Volume 26, Number 8

August 15, 2024

Feast of St. Mary the Virgin

Bishop Brown issued "A Call to Prayerful Action" on July 26 in which he says, "The people in the Holy Land—Israel and Palestine—are heavy laden. And right now, our most faithful prayer is for the burdensome violence to end. I have written to our representatives in Washington to call for a ceasefire. And I urge you to join me in making your voices heard."

On August 1, Governor Janet Mills held a luncheon at the Governor’s residence, Blaine House, to welcome the new Roman Catholic Bishop of Maine, Bishop James Ruggieri. Rabbi Sam Weiss of Temple Beth El in Bangor and Bishop Brown were invited to attend.

On the 50th anniversary of women's ordination, the Episcopal News Service is exploring the complexities and continued challenges for women on their path to the priesthood. Thanks to continued efforts by determined women like the Rt. Rev. Chilton Knudsen, 8th Bishop of Maine, that path is clearer today. Read more here.

The Rt. Rev. Chilton Knudsen pictured in 2023 with then-Bishop of Maryland-elect Carrie Schofield-Broadbent. (Photo credit: ENS).

The Rev. Holly Hoffmann, who most recently served at St. Andrew & St. John, Southwest Harbor, Church of Our Father, Hulls Cove, and St. Saviour in Bar Harbor, will soon be released and removed from Holy Orders in The Episcopal Church. Holly takes this decision following a faithful response to God's call, and a deep desire to follow and worship Jesus Christ within the Roman Catholic Church. Many of you may also know Holly from her ministry at Christ Church in Norway, St. Alban's in Cape Elizabeth, and at St. Elizabeth's Pantry/Jubilee Center in Portland. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Formative Education at Boston College. We are grateful for her faithful presence among us, and we pray for God's continued blessing and guidance in her life.

Five new members, Zoe Bolton, Robert King, Nancy King, Mira Levine, and, George Walter were confirmed or received at a regional confirmation held at St. Paul's in Brunswick in July. Please join us in welcoming them!

A small group from St. Andrew's in Millinocket gathered for dinner.

All are Welcome to Gather, Pray, and Rest at Summer Finale!

Sept. 13 - 15

Camp Bishopswood, Hope

Join folks connected with the Episcopal Diocese of Maine at a celebration of faith, fellowship, and fun at our own Camp Bishopswood! Each year as summer wraps up, people from all around the diocese come together for either one day (Saturday) or a whole weekend of time in God's creation. Individuals, households, families, and friends all gather to eat meals together in the Great Hall, swim, boat, paddle, and explore beautiful Lake Megunticook, pray Morning Prayer and Compline, or participate in Eucharist on Saturday. The Art Barn, Nature Nook, and theater are open and there is lots of free time to make connections with other Episcopalians and to find space to rest and reconnect with God. 

View our Summer Finale FAQ guide here. 

Register for Summer Finale here, including one-day and overnight options.

Register for the Formation Mini-Retreat on Sept. 13 here.

If you have questions, please be in touch with Faith Formation Director Emily Keniston. Scholarships are available and the one-day option is entirely free of charge! 

Living Peace, Practicing Nonviolence: The Lessons of Jesus, Gandhi and King for Today

Saturday, Sept. 28, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

St. Joseph's College, Standish

This day-long workshop with activist Father John Dear is offered by the Maine Council of Churches as part of "a collection of programs designed to help Maine's people of faith lead with love as we prepare for and respond to events as they unfold this election season and beyond." Learn more and register here.

"Song in A Weary Throat": Writing & Reading with the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray

Begins Sept. 12 on Zoom

Join Canon D. Littlepage and Canon Sarah Woodford of ECCT for a creative writing book study of "Song in A Weary Throat." Every second Thursday from September to December 2024, we will gather over Zoom, 7-8 p.m. ET, and discuss around 90 pages of this Pauli Murray classic. Canon Sarah will also provide you with creative writing prompts before each session to help you more deeply engage with the material. Feel free to share the writing that comes from these prompts during our session, or create a larger essay from them, or just keep them to yourself! You can sign up here or contact Canon Sarah Woodford.

Come Away Together: Forma and Province I Conference

Jan 27-30, 2025

This year the Province I Faith Formation Network is combining its annual formation conference with Forma to offer the best of both worlds! We will gather with colleagues from across New England onsite at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center for four days--time to meet and connect with our provincial colleagues and afternoons to participate in the Forma workshops and content. Gatherings will be held in the evenings to informally share inspiration and learning.

Several grants have been secured to make this conference affordable and accessible to anyone who wants to lean into formation conversations.

Registration is not yet open, but please save the dates and email Emily Keniston with questions. 

Love God; Love God’s World

A Small-group Curriculum for those Interested in Creation Care 

“Love God; Love God’s World” is a nine-session, film-based curriculum from The Episcopal Church designed for Episcopalians anywhere on the journey with creation care and environmental ministry—from newcomers looking to take their first step to seasoned leaders seeking a transformative small-group experience.

Sessions have a similar structure to the popular Sacred Ground curriculum and include films and readings, faith-based reflections, and discussion questions—each written by a different contributor and drawing from personal contexts and experiences. Participants will discover ways to learn, pray, advocate, and conserve.

