Special report by Nan Cobbey forthe Northeast

As immigration reform eludes Con-gress and as resentment, hate speech,and anger about the issue build acrossthe United States, leaders of the Epis-copal Church—Bishop ChiltonKnudsen of Maine among them—arecalling for church members to standwith the suffering.

Undocumented immigrants, dis-paraged as “illegal aliens” by somewho want them out of this country—and out of its schools, hospitals, andjobs—present a moral dilemma fordioceses and ministries in every state.Raids at workplaces, and the arrests,detentions, and deportations that fol-low, devastate families and dividecommunities. Employers who needworkers find themselves pitted againsttaxpayers who resent increasing costsof social services. This nation of im-migrants, once proud to be a “meltingpot,” now builds prisons and deten-tion centers one after another to re-move those it sees as a threat tosociety. Cumberland County Jail inPortland incarcerates dozens of suchimmigrants picked up in Maine eachmonth.

“Hospitality is becoming an en-

dangered trait at the official level,”laments Richard Parkins, director ofEpiscopal Migration Ministries at thechurch’s national offices in New York.“We are developing a culture of fearand suspicion. It permeates the com-munity . . . and we begin to close ourdoors.”

“The official voice,” he says, “is‘Keep them out. They are a liability.’ Ithink the voice of the church has to be

the counter voice.”So do Bishop Knudsen and Pre-

siding Bishop Katharine JeffertsSchori. In September 2007, afterCongress failed again to pass an immi-gration reform bill, Jefferts Schoriwrote to the church: “I call on all peo-ple of faith to vehemently insist thatimmigrants be protected from inhu-mane treatment.” She criticized theraids making news across the country.

“Families have been separated, withbreadwinners being placed in deten-tion or a parent deported; familieshave been suddenly ruptured.” Shedeplored the “wrenching accounts” ofsuch separations, the deportations,racial profiling and stepped-up en-forcement measures along the coun-try’s borders.

“I would urge our government, inthe strongest terms, to cease these in-cursions into workplaces, homes andother venues where migrants gatheruntil we have comprehensive immi-gration reform. This one-sided ap-proach to addressing our immigrationproblems neglects the tenets of justiceand compassion which define us asChristians and as a church which em-braces the marginalized and the de-fenseless.”

Bishop Knudsen points to reportsof entrapment activity by immigra-tion officials in Portland. “[They]have been understood to have beenlurking at the cathedral . . . I don’tknow that for sure, but I do know thatwhen people believe it—and theymust have some reason to believe it—then the fear is just griping, just aw-ful.” She says that when she becameaware of the issue, she thought, “Oh

Non profitOrganization

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

Brunswick,Maine 04011Permit No. 34

Volume 137, Number 1 Telling the story of God’s people in the Diocese of Maine since 1872 February 2008

Episcopalians urged to support immigrants amid national climate of fear

Is the “melting pot” at a boiling point?

Rodrigo Martinez, 4, listens as his father, Rene, speaks at a gathering in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle inaugurating the New Sanctuary Movement last spring.Martinez described his experience being detained by police after a raid last March and faces being deported and separated from his family. (Photo by Mark Swanson)

By Nan Cobbey, St. Margaret’s, Belfast

Tengo Voz, the outreach ministry to Latino women andtheir families that the Rev. Virginia Marie Rincón offersin Portland, operates out of her residence on HighStreet. The services she lists on the bright yellowbusiness card she hands out include finding jobs andhousing, language interpretation, domestic abuse andprevention counseling, cultural support, spiritualdirection, focus groups, education referrals, and socialservice collaboration.

A nurse as well as a priest, Rincón started herministry half a dozen years ago by “just walking thestreets in Portland” talking to people and “hanging out”at St. Elizabeth’s Essentials Pantry as that ministry of Christian hospitality was emerging.

INSIDE THIS ISSUECollege Chaplain.................page 9Congregations in Search....page 11Mainestream Calendars.....page 12People & Places..........pages 2, 3, 5Scenes through Keyhole....page 12To God’s Beloved in Maine...page 3Upcoming in Maine..............page 4Within our Communion...pp 13–14Youth News........................page 10

Copy for the April 2008 issue ofthe NORTHEAST is due

25 FEBRUARY. See VOICE, page 9

See MELTING, page 6

Tengo Voz: “I have a voice” in Portland

In English, tengo voz means “I have a voice.”The Rev.Virginia Marie Rincón is the moving spirit behind thisPortland outreach ministry. (Photo by Nancy Mawhinney)

NORTHEAST2-08.doc 1/21/08 9:24 AM Page 1

This space is devoted to stories of needin Maine, in the nation, and aroundthe world.

Mision de San Lucas, headed by theRev. Virginia Marie Rincón, Hispan-ic Missioner for the Diocese ofMaine, serves Hispanics and “la gentede todo tipo” (people of all types) in

the greater Portland area.Individuals and churches can

contribute to the ministry in manyways (see sidebar beginning on page1), including making tax-deductible,charitable donations. Write checksout to “Mission San Lucas” and mailto the Episcopal Diocese of Maine,143 State St., Portland ME 04101.

Van Tingley, St Bartholomew’s, Yar-mouth, is now on the advisory coun-cil for the Episcopal EcologicalNetwork. He attended the group’s De-cember 2007 meeting in Chicago toparticipate in planning the EpEN’s fu-ture direction.

There are 27 diocesan-level eco-justice groups active in the EpiscopalChurch. The EpEN itself is a networkof nearly 600 Episcopalians in 99 dio-ceses and 6 countries. “The Networkfocuses on providing venues for ex-change of information, dialog aboutconcerns and assistance to its sub-scribers,” says EpEN CommunicatorChuck Morello.

Tingley, along with the Rev.Martha Kirkpatrick, diocesan envi-ronmental missioner, and the Rev. Lev

Sherman, sponsored resolution 8 atlast October’s Diocesan Convention.In passing the resolution, the dioceseexpressed its support for the presiding

February 2008Page 2

Who is the Episcopal Church?In the Anglican Communion: A global community of 77 million Anglicans in 38 memberprovinces 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 dioce-ses. Established 1789. 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, willgrow as ambassadors of Christ’s reconciliation and to God’s world (II Corinthians 5:18ff). Toenable this to happen, we envision that: Congregations will develop the resources andleadership to support individual and collective ministry, and diocesan leaders will providesupport 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 e-mailmaterials to northeast@episcopalmaine.org or mail to THE NORTHEAST, c/o 184 Mountain St., Camden, ME 04843. Address changes should be mailed to the EpiscopalDiocese of Maine, 143 State St., Portland, ME 04101.

Deborah Oliver, Editor Graphic Design: Custom Communications Inc., Saco

Visit our website at www.episcopalmaine.org

DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT ISSUE IS FEBRUARY 25, 2008.

people and placesthe giving corner

Portland’s Mission San Lucas/Mision de San Lucas Meet your diocesan staff and missionersIn December, Loring House staff andmissioners gathered for lunch and aphotograph. Standing to the left of thestairs are Melinda DeWolfe and PamMcLellan. To the right of the stairs areJane Hartwell and Vicki Wiederkehr. Onthe stairs, bottom to top are PegThomas, Bishop Chilton Knudsen, TomSumner; Elizabeth Ring, Georgia Koch,Virginia Marie Rincón; Betsey Deleuse,Elizabeth Maule, Martha Kirkpatrick;Shirley Bowen, Joan Della Torre; LintonStuddiford, Martha Hughes; and TerryReimer. Missing from the photo isSherry Sivret.

Van Tingley leads an EpEN discussionin Chicago. (Photo by Chuck Morello)

See TINGLEY, page 5

“Work worthy of the support of all Episcopalians”

Below and scattered throughout this issue are reminders of the eight Mil-lennium Development Goals. See the presiding bishop’s letter on page 14regarding the MDGs.

December ordinations at the cathedral

Bishop Knudsen ordained to the priesthood Eckart Horn, Martha Kirkpatrick,and Carolyn Coleman at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke on December 15.(Photo by Nancy Mawhinney)

Mainer joins advisory council for churchwideecological group

New diocesan e-mail addresses!The “@diomaine.org” domain is dead!—please update your addressbook entries to “@episcopalmaine.org”

NORTHEAST2-08.doc 1/21/08 9:24 AM Page 2

The Rev. Linton Studdiford, namedcanon in the Diocese of Maine inMarch 1999, has announced his in-tention to retire effective February 1.

In the course of his nine years ascanon, Studdiford has worked withcongregations around the diocese, as-sisted on many committees, helpedform the Congregational ConsultantsNetwork, developed a Mutual Min-istry Review process, and been instru-mental in introducing what is knownas appreciative inquiry.

He notes that for the first fewmonths of retirement he will focus on“chilling out” and returning to activi-ties that he has not had time for in thepast decade, including camping, hik-ing, and gardening. In particular he islooking forward to spending moretime with his grandchildren, all ofwhom live in Maine, and less time dri-ving around the state.

Once he has allowed sufficienttime for discernement, he expects toreturn to doing consulting with con-gregations and vestries and possiblyinterim ministry.

Looking back on his period ascanon to Bishop Knudsen, Studdifordobserves that he “loved working withsmaller, rural congregations in thediocese.” His work with churches insearch processes allowed him to wit-ness congregations “surprise them-selves” to the possibilities by “allowingthemselves to be open to the HolySpirit.” Studdiford found it particu-larly gratifying to introduce congrega-tions to appreciate inquiry, amethodology in which participantsidentify and build on existingstrengths and successes, rather thanfocus on weaknesses and problems.

Several events have been plannedto allow the diocese to honor Studdi-ford; see the proclamation at right.For more information or directions to

one of the events honoring Studdi-ford, please contact one of the follow-ing: David Illingworth, davidi@gwi.net or 772-0564; Steve Foote, foote@tidewater.net or 529-5540; CarolynMetzler, cwmetzler@telplus.net or732-4614; or Betty Seidle, keyboard@midmaine.com or 259-3328.

I preached at the cathedral on ChristmasEve, my last Christmas as bishop ofMaine. It was—as it always is at thecathedral—a glorious service, repletewith brass and timpani and incense andthe good drama that is liturgy (andgood liturgy, like good drama, tells theTruth). A number of people asked tohave a copy of this sermon. Although Ithink of sermons as “incarnate”events—the actual text is only a weepart of the experience—I offer the fol-lowing, which is based on that Christ-mas Eve sermon.

I “got it” about the mystery of Incar-nation a number of years ago, all atonce. I was in seminary at the time—an experience for many of us of dis-mantling our faith (only to have itre-mantled, as it was and is always inprocess).

I was riding in mid-December onthe southbound Michigan Avenue busin downtown Chicago, packed withdamp people. Sleet was driving down,and a strong wind was howling off thelake in this “windy city.” It was dark:the evening rush hour. The south-bound bus was quaking in the windand barely moving—and when it did,it was with brief lurches. We were alllate for something, cranky and stony-faced. And scared too, as sleet andbuses are a dangerous mix. And justmoments ago we had heard the sirenof an emergency vehicle a block ortwo away.

Two young men, rough looking(studded jeans and long chains withlarge medallions that I recognized asgang insignia), argued with each otheracross two rows of seats. Their disputerose and fell. The language becameparticularly vulgar. You could sensethe hair on everyone’s neck stand up;the hovering threat of violence waslike a smell in the air. With my armstraight up in the air so I could clingto the bar, I also saw an older woman,a big Marshall Field’s shopping bagclutched on her lap with both hands.She was weeping silently but copious-ly. She periodically dabbed at her nosewith a pink Kleenex. In another seatwithin my view, a smelly, intoxicatedman was seated next to a beautifulyoung woman (visibly oozing withjudgmentalism), who sat as far awayfrom him as she could without leavingthe seat. People closed themselves offfrom one another as we do when weare pressed up against a lot ofstrangers and we’re all upset and an-gry.

