Volume 136, Number 4 Telling the story of God s people in the Diocese of Maine since 1872 August Photo by Jim DeLa, Diocese of Southwest Florida

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1 Non profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Brunswick, Maine Permit No. 34 Volume 136, Number 4 Telling the story of God s people in the Diocese of Maine since 1872 August 2007 ERD diocesan coordinators view progress in hurricane-ravaged areas two years after Katrina By Ken Cochrane, Diocesan ERD Coordinator This May, 138 diocesan coordinators for Episcopal Relief and Development gathered in New Orleans for our annual meeting and to see firsthand the positive result ERD is having in the region. This early in the morning the temperature in still in the low seventies, and the humidity is low. If this is New Orleans weather, bring it on! Aboard our small bus, we pass through the Garden District with its stately homes in the uptown style. We turn right, then drive for several blocks and enter the world of shotgun houses block after block, about twelve feet apart, each eighteen feet wide and seventy feet long. The streets and sidewalks are surprisingly clean. Here and there foundation posts stick up on lots vacant except for weeds that signify where a house once stood. The debris piles are gone. Most of the remaining houses are boarded up, their high-water marks still visible, yet we learn that most of these houses are certified restorable. Is the owner waiting for insurance money? A loan? Living in Houston? We don t know. A house trailer on the premises with a PVC drainpipe connected to the city See page 11 for more about Episcopal Mission Exchange. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Congregations in Search...page 9 Mainestream Calendars... page 5 Notes from the Cellar...page 7 People & Places...pages 2 5 Resourcefully Yours...page 9 To God s Beloved in Maine...page 3 Upcoming in Maine...pages 6 7 Within our Communion...pp Youth News...pages Photo by Jim DeLa, Diocese of Southwest Florida Above: Miss Edith, 92, of Bayou La Batre, Alabama, is a recipient of help from Episcopal Mission Exchange. Damaged by Hurricane Katrina, her home was repainted and her wheelchair ramp repaired. Right: The Volunteer Tree at Camp Coast Care, Mississippi, is headquarters for over 14,000 volunteers from all 50 states and 14 foreign countries. sewer indicates that the homeowner is living onsite while trying to restore the residence. We stop in front of and enter a new house that is part of the Jericho Road Housing Initiative: ERD and See KATRINA, page 8 Episcopal Life Special Issue This month the diocese has supplied to each church copies of a special Episcopal Life issue focusing on the U.N. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Episcopal Church. Please ask for it at your church and share it among parishioners (MDG 7, Ensure Environmental Sustainability). Scattered throughout this issue of the Northeast you ll find icons of the eight MDGs. Copy for the October 2007 issue of the NORTHEAST is due 22 AUGUST. the giving corner Two years later, still many ways to help hurricane-ravaged Gulf By Ken Cochrane, Diocesan ERD Coordinator Photo by the Rev. Kirby Price Colwell II, ERD Coordinator, Diocese of Ohio This space is devoted to stories of need in Maine, in the nation, and around the world. Volunteer for New Orleans at Volunteer for Gulf Coast of Mississippi at Form a volunteer group. Youth teams can call upon the Episcopal Mission Exchange (see page 11) for help in organizing a mission team. Donate through ERD. Dollars support vital ongoing programs as well as defray the cost of feeding and housing volunteers the same volunteers who stretch those program dollars. For recovery from Katrina, there s a decade to go, maybe longer. Consider making an annual donation. Make checks payable to Episcopal Relief and Development and mail to ERD, PO Box 7058, Merrifield VA For tax-deductible creditcard donations, visit or call , x5129.

2 Page 2 August 2007 from the editor The Diocese of Maine all over the map By Deborah Oliver From the Gulf Coast, to Haiti, to Lincolnshire, and to their neighboring communities, members of the 67 congregations in the Diocese of Maine are pretty much all over the map: to learn, to heal, to put our shoulders into some effort, to celebrate our common faith in Christ or our common humanity. And the Northeast tries to keep up with both what s going on in the diocese and what members of the diocese are active in both within Maine and outside the state. As editor, I feel blessed and am inspired by the stories you share of your efforts. This month, Ken Cochrane, diocesan ERD coordinator, tells movingly of his experience with other ERD coordinators witnessing ERD s work in the Hurricane Katrina ravaged areas of Louisiana and Mississippi. His article is another reminder that we Mainers keep going to the Gulf and doing what we can financially to assist in the restoration of homes and that we return to Maine restored ourselves. Elizabeth Maule, diocesan archivist, reminds us that many of our churches have fluid communities, and parishioners with our longest institutional memories might reside in another state for part of the year. In this issue we hear about two U2charists, one in Norway (Maine, that is) and one in Lincolnshire (U.K., that is), both of which grew out of a fairly recent phenomenon birthed right here in Maine. U2charists use modern music and joyous Eucharists to remind us of the necessity of our commitment to the Millennium Development Goals. Bishop Knudsen s column celebrates our great wealth in the Diocese of Maine as shown by the growing number of ordained members who support the rest of us in our own ministries. News from the cathedral is fairly stunning in its breadth and the generosity it extends to all of us in the diocese. Daniel Summers tells with humor about the fellowship and mind-stimulating activites of a group of twentyand thirty-somethings in the Gardiner Hallowell area. The Rev. Carolyn Metzler s Tablet of the Heart contribution lends color and body and spirit to the numbers that appear on St. Thomas, Winn, parochial report to the national church. With the stories and images of See EDITOR, page 3 Who is the Episcopal Church? In the Anglican Communion: A global community of 77 million Anglicans in 38 member provinces in 164 countries. The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury. In the Episcopal Church: A community of 2.4 million members in 16 countries and 110 dioceses. Established The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate. In the Diocese of Maine: A community of 17,000 people in 67 congregations. The Rt. Rev. Chilton R. Knudsen, Bishop. Our vision is that our congregations, commissioned and empowered by the Holy Spirit, will grow as ambassadors of Christ s reconciliation and to God s world (II Corinthians 5:18ff). To enable this to happen, we envision that: Congregations will develop the resources and leadership to support individual and collective ministry, and diocesan leaders will provide support to these ministries. (adopted by Diocesan Convention, 1994) THE NORTHEAST is an official publication of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, published six times annually. Submissions are invited and are subject to editing. Please materials to northeast@episcopalmaine.org or mail to THE NORTHEAST, c/o 184 Mountain St., Camden, ME Address changes should be mailed to the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, 143 State St., Portland, ME Deborah Oliver, Editor Graphic Design: Custom Communications Inc., Saco Visit our website at DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT ISSUE IS AUGUST 22, people and places The cathedral is bustling Photo by Nancy Mawhinney On June 5, Bishop Knudsen was on hand along with Loring House and cathedral staff, and numerous Essentials Pantry volunteers, to celebrate St. Elizabeth s first day at St. Luke s. St. Elizabeth s Essentials Pantry serves community from St. Luke s parish hall By the Very Rev. Dr. Benjamin Shambaugh, Dean, Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Portland St. Elizabeth s Essentials Pantry was founded in Portland in July 2001 in honor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary ( ), who committed her life to relieving the poor and the sick. The pantry is a welcoming, no-barrier program of new and gently-used donations of nonfood essentials (such as diapers, soap, toilet paper, shampoo, laundry detergent, and cleaning supplies) to the most needy among us. Having outgrown its previous location at the First Parish Church in downtown Portland, with the invitation of the bishop, dean, and vestry, St. Elizabeth s Essentials Pantry moved to St. Luke s in June. Eight congregations in greater Portland provide volunteer teams that serve from 9:30 to 11:30 on Tuesday mornings, with the pantry open from 10 to 11. The pantry now operates in the lower parish hall of the cathedral every Tuesday morning, under the direction of parishioner Dick Rasner. Although the volunteer teams will remain in place, more help is needed both on any Tuesday or other day of the week behind the scenes. Please call the office or just come on Tuesdays to help. I am personally thrilled that St. Luke s can support this significant ministry in such a concrete way. My hope is that the presence of St. Elizabeth s in our midst and the true Eight Greater Portland churches form pantry teams The eight volunteer teams that staff the pantry hail from St. David s (Kennebunk), St. Alban s (Cape Elizabeth), St. Nicholas (Scarborough), St. Ann s (Windham), St. Bartholemew s (Yarmouth), and, from Portland, the cathedral, Trinity Episcopal, and First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church. If you or your church would like to participate in the effort, contact Dick Rasner at or Rrasner@maine.rr.com. If you would like to contribute but cannot commit to staffing a team, checks can be made out to the diocese, with St. Elizabeth s Essentials Pantry in the memo line, and mailed to the Diocese of Maine, 143 State St., Portland ME hands-on opportunities it provides will reawaken the love of outreach that is in each of us. My prayer is that St. Elizabeth s will continue in the tradition of St. Luke s soup kitchen and food pantry as both a vital component and a visible symbol of the cathedral s mission of sharing Christ and Christian love with the people of Portland.

