Offering Maine Episcopal congregations practical assistance and spiritual encouragement is a collective mission of the diocesan staff, and we continually look for ways to better serve our churches. So, in December 2025 we decided to...
Aroostook Cluster’s Covenant to Care of Creation St. Paul’s, Fairfield Earth Keepers from our cluster of churches; St. Paul’s, Good Shepherd in Houlton, St. John’s in Presque Isle, are planning a combined gathering in September....
Earlier today in a press briefing Governor Mills captured beautifully not only what we’re feeling, but also what we’re praying. 18 of our neighbors have died, and 13 others are injured.* This is a moment...
Celebration Guide for Episcopal Parishes updated for Lectionary Years A, B, and C In 2022, the Rev. John Elliott Lein (artist and priest in Downeast Maine) partnered with the Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas (Creation Care leader in Massachusetts and Western Massachusetts) to assemble and present liturgical resources for this Season for the benefit of interested yet busy parish worship leaders. Year by year, contributions and diocesan endorsements have grown. Last year, the 2024 Season of Creation worship guide was authorized for use in 50 dioceses across The Episcopal Church.
Episcopal Visitations are required by Canon III every three years. In the Diocese of Maine, episcopal visitations are scheduled in rotation about once every 28-30 months. Other celebrations, special services/ mission leadership or pastoral care visits may be scheduled 'in between' official visitations by either the Priest in Charge/Sr. Warden or the Bishop.Episcopal Visitations are required by Canon III every three years. In the Diocese of Maine, episcopal visitations are scheduled in rotation about once every 28-30 months. Other celebrations, special services/ mission leadership or pastoral care visits may be scheduled 'in between' official visitations by either the Priest in Charge/Sr. Warden or the Bishop. You will be provided with visitation forms (available below) ahead of Bishop Brown's visit. Please complete these to help you to prepare for your time together. Here are few highlights: A visitation consists of four parts—a pre-visitation conversation, worship and congregational conversation, vestry/leadership meeting, and time with the clergy person. Please consider scheduling the vestry meeting to a weekday, about 90 minutes, either before or after the visitation. We'll find the time that’s most convenient for you and your leadership. The clergy-bishop time need not occur on Sunday, and when the visitation is online, we’ll likely have to use Zoom for this part. The Bishop's preference, whenever it’s safe and possible, is to have a meal together. Forms to read and complete before Bishop's visit: Bishop's Visitation Customary Notes for Vestry Visits Notes about Confirmation Visitation Planning Worksheet Visitation Schedule Please contact Lauralee Raymond, Executive Assistant to Bishop Brown will any questions.
COVID Continued: Sick Clergy and Sunday Morning Plan B In recent weeks we’ve been hearing frequent reports of people testing positive for COVID, including in many cases, clergy in charge of Sunday worship. The good...