As time passed (the bus not mov-ing!), something amazing happened.

A small boy (about 11 months old, I’dguess) who’d been sleeping on theshoulder of his standing father, wokeup and looked around. He saw one ofthe gang members—and reached forthe medallion around his neck with adelighted coo. At first the guy battedaway the small hand. But that felt likea game to the child. He giggled andreached again for the sparkling goldmedallion: a skull with ruby eyes andlightning bolts behind it. With this,the angry face softening, the gang guylifted up his medal and then took itoff (off, mind you!) for the little boy tohold. Chortling delightedly, the littleboy showed the medal around to peo-ple who by this time were paying at-tention. The smelly drunk laughedtoo. “Look what you got, little guy,”he said with surprising clarity and ten-derness. The young woman next tothe drunk relaxed her strained postureand smiled. The weeping lady saw itall—“Pretty! ”—and put her Kleenexaway with a snap of her purse. In justa moment’s time, everyone nearby wassmiling, elbowing those who hadn’tyet noticed. In another minute or two,the world changed. It changed be-cause of a Child. A Child whose littlehand waved around a golden skullwith ruby eyes. And lightning bolts.

A Child who reached out to angrymen and smelly drunks . . . and com-forted weeping old ladies . . . and soft-ened judgmentalism . . . and turnedfrightened strangers into a communi-ty.

Ah, this! . . . This is why Godcame to us as a child, so winsome . . .disarming our hostilities, turning ustoward one another, offering us hopein our weeping, chortling goodness inthe midst of awfulness.

The Birth we celebrate tonight:+ God’s own life poured fully

into tiny human flesh in theperson of Jesus by the mystery

February 2008 Page 3

TO GOD’S BELOVED IN MAINE

The Rt. Rev. Chilton R. Knudsen

Christmas Eve 2007: Seeing the mystery ofGod’s Word made Flesh in the ordinaryexperiences of human life

The Rev. Canon Studdiford set to retire

The reverend canon at a recent Fresh Start meeting. (Photo by Martha Kirkpatrick)

More People and Places on page 5 See CHRISTMAS, page 4

A Proclamation

Whereas The Rev. Canon Linton H.Studdiford has served the Diocese ofMaine long and faithfully, andWhereas he thinks he now wants toretire, watch soaps, and eat bonbons,andWhereas he thinks we will survivethe treacherous waters of deploy-ment without him, andWhereas it is hard to imagine sodoing,Be it resolved that All in the Dio-cese of Maine are invited to an

Un-solemn HighReception

honoring said Canon Studdiford togive him a royally hard time about

said decision. And just to make surehe really gets it, there will be two

such events:

10 February from 4 to 7 p.m.In the Upper Parish Hall of theCathedral Church of St. Luke

Portland (please enter by the ParkSt. entrance)

and

24 February from 4 to 7 p.m.At St. John’s Episcopal Church,

Bangor.

NORTHEAST2-08.doc 1/21/08 9:24 AM Page 3

By the Rev. Daniel Kunhardt andthe Rev. Nancy Platt, DiocesanCommittee on Alcoholism andSubstance Abuse

The holidays that have just passed of-ten emphasize alcohol. For some, therevelry of New Year’s Eve may havebeen so excessive, they may wonderwhether they have an addiction prob-lem.

If this is a concern for you, youmight think Lent is a good time tofind out by using abstinence from al-cohol or drugs to prove to yourselfthat you can quit. But you may notrealize that an occasional hiatus fromalcohol/drugs doesn’t mean you’re freefrom addiction. What happens whileyou are using gives a clearer signal forwhether addiction is present thanyour capacity to stop periodically.

The primary symptom of addic-tion is excessive use, resulting in inap-propriate and often disruptivebehavior. An addicted person is onewhose use of a substance (alcohol,prescription medication, or illegaldrugs) is not completely under volun-tary control. Abstinence for an addictis temporary; he or she eventually willresume the addiction, resulting in acharacteristic loss of control. Addictscannot determine when they will be-ing using again, and having begun,they are unable to predict when theywill stop using. These uncertaintiesand struggles are invisible to others.Society sees only the excessive use,

long after addiction has overwhelmedthe addict. Along with excessive usecomes defensive behavior (“I haven’thurt anyone with these pills, so whocares?”), rationalization (“it’s OK if Iget drunk so long as I don’t drive”),minimizing (“it’s just wine, not hardliquor”), lying about use, and hidingthe supply. Frequently the addict willproject his or her guilt and low self-es-teem upon others in the form ofanger, resentment, and blame (“theway you nag me, it’s no wonder Idrink!”). Families, friends, andcoworkers may recognize that there isa problem as a result of their close re-lationships with the addict, but short-term Lenten abstinence only makesthe addict miserable and gives thefamily false hope. If any of this soundsfamiliar, it may be time for you toseek assistance through AlcholicsAnonymous, a clergy person, or adoctor.

If the addict isn’t you but some-one you know who does not wanthelp, concerned persons can find helpfor themselves in Al-Anon familygroups and numerous state agencieslisted in the yellow pages. Local clergycan direct you to these sources ofhelp. You can also contact the Dioceseof Maine Committee on Alcoholismand Substance Abuse through theRev. Cn. Nancy Platt at 623-7699 ornplatto@aol.com.

A blessed Easter season happensfor all those who live sober and thank-ful lives.

From the Episcopal News Service

Presiding Bishop Katharine JeffertsSchori has declared that this year thefirst Sunday in Lent, February 10, willbe Episcopal Relief and DevelopmentSunday. All Episcopalians are urged tojoin in prayer and to designate a spe-cial offering to the Millennium Devel-

opment Goals Inspiration Fund,which fights deadly diseases such asmalaria and HIV/AIDS and providesbasic health care in communities inAfrica, Asia, Latin America, and theCaribbean. See page 14 for full text.

For more information on theMDG Inspiration Fund, visit www.er-d.org/mdgif. Lenten resources areavailable from ERD at www.er-d.org.

February 10 is ERD SundayAs part of our farewell to BishopKnudsen this fall, the diocese will pre-sent her with a quilt. Each congrega-tion will receive a package including asquare with the congregation’s nameon it and fabric pens. You will beasked to write a brief message fromyour congregation and return it to

Grace Hague, the coordinator of theproject. If you are a quilter and wouldlike to be involved, we are looking forhelp with several stages of assembly.For more information, please contactGrace Hague at 564-8126, and watchfor your opportunity to sign yourchurch’s square!

Farewell quilt to be compiled for bishop

Page 4 February 2008

of Incarnation,+ God’s passionate love for us

come to dwell with us,+ God coming as close to us as

God can be,+ God’s molecules like our mole-

cules—This transforms the world, turns ustoward one another, and draws our at-tention away from self to other: aglimpse of glory in the crowded bus ofour lives, glory that holds a gang sym-bol of death and violence in its handand turns it into an occasion of newlife.

This glimpse of glory overpowersall earthly darkness. As people offaith—big faith, doubting faith, frag-ile faith, reluctant faith, weak faith—we affirm on this night that a littleChild has come to lead us, and thatthis Child endures everything we hu-mans can ever dish out at him—any-thing we humans can ever do, even to

put this child to death at age 33. Andindeed we affirm that anything we cando does not, has not ever, nor will itever, overpower the Love that shoutedin a baby’s cry from a manger, andnestled in his mother’s arms . . . AsGod was born into our world in aChild, on the bus that lurches us for-ward, storms all around, into a weep-ing world that clutches its packagesand learns to smile, where smellydrunks speak wisdom and gang mem-bers take off the gold from aroundtheir necks. This is why we are heretonight. Because of a Child, becauseof the Love that took flesh in thatChild. Glory to God in the highest,beloved. Glory to God indeed.

The Rt. Rev. Chilton R. Knudsen,Bishop of Maine (1998–2008)

Christmas…continued from page 3

upcoming in maine

Preparing for a sober Lent and Easter

The cathedral’s Christmas pageant on December 23 was directed by DebbaCurtis and featured a band of angels. (Photo by Nancy Mawhinney)

Angelic performance

NORTHEAST2-08.doc 1/21/08 9:24 AM Page 4

By the Rev. Nancy Duncan, LCPC,Chaplain to Clergy Families (691-1036, famchpln@midcoast.com)

Dear Nancy,So why does the Diocese have a

chaplain to clergy families?—Curious

Dear Curious,Clergy families don’t have a pas-

tor. The bishop and the Committeefor Wellness of Clergy Families pro-vide a chaplain to offer confidentialpastoral care for clergy families, to re-mind churches and clergy of the joys

and stresses of being clergy family, andto help families find support. Forsome family members, simply know-ing that they can call upon the chap-lain or other clergy spouses for help,enables them to avoid a crisis. For oth-ers, assistance through a crisis bothhelps the clergy family and minimizesthe impact of the family stresses onthe life of the church.—Nancy

This column has been fictionalized toprotect confidentiality. The Rev. NancyDuncan, chaplain to clergy families, canbe reached for pastoral care or consulta-tion at the contact information above.

bishop’s call for a multifaith confer-ence to launch a multifaith campaignon climate change, to be known as theGenesis Covenant.

To find out more about the Epis-

copal Ecological Network, visiteenonline.org. You can join the elec-tronic network or request informationby e-mailing info@eenonline.org.Contact Van Tingley at HTingley@aol.com for information on effortswithin the Diocese of Maine.

Rangeley confirmationsBishop Chilton Knudsen standsbetween Aurora Wetherill andBrittany Wetherill after confirmingthem at Good Shepherd EpiscopalChurch in Rangeley on December 9,2007.

In June the Rev. Geoffrey Smith—deacon at Trinity Church, Portland,Safe Church Trainer for the Dioceseof Maine, and member of the BishopCoadjutor Search Committee—wasin Seattle to receive the St. Stephenaward from the North AmericanAssociation for the Diaconate,presented by Presiding BishopKatharine Jefferts Schori. (Photo byDutton Morehouse)

Maine deacon honored by national group

people and places

Tingley…cont’d from p. 2

By the Rev. Lawrence M. Estey,retired

The Haiti–Maine Companion Dio-cese Committee offers this list of re-sources for those to wish to learnCreole, the principle language ofHaiti. Haitian Creole—or kreyòl ay-isyen—is the language that sprang upbetween Natives and the colonizingFrench on the island of Hispaniola inthe 17th century. Today Creole andFrench are the dual official languagesof the Caribbean nation.

Language-learning materials varygreatly in quality, and the followinglist identifies what we have found tobe the better ones.

• Albert Valdman, “Ann Pale

Kreyol: An Introductory Coursein Haitian Creole” (Blooming-ton: Creole Institute, IndianaUniversity, 1988). A revised edi-tion came out in 2001. Thiswidely used text is accompaniedby a set of cassette tapes.

• Wally R. Turnbull, “CreoleMade Easy: A Simple Introduc-tion to Haitian Creole for Eng-lish Speaking People,” (LightMessages, www.lightmessages.com). You can buy the bookalone ($14.95) or with a two-CD Pronunciation Guide sell-ing together for $33.90 fromthe publisher. You can also or-der a version that adds an excel-lent workbook, selling for

$44.85. These have been our fa-vorites, especially when we’veadded the workbook.

• The Pimsleur Language Pro-gram, published by Simon &Schuster, has a set of tapes that’sexcellent for spoken HaitianCreole. You can find it on Ama-zon.com as “Pimsleur HaitianCreole: Learn to Speak and Un-derstand Haitian Creole withPimsleur Language Programs,”where the edition released in2005 sells for $32.97 and in-cludes a CD.