3 August 2007 Page 3 with activity in Portland Kneelers from around the diocese dedicated on June 3 The Rev. Wanda Thompson, a deacon of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Portland, is available to come to churches around the diocese to talk about the ministry of the diaconate and assist your church in reconnecting with the cathedral, your home away from home. Your church might invite her to Photo by Nancy Mawhinney On June 3, nineteen kneelers made by people from around the diocese were dedicated at the cathedral. The cathedral s Kneeler Guild has for several years sponsored a project to outfit the cathedral with kneelers representing all the churches in the diocese. Here St. Luke s parishioner Alison Dale displays the kneeler she made for the cathedral. The Rev. Wanda Thompson available for deacon visits participate as a deacon in a Sunday morning liturgy, preach, or offer open discussions on the diaconate and cathedral ministries. Wanda can be the bridge that reconnects your church and the cathedral in the common goal of ministry. She can be reached at and wjt1938@verizon.net. TO GOD S BELOVED IN MAINE A diocese full of ministers Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: June is ordination month in our life together, although it s not the only time for ordinations (we thank God for Lee Karker s priesting on May 17 and the August 4 ordinations of Steve Summerson and Judy Burleigh as deacons). But June always holds two or more large ordination services: this year on June 9 we ordained three transitional deacons (God willing, Martha Kirkpatrick, Eckart Horn and Carolyn Coleman will be ordained priests in the future) and on June 23 three deacons (Alicia Kellogg, Tom Gilbert, and Deborah McKean, who will offer their entire lives to this ministry of servanthood). Ordinations always bless us with a huge scrapbook-of-theheart filled with images and vignettes of grace and joy. Ordinations remind us that ALL are called to ministry; that, in truth, baptism is THE ordination for the ministry of all Christians. The Ministry of all Christians is well-described in these powerful, forthright words from our Catechism: Q. What is the duty of all Christians? A. The duty of all Christians is to follow Christ; to come together week by week for corporate worship; and to work, pray and give for the spread of the Kingdom of God. (Catechism, BCP, p. 856) Ordained people are simply set apart to be animators ; to motivate, encourage and sustain all people in fulfilling their Christian duty. Ordained people do not do ministry on our behalf. Their particular ministry is to support all ministry. And so does the Body grow and build itself up in love, with each part of the Body working as it should (see Ephes. 4:4 16). Because ordained folks foster the ministry of everyone, it s not ever true that they take away the ministry of the laity. God s gracious economy is not a zero-sum game; as more ordained ministry is offered, more ministry is born and thrives. Research underscores this multiplication of all ministry, like abundant loaves and fishes offered to a hungry crowd. The Rt. Rev. Chilton R. Knudsen (Confidential to lay people: if you ever think that your ordained leaders are usurping your rightful ministries, tell them so with loving firmness. I know our clergy I know they don t mean to be doing that.) When we gather as a diocesan family to ordain the men and women who have journeyed along the ordination path, we also see assembled in one place, at one moment, nurturers who have played a part in forming new ordinands. Family members, teachers, mentors, supervisors, spiritual directors, sponsoring clergy, companions from the Committee on Holy Orders... all of them beaming proudly because their ministry of Christian nurture is being mightily affirmed. And in turn, these ordained folks offer nurture to us all; and so the nurtured become the nurturers... and the circle is complete. Pretty neat, huh? Brothers and sisters, pray for the Holy Spirit to continue moving mightily as every aspect of our diocesan ministry evolves and enlarges. God is so good to us. Love in Christ, recent deaths THE REV. GEORGE DAWSON The Rev. George Dawson, retired priest of the Diocese of Newark and long-time resident of Rockland, died May 16 at Pen Bay Medical Center following a long illness. He was a member of St. John the Baptist, MORE PEOPLE AND PLACES ON PAGE 4 Thomaston. Condolences may be sent to his family at 18 Schooner Dr., Rockland ME Gifts in his memory may be sent to Seamen s Church Institute of New York/New Jersey, 118 Export St., Port Newark NJ Editor cont d from page 2 this issue in mind as I read the news from the bishop search committee, it s clear how important you are to the Diocese of Maine and to our collective identity. The diocese is enriched and enlivened by each one of us; we make up the Diocese of Maine. Who are we? we re everyone, embracing all ages and dimensions. As the candidates for the 9th bishop of Maine visit around the state (see schedule on page 6), consider attending one of the sessions to listen to their stories and to tell them something of our story. Let them know that the Diocese of Maine is as important to you as you are to the Diocese of Maine.

4 Page 4 August 2007 people and places U2charist: From York Harbor to Lincolnshire Photos by Michelle Andrews, reproduced courtesy of BBC Radio Lincolnshire On May 26, the nave at St. Swithin s in Lincolnshire, England, was packed when the church became the first in the Church of England to host a U2charist, a Eucharist form developed at St. George s, York Harbor. Bishop of Grantham Tim Ellis was celebrant, and the Rev. Paige Blair of St. George s (right, above) preached. To read more about U2charists, go to St. George s Website ( and click on the link to U2charists, or go to Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation ( U2charist arrives to Maine s western foothills On Pentecost Sunday Christ Church, Norway, hosted the first U2charist to be held in the western foothills of Maine. U2charist was developed at St. George s, York Harbor, and uses the music of U2 to teach about the Millennium Development Goals to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger (goal 1) and global AIDS (goal 6). The service was held across the road at St. Catherine of Sienna Roman Catholic Church. For nearly 30 years the two churches have had a covenant, renewed annually, to share resources, space, outreach efforts, and liturgies, among other things. Homilist Brenda Hamilton (St. Andrew s, Newcastle) shared her experiences in Haiti. The Rev. Geoffrey Smith was the deacon and the Rev. Anne Stanley celebrated. Father Brendan Harnett and a number of parishioners of St. Catherine s attended the U2charist. The offering allowed Christ Church to make contributions to Maisson de Naissance in Haiti and CHABA (Children Affected By HIV/AIDS). Christ Church parishioners and members of the Norway community rejoiced at the May U2charist. Maine Council of Churches names Eric Smith as congregational outreach coordinator In May Eric C. Smith joined the staff of the Maine Council of Churches. In his role as congregational outreach coordinator, Smith will travel throughout Maine to bring the work of the MCC to individual congregations, assisting churches with their own mission, and focusing on how individuals can work with the council on social justice issues. Smith is a lifelong member of the First Parish Church, United Church of Christ (UCC) in Freeport and is completing four years of service as assistant minister for children, youths, and mission with the First Parish Church, UCC, in Gorham. He has studied at both the University of Southern Maine and Chicago Theological Seminary. Smith s philosophy is deeply rooted in the scriptures. As church members, we do not always agree about worship or theology, politics or economics, he explains, but as followers of Jesus, we are all called to work for justice, on earth, as it is in heaven. This means we can find common ground to work for the stewardship of creation, for the health and well being of all people, and against exploitation and marginalization. Among other prior positions, Smith was assistant director of outdoor ministries for the Maine Conference, UCC at Pilgrim Lodge in West Gardiner. He has also served on the National Council of Churches Youth Adult Ministry Team, working to develop and share young adult ministry models across denominations. He sees his new job with MCC as not only adding to the chorus of voices but also providing opportunities for action. He notes that we need to be not just listeners and speakers, but more importantly, doers of the Word. Eric Smith can be reached at the Maine Council of Churches office, located at 19 Pleasant Avenue in Portland ( ). Information about the councilcan be found on the Web at Meet the Chef Mark Spahr of Winterport, a parishioner of St. Patrick s, Brewer, was guest chef on June 29 at Bangor s Ronald McDonald House for a Meet the Chef evening. Several St. Patrick s parishioners were among the participants in the evening, which benefits the Ronald McDonald House. Photo by Michael Gleason

