The Dio Log 
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
Dio Shield
news and events in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine since 1999

Volume 18, Number 9  ~  May 6, 2016


________________________________________________________________________________________________
What's New in the Episcopal Church in Maine

prayers for...

the people of Fort McMurray, Alberta, as they seek safety and shelter from wildfires after mass evacuations in recent days. Here's an update from the Anglican Church of Canada's relief organization, the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund.

the Bishops' executive assistants from across the Episcopal Church whose annual meeting closes today in Portland. Diocesan staffer Barbara Martin and other bishops' assistants from the dioceses of New England have hosted about 80 colleagues.

congratulations to...

the people of St. Patrick's, Brewer, especially web workers Jamie Beck and Rita Poirtier, who are the first to launch their website at www.stpatsbrewer.org as a part of the diocesan web project. About 25 other congregations are in various stages of the process of developing a new site. 

Want to learn more? Visit www.diomainehosting.org and check out the three templates to choose from or contact Heidi Shott at hshott@episcopalmaine.org.

in the news...

The Maine Episcopal Network for Justice's May newsletter is out. Learn more about a gathering of more than 700 ecumenical leaders in Washington, D.C. last month for Advocacy Days.

voices among us...

Check out Heidi Shott's recent column in Bearings, the blog of The BTS Center,
"Finding Jesus under the Golden Arches and Other Tales of Religionless Christianity."


Around the Diocese


We're invited to celebrate World Refugee Day on June 4

World Refugee Day is celebrated internationally in June. In Portland, Catholic Charities, along with several other organizations will organize a community-wide festival to celebrate and honor refugees on June 4 at King Middle School. Catholic Charities' Tarlan Ahmadov, who spoke at our diocesan convention in October, invites Maine congregations to support this event by donations or volunteering for the day.

Click here for a flyer to learn how you can participate.


Joining God in the Neighborhood, Saturday May 21, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Christ Church, Gardiner

Thanks to all who have said they plan to come to this inaugural event!  "Joining God in the Neighborhood" is a first small step on an important journey we will be making over the coming years.  There's lots of room on this journey: room for congregations, room for individuals. So please come! Remember, no registration is required; all you have to do is show up--on your own, or in company with others from your congregation. Fuller details are on the diocesan website, or call either Michael Ambler or Jane Hartwell for more information (772-1953, ext. 123 or 129).



News from Bishopswood

The new pumping station and the first tank is in. Click the photo to go to a post with lots more photos.
Join us for Work Day on Saturday, June 4. We need all the help we can get to get camp up and running this summer. We will have projects for everyone or all skill levels. Projects include cleaning up camp and buildings, putting in the docs, building picnic tables, splitting wood, cleaning windows, etc. Please email Mike at mike@bishopswood.org if you plan to attend.

Our Open House Day is Sunday, June 5. Join us at Bishopswood from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to take a tour of camp, meet summer staff and our Board of Directors. This is a great way to check out camp before you arrive, or if you are thinking about camp this summer. Please email Mike at mike@bishopswood.org if you plan to attend.

Registration is open and we have plenty of room. Please join us for a week or multiple weeks to make memories and friends to last a lifetime. Camp is a great place to try new things, meet friends, and leave better than when you arrived. Register at www.bishopswood.org.

There are two weekends open this August for a parish retreat or for a non-profit organization to enjoy Bishopswood. Come relax, play, worship, and enjoy fellowship and let us do all the cooking for you. This is a great way for a parish to grow together.

We are looking for a Camp Chef and/or Spring and Fall Maintenance person. (The right person would have a three-season job!)  Please see the job section of the website to learn more about these positions.


One-Day convention set for Saturday, October 22, at USM


Since the close of the last year's diocesan convention, Bishop Lane and the members of the Convention Planning Committee have reviewed the results of the Convention evaluation (156 responses) and a subsequent survey (344 responses) and have engaged in several conversations about the Bishop's proposal to separate the business, education, and worship components into three parts. Thanks to all members of the diocese who participated in the survey process.