There are two good resources forpeople who already speak French:

• Robert Damoiseau and Gesner

Jean-Paul, “J’apprends le créolehaïtien.” The French publishersells this for 20 Euros, and youcan order it at www.karthala.com. I also found it at theFrench Amazon Website (www.amazon.fr).

• Guides de Poche Assimil, “LeCreóle haïtien de poche.” Ipicked this up in Guadeloupe,but again the French Amazonsite lists it (www.amazon.fr).You can also locate it at Assim-il’s Website, assimil.fr or http://wsw16.amenworld.com/index.html.

For more help with Creole learn-ing resources, contact Larry Estey atLmestey@verizon.net.

the palm and the pine: the maine–haiti connection

Page 5February 2008

All spouses and partners of clergy inthe Diocese of Maine are invited to aweekend retreat March 7–9 at LivingWater Retreat Center in Winslow.

Sessions focusing on the topic“Seek me with all your heart” will beled by the Rev. Susan Murphy, Episco-pal priest serving as chaplain at theMaine Correctional Center in Wind-ham. Sue is planning a recipe of sup-port, stories, silence, scripture, sharing,song, and a measure of silliness with alavish amount of joy and grace!

Music will be coordinated byCorey Walmer. Other opportunitiesduring the weekend include an indi-

vidual massage with Bob Dickinson, aconversation with the Rev. NancyDuncan, Chaplain, and free time towalk and rest and connect with oldand new friends.

Additional information is avail-able from Pat Bamforth at 626-0073or pbamforth@aol.com or PamelaVan Wechel at 244-4037 or pvanwechel@yahoo.com.

Information about Clergy FamilyChaplaincy services are at www.episcopalmaine.org (click on the green Dioce-san Life tab for Clergy Family Chap-laincy).

Clergy spouse/partner retreat scheduled for MarchAsk the chaplain

Getting ready to serve: resources for learning Creole

NORTHEAST2-08.doc 1/21/08 9:24 AM Page 5

Page 6 February 2008

my, what if they raid this church?What if they stalk right up to thedoor? What would happen?” Shehopes to encourage a conversationabout how the Diocese of Maine andits congregations can help those livingin fear in this state.

OFFERING SANCTUARYSome Episcopal churches already em-brace those at risk in their communi-ties. A few have joined the NewSanctuary Movement spreading acrossthe country. Patterned after the sanc-tuary movement of the 1980s, whenchurches sheltered Central and SouthAmericans fleeing death squads andoppressive political regimes, the newmovement claims churches and orga-nizational support in 50 cities so far.

In Long Beach, Calif., one suchchurch, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church,took in a mother and her 5-month-old son last spring. Liliana, 29, whodoes not reveal her last name, enteredthe country illegally nine years ago.Her husband and their three youngchildren are all U.S. citizens, yet lastMay, says Liliana, four armed officerscame to arrest her. When they saw thechildren, they gave her a few extradays. Fearing she might not see herchildren again, Liliana turned to a lo-cal sanctuary group. She asked forshelter and was directed to St. Luke’s.She stayed for months with theparish’s help.

On California’s southern border,the Rev. Canon Mary Moreno-Richardson, coordinator for HispanicMinistry in the Diocese of San Diego,focuses much of her time on undocu-mented immigrant children and teenswho end up in the detention centers.Some are placed in foster homes.Many of them, she says, are abused,depressed, and suicide risks.

In Auburn, Wash., St. Matthew’sEpiscopal Church supports a coupleliving in legal limbo. “Three of ourparishioners have been detained inraids, two are out on bond, and onehas been deported,” says Diane Aid,coordinator of the parish’s JubileeCenter, a program of the church’sSpanish-speaking congregation, SanMateo. The congregation is providinglegal, financial and spiritual supportto a couple awaiting the husband’s de-portation hearing. The parish com-mits itself to taking in any childrenleft unattended if parents are pickedup in a raid. Several have occurred inthe region.

In Cave Creek, Ariz., Good Shep-herd of the Hills Episcopal Church or-ganized a day labor center andregistered nearly 120 immigrant la-borers, helping them find prospective

employers. The project, not universal-ly welcomed, drew considerable firelast year. In Cincinnati, the Church ofOur Saviour voted to identify itself asa “sanctuary church” and committeditself “to support and sustain immi-grants who seek to lead peaceful andproductive lives in our communities.”

Here in Maine, Bishop Knudsenhas appointed a missioner to Hispan-ics who offers help to those detainedand to their families. The Rev. Vir-ginia Marie Rincón, who celebratesweekly Spanish language Eucharists inEmmanuel Chapel at the CathedralChurch of St. Luke, can barely keepup with requests for help from fright-ened Latino families who have hadloved ones detained or deported. Therapid growth of the Latino populationin Maine has brought harsh reprisals,she says. Rincón’s outreach ministry,Tengo Voz—which means “I have avoice”—is beginning to draw in con-gregations that want to help.

EACH YEAR +200,000 DETAINEDUndocumented immigrants consti-tute the fastest-growing incarceratedpopulation in the nation. More than200,000 around the country are de-tained over the course of a year, ac-cording to the National ImmigrationLaw Center (NILC). Almost all aredeported. The Immigration and Cus-toms Enforcement (ICE) agency re-ports that it “removed 185,431 illegalaliens from the country [in fiscal year2006], a 10 percent increase” over2005.

At any one time, more than27,000 are being held in detention fa-cilities, some of them state and coun-ty jails. Others, known as ServiceProcessing Centers, are owned andoperated directly by ICE. ContractDetention Facilities operated by pri-vate companies for the Department ofHomeland Security hold the remain-der of those incarcerated. Congress re-cently voted to increase the bed spacefor detained immigrants to more than

62,000 by the year 2010.Some of these detention centers

provide cramped, rat-infested spaces;serve noxious food; and deny basic hy-giene, according to a study by the in-spector general of the Department ofHomeland Security. Released in Au-gust 2007, the report documentedchronic problems with phone service,a vital link for people who do not havethe same constitutional right to free,government-appointed lawyers thatU.S. citizens have.

In July 2007 the Government Ac-countability Office (GAO) issued itsown critical report about conditionsin the detention centers. “At each ofthe 23 facilities it visited, the GAOencountered problems with the phonesystem,” according to the NILC. TheGAO report followed a New YorkTimes exposé of longstanding prob-lems with medical care at the deten-tion centers, including 62 deaths since2004. “Many of these deaths couldhave been prevented had ICE adheredto its own detention standards regard-ing medical care and diagnosed andtreated basic medical problems,”wrote Karen Tumlin, an NILC fellow.

LATINOS TARGETEDIn many locations, Hispanics seem tobe the focus of the raids and the policestops that result in detention. This iscertainly the case in Maine, accordingto both Rincón and Beth Stickney, ex-ecutive director of the Immigrant Le-gal Advocacy Project in Portland.“Their chances of getting picked up inMaine are greater probably than inmany other states,” says Stickney.“That’s just a reality.”

The issue is racial profiling.“That’s the biggest problem we havein the state right now,” says Stickney.State and local police are stoppingmotorists who do not look like the 98percent white population, she says.“And if they stop someone for a trafficviolation, there is nothing in the lawthat prohibits them from asking addi-

tional information about where theyare from.”

Rincón says this happens all thetime. “If there is a vehicle that has anexpired inspection sticker, or thelight’s out, then they will pull themover, and the next thing you knowthey are taking them in to detain themand bring in Immigration.” Rincóncalls it “driving while brown.”

“There is an enormous amount ofracism here,” she says. “I face it all thetime. There is a lot of need for educa-tion and looking at the seriousness ofthis, especially since 9/11.” Stickneyagrees. “We never saw this happeninguntil Sept. 11th. I think their [the po-lice] motivation is they are afraid ofanybody who looks different. Theyfeel they are being patriotic and thatthis is good law enforcement.”

“Probably 50 percent of the folkswho are in detention are in detentionbecause they’ve been stopped by localpolice on a traffic violation that wewould regard as pretextual,” saysStickney.

Once detained, immigrants are atrisk. “The situation is getting worseand worse,” says Rincón. “I have be-tween two and three missing during aweek.” Families call her to say some-one is “missing,” and she calls the de-tention facilities and the county jailsand eventually finds them.

“I deal with this stuff on a dailybasis,” she says. “It’s a way of life. Peo-ple are afraid.”

TENSIONS INCREASINGIn August 2007 USA Today reportedthat “41 states have enacted 171 lawsaimed at illegal immigrants. About100 communities have proposed sim-ilar ordinances.” Tensions mount asimmigrant populations increase. “Thefrictions will be most palpable at thelocal level,” demographer Peter Morri-son of the Rand Corp., a think tank,told the newspaper. “It’s affectingschool budgets and creating newneeds that impinge directly on localtaxpayers.”

The rapid changes taking place incommunities where these immigrantssettle is what causes the friction, ac-cording to Jeffrey Passel, demographerat the Pew Hispanic Center, also quot-ed in the USA Today report.

Parkins, the Episcopal Church’sadvocate for immigrants, says, “Peopleare focusing on building the wall,adding to the border-enforcement ca-pacity, punishing people who arepicked up, increasing the number ofbeds for detainees. That’s where theenergy is. A lot of the advocacy worknow has to be damage control.”

Jim Wallis, CEO of Sojourners/Call to Renewal in Washington, D.C.,deplores current efforts to make offer-

Melting…continued from page 1

Is the “melting pot” at a boiling point?

A July 4 march in Maryland in support of immigrant families.

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Page 7

ing help and support to undocument-ed immigrants illegal. States are pass-ing laws criminalizing such aid andministry. It is already a federal felonyif someone “assists an alien s/heshould reasonably know is illegally inthe U.S. or who lacks employment au-thorization, by transporting, shelter-ing or assisting him or her to obtainemployment,” according to the Feder-ation for American Immigration Re-form, a national nonprofit organi-zation.

“I think you’re going to hear frompeople in churches across the politicalspectrum that, ‘If you tell us Christianministry is illegal, we will go aheadand do Christian ministry, whether it’slegal or not,’” says Wallis. He is one ofthe founders of a new coalition groupknown as Christians for Comprehen-sive Immigration Reform. CCIR hasdocumented what it calls “the increas-ing prevalence of un-Christian treat-ment of immigrants” in a reportissued in mid-November. “A HouseDivided: Why Americans of Faith AreConcerned about Undocumented Im-migrants” calls attention to increasesin hate speech and hate groups linkedto the anti-immigrant movement. Thereport also recounts what it calls “therapid increase” in harsh anti-immi-grant ordinances at local and state lev-els and the impact of raids onimmigrant families.

BRIDGE TO RECONCILIATION“The religious community is uniquely

positioned to serve as a bridge acrossour differences on immigration and asource of healing and reconciliation,”according to the CCIR. The EpiscopalChurch’s Executive Council echoesthat view.

“The Episcopal Church deploresraids carried out by the ImmigrationCustoms Enforcement Agency atworksites, community gatherings andresidences seeking undocumentedworkers, which result in separatingfamilies and leaving children parent-less,” said the council in its resolutionpassed in June. The council called onEpiscopalians, “after careful consider-ation and consultation . . . to assistthose seeking protection from depor-tation and detention by the provisionof sanctuary, which can include mate-rial, legal and pastoral support.”