5 August 2007 Page 5 people and places Scout s honor Calais church breaks ground for new parish hall Standing by for the first shovelfuls of dirt at the groundbreaking are Hiliary Provencher, Junior Warden Geoff Maker, the Rev. David Sivret, Bishop Knudsen, Tyler Provencher, and Senior Warden Wayne Sammer. At St. George s, York Harbor, on May 13 Thomas N. Beecher II received his Cub Scout God and Me medallion from Bishop Chilton Knudsen. Also pictured is his sister, Grace Beecher. By Alice Jean Robinson, St. Anne s, Calais On Saturday, June 2, the bishop was in Calais to participate in the ground-breaking ceremony at St. Anne s for a new parish hall. After the bishop put the gold shovel in the dirt, members of St. Anne s took a hand at shoveling. Following the ceremony the group celebrated a Eucharist in the church, followed by a luncheon. The congregation entered a capital campaign to raise $300,000 for the hall, which is expected to be in use by the fall. Mainestream Diocesan Calendar The Bishop s Calendar To place an event on this calendar, please contact Pam McClellan at pmclelln@episcopalmaine.org or Visit the calendar on the diocesan Website ( for updates and additions. August 2 Mass on the Grass, S. Mary s, Falmouth, 6:30 7:30 pm. Outdoor, informal Eucharist. FMI rd Annual Art in the Cathedral show and sale with Maine artists, Cathedral, Portland, 5 8 pm. FMI Dick Rasner ( ) or Carol Patterson ( ). 4 Getting Started with Rite 13 workshop, St. Francis, Blue Hill, 9:30 3:00. FMI ering@episcopal maine.org. 4 Public supper, St. Mark s, Augusta, 5 6. FMI Evening of fellowship and music, St. George s, York Harbor, 7 9. FMI office@stgeorgesyorkharbor.org. 9 Mass on the Grass, see Aug Mass on the Grass, see Aug rd annual Blueberry Festival, St. Columba s, Boothbay Harbor, Pancake Breakfast and Yard Sale. FMI Scott King in concert, St. George s, York Harbor, 7:30 9 pm. FMI Rich Ervin Staff orientation for BION. FMI youth@episcopalmaine.org BION Teen Camp. FMI youth@episcopalmaine.org. 22 Deadline for material to be submitted for the October issue of the Northeast. 22 Talk by missionary, Camden, see page Mass on the Grass, see Aug Celebration of New Ministry with the Rev. John Rafter, St. Thomas s, Camden, 4 pm. 30 Mass on the Grass, see Aug. 2. Maintained by the Rev. Betsey Wilder Deleuse ( x25, bdeleuse@episcopalmaine.org) August 2 4 Aroostook Cluster 3 Aroostook Cluster Golf Outing 4 Deacon Ordination, Aroostook Cluster 5 All Saint s, Bailey Island 11 12Christ Church, Dark Harbor 15 Homecoming, St. Mary & St. Jude, Northeast Harbor 19 St. George s, Tenants Harbor (am) 19 The Rev. Ian Bockus 50th Anniversary Celebration, Southwest Harbor (pm) 23 BION, Camp Bishopswood 26 Popham Colony 400th Anniversary (am) 26 Celebration of New Ministry, St. Thomas, Camden (pm) 27 Finance Committee Meeting #1 for 2008 Budget 28 29Meetings in Rangeley September 2 St. Ann s, Kennebunkport 4 Finance Committee Meeting #2 for Budget 8 Diocesan Council, Belfast 9 Homecoming, St. James, Old Town (am) 9 Homecoming, All Saints, Skowhegan (pm) 11 Lunch, Judicatory Leaders, Portland 13 Clergy Day, St. Mark s, Waterville (new date) 16 Homecoming, St. Dunstan s, Ellsworth (am) 16 Celebration of New Ministry, St. Francis, Blue Hill (pm) 17 25House of Bishops, New Orleans 28 Tutu Institute Board Meeting, Washington, DC 29 30Mount Desert Island Confirmations (am) 30 Celebration of New Ministry, St. Matthew s, Lisbon (pm) See CALENDAR, page 6 See BISHOP, page 6

6 Page 6 August 2007 DIOCESAN DISCERNMENT PROCESS: SEARCHING FOR THE 9TH BISHOP OF MAINE Semifinal candidates visiting Maine, final candidates to meet members of the diocese in September By the Rev. Kent Tarpley, chaplain to the Bishop Search Committee Committee members have been visiting semifinalist candidates at their home congregations to further evaluate and assess their qualities to be the next bishop of Maine. Also, the semifinal candidates have been invited to visit Maine in late July and early August to see the diocese for themselves. At a final retreat on August the search committee will select from the semifinalist group a finalist group of between four to six candidates to present to the diocese. Those names and biographies will be announced to the entire diocese in early September. On September at three different locations (see box at right), the people of the diocese can hear and speak with the finalists. Delegates at the annual Diocesan Convention in Bangor (October 26 27) will then elect the bishop coadjutor (succeeding Chilton) on the first day of the convention. Pray for us and pray for our diocese. Thank you. Profile Profile Nominations Screening Area visits Election developed finalized January March 2007 April August 2007 August October September 2006 December 2006 Sept Event schedule for the bishop finalists Events have been scheduled for September in Augusta, Bangor, and Portland. Unless otherwise noted, events are public and open to all members of the diocese. Delegates to convention who will be voting in the election are especially encouraged to attend one of the sessions. FRIDAY, SEPT. 21, 8:00 a.m. Breakfast with the diocesan staff at the cathedral FRIDAY, SEPT. 21, 2:00 p.m. Event for clergy of diocese in Augusta FRIDAY, SEPT. 21, 7:00 p.m. Public event at the Senator Inn in Augusta SATURDAY, SEPT. 22, 2:00 p.m. Public event at Peabody Hall, Husson College, Bangor. Bus transportation from Aroostook County will be provided for this event. SUNDAY, SEPT. 23, 3:00 p.m. Public event at the Hannaford Lecture Hall, University of Southern Maine, Portland. Sunday s event will include a panel discussion followed by a reception. The panel discussion will be taped and available online at A DVD containing the September 23 panel discussion, along with individual interviews with the candidates, will also be sent to each congregation shortly after September 23. Details on each session, including directions and maps, are available at September 1 Public supper, St. Mark s, Augusta, 5 6. FMI Mass on the Grass, see Aug Clergy Day, St. Mark s, Waterville, 9:30 2:30. New date & program. 13 Celebration of New Ministry with the Rev. Claudia Smith, St. Francis, Blue Hill, 4 pm. 15 Safe Church Training, S. Mary s, Falmouth, 8:30 12:30. Register at x Clergy Day, old date: please see Sept Labyrinth Walk, Trinity, Portland, 4 8 pm. FMI office@trinitychurch portland.org Leadership training for fall Middle- School Event. FMI youth@ episcopalmaine.org. 29 Safe Church Training, Good Shepherd, Houlton, 10 2:30. Register at x Celebration of New Ministry with the Rev. William Beau Wagner, St. Matthew s, Lisbon, 5 pm. October 6 Hearing God s story in Scripture, with the Rev. Carolyn Metzler, St. Mark s, Waterville, all day. FMI Carlene Deschaine ( ) or Alice-Jean Robinson ( ). 6 7 Downeast Youth Event, St. Anne s, Calais. FMI youth@episcopal maine.org. 7 Celebration of New Ministry with the Rev. Rita Steadman, St. John s, Bangor. 13 Safe Church Training, St. Mary and St. Jude, Northeast Harbor, 10 2:30. Register at x Celebration of New Ministry with the Rev. Timothy Higgins, St. Ann s, Windham, 4 pm. 18 Labyrinth Walk, Trinity, Portland, 4 8 pm. FMI office@trinitychurch portland.org Fall Middle-School Event. FMI youth@episcopalmaine.org Diocesan Convention. Bangor, Fri. to noon Sat. FMI maine.org. 26 Youths at convention dinner, Bangor, 4 7 pm. FMI youth@episcopal maine.org. Calendar continued from page 5 Bishop continued from page 5 October 4 Dinner, BTS and Judicatory Leaders, Husson College, Bangor 6 7 Homecoming, Trinity Church, Castine (am) 7 Celebration of New Ministry, St. John s, Bangor (pm) 9 New Eng. Cons. of Church Leaders (NECCL), Amesbury, MA 11 Homecoming, St. Philip s, Wiscasset 13 Augusta Area Fall Ingathering, Christ Church, Gardiner 14 Homecoming, St. Columba s, Boothbay (am) 14 Celebration of New Ministry, St. Ann s, Windham (pm) Advisory Committee, College for Bishops, NYC 19 Fresh Start Retreat, Living Waters (am) Homecoming, Aroostook Cluster Diocesan Convention, Bangor 28 Celebration of New Ministry, St. Bartholomew s, Yarmouth Check the date on the Web For up-to-date information on calendar events, visit the diocesan Website