Having considered various ideas and in light of the success of the Spring Training education event held in April, Bishop Lane is ready to announce that the 197th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Maine will be held on one-day, Saturday, October 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the University of Southern Maine in Portland.

A second year in Portland concludes the seven-year cycle of moving diocesan convention "around the compass," as proposed by the Convention Study Task Force in 2009.

Information about nominations, resolutions, lodging, meals, and registration will be shared with congregations soon. Congregations are encouraged to submit Certificate of Lay Delegates elected to the 197th Convention at their earliest convenience. The deadline is June 30. 


Sharing spiritual practices around the diocese

The labyrinth at St. Luke's, Wilton

If your church holds regular gatherings of those engaged in contemplative practices (centering prayer or others) or if your church has a labyrinth, please be in touch with Jane Hartwell at jhartwell@episcopalmaine.org so we can create a list of times, locations, and contact people for both types of spiritual practice to share across the Diocese and in our wider communities. 





Did you attend the recent clergy retreat?
The retreat evaluation will close next week. If you attended and have yet to share your ideas and suggestions for future events, please do so soon at www.surveymonkey.com/r/clergyretreat-2016. Thanks from Bishop Lane and members of the Clergy Day Committee.



Join an October Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

The Diocese of Maine and the Maine Chapter of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship invite you to join a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, October 24-November 3, 2016. 

Limited to 15 participants, the pilgrimage will respond to the call to "Come and See" by visiting the ancient churches of the Nativity, the Annunciation, and the Holy Sepulcher as well as the holy sites at the Sea of Galilee. In October 2015, the Diocese of Maine Convention passed a resolution that "laity and clergy of the Diocese be encouraged to make pilgrimage to Israel and the Occupied Territories to learn from our fellow Christians in the region." Bishop Stephen Lane has offered his support for this trip to assist Maine Episcopalians to have the opportunity to make that journey and return to share their experiences and learning.

Participants will visit institutions of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and experience the realities of life for Palestinian Christians living under occupation in East Jerusalem and the West Bank as well as living as second-class citizens of Israel. The group will meet with Jews, Muslims, and Christians working together for a just peace.

Departing from Boston on October 24 and returning on November 3, we will have four nights in Jerusalem, three nights in Bethlehem, and two nights in Nazareth, with side trips from each location. Leading the trip are the Rev. Bob and Maurine Tobin, who have led 23 such trips for other dioceses and institutions, including two groups of Episcopal bishops.

Cost of the trip is $2,400 per person (double occupancy) or  $2,700 per person (single occupancy), including airfare, hotels, all meals and in-country transportation, honoraria for groups and sites visited, and a $300 non-refundable registration fee. Not included are transfers to Logan Airport, travel insurance, and personal expenses. Buses run from Portland and Bangor directly to Logan Airport.  

Application for scholarships may be made to the Loring Fund (clergy) and the Wolf Fund (laity). Please be in touch with Barbara Martin at  bmartin@episcopalmaine.org  for application details.

As we must secure airline tickets and accommodation quickly for this high travel season, please register as soon as possible, but no later than July 15. To insure your space on this trip, for further information, and a registration form, please contact Maurine Tobin mmtobin38@gmail.com or 348 -9976. Click here for a flyer or here for a bulletin insert to share with your congregation.

Upcoming in Maine and Beyond


St. Columba's, Boothbay Harbor to host Rachmaninoff Choir concert May 19

St. Columba's, Boothbay Harbor, will host a concert of the Rachmaninoff Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom performed by The Rachmaninoff Choir at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 19.  

This is a benefit concert to further the ministries of St. Columba's. A free-will offering is requested. $10.00 is the suggested donation per person. Seating is first-come, first-seated.

The Rachmaninoff Choir combines members of the Bowdoin College Chorus in Brunswick, Maine, and Down East Singers in Rockport, Maine, and other singers from Southern Maine and the greater Boston metropolitan area. The Choir was formed in 1992 by Dr. Anthony Antolini. 