“The people who are pushingback are the people of faith,” saysParkins. “The church groups and thehuman rights activists like HumanRights First and Human RightsWatch, Amnesty International. Butcertainly the churches have been avery strong and significant voice for adoctrine of generosity, compassionand welcome.” Yet Parkins is worried.“I feel no sense of urgency in thechurch around these issues. It is forthe church to recognize that this is aserious social-justice issue that needsto be confronted by the gospel imper-ative to welcome the stranger.”

“You can walk into many, manyparishes across this country and find

there is indifference and maybe a lackof understanding of what is happen-ing out there,” he says. “I hope that ischanging as there is more publicity . .. but even in churches that would con-tend that they have a social-justice ori-entation, it hasn’t really seized them asa critical justice issue.”

A clear exception is the advocacywork of the Episcopal Church’s “bor-der bishops and dioceses,” In 2006,Arizona Bishop Kirk Smith led theHouse of Bishops to adopt a resolu-tion affirming comprehensive immi-gration reform and humane care forthe undocumented. When the Houseof Bishops met again in March 2007,Smith and a panel of “border bishops”including San Diego’s James Mathesand bishops of the Anglican Churchof Mexico outlined concerns and min-istry priorities.

WHAT YOU CAN DOFor those who want to learn more orwho want their congregations to be-come involved, advocates have plentyof suggestions about how to start.

Contact one of the advocacy orga-nizations, suggests Parkins. “The bestresource is the National ImmigrationForum (www.immigrationforum.org).They produce the best advocacy mate-rials and they have a Website. Thenthere’s the Interfaith Coalition forComprehensive Immigration Reform(www.cirnow.org).”

Stickney with the Immigrant Le-gal Advocacy Project suggests helpingdetainees by contacting their con-sulates, keeping them in touch withfamily by writing letters and makingphone calls, helping with travelarrangements, giving English lessonsand raising money for plane tickets.

“Gather people together to hearthe stories,” suggests Aid. That’s howher Washington State congregationbecame so passionate about the issue.At a big meeting one afternoon, “30people from the English congregationcame, and they just heard stories.”One of those stories came from a

woman whose husband had been de-tained the week before. “She was dev-astated,” said Aid, “had to sell herhouse and is just lost. Her story reallytouched people’s hearts.” Now, Aidhas people signed up to visit detaineesat the nearby Northwest DetentionCenter, to phone family members andcheck on them, to buy phone cardsand toiletries and food.

“The biggest thing, though,” shesays, “is community organizing.Whatever a congregation can do tobegin to facilitate the [immigrant]community organizing itself is a help.There is a huge need to have themainstream, English-speaking congre-gations involved in this because theseare the folks who can really move thepolitical process.”

That is exactly the ministry Bish-op Knudsen and the Rev. VirginiaMarie Rincón are hoping to develophere in Maine. But it’s slow going, ac-cording to Rincón. “Some have givenmoney. Individuals have called andasked if they can help . . . but peopleare fearful. They might want to help,but fear gets in the way.”

She says folks are afraid theymight be “doing something wrong,against the government, that they arehelping an undocumented person.”She has a quick response to that: “I tellthem the stories.”

So much more could be offered,she says. “We need more social action.We need for people to come and visitthe [Spanish/English] service and seepeoples’ faces so that when they hearabout immigration reform and thefences being proposed, they can seethat there is a human being on theother side of that fence struggling andneeding to eat and support a family.They need to educate themselves.”

Bishop Knudsen shares that view.Though the parishioners at the Cathe-dral Church of St. Luke “are very sup-portive to Mission San Lucas, toVirginia Marie and her people, I thinkwhat support looks like to a lot of

February 2008

Learn more about immigration issuesImmigrant Legal Advocacy Project (www.ilapmaine.org), 309 CumberlandAve., Suite 201, Portland, Maine 04112, 780-1593, offers attorneyconsultations, an immigration clinic, full legal representation “onimmigration matters for free or reduced fee for low-income noncitizens,”trainings for service providers, education and outreach, written materials forpublic education and a Website that answers frequently asked immigrationquestions.

National Immigration Law Center (www.nilc.org, 213-639-3900) offersthree publications as PDFs: Know Your Rights alerts about raids, protests, im-migration-enforcement information; Disaster Assistance; and Benefits.

Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (www.cirnow.org,202-383-5986) offers fact sheets on immigration law, family-sponsoredimmigration, employment-based immigration and naturalization, pluslegislation, news, how to take action, and other contacts.

New Sanctuary Movement (www.newsanctuarymovement.org) offersinformation and contacts for legal help as well as resources including acongregational handbook titled “For You Were Once a Stranger:Immigration in the U.S. through the Lens of Faith.”

Juan Carlos Paz pauses during his testimony at the Diocese of Olympia’s annualconvention, at which delegates debated a resolution on the New SanctuaryMovement. (Photo by Paul Peck)

See IMMIGRATION, page 8

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Page 8 February 2008

people is ‘We’re glad to have themhere and we are glad to trouble shootwhen there’s problems and we think itis a good thing” . . . but how muchthey really know about who is thereand what their needs are, I’m not sureabout that.” The bishop expects that

with the addition of a second full-timepriest—the Rev. Carolyn Coleman,ordained this past December—sucheducation and outreach will be ex-panded.

Rincón dreams of expanded min-istry to all vulnerable immigrantgroups in Portland and beyond, notjust at the cathedral. “Wouldn’t it be

wonderful to have a transforming mis-sion . . . not just to Hispanic people,but to all new Mainers—the Sudanese,the Somalis. That is what the Episco-pal Church is about, what the gospel isspeaking to us about. . . . There is somuch more that we need to do.”—Nan Cobbey, recently retired associateeditor of “Episcopal Life,” the national

newspaper of the Episcopal Church,now lives in Belfast, where she is a mem-ber of St. Margaret’s. A different versionof this story appeared as the Januarycover story in “Episcopal Life.” To re-spond to this story, e-mail the author atncobbey@episcopalchurch.org, or theeditor at northeast@episcopalmaine.org.

For more than 60 years the EpiscopalMedia Center (originally the Episco-pal Radio and TV Foundation) in At-lanta has produced audio/visualresources—audio books, videos, tapes,CDs, radio programming, TV ads andmore—for people of all ages across theEpiscopal Church. Over the past fewyears, the executive director, the Rev.Louis “Skip” Schueddig, has led theway in developing a new Web-basedresource for dioceses called the DigitalFaith Community. The entirely Web-based system does not require special,expensive or hard-to-learn software orWeb expertise to launch and maintaina set of Webpages. All that is needed isa connection to the Internet and awillingness of members to keep the in-formation your congregation or com-mittee or diocesan group fresh andinteresting.

Dioceses showing early interestwere Atlanta, Kentucky, Mississippi,and Arizona, as well as Episcopalgroups such as the Episcopal PeaceFellowship, Episcopalians for GlobalReconciliation, and Episcopal ChurchGlobal Mission. Not long after ademonstration of what the DigitalFaith Community (DFC) could dofor both the diocesan Website and forthe congregations and diocesangroups in Maine, Bishop Knudsenand diocesan staff started the processof learning more and talking withDFC staff. By late summer 2007, theDiocese of Maine was on board.

While the diocesan site is still inthe midst of being redesigned andhaving its content moved to the DFCformat, at least one congregation hasalready developed a new DFC Web-site with the help of Bill Monk, theDFC staffer assigned to assist Mainecongregations, committees, andgroups. Seth Stewart, a vestry memberfrom St. Andrew’s in Newcastle, whoattended a Web workshop at theDiocesan Convocation in May. St.Andrew’s was looking to update itsWebsite, and its rector, the Rev. SteveWhite, had asked Seth to sit in on theconvocation session. Diocesan Com-munications Consultant Heidi Shotthad recently spent a few hours on-linewith the DFC development teamlearning about the system, so at theworkshop she was able to introduce

the system but made no promises thatthe Diocese of Maine would adopt it.However, when the go-ahead finallycame this fall, St. Andrew’s, encour-aged by Seth’s enthusiasm, was ready.

Another St. Andrew’s vestry mem-ber, Peter Asche, volunteered to takeon the project and within weeks de-veloped—with the help of Bill Monkat DFC—a comprehensive new Web-site at www.standrewsnewcastle.org.

“I am really excited about the pos-sibilities of our new site,” said Peter re-cently. “Our ability to reach out topeople both within and outside ourparish will be so much broader withthis easy-to-maintain site. Bill Monkwas so helpful and great to work with.”

In the coming months Peter willteach other members of St. Andrew’sto maintain pages for various parts ofchurch life. The ease of use of theDFC system, and the ability to sharethe load of maintaining the Websiteamong many people, takes the strainoff any one member of a congregationor committee. Also, because the DFCis Web-based, those who update infor-mation on a few pages of their con-gregation Website can do it fromanywhere without specialized com-puter know-how or software.

“If there are people in the dioceseinterested in hearing how easily we gotour new Website up and running, I’dbe happy to talk with them,” said Pe-ter. To learn more, you may contacthim at peterasche@gmail.com.

We’re about to change how the Diocese of Maine does the Web

Digital Faith Community service heads north

Peter Asche of St. Andrew’s,Newcastle, was the first person toreally get a congregation on boardwith DFC.

How is DFC different from thehosting we already use?With DFC you don’t need hosting:it’s included by virtue of your con-gregation’s or diocesan group’s be-ing a part of the Diocese of Maine,as are a number of other featuresand services. Among these areevent registration, e-mail and cal-endar integration, news stories, ser-mon archives, search function, andmuch more. You don’t need to wor-ry about hosting, servers, band-width requirements, or any of thearcane details of operating an on-line community. Just use DFC andwe’ll worry about the details.

How is DFC different from theWebsite we already have?DFC is not just a Website: it’s acommunity for the Diocese ofMaine. Each of our congregations,committees, commissions, andgroups such as Cursillo or dia-conate program can have a pres-ence in DFC. It’s one thing to visita pretty Website, but it’s another tobe able to interact with your faithcommunity online. Members andvisitors alike can search for newsabout a church or sermon, sign upfor events, or contribute to the dis-cussion through our easy-to-navi-gate (and maintain!) system.

Will everyone be able to updateour Website?DFC supports secure user ac-counts. You’ll determine what per-mission level contributors have.Whether it’s contributing to a mis-sion blog or working on a youthgroup page, each user is assigned aparticular permission level and spe-cific content areas they can con-tribute to.

Won’t it be hard for me to sup-port all these users?Our staff works with each of yourcommunity members to help themcreate their accounts, update their

pages, and to answer questions.We’re here to support you, too.Over the years our staff of dedicat-ed Christians has developed the ex-pertise to know what works online,how to deploy your sites, and howto help your members. We’ve beenhere for over 60 years helping servethe church with technology.

How much will this cost?The Diocese of Maine has contract-ed with DFC for both the diocesanWebsite and for each of our congre-gations and program groups to de-velop a Web presence. As membersof the Diocese of Maine, the service(and the support from DFC staff )to your congregation or diocesangroup comes with no charge. TheDFC doesn’t charge extra for phonesupport, extra bandwidth, morepages, or image storage. BecauseDFC is affiliated with a longstand-ing organization, the Episcopal Me-dia Center, and is a nonprofit,through support and contributions,they are able to offer this service atwell below traditional Websitecosts.

Contact DFC staffer Bill Monk at 1-800-229-3788 to get your congrega-tion, committee, or diocesan groupstarted, or visit www.digitalfaith.orgto learn more.

Digital Faith Community Q&A

To get a sense of the possibilitieswith DFC, visit www.standrewsnewcastle.org.