7 August 2007 Page 7 upcoming in maine Call to Diocesan Convention 2007 The Official Notice of the 188th Convention, the form for certifying delegates, and information about positions for which nominees are needed, lunch, the election of the bishop coadjutor, and much more was mailed to each congregation on May 24. This information is also available on the Web; visit and click on Diocesan Convention under the green Diocesan Life tab. Diocesan Council nominations are due by Sept. 9 The Episcopal Diocese of Maine has eight geographical areas, each of which is represented on the Diocesan Council. With Diocesan Convention approaching in October, now is the time to consider whether you, or someone you know, might be interested in representing your area on Diocesan Council. Deadline for nominations for area representation on the council is September 9, The Diocesan Council generally meets four times a year; members serve Don t forget to submit your church newsletter or Website for consideration for the 9th Annual LULU Awards, with winners announced at Diocesan Convention in October. The LULUs honor congregational newsletters and congregational Websites that best exemplify excellence in communication and communitybuilding. Submit 3 issues of your church newsletter dated August 2006 August 2007, or submit your church Web address. Application forms will be two-year terms in administering the business of the diocese between conventions. For more information, including information defining the eight geographical areas, visit maine.org and click on Diocesan Council under the green Committees & Commissions tab. If you (clergy or lay) are interested in serving in this important ministry to the diocese, please have your priest, vestry, bishop s committee, or a parishioner nominate you for consideration. Lulu Awards application deadline October 1! mailed to each church and will also be available at Get your application and materials in by October 1! the palm and the pine: the maine haiti connection Les Petits Chanteurs return this fall to Maine Wrestle with theology and ethics at BTS this fall The Anglican Studies course option being offered at Bangor Theological Seminary this fall will focus on how Anglicans engage and wrestle with theology and ethics. The three-credit class, Theology and Ethics: Anglican and Episcopal Perspectives, will be taught by the Rev. Ann Kidder on Fridays from 9 to 11:50 a.m. Building on students basic understandings of theology and ethics, this course focuses on how Anglicans, and Episcopalians in particular, engage and wrestle with theology and ethics. Students will study selected historical theological, and ethical dilemmas. In the process of that study students will identify distinctive Anglican and Episcopal qualities of theological and ethical approaches. The course will be taught from the Bangor campus and available via video conferencing for students at the Portland campus of the seminary. The class begins September 7 and runs until December 14. For additional information contact Michael Huddy, Director of Admissions, or MHuddy@ bts.edu; or the Rev. Dr. Peg Thomas, Coordinator of Anglican Studies, or pegthomas@gwi.net. For financial assistance, lay people may apply to the Diocese of Maine Wolf Fund. Clergy may apply to the Diocese of Maine Loring Fund. Information and the application forms are available at (click on the green Congregational Resources tab and then Forms). Explore BTS course options at notes from the cellar Summer residents and guests will appreciate your church photos By Elizabeth Maule, Diocesan Archivist ( x37, emaule@episcopalmaine.org) Summer in Maine this year started out with some quintessential days: pure blue skies, a few puffy white clouds, and tolerable temperatures and humidity levels. Visitors have arrived! If you find yourself wanting to display photos from your archives for parishioners and visitors alike, here is a suggestion. Use an ordinary threering binder with archival photo pages inside. You won t need too many pages. The binder is easy to close, easy to put away at the end of services or other gatherings, and just as easy to get out when needed. Select a few photos and create labels that can be slipped into the sleeve with the photo. Try to put out an unidentified photo or two as well somebody may recognize that event! Rotate the photos every few weeks so that folks keep coming back to see what s new. In addition to providing fresh interest, this also protects the photos from overexposure and overhandling. Enjoy every second of our precious summer, and welcome all our visitors. And, please feel free to call or me if you need help with this project or have other questions. Once again Les Petits Chanteurs from Haiti will perform at several locations in Maine. The boys choir of Holy Trinity Music School in Port-au- Prince, Haiti. The music school offers instrumental and vocal music education to rich and poor alike at two locations in the Port-au-Prince area. The schedule for their Maine concerts follows: Sept. 29 St Alban s, Cape Elizabeth Sept. 30 St Luke s Cathedral Oct. 1 Lorimer Chapel, Colby College Oct. 2 St John s, Bangor

8 Page 8 August 2007 Volunteers rebuild houses and families Katrina continued from page 1 the Diocese of New Orleans hope to build 500 houses over the next five to seven years. The house looks great carpeted, air conditioned, all appliances installed and it s for sale for $115,000. Is this affordable housing? Yes, we are told, for the qualified buyer, that is, one holding a regular job, having an annual income under $45,000, and qualifying for gap funding if needed (an ERD-supported program). It s more than building houses we re rebuilding families, says Archdeacon Dennis McManis, Operations Manager in the Diocesan Office of Disaster Response (ODR). With your help, we are changing the road to Jericho. SUPPORTING LONG-TERM PROGRAMS, CUTTING RED TAPE ERD partners with the ODR to serve survivors in and around New Orleans, with particular emphasis on the poor, elderly, marginalized, and underinsured. This partnership includes longterm recovery programs such as gutting and rebuilding homes, healthcare programs, child-care programs, and family case management, including the daunting task of applying for, appealing, and adjudicating federal, state, and private disaster assistance. Even before Katrina struck, Louisiana rated dead last among the states in health-care education. ERD currently supports several post-katrina programs, including suicide intervention/counseling. The Trinity Counseling and Training Center identifies unmet health care needs and to design appropriate health-care programs, working in cooperation with the medical schools of Tulane, Loyola, Xavier Holy Cross, and the University of New Orleans. ERD is also supporting the St. Photo by Jim DeLa, Diocese of Southwest Florida Jackie Lerigo helps Miguel Gonzalez, both of Florida, paint the inside of a home in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. The home has been uninhabitable since Hurricane Katrina, which put it under more than five feet of water at the peak of the storm. Lerigo is a member of a Diocese of Southwest Florida team helping in Alabama as part of an Episcopal Mission Exchange project. Thomas/Louisiana State University Health Clinic, one of two free clinics now open in New Orleans. ERD also funded the completion of mammogram and cardiology rooms, which now serve the poor and underinsured who otherwise would have to travel to Houma (69 miles) or Baton Rouge (90 miles) for medical care or go without care entirely. We stop at a church parking lot to inspect a mobile medical unit purchased by ERD. This big RV makes daily runs through the low-income neighborhoods, providing on-the-spot treatment to residents working on damaged homes. SHEETROCK MINISTRY AND HALLELUJAH HOUSING On the I10 Bay Bridge, we catch a glimpse of the damage potential of a 28-foot tidal surge driven by winds exceeding 150 miles per hour. Close to our bus, work is nearing completion where entire sections of the bridge had plunged into the water. We pause to give thanks for twin spans. Once safely off the bridge, we see little except for concrete slabs and posts where buildings once stood. It dawns on us that a bank used to be on one of the slabs; all that remains is the rusty vault. The vault door is open. We stop at the headquarters of Camp Coast Care in Long Beach, Miss. It s on the grounds of St. Patrick s Episcopal Church, which was built in 1890 and destroyed in 2005 by Katrina. Following the disaster, Camp Coast Care was created by a partnership of ERD, Lutheran Episcopal Services in Mississippi, and the Diocese of New Orleans. Since 2005 the camp has responded to the emergency needs of over 400,000 people, and now ERD is helping to support Camp Coast Care s recovery operations. As in New Orleans, recovery programs at the camp tackle gutting and rebuilding homes. As of March 2007, over 14,000 volunteers had passed through the camp, from all 50 states and 14 foreign countries. Volunteers housed at the camp are trained by a professional construction staff; the result to date has been 525 families returned to safe, comfortable homes. Other long-term programs in place include individual case management, child care, food, and cleaning supplies. A medical clinic is on the grounds, housed in a double-wide trailer. We visit an all-new home, designed in the Gulf Coast vernacular and built to withstand high water and 160-mile-per-hour winds. The home is the first in the Hallelujah Ministries program. The goal is to build 400 homes at a rate of 75 homes a year for the next five to seven years. ERD, in concert with the diocese and others, has helped to create this affordable housing initiative, which will provide gap funding through a credit union to qualified homebuyers. It s often one church s ministry that makes a lasting, memorable contribution. This is the case with St. Patrick s Episcopal Church in Pascagoula, Miss., whose Sheetrock Ministry has donated 14,000 sheets of drywall to over 450 homeowners. ERD is supporting this ministry with a $145,000 grant to build a bigger and better warehouse. ERD President Robert W. Radtke affirms that ERD will continue the development phase of its contributions until the Dioceses of Louisiana and Mississippi, working with the churches and ERD, can make the transition to meet their own needs. Ask the Chaplain By the Rev. Nancy Duncan, LCPC, Chaplain to Clergy Families ( , famchpln@midcoast.com) Dear Nancy, I am worried about our priest s family. There has been tension in the church and our priest seems tired and discouraged. I also know that her husband s mother has health problems and they are doing a lot of caretaking. How can I help? Concerned Dear Concerned, The care and feeding of clergy and their families is critical to the health of a ministry. Be caring and creative. Connect with the clergy spouse and ask him how he is doing. Without going into detail (or asking for details), acknowledge that it is a stressful time in the church and in his life. Look him in the eyes. Send him a note with your concern. Support your priest and his or her family. Talk to other church members and use your imagination. Churches have surprised a couple by presenting them with a gift of a weekend away. Churches have provided casseroles or restaurant gift certificates in times of stress. One church did a special we love our priest and family day where one Sunday the church was filled with banners, balloons, and signs thanking the priest and his family for their love and care. A member of one church periodically invited a clergy spouse to lunch. Personalized notes are also appreciated. These gestures may seem small, but clergy families are very grateful. Clergy and their families need your love and support. Use your imagination to discover ways to help sustain them. Nancy This column has been fictionalized to protect confidentiality. The Rev. Nancy Duncan, chaplain to clergy families, can be reached for pastoral care or consultation at the contact information above. Information about Clergy Family Chaplaincy services are at palmaine.org (click on the green Diocesan Life tab for Clergy Family Chaplaincy).