This year's tour features Rachmaninoff's 1910 Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in the original Slavonic language. For more visit their website at www.rachmaninoffchoir.org. For further information about the event, please contact the Rev. Maria Hoecker at 350-9467.


St. Ann's, Windham, welcomes all to a benefit golf scramble, May 22

Gather your foursome for a game of golf on Sunday, May 22, at 1 p.m. at Spring Meadow Golf Course in Gray. Proceeds from the tournament will go to support the following efforts: St. Ann's Essentials Pantry for families' non-food needs; Windham Neighbors Helping Neighbors fuel assistance program; RSU14 Backpack Program for school supplies; Long Creek Youth Development Center Christmas gifts and birthday cards programs; and Monday Meals, an on-going free community dinner program.

 Registration: 12 noon - 12:45 p.m.
- Welcome, Review of Rules: 12:45 p.m.
- Golf Scramble Start: 1 p.m.
- Cookout: following golf - hot dogs, burgers, chicken, salads, dessert
- Awards Ceremony: following cookout

Registration:
$400 per golf team of four includes: greens fee, golf cart, cookout, and goodie bag.

Register for the tourney at http://www.stannsepiscopalchurch.com/events/golf/ For more information, contact Alex Morrison at 310.4660 or alex.morrison@hdrinc.com.



eFormation Conference - June 6-8

This online conference about ministry in a digital world is a top-notch Episcopal education event for leaders who want to learn skills for ministry and faith formation. Webinar access to the three-day conference, including recordings after the event, is available for $89. Emily Keniston and Jane Hartwell attended by computer last year, and can attest to the quality of the conference and the online access. Here is a list of workshops and a link to registration. FMI, contact jhartwell@episcopalmaine.org.


Jesus Then and Now
a diocesan retreat for adults - June 17 - 19

Join us for a weekend at Camp Bishopswood on beautiful Lake Megunticook near Camden, and explore your connection with the many dimensions of Jesus, the Christ. This retreat is for everyone who wonders how Jesus made a difference in his own day and how he makes a difference today. How will you find your life story in the life story of Jesus? Come ready to experience God's love in the beauty of nature, in your relationship with Jesus and in new friendships.

There is financial aid for everyone who needs it, and also scholarships for Sunday school teachers and youth event volunteers. 

 For more information, contact Jane Hartwell at jhartwell@episcopalmaine.org. Download an information flyer and register at www.tinyurl.com/AdultRetreat2016.  


The 2016 Downeast Spiritual Life Conference, July 15 and 16, "Jesus and the Heart of Wisdom"

The 2016 Downeast Spiritual Life Conference presents "Jesus and the Heart of Wisdom" with Robert J. Miller, Rosenberger Chair of Christian and Religious Studies at Juniata College in Pennsylvania and David Galston, academic director of the Westar Institute and the Ecumenical Chaplain at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario.

The conference will highlight the most historically accurate teachings of Jesus as determined by the Jesus Seminar, a 10-year project involving scholars from around the world who worked to separate Jesus' authentic voice from so much that has been wrongfully attributed to him.

"At a time when all round us the national dialogue is focused on fear and separatism, it seems more important than ever that as Followers of Jesus' Way, we ground ourselves in his teaching about the alternative social vision he referred to as the Kingdom of God," said Rev. Claudia Smith, Rector of St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church in Blue Hill and director of the conference.

All events will be held at the Moore Community and Conference Center, 122 State St. in Ellsworth from 7:15 p.m. Friday through 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Fees are $60 for early registration (before July 1), $75 thereafter with a special $50 rate for full-time students. 

For more information or to register, go to www.downeastspiritual.org  or call 207-374-5200. Please register early as there is limited space at the Moore Center. Click here for a flyer to share.

The conference is the signature event of the Spiritual Life and Learning Center at St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church in Blue Hill.
Bishop Lane's blog, www.roundmaine.org | The New Northeast blog, newnortheast.me
View our videos on YouTubeView our photos on flickr