Immigration…cont’d from p. 7

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By Marty Rogers, St. Peter’s,Rockland

As I visited the exhibits at the Dioce-san Convention this past October, Iwas drawn to the beautiful kneelersthat have been stitched for the kneelerproject at the Cathedral Church of St.Luke in Portland. The exhibit wasprepared by Jeri and Joe Edgar andJane Erwin, fellow needlepointers atSt. Luke’s who clearly know how to at-tract other needlepoint addicts.

I did a kneeler for another churchin the 1980s when I was a memberthere, and I love to do needlepointembroidery. The exhibit staffers didn’thave to work hard to sell me a kit so Ican begin a kneeler that will representmy parish home. Each kit contains amarked and bound canvas, needles,2.25-pound hanks of Paternayan 3-ply wool, and easy-to-read instruc-tions. The kit is reasonably priced at adonation of $75, which covers thecost of the materials. Support andhelp is available at anytime from thecathedral Kneeler Guild.

I’ve chosen to stitch a depiction ofthe Tiffany-style stained glass win-dows over the altar at St. Peter’s. Thetheme in the window is the Resurrec-tion and has a cross surrounded byPalestinian lilies with the symbols“IHS” and chi-rho on either side.

I am in awe of the work that has

been created to represent the parishes,missions, and summer chapels aroundour diocese. Some are simple designsand others are complex. All are worksof love and bring the faith communi-ty of the stitcher to the cathedral inthis lovely art form. If your parish isnot yet represented with a kneeler,contact the project organizers atcathedralkneeler@aol.com. If you arealso a needlepoint addict, consider do-ing several. Four hundred kneelers areneeded for the cathedral, which worksout to about five per church. Eventhose new to needlepoint are likely tofind it meditative and relaxing.

“The word started to go aroundthat there was a Latina woman here,”said Rincón, the first Hispanic womanordained in Maine. “To the Hispaniccommunity, having a Latina deacon orpriest is foreign.” One of the firstthings she did, while still a deacon, wasto publicize a special service for “theimmigrants.” That service attractedmembers of the community, but it wasthe arrival in Portland in 2002 of im-migration agents—and their visits andarrests in homes and at a well-knownlocal bodega—that caused most peo-ple to learn of her, she says.

“I organized with the NAACP andthe shelter. People were scared. Theyweren’t coming out of their homes.They weren’t going to their prenatalappointments. So we were deliveringpackages of food to peoples’ homes.The Hispanic community came to acomplete halt,” she remembers.

Rincón and others organized aprotest march from the Greyhoundbus station to Monument Square.“That’s when word got out that I wassomeone they could talk to about im-migration,” she says.

“I serve 200 families now. Forsome, I fill out job applications.” Forothers, she deals with immigration is-sues or domestic violence. “A lot ofconversations center around internal-ized oppression, racism, racial profil-ing.”

Rincón tracks down individualsthat have been picked up by immigra-

tion officers, calms family members,talks to officials, accompanies peopleto hearings, translates, and finds rela-tives to care for minor children left un-attended when parents are detained.

A BISHOP’S PRAISE“This is really a wonderful thing she isdoing,” said Bishop Chilton Knudsen,referring both to Tengo Voz and toRincón’s work at the CathedralChurch of St. Luke, where she presidesat a Spanish and English mass everySaturday.

“We knew that there were peoplewho wanted to have greater intimacywith a Latino/Latina priest. VirginiaMarie was here and everything cametogether.” Knudsen now hopes to seethe congregation, known as San Lucas,“build up to the next level where theybegin to take more responsibility forthemselves . . . become more indepen-dent. . . . I’d like them to apply formission status.”

Tengo Voz outreach ministry isonly partially funded by the diocese.Established as a nonprofit in 2001, itscrambles for grants. Some help comesfrom the Maine Council of Churches,which pays for printing and additionalsupport.

To reach Rincón or the Tengo Vozministry, call 553-2252. To meetRincón and members of the growingcommunity of San Lucas, attend theSpanish-English mass at the CathedralChurch of St. Luke, 143 State St.,Portland, on Saturday afternoons at5:30.

Page 9

By the Rev. Shirley Bowen,Missioner for Campus Ministry andEpiscopal Chaplain at USM andUNE (cell. 205-4155,Shirley.Bowen@maine.edu)

For more information on any of theseupcoming events, contact me.

A GATHERING OF PROVINCE 1COLLEGE STUDENTSLooking for a chance to connect withother college students around NewEngland? Here’s an awesome opportu-nity: ProvGat (Province 1 Gathering)Retreat Weekend, February 22–24 atSargent Camp, Hancock, N.H. Thetheme is iGod: Syncing with Christ;retreat leader is Bishop Chilton.

FAITH IN ACTIONAs we gear up for the spring semester,we continue to carry our focus ofFaith in Action in our activities andworship. Plans are currently underwayfor a partnership with USM’s Resi-dential Life Department to bring the

One Campaign back to campus. Lastyear’s event was a powerful success.Student came alive with energy tobring about change in the world, onevoice at a time. That energy continuesinto this new year, so look for moreinformation to come.

The Tabletop Theology dinnergroup will continue meeting on thefirst Tuesday of each month at theGreat Lost Bear on Forest Ave. inPortland at 5:30 p.m. This gatheringof twenty- and thirty-somethingsgives us the opportunity for fellowshipand conversation about ways in whichfaith and culture intersect. We neverknow what the topic will be. All in thePortland area are welcome, collegestudents, and noncollege students.

LOOKING DOWN THE ROADThe National Gathering of EpiscopalCollege students will be held on De-cember 28, 2008, to January 1, 2009,in Estes Park, Colo. The theme is SEEthe Light (Seek, Encounter and Em-body): How to be Jesus’ hands and feetin our local and global communities.

February 2008

Voice…continued from p. 1

the college chaplain’s journalA spring full of activity and opportunity

The irresistible, fantastic kneeler project

Marty Rogers poses with the contentsof her kneeler kit spread around her.(Photo by Deborah Oliver)

Snowfall across much of the state in December came close to breakingrecords. This photo of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Portland tellsonly some of the story. (Photo by Nancy Mawhinney)

Snowy days

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Page 10 February 2008

Middle-schoolers will have an excitingopportunity to explore their relation-ship with their friends, family, and Je-sus Christ at Crosswalk. This is thewinter middle-school event for youthsin grades 6–8.

Crosswalk will be held at St.Mark’s, Augusta, the weekend of Feb-

ruary 8–10. This is a great time to kidsto discuss faith, to have fun and tolearn how God’s love can transformour world. If you would like more in-formation about this event, contactSherry Sivret at ssivret@episcopalmaine.org or visit www.maine youth.org.

Crosswalk returns this month

By Kirsten Lowell, 12th grader fromSt. Ann’s in Windham

Last March a group of Connecticutteens had come to Maine for TEC(Teens Encounter Christ), and theyinvited us down there to experience ayouth event Connecticut style. So, onDecember 7 a group of teens andadults headed south for a fun-filledweekend of games, activities, andChrist. Based on Advent and waitingfor Jesus, the event was themed “WhoAre You Waiting For?”

The event was held at CampWashington in Lakeside, Conn. Wehad the opportunity to eat in the“White House,” hang out in KenyanHall, and take showers in winterizedcabins. Now, how cool is that. Asidefrom all the snazzy buildings, we teensdid some building ourselves: we builtfriendships among other teens and

built a closer relationship with Christ.We were in small groups to do ac-

tivities such as walking a labyrinth,making crafts, and creating a “face-book” for Jesus. All weekend peoplewere writing nice things on each oth-ers care posters that we took home atthe end of the weekend. We heardpersonal stories from teens to go alongwith each Advent candle which we litthroughout the weekend. We taughtthe Connecticut youths a few newsongs as well as learning new songsourselves to bring back share witheveryone else in Maine.

Despite the poor weather and baddriving conditions, we made it toConnecticut and back to Maine witha stronger relationship to Christ. Al-though event was very different fromthe events we were used to in Maine,it was still a very enjoyable weekendand we taught Connecticut peoplehow to give a “Maine hug”!

Mainers invade Connecticutfor province 1 youth event

youth news youth news youth news youth news

DIOCESAN YOUTH CALENDARCROSSWALKFebruary 8–10 • grades 6–8 • St. Mark’s, AugustaA weekend of fun, faith, and new friends

LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR TECMarch 7–9 • high-schoolers • Trinity, PortlandTeam building, worship, and training for teen and adult leaders

TEC (TEENS ENCOUNTER CHRIST)March 28–30 • high-schoolers • Trinity, PortlandA deep experience of God by and for high-schoolers

YOUTH INTERNATIONAL MISSION TEAM 2009Registration will open in the spring for a team of about 12 high-school-ers. They will begin preparing in late spring for a mission trip in sum-mer 2009. The past two teams have served in the village of Jalonga inthe Dominican Republic.

E.Y.E.—NATIONAL EPISCOPAL YOUTH EVENTJuly 7 or 8 to July 14 • high-schoolers • TexasA conference for teens from Episcopal dioceses all over the UnitedStates, followed by a one-day province 1 gathering

STAFF ORIENTATION FOR BIONAugust 18 • Camp Bishopswood

BION TEEN CAMPAug. 19–23 • for youths completing grades 6–12 • Camp BishopswoodHave fun with new friends, enjoy activities and explore faith while liv-ing in God’s beautiful creation

SAFE CHURCH TRAINING for adults who work with teens orchildren. Find dates and locations on the Web at www.episcopal-maine.org.

OFFERED ALL YEAR: Visits by a youth missioner and/or youth to yourcongregation (call us!).

For more information, talk to your priest or youth group leader, callYOUTH MINISTRIES at 772-1953 x29 or 1-800-244-6062 x29, ore-mail us at youth@episcopalmaine.org. Check us out at www.maineyouth.org.

Teens and adults traveled from Maine to Connecticut for the province 1 event inDecember.

For its third annual Peace EssayContest, the sponsoring EpiscopalPeace Fellowship of Maine has an-nounced that it will move the sub-mission deadline from autumn toMay 1, 2008. This year the contestwill accept verse as well as prosesubmissions.

The theme of this year’s contestwill remain “How Can I Be a Peace-

maker?” The contest is opento high-schoolers around thestate of Maine. Further infor-mation will be announced inthe April issue of the North-east. Interested high-school-ers can also contact the Rev.Jim Gill at meamft2@aol.com for more information.

New deadline announced for annualessay contest

Happening draws Mainer back from Massachusetts

Camping it up are some of the eleven teens from St. Paul’s EpiscopalChurch in Natick, Mass., who attended the Happening high-school retreat inNovember. Their youth group leader, Audrey O’Brien, had been a youngmember of St. David’s when she lived in Kennebunk.

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By Barbara Aiken, Burnam MorrellSALM, and the Revs. Robert A.Smith Jr. and Jeryln Williams, FaithLutheran and St. Luke’s Episcopal,Caribou

Since fire destroyed Faith LutheranChurch on November 15, 2002, thecongregation has been sharing spacewith St. Luke’s Episcopal Church inCaribou.

Beginning with the first service ofworship together November 17, 2002,the two congregations have discoveredthe richness of our common yet dif-ferent liturgies. We have made it apractice to come together for com-mon worship and celebration on thetwo major Christian festivals, Christ-mas and Easter and have joined to-gether regularly on Ash Wednesday,Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday,Easter Thanksgiving, and ChristmasEve. The liturgies and music of bothchurches are used alternately. Therehave been other occasions, such as ourrecent celebration of baptismal min-istry and ordination of deacons, wherethe two congregations have come to-gether in worship.