9 August 2007 Page 9 Congregations in Search CHURCH TRINITY, Lewiston ST. ANDREW S, Millinocket ST. PETER S, Portland ST. PETER S, Rockland ST. GEORGE S, Sanford ST. BRENDAN S, Stonington ST. STEPHEN S, Waterboro ST. ANN S, Windham ST. BARTHOLOMEW S, Yarmouth By Robin Johnson, Diocesan Coordinator, United Thank Offering ( , joenrob@adelphia.net) This spring, the National UTO Board awarded $2,439, with 104 grants. Over $1 million was granted in the United States; unfortunately, neither of the two applicants from Maine received a grant this year. According to Dot Smith, the province 1 UTO coordinator, the number of applicants with life-threatening need was staggering this year, and the board was faced with huge and often heartbreaking decisions about how to disperse the funds. With the yearly offering down by over $113,000 in province 1 alone, the focus has been on feeding and sheltering the hungry and destitute, and many third-world nations benefited from our prayerful coins. We can be thankful that our National UTO Board has their priorities in order and that we have beds to sleep in, full bellies, are protected by a roof over our heads and are surrounded by family and friends in safety and freedom. Thank you, God for the gift of perspective. The Diocese of Maine is doing STATUS Receiving names No longer receiving names Receiving names Beginning process Working on profile Receiving names Working on profile No longer receiving names No longer receiving names St. John s, Bangor, has called the Rev. Marguerite (Rita) Steadman as rector. She joins them in ministry August 1, 2007 St. Francis by-the-sea, Blue Hill, has called the Rev. Claudia Smith as rector. She joins them in ministry August 1, St. Thomas, Camden, has called the Rev. John Rafter as rector. He began his ministry with them on July 1, St. Matthew s, Lisbon Falls, has called the Rev. Beau Wagner as rector. He joins them in ministry August 1, St. Ann s, Windham, has called the Rev. Timothy Higgins as rector. He joins them in ministry August 1, For information on any of these congregations, please contact the Rev. Canon Linton Studdiford at , or lstuddif@episcopalmaine. org. Deployment information for many of these congregations is available at the diocesan Web site, Maine churches approach 75% participation in UTO: won t you join our effort? our part well! Participation in the UTO has increased from 47 to 72 percent of churches in the last four years. Last year s offering was a record during my tenure: $ Let s continue to expand the circle of thankful people in Maine by spreading the news about coins for thanks. Help eradicate poverty and hunger through the UTO. Get a new ministry started in your church if there isn t one already, and let me know how I can help. The spring ingathering was taking place while the August issue was in press, and figures will be available for the diocesan ingathering at a later date. resourcefully yours Get to know Revised Common Lectionary By Elizabeth M. Ring, Director, Diocesan Resource Center, Supporting Lifelong Learning , ering@episcopalmaine.org A lectionary is a list of readings that creates an order of storytelling for the church as we listen to scripture in worship. The lectionary now in use was part of the work that led to the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and is very different from earlier lectionaries. Matthew, Mark, and Luke, with the help of John, are the guiding storytellers for each of the three years of our present lectionary cycle. Each tells the story from the unique perspective of what stood out for them and what they thought would engage their audience much as we do when several of us tell the same story, though each story comes out a little differently because different things stood out for each of us. Each year we have the opportunity to explore the story of Jesus ministry through the unique lens of one of these gospel writers. This is a common thread of the lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer and the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL), which General Convention adopted as our lectionary, beginning in Advent 2007 (it is optional before then). The switch to the RCL will often go unnoticed because many of the readings are almost identical different in length by maybe a verse or two. The most noticeable differences between the current lectionary and the RCL are in the Old Testament readings during the season after Pentecost. In that period the RCL offers us two tracks. One track selects readings from the Old Testament that are clearly connected to the Gospel they may be quoted in the Gospel, tell parallel stories, or demonstrate a contrast between old and new thinking. The other track is a semicontinuous reading from the Old Testament. The psalms in all cases are chosen in response to the Old Testament reading. Hearing readings grouped differently can help us hear nuances and discover insights that we missed before. Both the Book of Common Prayer and the RCL use a similar, semicontinuous reading of the Epistles, focusing on different Epistles in each of the three years. THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE LECTIONARY REVISION Using the RCL means that we are hearing the same words as most of our Anglican partners and many of our ecumenical colleagues around the world. The journey of the Episcopal Church toward adoption of the RCL began in the mid-1960s. The RCL is the result of the thoughtful work of the Consultation on Common Texts, a group of scholars, lay and ordained, from a wide representation of denominations in North America. The background and lectionary citations for the RCL are available on the Web page of the Episcopal Church Office of Liturgy and Music www. episcopalchurch.org/liturgy_music. htm) and on the Consultation on Common Texts Website ( montexts.org/rcl/faq.html). Forward Movement has just published a helpful pamphlet, Using the Revised Common Lectionary. Please call or e- mail me if you need help finding resources. Enjoy the journey. See page 13 for more on Revised Common Lectionary resources.

10 Page 10 August 2007 youth news youth news youth news youth news St. Matt s young adults take on the state legislators every Tuesday night By Daniel Summers, St. Matthew s, Hallowell The young adult group from St. Matthew s gathered at the Liberal Cup for Trivia Night, winning 5th place that evening. Shown here are Karen Jones, Jon Young (Christ Church, Gardiner), Ryan Corum (St. Matthew s, Hallowell), Daniel Summers (St. Matt s), Rachel White, and Kristen Wagner (St. Matt s). What could be more fun than playing a team game of trivia with other young adults? Well, winning a game of trivia on a team with other young adults is a nice plus. Although the members of the St. Matthew s Young Adult Ministry have yet to actually experience the joy of a win at Tuesday Night Trivia at the Liberal Cup in Hallowell we re serially defeated by an unstoppable juggernaut of Maine legislators we did place fifth recently. As evidenced by this photo (the author is the fellow in the middle with the large hair and blinking problem), the cash prize was a good consolation for our thwarted ambition. In addition to lessons in trivia and good sportsmanship, members of the ministry meet regularly to share meals, discuss the Gospel, and talk about our experiences of faith. Sponsored by St. Matthew s, Hallowell, and led by the Rev. Calvin Sanborn, the group often draws ten to twelve men and women in our twenties and thirties to spend time in fellowship and prayer. Meetings are every other Sunday evening, in addition to our regular Tuesday night endeavors, and generally end with Compline. All are welcome, whatever your faith background or religious affiliation. Experts in sports trivia are especially welcome. DIOCESAN YOUTH CALENDAR STAFF ORIENTATION FOR BION Monday, August 20 Camp Bishopswood BION TEEN CAMP August for youths completing grades 6 12 Camp Bishopswood Have fun with new friends, enjoy activities, and explore faith while living in God s beautiful creation. MEET THE BISHOP CANDIDATES Sept. 21, 7 9:30 p.m. Senator Inn in Augusta Sept. 22, 2 4:30 p.m. Peabody Hall at Husson College in Bangor Sept. 23, 3-4:30 p.m. Hannaford Lecture Hall, USM Portland Youths are encouraged join the rest of our diocese in talking with the candidates for diocesan bishop during the weekend they visit Maine. LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR FALL MIDDLE-SCHOOL EVENT Dates and Location tba Youths and adults prepare to lead. DOWNEAST YOUTH EVENT October 6-7 (staff may arrive on Friday) grades 6-12 St. Anne s, Calais. Six Calais churches join to present the 2nd annual weekend of fun and exploration. FALL MIDDLE-SCHOOL EVENT Date tba grades 6-8 Location tba A weekend of fun, faith, and new friends YOUTHS AT CONVENTION & BENEFIT DINNER Friday, October 26 grades 6 12 Bangor Civic Center Youths serve as pages at this annual diocesan meeting. Youths and adults serve Friday dinner to benefit our international mission project. LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR HAPPENING November 2 4 Christ Church, Gardiner Team building, worship, and training for teen and adult leaders HAPPENING November high-schoolers Christ Church, Gardiner A deep weekend led by high-schoolers for high-schoolers. We ll look at questions about evil and how Christ overcame evil and helps us to overcome it. Province 1 Youth Ministry Exchange: DIOCESE OF CONNECTICUT EVENT December 7 9 high-schoolers Diocese of Connecticut Mainers are invited to experience a youth event in the Diocese of Conn., which sent a dozen teens and adults to experience TEC in Maine last spring. SAFE CHURCH TRAINING for adults who work with teens or children Find dates and locations on the Web at OFFERED ALL YEAR: Visits by a youth missioner and/or youth to your congregation (call us!). BION Camp Diocesan Youth Ministries Believe It or Not... Camp Choose from activities like duct-tape creations, ultimate Frisbee, canoeing, music, swimming, campfires, and s mores. Worship God, be in crazy contests, find friends, laugh, and be in focus groups about God and life. For teens completing grades 6 12 Tuesday Saturday August 21 25, 2007 Download application from For more information, talk to your priest or youth group leader, call YOUTH MINISTRIES at x29 or x29, or us at youth@episcopalmaine.org. Check us out at youth.org.

