In a day full of prayer and celebration, the Rt. Rev. Sean W. Rowe, bishop of Northwest Pennsylvania and bishop provisional of Western New York, was elected to be the 28th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. Click here to follow link to full article.
On Sunday afternoon at 4PM on May 21 Bishop Brown is coming to celebrate Baptism, Confirmation and Reception with us during a service of Evening Prayer. There will be a simple reception following the service as we greet Magnolia Vandiver, (Baptism), Caleb Briggs, (Confirmation), and Chris Quigley, (Reception).
We are familiar with the service of Baptism, and even of Confirmation, but we do not often get to celebrate reception. Baptized persons who have been members of another Christian fellowship and who wish to be affiliated with the Episcopal Church may make a public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their baptism in the presence of a bishop. The bishop lays hands on the candidate for reception and says, “We recognize you as a member of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church, and we receive you into the fellowship of this Communion” (BCP, p. 418). Candidates for reception normally have made a mature commitment in another Christian fellowship.
The church was packed with parishioners, clergy and guests from five midcoast churches (St. Margaret’s, Belfast, St. Thomas’, Camden, John the Baptist, Thomaston, and Nativity Lutheran, Rockport. Bishop Thomas Brown was present for a baptism and to celebrate Eucharist at this highly spiritual and joyful service.
Bishop Thomas Brown has invited Bishop Chilton Knudsen and Bishop Stephen Lane to join us on this day! Bishop Knudsen will preach. We’ll renew our promises of baptism, and clergy will renew their ordination vows. Holy oils will be blessed for the coming year.
9:30 am Morning refreshments & fellowship
11:00 am Eucharist, Renewal of Vows, Blessing of Holy Oils
12:30 am Clergy meeting (lunch provided)
To help us plan, it’s important for all guests to register before March 20.
The Rev. Barbara Briggs will be formally installed as rector of St. Margaret’s by Maine Episcopal Bishop Thomas Brown at a service at the church on Sunday, May 8, at 3:30 p.m. All are invited, and a reception will follow.
The few of us present were dressed in red! The church looked festive also “dressed” in red! And Bishop Thomas Brown was with us to celebrate Pentecost and bless our recently restored and moved baptistry window via a streamed service to the parish.
Camp Bishopswood, in close communication with the American Camping Association, Maine Summer Camps, Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers, and national and local health departments, continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation. An update from Camp Bishopswoodhough they are planning for camp to happen, they’re also planning for other outcomes and have established three potential scenarios for summer 2020: Move forward as scheduledShorten the summer scheduleCancel programs for the entire summer A final decision will be announced by May 17. If this summer does not move forward as scheduled, camp families will have the following financial options: Get a full refund, including deposit, by checkOr if you’re in a position to do so, donate some or all your 2020 camp fees to support Bishopswood, so that next summer can be the best summer ever! Bishopswood will not be asking for the May 1 payment or be processing those who signed up for three automatic payments at this time. Regardless of what summer 2020 ends up looking like, they will continue to support the camp family and community in any way they can. Please direct inquiries to Michael Douglass, Executive Director of Camp Bishopswood.
4 March 2020Dear Episcopal Church in Maine Family: Gretchen Lane was beloved in our diocese, and her death evokes sadness in all of us who knew her. At the same time, this is an occasion for us to proclaim hope in resurrection, to give thanks for her presence and friendship, and to convey our love to Steve, who was our bishop for over a decade. Her funeral is the same day as Spring Training. Several in our community, especially members of governing bodies and diocesan staff, would like to be in Rochester on the 21st of March. Therefore, I am taking the decision to cancel Spring Training. Certainly some of us will be disappointed about this decision. Many of you had already committed to being in Augusta, to hearing the Reverend Jay Sidebotham, and to attending or leading workshops. However, not all is lost, not ever. Early in May we will gather in Bangor to be with Canon Stephanie Spellers, and with our Presiding Bishop, Michael Bruce Curry. It will be an occasion for us to gather together, to claim our call as evangelists, to learn, and to worship. I hope all of us will make this a priority. For more information about the Presiding Bishop’s visit, click here . Gretchen’s memorial service will be at the Episcopal Church of Saint Thomas, 2000 Highland Avenue, Rochester, NY at 11:00am on Saturday, 21 March. If you are interested in joining others from the Diocese of Maine in attending the service, arrangements have been made for bus transportation and a room block at a nearby hotel. Those details appear below. Please send condolence notes, and sympathy cards to: The Rt. Rev. Stephen Lane and Family, 1400 East Avenue, #313, Rochester, NY 14610. Memorial contributions in thanksgiving for Gretchen may be made to: Saint Elizabeth’s Essentials Pantry, 143 State Street, Portland, ME 04101 or The Center for Wisdom’s Women , PO Box 1016, Lewiston, ME 04240 (please add “Sophia’s House” in the memo line). Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace. Lord, you now have set your servant free, to go in peace as you have promised; for these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, whom you have prepared for all the world to see. A Light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people Israel. Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace. May her soul, through the mercy of God, rest in peace and rise in glory. Faithfully in Christ,
So we can advise St. Thomas about the number of folks planning to attend, please select the response (below) that best matches your plans: * If you plan on attending the Memorial Service, but are making your own transportation arrangements, please click here . * If you’re attending and are interested in taking thebus , please click here. Tickets are $50 and are limited ~ distribution will be by order received. The bus will depart from the parking lot on the corner of Marginal Way and Franklin St in Portland (Exit 7 off 295) on Friday, 20 March promptly at 10AM The bus plans on stopping twice; please feel free to bring your own snacks/lunch.A free-will offering for the bus driver’s tip will be taken on the return trip. If you are attending and need a hotel room , please be in touch with the Strathallan Double Tree by Hilton at 550 East Avenue in Rochester at 1-800-678-7284 or by reserving directly by clicking here.A special room rate of $119 (plus tax) has been arranged under the group name “Episcopal Diocese of Maine” group code “DOM”Breakfast (buffet or ala carte) is available at the hotel for an additional charge. For more information, please be in touch with Canon Barbara Martin [email protected]or 207-650-6070 x 125
Condolences for Bishop Lane and Family may also be sent to the diocesan office to be forwarded: Episcopal Diocese of Maine, 143 State Street, Portland, ME 04101.
All Maine Episcopalians are encouraged to attend this year’s “spring training” on Saturday, March 21 in Augusta. This event has been drawing increasing numbers of folk from across the diocese for a day of workshops, learning, fun, and sharing. Registration deadline is March 16. Check out this link for more details.