The vestry of St. Luke’s and theparish council of Faith covenanted tomeet yearly to discuss where we havebeen, where we are going and how wecan share our common life. St. Luke’sEpiscopal has encouraged FaithLutheran to make the worship spaceits own. A shadow box containing thecharred wood made in the form of across and pieces of glass formed as animbus around the cross hangs as a re-minder of how the church can be res-urrected from the ashes. Faith

congregants have hung banners in thesanctuary, and the original procession-al cross from Faith stands alongside St.Luke’s cross. During joint worship,the two organists collaborate andparaments from both churches adornthe altars, pulpit, and lectern. Recent-ly, a member of the Faith congrega-tion became the administrativeassistant for the Episcopal Cluster ofchurches.

Both congregations participatejointly in outreach ministry, includingthe ecumenical food pantry and thelocal soup kitchen. We share fellow-ship and food at a joint Easter break-fast, the clergy appreciation dinner,and the grandparent luncheon. AtChristmas the children of both con-gregations and the cluster gather to-gether to decorate gingerbread houses.

From the loss of Faith’s building,the two congregations have discoveredtheir commonality in worship andmission, fulfilling the vision of Call toCommon Mission, a position of fullcommunion adopted in 2000 by theEvangelical Lutheran Church inAmerica and the Episcopal Church.This vision has enabled both congre-gations to share altars and clergy. Thecongregations of Faith and St. Luke’shave discovered vitality in our sharedmission, a sense of community andworship.

Faith congregants took time todiscern whether or not to rebuild fol-lowing the fire, concluding that be-cause Lutherans and Episcopaliansrequired similar worship space andboth congregations are small, by shar-ing space we would be able to supportone another in our respective min-

By Elizabeth M. Ring, Director,Diocesan Resource Center,Supporting Lifelong Learning(772-6923, ering@episcopalmaine.org)

Lent: spring, lengthening. A time toreflect, regroup, and prepare. Whenour liturgical season of Lent begins onAsh Wednesday, the sun will rise at6:53 a.m. and set at 4:57 p.m.—justbarely ten hours of daylight. It willstill be dark when our animals beginto awaken and want food. Forty dayslater, on Easter, which falls just threedays after the spring equinox, we’ll al-ready have two and a quarter morehours of light. The sky will be brightwhen I walk to the barn in the morn-ing and the air will smell of new life asthe ground begins to thaw. I treasurethe gift of every one of those brightminutes and am awed by the way ourplanet spins and tilts to give us ourseasons.

During Lent Christians will ob-serve extra disciplines, participate inspecial learning groups, and prepare tobe devastated on Good Friday and re-joice on Easter Sunday.

The lectionary this year gives usinteresting material for reflection. Webegin with Matthew’s story of Jesus’three temptations at the end of hisforty-day fast in the desert. Fromthere we move into John’s Gospel andmeet Nicodemus, the Samaritanwoman at the well, the giving of thecommandment to “love as I haveloved you,” the healing of the blindman on the Sabbath, and the raisingof Lazarus. These intimate encounterswith Jesus all offer lots for all genera-tions to contemplate. There are someparticularly good resources in the Les-son Plans for Small Churches, avail-able from the Ministries with YoungPeople cluster at the EpiscopalChurch Center. They can be down-loaded without charge at www.episcopalchurch.org/myp.

If Lent prompts you to take moretime reflecting on the intersection ofyour faith with the events of the day,you might want to check out the ma-terials available from the ThoughtfulChristian (www.thethoughtfulchristian.com). These study guides areavailable for a modest price and can beused again and again. In their Con-temporary Issues section they alsohave resources on world religions.And they have some good stuff in theFree Teaching Tools section to helpyou lead a group and pose stimulatingquestions.

Another idea for intergenerationalstudy this year is C. S. Lewis’s “Screw-tape Letters.” I was introduced to thisoften humorous and always insightfulcorrespondence between two devilswhen I was about fifteen, and eachtime I reread it I find something new.I expect by the time you read this tohave a DVD companion study avail-able in the Resource Center.

Paraclete Press (www.paracletepress.com) has two new books thatyou might want to consider for yourchurch library. “Small Surrenders: ALenten Journey” by Emilie Griffin is acollection of daily meditations drawnfrom ancient and modern writingsthat invite us to be transformed bygrace. “Lent and Easter with Mary” byThomas J. Craughwell reflects onMary and the Marian tradition in art,literature, and music with a short read-ing and prayer for each day throughLent and the Easter season.

Lenten resources abound

resourcefully yours

The Rev. Bob Smith and Burnam Morrell, SALM, stand before the signs outsidethe space their congregations share in Caribou. (Photo by Gary Williams)

Congregations in Search CHURCH STATUSTRINITY, Lewiston Receiving namesST. MARY & ST. JUDE, Northeast Harbor Beginning processGOOD SHEPHERD, Rangeley Beginning processST. PETER’S, Rockland Beginning processST. GEORGE’S, Sanford No longer receiving namesST. BRENDAN’S, Stonington No longer receiving namesST. STEPHEN’S, Waterboro Receiving names

For information on any of these congregations, please contact BishopChilton Knudsen at 1-800-244-6062 or mainebishop@gmaine.com. De-ployment information for many of these congregations is available at thediocesan Website, www.episcopalmaine.org.

County Lutherans and Episcopaliansare living out the communionbetween our churches

Page 11February 2008

See CHURCHES, page 15

NORTHEAST2-08.doc 1/21/08 9:24 AM Page 11

Page 12 February 2008

By Heidi Shott, Diocesan PressOfficer

Last August my sons and I made ourway downeast to Mount Desert Islandfor our annual camping trip to AcadiaNational Park. Our stated goal—mystated goal—is to hike every namedpeak by the time the boys graduatefrom high school in 2012. Each yearwe update a master map of the parkby circling the peaks we’ve knockedoff. Last year we hiked Sargent andDorr Mountains and were joined bymy non-camping husband on the fi-nal morning for a hike up Pemetic.

By real mountain standards thepeaks of Acadia are only biggish hills,but on clear days the views of theglacial lakes and the outline of thepiney islands off the Atlantic coast stilltake my breath away. This annual tripat the end of summer is a touchstonefor our family, a final time togetherbefore the new school year to pick thelast wild blueberries along the trail, towalk around Bar Harbor with icecream, and to savor the hot popoverswith butter and strawberry jam at thepark’s venerable Jordan Pond House.

Another touchstone has beenreading aloud. From the time theywere four or five until last summer

when we finished the last Harry Potterbook after a six-hour marathon endingat 2:30 a.m., we’ve always had a read-aloud going. However, last summerthe boys announced that after HarryPotter we should call it quits. “It’s beenfun, Mom, but we prefer to read alonefrom now on. No offense, okay?”

With a hard swallow, I acceptedthis rare example of twin solidarity.Their tastes are, after all, diverging:Colin reads history and historical nov-els; Martin prefers contemporary fic-tion and poetry. And already, at 13,they are commending many hard andwonderful books that I’ve never got-ten around to reading.

So in August, shoehorned intoour tent at the remotest, raccoon-in-fested corner of Southwest Harbor’sSmugglers Den Campground, thethree of us were each to our ownbook. Martin was sailing around thetent alone with the poetry of BillyCollins, I was halfway through JeffreyEugenides’ novel “Middlesex,” andColin was reading an anthology ofP.G. Wodehouse. (He dressed up asBertie Wooster for Halloween and wasdisappointed when our neighborsmistook him for a croquet player). Forme, it was sweet—each boy kept in-terrupting to read lines thereby an-

To place an event on this calendar,please contact Pam McClellan atpmclelln@episcopalmaine.org or1-800-244-6062. Visit the calendar onthe diocesan Website (www.episcopalmaine.org) for updates and additions.

February4 Labyrinth walk, Trinity, Portland, 4–8pm.

FMI 772-7421.6 Ash Wednesday.8–10 Crosswalk, see page 109 Ministry Outside the Box follow-up, St.

Patrick’s, Brewer, 10–3. Bring a baglunch. FMI 1-800-244-6062.

13 Diocesan trustees meeting, Loring House.16 Diocesan Council, St. Thomas’, Camden.

FMI call Melinda DeWolfe at 1-800-244-6062 x32.

23 When Pigs Fly, Haiti fund-raiser, JohnsonHall, Water St., Gardiner, 6:30pm. FMI588-0135.

24 Celebration of new ministry, St. Peter’s,Portland, 5pm. FMI 1-800-244-6062.

March7–9 Clergy spouse retreat, see page 5.7–9 Leadership training for TEC, Trinity,

Portland. FMI youth@episcopalmaine.org.

16 Palm Sunday.19 Diocesan trustees meeting, Loring House.21 Labyrinth walk, Trinity, Portland, 4–8pm.

FMI 772-7421.23 Easter.28–30 TEC, Trinity, Portland. FMI youth@

episcopalmaine.org.

April1 Stephen Lane begins on diocesan staff as

coadjutor-elect.12 Diocesan Council meeting.18–19 Deacons’ annual retreat, Living Water

Spiritual Center, Winslow. FMI liz-bruceod@juno.com.

May3 Consecration of the Rev. Stephen Lane as

the 9th bishop of Maine, cathedral,Portland. FMI 1-800-244-6062.

MainestreamDiocesan Calendar

This calendar is subject to change.Beginning with the April issue of theNortheast, we will also publish the cal-endar for Stephen Lane, Bishop Coad-jutor–elect. Maintained by the Rev.Betsey Wilder Deleuse (1-800-244-6062x25, bdeleuse@episcopalmaine.org).

January24–25 Province 1 bishops and chancellors,

Harraseeket Inn, Freeport

February2 Consecration of new bishop of Chicago6 Ash Wednesday at cathedral7 Standing Committee9 Lenten Class, St. John’s, Bangor10 Homecoming, Dover-Foxcroft and

Brownville12 Judicatory Leaders Luncheon13 Diocesan Trustees meeting16 Diocesan Council, Camden, till 2:30 pm16 Visitation to Mission San Lucas with misa

en español, cathedral (late pm)17 Homecoming, cathedral19–21 Clergy Day Presentation, Diocese of Los

Angeles22–23 Province 1 Campus Ministry Retreat, N.H.24 Homecoming, St. Giles, Jefferson (am)24 Celebration of new ministry, St. Peter’s,

Portland (pm)26–28 Lenten program, Bethesda-by-the-Sea, FL

March1–4 Bishop in Chicago6 Standing Committee7–13 House of Bishops, Camp Allen, TX14–16 Calais and Eastport16 Homecoming, St. Anne’s, Calais18 Clergy Day with Chrism Eucharist,

cathedral19 Diocesan Trustees meeting24–28 Bishop on vacation30 Homecoming, St. Barnabas’, Rumford

April1 Stephen Lane begins on diocesan staff as

coadjutor-elect

2 Eucharist at St. Mark’s Home, Augusta3 Standing Committee5 Committee on Baptismal Ministry, Living

Water Spiritual Center (am)5 Regional Confirmation, St. George’s, York

Harbor (pm)6 Homecoming, St. David’s, Kennebunk7–8 Clergy Day Committee Retreat, Living

Water Spiritual Center12 Diocesan Council12 Diocesan Choral Festival Evensong,

cathedral (4 pm)13 Homecoming, St. Aidan’s, Machias18 Province 1 Special Synod, Concord, N.H.19 Annual Deacons’ Retreat, Living Water20 Homecoming, St. Francis’, Blue Hill (am)20 Homecoming, St Thomas’, Winn (pm)21-22 Advisors of College for Bishops, Virginia

Theological Seminary

May1 Standing Committee2 Clergy Day with presiding bishop,

Portland3 Consecration of Steve Lane as bishop

coadjutor, Cathedral10 Teaching in Deacon Formation Program11 Homecoming, St. Alban’s, Cape Elizabeth12–16 Bishop on her annual retreat16–17 Bishop at BEST Conference, Providence,

R.I.17 All-Augusta area gathering with

confirmations (pm)28 Homecoming, St. Brendan’s, Stonington30–31 Consecration of new bishop of Rochester

June1 Homecoming, St. Mary’s, Falmouth3 Clergy Day3–4 Clergy Day Committee, Living Water5–7 Lutheran Annual Assembly, Worcester,

MA8 Homecoming, St. Thomas’, Camden14 Hold for ordination of transitional

deacons, cathedral20–21 DFP and preordination retreat, Tidewater

Way28 Hold for ordination of deacons, cathedral

Bishop’s Calendar

Another daily gift

scenes through the keyhole

See KEYHOLE, page 15

The Bishop’s Garden at the cathedral in December. (Photo by NancyMawhinney)

Waiting for spring

NORTHEAST2-08.doc 1/21/08 9:24 AM Page 12

Come journey “Toward Resurrection”at the Province of New England’sConference on Stewardship, Evange-lism and Congregational Develop-ment, March 7-9 in Westborough,Mass., at the DoubleTree Hotel.

