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WHAT'S NEW IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN MAINE
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prayers for...
the family of the Rev. Barbara Crampton of Savannah, Georgia, who died on September 13. Barbara served as deacon at St. John Baptist, Thomaston, from 1984 to 2000. Her obituary may be found here.
congratulations to...
congregations with lots to celebrate
the people of St. Patrick's, Brewer and the Rev. Rick Cross, as they celebrated their new ministry together on Sunday, September 27.
the people of St. Ann's, Windham, upon the dedication and celebration of their building project on September 19 and 20. The new wing adds three new Sunday school rooms, two handicapped restrooms, new office space and a new nursery.
On September 19 the people of St. Margaret's, Belfast, celebrated the church's centennial. Read more in the Bangor Daily News.
Sunday, September 27 marked the beginning of a new relationship among three congregations in the Southern Kennebec Valley. The people of Prince of Peace Lutheran/St. Mark's Episcopal in Augusta welcomed the people of St. Matthew's, Hallowell, for their first worship service at 209 Eastern Avenue. Here Pastor Erik Karas, left, and the Rev. David Matson , share sermon duties before the packed house. On November 1 the people of St. Barnabas', Augusta, will join the new arrangement.
St. Mark's and Prince of Peace have been worshipping and ministering together since January with Pastor Karas serving as pastor/priest-in-charge to both. Those duties will extend to the two new congregations. The Rev. David Matson, part-time rector of both St. Matthew's and St. Barnabas', will join the ministry as associate. St. Mark's vital outreach ministries continue across the river on the St. Mark's campus in downtown Augusta. Mustard Seeds, the gathering of families for Christian education, worship, fellowship, and a meal, is held at Prince of Peace on Sunday afternoons.
For now, this unprecedented coming together of four congregations and Mustard Seeds is known as 209 - the street number of Prince of Peace. Ideas for a permanent name are welcome.
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 The 196th Convention of the Diocese of Maine
"We are God's Dwelling: Rooted in Scripture and Nurtured by Grace"
October 23 - 24, 2015
Portland
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Register here for the 2015 Diocesan Convention through October 9. More information to help you and your congregation prepare for Convention is available on our website with new content added regularly.
Please share the Convention webpage with your elected lay delegates and others who may wish to attend Convention workshops.
Three invitations from Bishop Steve Lane
Dear Friends,
One of the opportunities that holding our Convention in Portland makes available is the possibility that many people other than Convention delegates might experience some part of the Convention. I would like to extend three invitations.
First, if you are a singer, you are invited to join the Convention Choir. The Choir will sing during the Convention Eucharist at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon, October 24. A rehearsal will be held in USM's Hannaford Hall on Friday, October 23 at 10:30 a.m. Once you register, details will be emailed to you.
Second, you are invited to attend one of the Saturday morning workshops held at the University of Southern Maine at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 24. The workshops are listed with other Convention information on the Convention webpage. Parking will be available at the USM parking garage.
For both of the above, registration is required. Register for workshops here and convention choir here.
Finally, I invite you to participate in the Convention Eucharist. If you can come to the Cathedral on Saturday at 1 p.m. it would be a joy to see you. You need not register to attend. Details for viewing by live-stream will be shared soon.
I hope the relative accessibility of these events will make it easy for many to have a taste of our annual Convention. The Convention is the one time in the year when the whole diocese is together. And there's room for you.
I hope to see you soon.
Faithfully,
+Steve
Pre-Convention Hearing Schedule
Delegates, alternates, clergy, and all those interested in diocesan life are encouraged to attend a pre-convention hearing in your area. Members of the Finance and Resolutions Committees will be on hand to answer questions about resolutions to be considered and the proposed 2016 budget. Those present will also elect area clergy representatives to Diocesan Council. Thursday, October 1 St. Patrick's, 21 Holyoke St., Brewer, 6 to 8 p.m. (Area 3 - Penobscot, Piscataquis) Sunday, October 4 St. Andrew's, 11 Glidden St., Newcastle, 4 to 6 p.m. (Area 6 - Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, Waldo) St. Dunstan's, 134 State St., Ellsworth, 5 to 7 p.m. (Area 2 - Hancock, Washington) Monday, October 5 St. Paul's, 170 Main St., Fort Fairfield, 6 to 8 p.m. (Area 1 - Aroostook) Tuesday, October 6 Prince of Peace 209 Eastern Ave., Augusta, 6 to 8 p.m. (Area 5 - Kennebec, Somerset) St. George's, 3 Emerson St., Sanford, 7 to 9 p.m. (Area 8 - York) Wednesday, October 7 St. Michael's, 78 Pleasant St., Auburn, 2 to 4 p.m. (Area 4 - Androscoggin, Franklin, Oxford) St. Peter's, 678 Washington Ave., Portland, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (Area 7 - Cumberland) Tuesday, October 13 Online at 7:30 p.m. A few minutes before 7:30, join the meeting at episcopalmaine.webex.com by following the onscreen instructions.
Convention booklet now available
For the first time the Convention booklet will be available for download as a PDF only. No booklets will be printed. Those attending Convention may avail themselves of several options.
- Download and print the entire booklet (53 pages)
- Download and read all separate sections but print only those necessary to participate fully in Convention.
- Download the booklet onto a tablet or laptop that you bring to Convention. - Please note: No power will be supplied during the business session.
Download the Convention booklet or its sections HERE.
