congregation by visiting http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/world-refugee-day

 

 

  • Worship materials for Sunday, June 21 (the closest Sunday to World Refugee Day)
  • Bulletin insert for Sunday, June 21 which focuses on bringing awareness to refugee issues and opportunities for local involvement
  • An interactive map of events across The Episcopal Church to find a World Refugee Day event near your community
  • Information about where to find an Episcopal Migration Ministries affiliate in your community and how you can volunteer locally can be found here: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/episcopal-migration-ministries

Did you know?

 

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports:   

    • Every four seconds someone is forced to flee due to conflict, persecution or fear of violence.
    • There are currently more than 50 million refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people worldwide, the most in the post-World War II era.
    • To date, more than 3 million Syrians have fled the violence in their country.

 Resettlement facts from the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society:

    • 70,000 refugees were resettled in the U.S. in 2014.
    • 5,155 refugees were resettled in 2014 by the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society and its network of affiliate offices

 

Delegate Certificate for 2015 Diocesan Convention available for online submission

 

The Certificate of Communicants in Good Standing & Lay Delegates for the 2015 Diocesan Convention is ready to accept electronic submissions here. Certificates must be signed by the congregation's priest or in absence of a priest-in-charge, the senior warden. Deadline is June 30th. Please direct questions to Teresa Pinney at [email protected].

 
The 196th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Maine will assemble at the University of Southern Maine, Portland on October 23 and 24, 2015. All available convention information is online at www.tinyurl.com/diome2015.
  

 

New! Join the Maine Episcopal Network for Justice (MENJ)

 

The Maine Episcopal Network for Justice (MENJ) invites Episcopalians and all others who are committed to working toward justice and peace for all people and public policies that respect the dignity of every human being, both in the State of Maine, the United States, and the world.

 

Members of this group work, with God's help, to affirm the essential relationship between what we believe and how we live. Read Bishop Lane's invitation here.

           

Those who join MENJ will receive email alerts about upcoming legislative actions both in Augusta and Washington, DC and suggestions for additional steps - including contacting their legislators - they may take to advocate for issues of concern.

 

This effort is just getting going so we ask your patience as we get all aspects of the network up and running. There are a couple of things you can do right now:

1) Join the network so you will get timely email alerts about issues and suggested actions.

2) Join the MENJ Facebook group for all the latest.

3) Visit our page on the Diocese of Maine website page for resources and ways to contact our elected officials.

  

Register for BION Camp for middle and high schoolers by June 20th for the early price

 

BION is a camp especially for teens and kids completing grades 6-12 held Tuesday through Saturday, August 18th - 22nd at Camp Bishopswood. BION offers activities like ultimate Frisbee, archery, kayaking, swimming, theater games, creative crafts and more. There will be music, campfires and s'mores, teen-led worship, interesting focus groups about God and life, high school coffee house and a middle school games night. This year the camp leaders include the Revs. Kit Wang and Tim Higgins.

 

If you register by June 20th, the price is $235. Financial aid is also available, so no teen needs to be excluded because of inability to pay. Download a flyer here and register at www.maineyouth.org

 
UP AND COMING IN MAINE AND BEYOND

 

June

 

Ordination

Saturday, June 13th

By the grace of God, and with the consent of the people, The Rt. Rev. Stephen T. Lane will ordain Ann Kathlyn O'Sullivan and Abigail Bower Pettee to the Vocational Diaconate on Saturday, the 13th day of June, 2015 at 11:00 am at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Portland, Maine. All are welcome!

  

Frances Perkins Homestead Celebration
June 13th, 2015 

The Frances Perkins Homestead was designated a National Historic Landmark by Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell.  Please join the celebration of this recognition with the Frances Perkins Center on Saturday June 13, 2015 at 11:00am. RSVP to [email protected].  

 

Christian Education Collaboration Meeting

June 22, 2015

Join Christian educators from all over our diocese at the Diocesan Office (143 State Street in Portland) or remotely through episcopalmaine.webex.com on Monday, June 22 from 10:00am to noon.  For more information, contact Emily Keniston at [email protected].

 

 

   

Strengthening communities of faith for God's mission in congregations across Maine