The conference will feature theRev. Canon Charles LaFond, Canonfor Stewardship in the Diocese of NewHampshire. Joining him will be musi-cian Fran McKendree and storytellerValerie Tutson, who draws materialfrom around the world, particularlyAfrica. Presenters from province 1dioceses will offer workshops on envi-

ronmental stewardship; the EmergingChurch and evangelism to youngergenerations; “Hispanic Mission: ElNuevo Amanecer” (A New Awaken-ing), offered by Maine’s Rev. Virginia

Marie Rincón; and “Gathering God’sPeople through Mission Partner-ships.” The event will culminate in aU2charist with the Rev. Paige Blair,rector of St. George’s, York Harbor, aspresider and preacher.

The goal of the conference istransformation in our lives so we aremore equipped to carry out the im-portant work of stewardship, evange-lism, and congregational developmentin the church and the world. Thetheme is a reminder that our faith isbased on the reality of Jesus’ resurrec-tion. Michael Ramsey, a former Arch-

bishop of Canterbury, says, “No resur-rection. No Christianity.” Under-standing Jesus’ resurrection leads toresurrection in our own lives and weare transformed into more faithfuland effective disciples.

More information and on-lineregistration is available on theprovince 1 Website at www.province1.org.

The conference this year occursduring Lent. We invite you to comeand join with disciples from all overNew England as we journey “TowardResurrection.”

Imprisoned for the murder of his sis-ter twelve years ago, Matthew B.Harper has walked where most wouldnot choose to go. But “though wewalk in different shoes, we walk acommon path before God,” he says inForward Movement’s 2008 Lenten de-votional guide, “Different Shoes, aCommon Path.”

Harper is not the same man whoentered the Virginia State Penitentiarynine years ago. While incarcerated, hehas come to know the goodness of theLord. He writes of the mysteries ofguilt and forgiveness, sin and redemp-tion, death and resurrection, in thisseries of sometimes gripping dailymeditations. Harper says he “perpetu-ally lives in the season of Lent, a timeof preparation, repentance, and learn-ing.”

“Different Shoes, a CommonPath” is available from Forward Move-

ment Publications, 300 W. Fourth St.,Cincinnati, OH 45202. Orders canbe placed at 800-543-1813 or orders@forwarddaybyday.com. The per-copy price is $3, plus shipping (10 ormore copies are only $2 each).

2008 Lenten devotional guideavailable from Forward Movement

Page 13

The application deadline for studentsinterested in participating in the flexi-ble study option at Episcopal DinitySchool in Cambridge, Mass., is March7, 2008.

The flexibly study option offersqualified candidates the opportunityto earn a Master of Divinity degreeover five years of study, or the Masterof Arts in theological studies degreeover four years of study, or the Doctorof Ministry degree over two years ofstudy through a combination of on-campus, intensive courses in Januaryand June supplemented by online andweekend courses.

The flexible study option Master’sstudents begin their course work June,while the Doctor of Ministry studentsbegin theirs in January. Students de-sign their program by choosing classesduring the January and June terms,weekend courses, and online classes.At every stage of the program, stu-dents are challenged to articulate theirintentions, provide a rationale for thework they propose to undertake, anddemonstrate how that work con-tributes to the task of doing theologyin the context of active ministry. Stu-dents also use connections and re-sources in their home churches,dioceses, or ministries to weave thoseministries with seminary resources toenrich the integration of the educa-tional experience.

The curriculum for flexible study

students includes online versions ofexisting EDS courses, intensive cours-es offered during the January and Juneterms, and adaptations of EDS’ re-quired foundations and program con-ference courses. During the requiredtwo-week intensive sessions duringeach January and June, students areimmersed in the life of the seminary,participating in small-group forma-tion, worshipping, eating, and livingwith the resident EDS community.Connections between students andfaculty are maintained throughout theyear through the creative use of educa-tional technology as well as on-cam-pus interactions.

Students interested in one of theflexible studies masters’ degreesshould have a bachelor’s degree froman accredited college or university, ba-sic computer skills, and regular accessto the Internet (a list of suggestedhardware and software is provided toprospective students). For the Doctorof Ministry degree, applicants are re-quired to have a Master of Divinitydegree or its equivalent plus threeyears post-Master experience.

For more information on any ofEDS’s academic degrees, contactChristopher Medeiros, admissions di-rector, at 617-682-1507 or admissions@eds.edu. Visit the EDS Website(www.eds.edu) for all applicationforms or to request a catalog.

February 2008

Province 1 spring conference calls us “Toward Resurrection”

within our communion

New diocesan e-mail addresses!

The “@diomaine.org” domain is dead!—please update your addressbook entries to “@episcopalmaine.org”

EDS offers flexible study option for M.Div. and D.Min. degrees

NORTHEAST2-08.doc 1/21/08 9:24 AM Page 13

By the Rev. James L. GillSt. Matthias’, Richmond

Sometimes my “out-of-the-box”thinking about liturgy really works.The celebration of All Saints Sundayat St. Matthias’, where I serve aspriest-in-charge, appears to have beenone of those times. We observed theregular routine of having the names ofour beloved departed mentioned in

the Prayers of the People. Nothingnew there, However, I also encour-aged parishioners to bring in pho-tographs of those on the list and beprepared to share some brief vignetteof how those persons figured in theirown faith life.

The altar lent itself naturally asthe focal point for the suprising num-ber of framed photos that appeared.One church member told me laterthat the pictures on the altar helped

him to hear, in a deeper way than usu-al, the words of the Preface of the Day,“For in the multitude of your saintsyou have surrounded us with a greatcloud of witnesses.”

In the conversation time after theservice, another parishioner told us ofa grandmother who had been such apositive influence in her early life,bringing her to church every Sunday.On reflection, she affirmed that she isnow carrying on a similar ministry

with her grandchild. Shared memoriesof those who have been “on the God-ward side” of each of us filled in thetime we had together after service thismorning.

I wish we had a composite photo-graph of our “extended” ChristianFamily Reunion today. It would in-clude those pictures of our beloved de-parted as well as of those of usphysically present at St. Matthias’ to-day.

An extended Christian family reunion invites reflection

Page 14 February 2008

within our communion

From Episcopal Life

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,As we begin a new church year

and congregations plan events andcelebrations for the coming months, Iwrite to urge all parishes to observethe First Sunday in Lent—February10, 2008—as Episcopal Relief andDevelopment Sunday. I am verypleased to announce that 2008 willmark the first year of what will be anannual celebration of ERD’s role inour mission to seek and serve Christin all persons.

The Episcopal Church’s ongoingcommitment to fight poverty and dis-ease around the world is lived out in avariety of ways. Advocacy with ourgovernment for the achievement ofthe Millennium Development Goalsis one vital way. Another is throughthe ministry of ERD, which workswith the worldwide church to alleviatehunger, fight disease, and strengthencommunities.

Episcopal Relief and Develop-ment Sunday provides an opportunityfor congregations to support ERD’s

life-saving work through prayer and aspecial offering that will help peoplearound the world.

ERD plays a significant role inachieving the Millennium Develop-ment Goals. Why? Simply put,churches and other faith-based insti-tutions in the developing world areequipped to fight poverty and diseasein ways that few other organizationscan, because of their deep reach intolocal communities and their relation-ships of trust with millions of people.By partnering with the worldwideChurch and with ecumenical organi-zations, ERD empowers communitiesto maximize their resources and devel-op lasting solutions to poverty,hunger, and disease. To learn more,visit www.er-d.org/.

ERD gives Episcopalians the spe-cial opportunity to partner with theworldwide Church and people aroundthe world who are addressing chal-lenging issues in their communities.This work is worthy of the support ofall Episcopalians, and the beginningof Lent is an ideal time for us to renewour collective commitment to it.Almsgiving is one of the traditional

disciplines of the season and one ofthe ways in which we participate withChrist in walking to the foot of theCross and into the light of Resurrec-tion. “If you offer your food to thehungry and satisfy the needs of the af-flicted,” Isaiah writes in a passage tra-ditionally read at the beginning ofLent, “your light will rise in the dark-ness and your gloom will be like thenoonday; you will be called repairer ofthe breach and restorer of streets tolive in.”

On February 10—Episcopal Re-lief and Development Sunday—pleasededicate a special Lenten offering andprayer for the work of ERD. All gifts

received will be designated for theMillennium Development Goals In-spiration Fund, which focuses onfighting deadly diseases like malariaand HIV/AIDS and providing basichealth care that saves lives every day.For more information on the MDGInspiration Fund, please see www.er-d.org/mdgif.

I urge you also to deepen your ad-vocacy efforts for robust financialcommitments from the U.S. govern-ment toward achievement of the Mil-lennium Development Goals.Faith-based institutions like ERD areproving that poverty can be eradicatedif the proper resources and strategiesare brought to bear. However, privateaction alone will not be enough—col-lective action as a nation is necessary,and our voices are what will inspireour government to act. To get in-volved, visit www.episcopalchurch.org/ONE.

“Faith is not a refuge from reali-ty,” wrote the great Anglican mysticand teacher Evelyn Underhill. “Faithis a demand that we face reality, withall its difficulties, opportunities, and

The presiding bishop’s declaration regarding ERD Sunday

“This work is worthyof the support of allEpiscopalians, and thebeginning of Lent isan ideal time for us torenew our collectivecommitment to it.”

See ERD, page 15

NORTHEAST2-08.doc 1/21/08 9:24 AM Page 14

implications.” This Lent, I pray thatall Episcopalians will embrace Episco-pal Relief and Development Sundayas one way to challenge the reality of aworld that sees 30,000 of God’s pre-

cious people die each day, simply be-cause they were too poor to continueliving.

With prayers for a holy Lent, I remainYour servant in Christ,Katharine Jefferts Schori

istries and outreach.At an October 20, 2007, worship

service recognizing the gifts of min-istry, the Rt. Rev. Chilton R. Knud-sen, bishop of the Episcopal Dioceseof Maine, acting on behalf of St.Luke’s and the congregations of theAroostook Episcopal Cluster, present-ed a framed document acknowledgingfive years of shared ministry ofLutherans and Episcopalians to Bur-nam Morrell, the spiritual leader ofFaith Lutheran. The document states:“We have learned that the church is

more than a building, but is the incar-national presence of the risen Christin the hearts of the people gathered.”

Faith and St. Luke’s held a serviceof commemoration of our five yearstogether on Sunday, November 18,2007, at St. Luke’s. This service ofHoly Eucharist followed the order ofservice of the “Lutheran Book of Wor-ship” with Burnam Morrell, SALM(Synodically Appointed Lay Minis-ter), preaching. Also sharing in theservice were the Rev. Jeryln Williams,deacon, and the Rev. Robert A. SmithJr., rector of St. Luke’s.