11 August 2007 Page 11 youth news youth news youth news youth news Mark your calendars for a spirit-filled fall By Heather Blais, Assistant Youth Missioner Fall 2007 will be crazy and spirit-filled for youths and young adult ministries, packed with a week of camp, three retreats, and other special events. We start off in August with a week filled with fun, friends, and God at Believe It Or Not (BION) Camp for teens entering grades 7 12, where we spend our days playing shaving-cream football, Frisbee golf, watermelon polo, and other fun activities. In focus groups we explore topics such as the Millennium Development Goals, how to help hurting friends, and How to Date 101. The entire camp will also get to spend a day with Bishop Knudsen for activities, focus groups, and our closing Eucharist. We will be sure to show her a good time at BION Camp! Then in September we ll gather together with other youths, young adults, and adults around the diocese in Augusta, Bangor, and Portland to meet the final candidates for the next bishop of Maine. That will be a time to learn about each of the candidates and to ask questions to help discern whom God is calling to Maine. Then the following weekend middle-school and high-school youths who are volunteering to staff the Fall Middle-School Event will gather and spend time learning what it means to be a servant and to get ready for the upcoming middle-school retreat where over sixty youths will gather to make new friends, explore their faith, and simply have fun in mid-october. Soon after will be the second Downeast Youth Event, held in Calais, Maine. Under the leadership of Sherry Sivret of St. Anne s, the Calais area churches including Methodist, Catholic, Episcopalian and Baptist are planning another great weekend. Be sure to check it out. Then in late October volunteer youths in grades 6 12 will gather at Diocesan Convention to get a taste of how the Episcopal Church makes decisions as a body, and simply to lend a hand as a page, and have fun. Friday evening of convention there will be the annual benefit dinner, where money is raised to help those on the international youth mission team to the Dominican Republic. Contact Youth Ministries for tickets to this benefit meal or to volunteer. In November comes the highly anticipated Happening retreat that high-schoolers around the state look forward to each fall. This year the retreat will be held at Christ Church, Gardiner, and will be led by Zan Cadman of St. Andrew s, Newcastle, and his assistant rector. Together they will work with fellow high-schoolers to prepare for this deep retreat by spending time together as a staff in worship, preparing talks, and activities. Then come mid-november, 80+ highschoolers will gather around the diocese at Happening to come to know how deep and wide God s love is. Be sure to check out all of these exciting events on our Website at We hope to see you there! National church organization supports teen mission work By Jim DeLa, Diocese of Southwest Florida This June a team of teens and accompanying adults from the Diocese of Southwest Florida made a weeklong mission trip to Bayou La Batre, Alabama. At the same time, a team from the Diocese of Dallas was working 150 miles to the north in Marion, Alabama. Both youth mission teams were placed and facilitated by a new organization, the Episcopal Mission Exchange (EMX). EMX was developed in response to the General Convention s Priority on Youth beginning in The Office of Youth Ministries of the Episcopal Church, with support of youth ministers of the nine provinces of the church and in partnership with Passport Inc., an ecumenical student ministry organization, created a resource for congregational youth leaders to provide meaningful mission experiences for youths. At the organization s homepage you ll find a list of mission opportunities all over the U.S., ranked from E for easy trips for first-time missioners, to X for extra-challenging trips for more experienced youths and adults. All groups who participate in EMX are asked to read a workbook, complete training sessions, attend a preproject visit, covenant together as a team, and complete posttrip evaluations. The workbook contains helpful suggestions about planning your mission trip, suggested schedules, and advice on fund-raising and legal issues. It also provides liturgy for daily worship during the trip and Bible study curriculum. EMX can accommodate teams as small as five and as large as several Photo by Jim DeLa, Diocese of Southwest Florida Amy Burgar, of Church of the Ascension in Dallas, Texas, cleans the porch of a home in Marion, Alabama, as part of a Episcopal Mission Exchange project. hundred people. For information, visit Have you ever seen a shaving-cream Mohawk? By David Nutter, Grace Church, Bath Have you ever seen a shaving-cream Mohawk? I have; lots of them. I was just thinking about how the 4th of July has come and gone, next comes August, then back to school. Oh, had you forgotten about that? It seems that the teens always forget, but the adults always remember. The Diocese of Maine runs a weeklong camp starting August 21 we call Believe It Or Not (BION). This is at Camp Bishopswood on a lake in Hope, Maine, where kids from middle school to high school get together for a week of fun before, well, you know. There are cabins and cots to sleep in, the food is fantastic, and there is music, ultimate frisbee, crafts, photography, creative worship, swimming, focus groups, campfires, boating, and just hanging out with friends in a Christian community. If you have never been to BION, it takes guts to go when you don t know anybody, but chances are someone you know has gone. Even if you come without knowing anyone at all, the first day you ll make friends. And I ll bet that you ll want to come back again and again. Join us for one more week of summer fun. Talk to your friends to sign up or talk to anybody at your local Episcopal church. I ll see you there I ll be the one with the shaving-cream can. Taylor Peck-Moad of St. Paul s, Brunswick, models his Mohawk.

12 Page 12 August 2007 within our communion Massachusetts monastery offers troops a place to heal From the Episcopal News Service Monks of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist (SSJE) are joining forces with a member of the Massachusetts National Guard to help men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan find a safe place to heal. There is a tremendous need to help these folks, said Capt. Jeffery Cox of the Massachusetts National Guard. Cox, a clinical social worker with the guard, offered his expertise and advice to the brothers of the SSJE in Cambridge, Mass., to create a time of healing at the monastery specifically for members of the armed services who have spent long stretches away from home in war zones. Cox has been deployed twice since 2003 and served in a combat stress company in Iraq in He is a postulant for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and the Episcopal Church province 1 coordinator for Episcopal Relief and Development. He works full-time as a contractor for the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program, supporting seriously injured and wounded soldiers throughout New England. The brothers reserved the first weekend in October at the monastery to offer a healing retreat for people returning from places of war. Retreat isn t a very good military word. It s a negative word in the military, said Cox. But the kind of retreat the brothers offer is what many people need right now. It s a great tool for helping to make the transition home. I know because the monastery is where I went when I got home. Binding Up Our Wounds: A retreat for members of the armed services and veterans returning from war, will be offered to a limited number of participants October 4 7. A Thursday-to-Sunday religious retreat may be too long for some people to attend, so the brothers are inviting the public to a special healing service at the monastery in Cambridge, 980 Memorial Drive, at 11 a.m. on October 6. SSJE is a monastic community of the Episcopal Church. It was founded in 1866 in Oxford, England; the U.S. congregation has been in Boston since The brothers engage in a broad range of ministries in the church and in the world; leading retreats, offering spiritual direction and going on missions around the globe, most recently in Jerusalem, Egypt, Jordan, Tanzania, Kenya, and Canada. For additional information, contact the monastery guesthouse at guesthouse@ssje.org, visit or call Anyone wishing to participate in the weekend retreat should send an to the monastery guesthouse explaining why this experience would be helpful to him or her. Lady Bird Johnson remembered in Episcopal services in Texas By Marjorie George, Episcopal News Service A July 13 private Eucharist at the Lady Bird Wild Flower Center in Austin, Texas, was the first of three commemorations of the life of Lady Bird Johnson, widow of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Johnson was a longtime member of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg, Texas, in the Diocese of West Texas. The Rev. Dick Elwood, interim rector of St. Barnabas, presided at the July 13 Eucharist. Johnson was also remembered the following day at a worship service at River Bend Baptist Church. A committal service was held at the LBJ Ranch in Johnson City. Lady Bird Johnson died at her home in Austin on July 11 at the age of 94. She was well known as a champion of conservation; perhaps less well known was her initiative in raising funds to beautify Washington, D.C. The $320 million Highway Beautification Bill, passed in 1965, was known as the Lady Bird Bill. Her efforts spread as she was the leading force behind creating a hike and bike trail in Austin and then later with the beautification of Texas highways project by personally giving awards to highway districts that use native Texas plants. This project, nearly thirty years later, has provided the wildflowers along highways so well known in Texas. (Courtesy LBJ Library, serial , undated) At the Tidal Basin during a Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., Mrs. Johnson assists in planting a young tree. Lady Bird Johnson was born Claudia Alta Taylor in Karnack, Texas. She and Lyndon Baines Johnson were married at St. Mark s Episcopal Church in San Antonio on November 17, Marjorie George is communications officer for the Diocese of West Texas The Rev. Katharine Babson in Sittwe, western Myanmar. Episcopal missionary to give breakfast talk in Camden The Rev. Katharine Babson will speak in Camden on August 22 as part of a Camden Conference breakfast discussion series. Babson is the Episcopal Church s missionary to Myanmar and is on the adjunct faculty at Virginia Theological Seminary in Global Christianity Mission and World Religions. Her talk, titled The Buddha, Jesus, and Mohammed at Work Together in Burma: Kindred Religions Deliver Where Others Won t or Can t, will be at 8 a.m. in the Knox Mill Conference Center on Washington Street in Camden. The breakfast is $12 per person, which can be paid at the door. For more information, contact Skip Bates at or skip.bates@ bangor.com. Founded in 1987, the Camden Conference is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization whose mission is to foster informed discourse on world issues. For more information, visit camdenconference. org. Babson, a resident of Brunswick when she is not in Myanmar, worships at St. Bartholemew s, Yarmouth.