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Bishops Speak Out: Stop the Violence and Hate, a monthly web conference
Join Bishop Lane and other New England bishops for a series of monthly web conferences sponsored by the Province of New England's Cultural Competency and Multicultural Awareness Task Force. The next Third Tuesday web conference series held on Tuesday, September 19, at 7:30 pm.
To learn more about the series and how to participate, click here.
Funds available for international development and fighting domestic poverty in Maine
In 2007 Diocesan Convention voted to offer 0.7% of diocesan income each year to support efforts that would work toward the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Over the years grants have been made to train midwives in Haiti, subsidize salaries for teachers at a diocesan school in the Liberia and for pediatric AIDS nurses in South Africa. In recent years the grants have gone to support the work of the Diocese of Jerusalem's Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza and outreach ministries of St. George's Anglican Church in Baghdad.
 With 2015 marking the conclusion of the MDG's, members of Diocesan Council, at their September 19 meeting, considered whether to continue the practice of sending 0.7%, or $12,000, to support international development. Their answer was "yes." In addition, they agreed to continue to support a new domestic poverty grant process for efforts to fight poverty in Maine. The domestic poverty funds represent 0.3%, or $5,000, bringing giving to fight poverty to a full 1% of diocesan income.
Diocesan Council invites proposals for both programs, international and domestic, for consideration at its December meeting. Please submit a letter of application - describing the program and detail how and for what purpose diocesan funds would be used - to Canon Heidi Shott hshott@episcopalmaine.org by December 1, 2015. Examples of successful past proposal letters are available as a guide. Please be in touch.
On September 25, the United Nations approved a new set of 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development to succeed the MDGs. Learn more about them at www.globalgoals.org
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UP AND COMING IN MAINE AND BEYOND
October
Christian Ed Collaboration Meeting - October 5
Everyone is invited to the Christian Ed Collaboration group on Monday, October 5, from 10:00-12:00 at the Diocesan Office in Portland. Or you can join us by conference call at 800-977-8002 - code 184756#. We'll be sharing best practices, sharing questions and planning. For more info, contact Emily Keniston at emilykeniston@yahoo.com or Jane Hartwell at jhartwell@episcopalmaine.org.
October Nouwen Seminar at Trinity Episcopal Church, Castine
The Rev. Edward Dufresne and the Rev. Mary Ann Taylor will conduct a five-session seminar on the life and spirituality of Henri Nouwen with a central focus on his book, The Return of the Prodigal Son. The seminar will take place at Trinity, Castine, on the Thursdays of October from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. A brief Eucharist in the spirit of Henri Nouwen's liturgical ministry will follow the session, ending at noon. Contact either Mary Ann at maryanntay@aol.com or (207) 233-5037 or Edward at erdufresne@me.com or (508) 496-6911 to register. Seminar participants are asked to obtain their own copy of The Return of the Prodigal Son.
Miqra, the new diocesan high school event
It will be hosted at St. Ann's in Windham on the Columbus Day long weekend. Teen staff and adults meet on Friday, October 9. The event is from October 10 to 12, Saturday afternoon to Monday (Columbus Day).
Like all high school events, there'll be depth, laughter, music, new friends and fun. Download a flyer here and register at www.maineyouth.org.
November
LOVE HEALS: A weekend with Becca Stevens and the women of Thistle Farms,
Nov. 12-15
 In November the Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Thistle Farms, a community of women who have survived trafficking, prostitution, and addiction in Nashville, Tennessee, will share this ministry with Mainers. The community includes a two-year residential program and a social enterprise that employs residents and graduates.
With the help from a New Initiatives Grant, the Diocese of Maine's Human Trafficking Ministry Group and other sponsors and partners will host Stevens and women from Thistle Farms at events to be held November 12 through November 15.
Thursday, November 12
Bates College, Lewiston 70 Campus Avenue, Muskie Archives
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Presentation: Burning Desire: Our Longing for Justice and Hope for Healing
Friday, November 13 The Center for Wisdom's Women, Lewiston 97 Blake Street (between Pine & Ash) 10 a.m. - 12 noon Conversations 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Wise and Strong Women Speak: Love Heals Saturday, November 14 St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Brunswick 27 Pleasant Street 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Conference: Love Heals The conference will focus particularly on what the faith community can do to address the issues and needs in New England. Local providers and advocates will be available for conversation, some with resource tables. Online registration in advance is required to attend the conference. There is no registration fee, but generous donations to help defray the costs for the day are encouraged. Lunch will be provided by St. Paul's Church. Sunday, November 15 Trinity Episcopal Church, Lewiston 247 Bates Street (next to Kennedy Park) 10 a.m. Worship and Discussion: Being Doers of the Word in Our Neighborhoods
Fall Middle School Event iCathedral on November 20-22 
It's a great time for your kids in grades 6-8 to make new friends, explore faith and have fun. There'll be discussions, games, swimming, music, activities, and a wonderful team of teenage and adult leaders. The leadership prep is October 30-31. The underlying theme is God's unconditional love. Come and join us! Download a flyer here. Find info and registration at www.maineyouth.org.
December
Faith@Home Workshop for Christian Ed Teachers
Province I is bringing in Wendy Barrie from Vibrant Faith to give a workshop on December 10-12 for Christian Ed teachers from all over New England. Thanks to a big subsidy, the cost is $160 for the full conference or $100 for half.
Contact Jane Hartwell for information about financial aid. Space is limited to 30 and the registration deadline is October 30. This is a great opportunity! Read more here.
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