Bicentennial Celebration
Celebrating 200 years as God’s people in Maine:
Honoring our Past, Embracing the Present and Building our Future
1820-2020
The Diocese of Maine celebrated its 200th birthday in the year 2020. The Bicentennial Committee planned a year long multi-event celebration, beginning with a kick-off at Diocesan Convention in 2019. There were significant changes to the planned celebrations of the Diocesan Bicentennial because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Sunday, November 20, 2022, the entire diocese will observe a moment of dedication and thanksgiving as the bless their congregation’s set of Bicentennial Chalices and Patens, specially commissioned for our celebration.
Liturgy for Bicentennial Chalice and Paten Dedication
Prayer for the State of Maine
Thank you, God, for the State of Maine, reaching ever for the first light of day. As Thy people wake to the Eastern rays, what chowder of nourishment dost Thou prepare for body and soul: concocted so delectably of pine and needles and potatoes, of herring and clams and lobsters in their rocky lairs, of blueberries and new-mown hay and a thousand lakes and little boats brave upon the deep.
Of such blessing did our fathers distill their rugged liberty: Grant us grace to win the same, along the country roads and on the fringed and tasseled coast of our wooded land;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Bicentennial Hymn: On Christ the Solid Rock
Our bicentennial hymn, using the tune of Solid Rock with new lyrics from the Rev. Maria Hoecker, St. Columba’s in Boothbay Harbor is available to download and use as you wish. Download the PDF here.
The inaugural singing of the hymn took place at Diocesan Convention on Saturday, October 26. Clergy and delegates were accompanied by the Rev. Kevin Kinsey of the Aroostook Cluster on trumpet. (Click here and here to hear and watch the Convention sing this hymn.)
The author of the hymn tune SOLID ROCK (1863), William Bradbury (1816-1868), was born in York, Maine! He was a prolific composer and taught music for a time up in Machias, Maine.
Repurposing liturgical items to make new worship spaces vibrant and joyful
During the Bicentennial Kickoff at Convention in 2019, a celebratory altar frontal and a custom chalice and paten were introduced and blessed.
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The altar frontal was made from no-longer-used liturgical fabric donated by many congregations. Using that fabric the frontal sought to tie together our past and present and look forward to the future. The old has been re-purposed and blessed for something new!
Bicentennial Chalices and Patens
As we all know, there were significant changes to the planned celebrations of the Diocesan Bicentennial because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Sunday, November 20, 2022 after many pandemic delays, our specially commissioned Bicentennial Chalices and Patens distributed to congregations across the Diocese, took a moment during their service of dedication and thanksgiving.
Find the liturgical resources here .
Telling the story of our diocese through an interactive timeline
The Bicentennial Committee built a timeline to tell the story of our diocese! It takes a look at all of the congregations, chapels and ministries around our diocese. It also highlights historical items found in the archives and from other sources. The timeline is a work in progress and can easily be updated to include things as they are submitted. Sign into Facebook to watch this video of the timeline in action. Or view and play around with the interactive timeline here https://time.graphics/line/285077.
Bicentennial Committee
- The Rev. Ginny Urbanek
- Ms Elizabeth Estey
- Ms Rachel Zoller, Chair
- Ms Billie Ellis
- The Rev. Kerry Mansir