13 August 2007 Page 13 within our communion Presiding officers of national church appoint covenant-response group By Mary Frances Schjonberg, Episcopal News Service Nine members of the Episcopal Church s Executive Council have been appointed to draft the church s response to the first version of an Anglican covenant. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and House of Deputies President Bonnie Anderson made the appointments as called for in Executive Council Resolution INC021, passed at the council s June meeting in Parsippany, N.J. GROUP TO REVIEW COMMENTS, DESIGN A PROCESS The group is charged with writing a proposed response of the Executive Council to the draft Anglican covenant for the council, to be considered at its October 2007 meeting in Dearborn, Michigan. Part of the material the members of the Covenant Response Drafting Group will consider as they work are the 400+ comments the council received by way of a covenant study guide it published in mid-april. Although the deadline for comments based on the council s covenant study guide has passed, the group s chair, Rosalie Simmonds Ballentine of the Diocese of the Virgin Islands, said responses are still coming into the General Convention office and will be considered. Although the group is not actively soliciting more comment, she said we would still be open to receiving [any additional comments]. I am grateful to the members of the drafting group for their willingness to continue this challenging work, Jefferts Schori said July 11. Together we look for a thoughtful and well-reasoned response that reflects the diversity of opinion in the Episcopal Church. Anderson said that the drafting group will also design a process for continuing to gather input from the entire Episcopal Church to aid the Executive Council in its response to subsequent covenant drafts. Ballentine said the drafting group members reflect quite a cross section of our church as represented on the Executive Council. Because of the church s diversity, she said, the group will do all it can to ensure that all voices are heard. A WAY FORWARD The group will work throughout the triennium as a primary resource to the International Concerns Standing Committee of the Executive Council and the Episcopal Church s members of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) as they monitor the covenant process. Resolution A166, passed by the 75th General Convention in June 2006, called for such monitoring. The resolution also said that the Episcopal Church supports the process of developing a covenant that underscores our unity in faith, order, and common life in the service of God s mission. During the March meeting of the Executive Council, the members said that responding to the draft covenant does not presuppose agreement with the terms and principles advanced in the draft. Released in October 2004, the Windsor Report proposed an Anglican covenant as a possible way for the Anglican Communion to maintain unity amid differing viewpoints. The communion s primates released the first draft during their February meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, asking for comment from the communion s 38 provinces by January 1, The drafting group s proposed response for the October Executive Council session is meant to meet the January 1 comment deadline so that the voice of our church will be heard in this process, Ballentine said. It is expected that a revised version of the covenant will be presented to the 2008 Lambeth Conference of Bishops, to be followed by a final text that would be proposed to the 2009 meeting of the ACC. If the ACC adopts the text, it would offer it to the provinces for consideration. The Covenant Response Drafting Group member from province 1 is the Rev. Dr. Ian T. Douglas of Massachusetts. The Rev. Mary Frances Schjonberg is national correspondent for the Episcopal News Service Canada elects Fred Hiltz as 13th primate Episcopal Life Online Church Publishing introduces Revised Common Lectionary resources From Episcopal Life Online July 3, 2007 Bishop Fred Hiltz The Anglican Church of Canada has elected Bishop Fred Hiltz of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island as its 13th primate. Hiltz was elected by the church s General Synod, meeting in Winnipeg, on the 5th ballot, from among four bishops nominated last April by a gathering of all Canadian bishops. Hiltz, 53, will succeed Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, elected three years ago, who announced earlier that he would retire at the end of the General Synod gathering meeting in Winnipeg June Hiltz was elected assistant bishop of the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in 1995 and elected diocesan bishop in He was a member of the Council of General Synod from 2001 to 2004, and since 2006 has served as the Anglican cochair of the Anglican-Lutheran International Commission. In a statement after his nomination for the primacy, Hiltz described the Primate as a servant of the people of God (whose) ministry is the gather the Church, to unite its members in a holy fellowship of truth and love, and to inspire them in the service of Christ s mission in the world. Church Publishing Incorporated (CPI), official publisher of the worship materials of the Episcopal Church, is introducing a complete line of Revised Commo Lectionary (RCL) resources this fall. The lectionary books (in lectern and pew editions), gospel books, music, and electronic titles, all updated with the RCL, are already in use throughout the Episcopal Church. After several years of trial use, the 2006 General Convention authorized a transition to the RCL for Sunday use, effective the first Sunday of Advent 2007 (Dec. 2, 2007). After a three-year transition period, use of the RCL becomes binding on the entire church in December The full range of RCL resources and products are available at www. churchpublishing.org.

14 Page 14 August 2007 within our communion Baptism isn t a goal but a relationship with God By the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop From Episcopal Life Online I met recently with a group of appointed missionaries of the Episcopal Church. They gathered for ten days in New York for orientation before leaving to do mission. It was an enormous privilege to meet them and see their energy and enthusiasm (which means filled with God ) for this adventure. We had an opportunity for conversation, and one young man shared his concern about how to understand the Great Commission, particularly the directive to baptize, especially in a multifaith environment. It was a wonderful question that engages us all at one level or another. MAKING DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS How do we engage in evangelism, and particularly in the specific directives of SAVE THE DATE Episcopal Province 1 Annual Convocation November Faith,Advocacy & Public Policy: Reclaiming Our Voice for Justice, Mercy and Kindness How can Episcopalians understand our role in public life? What is the difference between advocacy & lobbying? What is the meaning of justice today and what is its relationship to holiness? Episcopalians from around Province I (New England) will come together to share their political and advocacy experiences and organizing skills on behalf of social and economic justice. *Skills Workshops *Panel discussions *Age appropriate activities for children and young people and a Discovery Center Keynote speaker Dr. Randall Balmer, Department of Religion, Barnard College, Columbia University, and Episcopal priest. Matthew 28:19 20? Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. This passage marks the end of Matthew s Gospel, and its explicitly Trinitarian language should make us aware that it probably reflects the practice of early Christian communities, sometime after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Yet the question remains: How do we respond to this sending of the disciples, in which we understand all Christians participate, into a multifaith world? If we believe that Jesus saving work is for the whole world, that should relieve some of our immediate anxiety. He is pretty clear that he is not here to judge the world, but to love the world and invite all into relationship with Love itself (John 12:32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself and John 12:47 I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world ). Judgment comes at the end of time, and until then you and I repeatedly are urged not to judge others. IS BAPTISM NECESSARY? Yet the ancient question remains: Is baptism necessary for salvation? Theologians have wrestled with this in a number of ways and made some remarkably gracious and open-ended responses. Vatican 2 affirmed that salvation is possible outside the church, even though some statements by Roman Catholic authorities in years since have sought to retreat from that position. Karl Rahner spoke about anonymous Christians, whose identity is known to God alone. John MacQuarrie recognized the presence of the Logos or Word in other traditions. But the more interesting question has to do with baptism itself. Like all sacraments, we understand baptism as an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace (Catechism, BCP, 857). It is an outward recognition of grace that is both given and already present through God s action. SHARING THE GOOD NEWS When we look at some of the lives of holy people who follow other religious traditions, what do we see? Mahatma Gandhi and the Dalai Lama both exemplify Christ-like lives. Would we assume that there is no grace present in lives like these? A conclusion of that sort seems to verge on the only unforgivable sin, against the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:30 32). If I believe that God is more than I can imagine, conceptualize or understand, then I must be willing to acknowledge that God may act in ways that are beyond my ken, including in people who do not follow the Judeo- Christian tradition. Note that I include our Jewish brothers and sisters, for Scripture is very clear that God made a covenant with Israel. That covenant was not abrogated in Jesus. Scripture also speaks of a covenant with Abraham that extends to his offspring, including Ishmael. Our Muslim brothers and sisters claim him as their ancestor. In some way, God continues to act in the tradition we call Islam. Well, if God is already at work in other religious traditions, why would we bother to teach, make disciples or baptize? The focus of our evangelical work can never be imposing our own will (despite the wretched examples of forced conversion in the history of Christianity), but there is a real urgency to sharing the good news. Can you imagine not saying to another, Let me introduce you to my best friend. I think you would enjoy getting to know him? We are certainly not loath to do that when it comes to the latest movie or book or restaurant we ve enjoyed, and unless we are leery of sharing, we will not stay silent long. But let s go back to baptism. What is the urgency? It might be helpful to reflect on what we claim happens in baptism. We are washed, (usually) anointed, forgiven, welcomed as members of Christ s body, receive the Holy Spirit, initiated into the mysteries (welcomed to communion) and begin to take up life as a saint. We act in all those ways toward infants who are as yet largely unaware of what is happening to them, and we do it in a sense of eschatological hope that the newly baptized will grow into an ability to claim those promises for him or herself. However, we only baptize adults who are willing and able to claim that hope for themselves. BEING, NOT JUST DOING The evangelical question has to do with free will. Should we, shall we, impose that on those who do not fully desire it? Maybe it would be helpful to recognize that baptism is not the goal, but rather relationship with God (or discipleship) is. We understand that to be a relationship in God s Word, whom we call Christ. Our evangelical work has more to do with the gracious recognition of God already at work in the world about us than it does with imposing our will on others. When Jesus says make disciples, that has a great deal to do with inviting others into relationship with the God we know, particularly as we know God in Christ. I do not believe it has anything to do with forcible or manipulative conversion. It has more to do with showing and telling, through word (Word) and deed, what it is like to know the gift of that relationship to demonstrate the unutterable attractiveness of that rela- See BAPTISM, page 15