Page 15February 2008

noying his brother—but not the sameas reading together, immersed in thesame book. I missed the plaintive criesof “One more chapter, please, or atleast read to an asterisk!” After muchphony reluctance, I always gave in.

In November Martin shared withus “Daily Gift,” a poem he’d writtenearlier that school year. The poemjoins the experience of a family camp-ing trips to that classic teenage re-sponse to morning, and it does so in away that is uniquely Martin’s. “I rise, /a zombie of the campground . . . / andglare through trash-bag eyes: // a noc-tural adolescent / sore from hiking.”Awaking slowly, he wonders what thenew day, “this gift,” holds for him.Even though he doesn’t know the fullanswer, my teenage son concludes “Ionly know one way / to find out.”(The complete poem is at www.episcopalcafe.com/daily/accepting_ gods_daily_gift.php.)

As the new year approaches how Iwish I had Martin’s trash-bag eyes tosee each new day as it is delivered tomy bedside. In this new year, how Iwish that we Episcopalians could fo-cus on the gifts so freely and lavishlygiven to each of us by God: our ca-pacity to love and our freedom tocommit ourselves to whomever wechoose; the thousands of opportuni-ties available to serve those without avoice in our society and in the widerworld. These gifts are already ours, nomatter where General Conventionstands on the matter at any given timeor whether some among us have cho-sen to leave the Church altogether.

Years ago, my college’s chapter ofIntervarsity Christian Fellowship in-vited a Presbyterian minister fromCharlottesville to preside at anevening called Hard Questions. It wasmeant to be a particularly intriguingand evangelical night, drawing stu-dents who wouldn’t ordinarily attendone of our weekly meetings. We werehopeful this Presbyterian dude wouldbe good on the stump. (Our localEpiscopal priest who faithfully attend-ed our meetings was a genial, laid-back guy and glad to escape hot seat.)While I recall we drew a good crowdincluding a couple of lively agnostics,I can only remember two sure thingsabout the evening: one is that thePresbyterian guy had a beard and theother is his response to the question,“How can you explain terrible thingsthat happen in the world?”

I had just read the Grand Inquisi-tor chapter of “The Brothers Karamo-zov” and was interested to see wherehe would go with the answer. I wasalso interested because my comfortlevel with my friends’ confidence in afairly rigid Evangelical view of faithwas beginning to shift. At the sametime I was terrified of being left as acastaway to grapple alone with an in-

creasing number of questions and anemerging vision of what it could meanto be a Christian. So I listened to thePresbyterian intently.

He said something close to this: Acountless number of horrible thingshappen to people that we can’t ex-plain—no one disputes that. But theBible gives us a clue by fully explain-ing that God the Creator loved hu-mankind deeply enough to redeem usby the incarnation, death, and resur-rection of Jesus, the Son of God. Allthe details are there, all the explana-tion is there. It’s the most complexand most horrifying deal in all of his-tory, but God has seen fit to reveal itto us fully. A god who will explain anevent of such magnitude . . . one thatdemonstrates such abounding love forcreation . . . is a god who can be trust-ed with millions of things—thetragedies and the mysteries—we can’texplain in the world.

While I was disappointed with theanswer at the time, I’ve found that I’veremembered it for almost 25 years.The gifts are there. The child is born,and we know the how and why. WhileI miss the gift of reading to my sons,the closeness and the sweetness of it,their sharing of the books they readalone takes us to new places and be-stows its own gifts. I need to learn tolet old gifts go and new gifts emerge,but it’s not easy.

Hark, friends, and listen closely inthis New Year. Each day as you wakeremember what you know is true; re-member you are well-loved. Remem-ber it is worth the struggle to climbout of your cozy tent and into the newday to accept whatever’s out there.

Just ask Martin—he’ll tell you.

Churches…continued from page 11

ERD…continued from page 14

Keyhole…continued from page 12

The cathedral’s Emmanuel Chapel was the setting for Mission San Lucas’sVirgen de Guadalupe Festival, held December 15. This group in costumequeued up to process at the start of the service. (Photo by NancyMawhinney)

La Virgen de Guadalupe Festival

New diocesan e-mail addresses!

The “@diomaine.org” domain is dead!—please update your addressbook entries to “@episcopalmaine.org”

In this new year, how Iwish that we Episco-palians could focus onthe gifts so freely andlavishly given to each ofus by God: our capacityto love and our freedomto commit ourselves towhomever we choose; thethousands of opportuni-ties available to servethose without a voice inour society and in thewider world.These giftsare already ours, nomatter where GeneralConvention stands on thematter at any given timeor whether some amongus have chosen to leavethe church altogether.

NORTHEAST2-08.doc 1/21/08 9:24 AM Page 15

Page 16 February 2008

By David Grima, St. Peter’s,Rockland

My church is seeking a priest, and tothat end we all received a survey pre-pared by our discernment committee.One of the questions is an inquiryinto what we think about the currentstate of affairs in the EpiscopalChurch.

Again, this question arose latelyamong us when a member of the con-gregation expressed great distress atthe condition of our church, withU.S. dioceses planning to split off anddisassociate themselves, with theHouse of Bishops, and with the civilcourts being invoked over who pre-cisely owns what church real estate.The principal cause of this appears tome to be the question of ordaining gayclergy, and the matter of our bishops’attitudes toward gay parishioners. Thechurch is apparently splitting apartalong a great fault line that arises fromdifferent and fiercely held opinions onthis subject.

I have little comfort to offer here,if comfort is assumed to be the an-nouncement of a simple solution to allof this. Sometimes, I suppose, com-fort can only be reached after pushingon through hardships. Clearly, theprinciple agony in this situation is theall-too-public spectacle of our denom-ination crashing onto the unchartedrocks of doctrinal dissent, and appar-ently coming apart. It seems, perhaps,that the church, the body of Christ, isbeing torn asunder. But let us bear inmind that if doctrinal dissent spellsthe ruin of the body of Christ, thenthat precious body was long ago leftfor dead.

My first thoughts are that we havecome to think of it as somehow natur-al that those who call ourselves Chris-tians should be so organized that mostof us have little or nothing to do witheach other, even though we mightworship in the same city, town, andeven street as others who also claimmembership in the body of Christ.

We have little or no associationwith Baptists, with Congregational-ists, with Roman Catholics, nor theywith us. Only after much exercise ofcanonical bureaucracy did we estab-

lish some liturgical relationship withcertain kinds of Lutherans. Indeed,the long-established history of the or-ganized church is of peoples who wor-ship God while steadfastly having noassociation with each other. That ourown organized church should now bedividing itself into further groups whowill seek no communion with eachother is perhaps indicative, not of theshape of the future, but of the facts ofhistory that have brought us to thispresent point.

I suggest that what is happeningto the Episcopal Church now over theissues of gay ordinations and blessingsis, unfortunately, no more than an ex-treme and highly public version of atendency we have been far too com-fortable with down at the level of ourown congregations and towns formore years than any of us will care toremember.

It seems there are two stages to beconsidered in this, if we are to realizehow linked our own actions are withthe ones we apparently deplore in thebreaking-away of dioceses from theEpiscopal Church. First, put as can-didly as I know how, we have to faceup to the facts about the splits and di-visions in the one holy catholic churchof which we speak in the creed, splitsthat we have accepted and reinforcedhistorically, as have others.

There is something very odd inthe bland assumption that God’s chil-dren in Maine’s Episcopal congrega-tions should find themselves in specialcommunion, say, with Episcopal con-gregations in California and Virginia,but not at all with God’s people inother denominations in our ownstate’s towns and cities. But we haveinsisted it be so, as indeed have mostothers. And as a result, the limited re-sources of the people of God in indi-vidual communities are so divided upagainst each other as to be almost anembarrassment.

And yet we now find ourselveslamenting the breakup of this ratherartificial raft to which we have so longclung—pride in our denominationaldistinctiveness—while all around usin the same dangerous sea float ourneighbors who also love Christ butwho express their love in differentforms, and with whom we will have

little or nothing to do.To think that God prefers our di-

visions, and approves our apartnessfrom our other brethren, is someshame upon us. There is nothing newin my saying this, and of course at atechnical level we all regret the factthat the body of Christ is so riven withseparateness. Just don’t ask us to doanything practical about it, and we’llbe fine.

So much for the many divisionswithin the body of Christ in the world.What about those that exist within ourown denomination, with which wehappily play along day by day?

Let’s be utterly honest here aboutthis spirit of division within our owndenomination, let alone within thechurch as a whole. How many of usdrive by the door of one Episcopalchurch each Sunday in order to wor-ship at one we prefer, whose subtletake on faith we deem more tolerable,whose priest seems more amenable toour specific private tastes?

Blind to our own complicity in re-inforcing the divisions within our owndioceses, or feeling somehow excusedon the grounds of personal preference,how can we even begin to complainwhen the majority of a congregationor a diocese in the Episcopal Churchacts the same way? (Editor’s note: Todate, none of the individual churchesand dioceses engaged in removing them-selves from the Episcopal Church havebeen unanimous in their decisions: ineach, a contingent of parishioners orcongregations wishes to remain in theEpiscopal Church.)

One dares to wonder metaphori-cally which evil Christ might think tobe the lesser—the decision by far-flungdioceses across the Episcopal Churchto break off a communion that largelyexists only at an organizational level farabove that which most of us operate,or the established habit of Christ’s chil-dren within one single county—even asingle church—of never being in com-munion with each other?

One consequence of our cherrypicking among even local churches isthat many churches do not haveenough people living locally to be-come engaged in God’s work in theimmediate vicinity. Or the moversand shakers in a church live so far

off—in another town with its ownEpiscopal church to which they willnot belong—that it is impractical forthem to be involved in the communi-ty in which their commuter church ofchoice resides.

Now that congregations and dio-ceses in the Episcopal Church arecherry picking too, selecting thosewith whom they will associate basedupon doctrinal tastes and preferences,how can we condemn them whenmany of us have been doing likewisefor years?

If it seems I am pointing here to asimplistic error, and therefore to a sim-plistic solution, then I apologize forgiving that false impression. Theworldwide Anglican Communion,such as it is, was founded historicallyupon many things, one of them beinga tolerant grasp of the role that reason,scripture and tradition play in our per-sonal and collective spiritual lives. Thecomplexity and richness of our de-nomination’s past gives rise as much toour ability to learn and grow in Christas it gives rise to our tendency to makemistakes. The former, surely, is intend-ed to be corrective of the latter.

But if this article has any meaningto you, surely I hope it will provokereflection, and make us question if weare not being distracted by the head-line-grabbing news that implies cata-strophic happenings far afield, whileat the same time we might be over-looking things that could be donewith greater love, tolerance, and con-sideration in our own home churches,towns, and counties.

And if we do come to the conclu-sion that we, too, have been makingmistakes in the way we live and wor-ship—or do not live and worship—with our brothers and sisters in Christhere in our own communities, thenmay we admit as much and seek a bet-ter way ahead.

That is what is asked of us all, Ibelieve. Not that we should fling our-selves into the bear-trap of nationalclerical politics, neither that weshould bury our heads in the prover-bial sand, but that we should live herein our own parishes in fellowship withall so that we will give the lie to theappearance of yet further division inthe body of Christ. Amen.

Division in the body of Christ: a personal view

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 directlyon 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.

E-mail to northeast@episcopalmaine.org

or mail to: The Northeast

c/o 184 Mountain St.

Camden, ME 04843

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