Find session titles, authors, and a sample session here; register your small group to get access to the full curriculum.

Season of Creation Celebration Guide

Bishop Brown is one of 42 diocesan bishops to authorize the use of the 2024 edition of Season of Creation: A Celebration Guide for Episcopal Parishes, during this years' Season of Creation—Sept. 1 - Oct. 4.



According to the Episcopal News Service, "developing this resource has been a grassroots effort inspired by the ecumenical Season of Creation movement, a desire for authentic Episcopal liturgical expression, and the awareness that parish leaders often have limited time and energy to prepare and plan services for every season." This rich resource includes prayers, readings, and hymns dedicated to honoring the sacredness of God’s Creation. Find it here. 

Retreat in Everyday Life: Ignatian Spritual Exercises

You are invited to a Retreat in Everyday Life!  Over a period of 9 months, you will be led through a series of prayers, meditations and reflections known as “the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises.” On your own, you spend time contemplating various aspects of your own life and the life of Jesus.  Together with other pilgrims, you share your journey, encouraging each other along the way. It's an adventure, one which is unique to each person.  

The retreat includes:

· Materials for daily prayer & reflection, the crux of the retreat 

· Group meetings online from 6:30 - 8:30 pm on the first Wednesday of each month from October 2024 through June 2025

· Monthly meetings (either one-on-one or in a small group) with a spiritual guide

Applications are being accepted through early September, or until the retreat is full. Learn more and apply here.

The Rev. Susan Krauss and the Rev. Heather Sylvester recently completed this retreat and are available to answer questions, as is the Ignatian Maine retreat team.

Tri-Dio Sacred Ground Circles Begin Again This Fall

Are you interested in joining others from the Episcopal dioceses of Northern New England (and beyond) in a film-based dialogue series on race and faith? The third round of Tri-Dio Sacred Ground dialogue circles will start this fall, and will include others from the wider Episcopal church and other denominations. There will be at least three circles that will meet at different times and on different days.



View the Sacred Ground Invitational video “We Bless You” by the Union of Black Episcopalians and Sacred Ground staff and learn more about Sacred Ground here. 

Representatives from each diocese are: Mary Provo of Maine, Betty Lane of New Hampshire, and Franci Vinal Farnsworth of Vermont. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: The registration form on prior newsletters was broken.

Even if you have registered before, please do so again using the button below.

205th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Maine 

Saturday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Holiday Inn by the Bay

Cathedral Church of St. Luke

Portland

Certify Lay Delegates to Convention

Get ready! Delegates and clergy will come together to vote in person, in Portland on Saturday, Nov. 16, for the first time since 2019! They will also meet online to review the pre-convention material at one of these two meeting times:

• Thursday, Nov. 7, 5:30- 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 12, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Lay delegates elected to serve at the 2024 Diocesan Convention need be certified using the form below by the priest or senior warden or clerk (in absence of a priest).

CERTIFICATE OF ASA & LAY DELEGATES TO CONVENTION

The ASA should be the same number reported on your Parochial Report for the year 2023. If you’re unsure of the congregation’s ASA, please check this list.

The sooner we have your delegates' names and email addresses; the sooner they can start receiving convention information! 

Not sure whether or not your congregation has certified their delegates? Look at the dropdown menu listing congregations on the form itself. If the form has already been submitted, your church won't be listed. 

If you have questions, please be in touch with Wendy Kopera or Teresa Pinney.

Open Positions

• St. Alban's in Cape Elizabeth seeks a part-time Minister for Children with gifts to bring pastoral presence and fresh energy and insight to existing and developing programs for the spiritual, biblical, and liturgical formation of its children (ages six months - fourth grade) and their families. Find a detailed job description here. To inquire about or apply for this position, please send a cover letter, current resume, and references to the Rev. Joshua A. Hill by Aug. 15.

• St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church, Blue Hill, seeks a Parish Administrator (half-time/competitive hourly wage/benefits). Available September 1, the Parish Administrator works closely beside the Rector and Wardens, managing the church office and providing administrative support for parish operations. Send application materials to The Rev. Douglas Beck by Aug. 15.

Is your church hiring? Would you like us to share the job description? If so, let us know!

See the full events calendar here.



• August Fridays, Diocesan Office Closed
• Sept. 14 -15, Summer Finale at Bishopswood (Sept. 13 for Formation retreat)
• Sept. 21, Diocesan Council Meeting
• Sept. 24, Meeting of Parish Administrators' Collaborative on Zoom 2 p.m.
• Oct 5, Music Makes Community Workshop for Lay Leaders (takes place in NH)
• Oct. 6-8, Clergy Retreat for dioceses of ME, NH, and VT
• Oct. 22, Clergy Day at St. Mark's, Waterville
• Nov. 2, Installation of Presiding Bishop online
• Nov. 7, Preconvention Meeting on Zoom 5:30 -7 p.m.
• Nov. 12, Preconvention Meeting on Zoom 7 - 8:30 p.m. 
• Nov. 16, Diocesan Convention in Portland 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

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