15 August 2007 Page 15 within our communion California gathering provides context for current tensions From the Episcopal News Service The diverse and sometimes contentious nature of all Christianity and the Episcopal tradition was the subject of a recent gathering sponsored by Remain Episcopal ( pal.org) in the Diocese of San Joaquin (Calif.). Common Prayer, Uncommon People: The Episcopal Church, held June 23 at Holy Family Episcopal Church in Fresno, Calif., explored the 400-year history of Anglicanism in North America from Jamestown to California. Baptism continued from page 14 tionship so that another can not imagine anything more desirable. I do not believe it has anything to do with instilling or playing on human fear (which is, after all, one of the things we renounce in baptism). How might our evangelical work be different if we began with the disciple-making part (the befriending we know in Jesus) rather than counting coup in numbers of baptisms achieved? It is the latter that has given evangelism a bad name through the ages. My sense is that our evangelical work is likely to be more gracious if About 90 people attended the second large event Remain Episcopal has offered this year. In February, the group sponsored a daylong gathering with House of Deputies President Bonnie Anderson. Remain Episcopal is a network of Episcopalians from the Diocese of San Joaquin who disagree with the diocesan leadership, which is disaffected with the Episcopal Church. Episcopalians from the dioceses of Pittsburgh, Fort Worth, and Dallas also attended the gathering, according to a news release from Church Divinity School of the Pacific. we focus on how our own lives exemplify the actions we claim in baptism washing, forgiving, welcoming, demonstrating Holy Spirit, entering into communion, living as a holy one of God. Our very lives can be baptism, living water, new life born out of death, to those around us, even though they may not yet consciously claim membership in the body of Christ. Our understanding of eschatological hope is that, in the end, God will make right what is wrong or broken in this world. We are meant to live as though it is already happening. The homepage of Episcopal Mission Exchange is a good place to start for youth groups wishing to do guided mission work. See story on page 11. Many UTO 2007 grants focus on meeting Millennium Development Goals By Mary Frances Schjonberg From the Episcopal News Service The United Thank Offering (UTO) Grant Committee has approved nearly $2.44 million in grants for this year. The committee approved 104 grants totaling $2,439, The average grant amount was $23, The two largest grants were $79,722 to the Diocese of Sialkot in Pakistan to finish a hospital and $68,000 to the Diocese of Alaska to build a new church for St. Augustine s congregation in Homer. The smallest grant was for $750 to the Diocese of Mississippi to start a Sunday school program at St. Mark s in Jackson. Each UTO grant is made in response to needs identified by dioceses and provinces throughout the Anglican Communion. UTO Coordinator JoAnne Chapman said grants help Anglicans meet compelling human needs. Sometimes the way UTO can help, she said, is by aiding organizations with their infrastructure needs in ways that will allow them to increase their ministry. Many of the 2007 grants were given with the Episcopal Church s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals in mind. For instance, the hospital-completion grant in the Diocese of Sialkot in Pakistan focuses on the goals of reducing child mortality and improving maternal health, Chapman said. A $50,000 grant to the Diocese of Banks and Torres in Melanesia will help build the Mothers Union Training and Resource Centre in Vanuatu, thus addressing the MDG of empowering women. A nearly $62,000 grant to St. Andrew s Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Jerusalem will support a health clinic and nursery hall in Ramallah to assist working mothers who need a secure place for their children to stay during the workday. The MDG concern of reducing HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases was addressed by the $30,000 grant to the Cathedral Outreach Ministries in Bridgetown, Barbados, in the Church in the Province of the West Indies. The money is meant to help renovate the old cathedral clerk s house to be used as a center for HIV/AIDS education and counseling. The needs of immigrants and refugees were also a focus this year, with grants going to efforts to care for and integrate migrants and refugees into the life of their communities. Such grants include $40,000 to Iglesia Española Reformada Episcopal to renovate its immigrant center in Oviedo, Spain; $8,400 to Exodus Refugee/Immigration Inc. in Indianapolis, Ind., to provide professional English training; and $14,000 to the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Omaha, Neb., in part to offer space to Sudanese refugees. A booklet listing the 2007 grants will be mailed to all Episcopal Church congregations in August. The application for the 2008 round of grants will be available in October and the deadline is January 31, What was then known as the United Offering was established at the General Convention of The United Offering became the United Thank Offering in In l970, the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church gave its permission for the offering to be allocated on an annual basis and the UTO grant committee was formed. The Rev. Mary Frances Schjonberg is national correspondent for the ENS.

16 Page 16 August 2007 THE TABLET of the EART Do not draw consolation only from the scriptures written in ink, for God s grace also writes the laws of the Spirit directly on the tablet of the heart. Pseudo-Macarius, 4th century monk The Tablet of the Heart is a forum for commentary about issues facing the church, essays about spiritual journeys, and tales of miracles and grace in our congregations. The views expressed in this column are those of the author. All submissions are subject to editing for content and length. to northeast@episcopalmaine.org or mail to: The Northeast c/o 184 Mountain St. Camden, ME Let s see beyond the statistics of the annual parochial report By the Rev. Carolyn Metzler, St. Thomas, Winn members of the church have taken a week with the kids to lead Christian education and to deepen those ties? The following letter was part of St. Thomas submission to the Episcopal Church as part of its parochial report this spring. Dear Friends, You have before you our completed parochial report for I suppose it gives you some useful information, and I am glad to supply you with that which you have requested. I just wish you d asked for the whole story. What do you really know now about St. Thomas in the tiny village of Winn, Maine? This report says nothing about what really matters. It gives no picture of our life as community or our struggles to be faithful. The parochial report is a wee part of church-asinstitution. I wish there were a similar request for information on church-as- Body-of-Christ. Yes, our numbers are up since last year by 436 communions. But you also need to know something about the people who have walked through our red doors for the first time. Some have struggled with belonging for years. Some are people who have been terribly abused by former communities, and it is an act of sheer courage that they ever dared to trust a church again. Some have been people who don t quite believe yet that we are a refuge for broken people, and so only come when they are feeling strong. The people who worship at St. Thomas are willing to risk the ambiguities of faith in an area dominated by fundamentalists happy to tell you exactly what to think. OUTREACH EFFORTS And you also need to know how this community has claimed its mission for outreach. Our middle-schoolers raised $ for the Heifer Project. Many of our people take it on themselves to reach out in hidden ways, offering support and encouragement where needed, without any fanfare. One of our oldest shut-ins gathered stuffed animals and knitted little mittens for children whose parents come to the food cupboard. A new member donated a bumper crop of squash there, as well as a freezer. One couple wanted to support the Boy Scouts by buying a Christmas tree, and asked me to find someone who needed one. As a whole, this community doubled its gift to United Thank Offering this year to $506.86, and also raised over $400 to support the food cupboard, and gave several hundred dollars to a couple of local charities. On another occasion we held a benefit supper for the family of a young man who never woke from a coma after falling through the ice. He was not even from this area, let alone a member, yet these people responded generously. We responded to an appeal from another Episcopal church by donating monies for their own outreach. We keep a discretionary fund that has given away several thousand dollars to meet emergency needs in the area. And with some help from our bishop, we raised over $4,000 to fix a water problem in our vicarage. Now all this may not sound like much to someone from a large, wealthy church, but we are a small church from a poor, rural part of Maine. Many of our people are on fixed incomes, with little to spare. And now we are looking at doing a feasibility study to try to ensure that the church will be financially secure for future generations. COMMITMENT TO RECONCILIATION But there is a layer of faithfulness even under all that. The parochial report asks nothing about the kinds of reconciliation that happened in our community; healing that happened in mind, body, and spirit. It says nothing of the courage some members have shown in trying to break free of addictions, or of coping with mental illness. It gives no account of the struggle between faith and doubt, or of the search for meaning others have undertaken. The baptism of a young girl with autism by candlelight at the Great Vigil of Easter was deeply holy. The baptism of a young man who is finding his way home was also a time of great celebration. I want you to know about the courage of some of our people who, though feeling inadequate, stepped into positions of leadership when asked, or of two young people who agreed to teach Sunday School even though one is uncertain of her own faith. Do you know that almost all VALUE OF OPEN DOOR, OPEN ARMS You should know that we do not ever lock our doors, so people can come in for solace and prayer. I occasionally find evidence of pilgrims by some coins in the plate or a note on the altar. Strangers have thanked me for this gift of available holy space, citing the difference it made at a crucial time. I wish there was a report asking about the quality of laughter in worship, or the yummy factor of goodies at coffee hour. Do you know the joy of one small child s voice raised above the whole congregation s in the recitation of the Lord s Prayer? Can you hear the loud, joyful AMEN of affirmation by all the people at the conclusion of the Eucharistic canon? Shall I tell you of the times of deep intimacy over a kitchen table as one shut-in who has not been to church in months spontaneously names every member at the Prayers of the People? Is all that not just as important? I am enclosing a photo essay of our people s hands stretched out to receive the holy bread. I wish I could also depict their eyes, some squeezed shut in prayer, some looking down at their open hands, some only at the bread, some looking at me soberly, some with a twinkle, some with an assenting nod, and our youngest, who ducks his head under the communion rail even as his grubby little hands, full of marker ink open to receive. My words can t give you a sense of how the church smells in the spring, or the feel of the darkness in the nave at midnight when the rafters shift and a squirrel runs across the roof. The prayers of 139 years have soaked into the woodwork, blanketing the place in peace. And how would you know that on quiet evenings we hear the sound of the occasional footfall of an itinerant member of the communion of saints out in the hallway? Along with the numbers you have requested, the statistics and fiscal patterns, I also submit this parochial report on the Body of Christ at this little church on a little hill by a big river. I hope it more fully conveys the living story of God at work in this holy place.