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News from Around the Province

Fri, 01/27/2012 - 6:41pm | administrator

Diocesan Convention Dates:

Oct 25-26 Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut Stamford Marriott, Stamford, CT

Oct 25-26, Episcopal Diocese of Maine Lookout Point, Northport, ME

Oct 26-27 Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts (events calendar) Chez Joseph, Agawam, MA

Nov 2 Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts Cathedral church of St Paul, Boston

Nov 1-2 Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire Grappone Center, Concord

Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island

Nov 8-9 Episcopal Church of Vermont Cathedral Church of St Paul, Burlington

June 21-July 2 Deep Waters: Men's Wilderness Canoe Journey (Open to Men, ages 18-30)

This 12-day wilderness journey will take us through some of the most wild and gorgeous waterways of the Eastern United States, along numerous remote Maine lakes and into the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. We will spend our days on the water, settling into the timeless rhythm of paddling across vast expanses of the North Woods and learning many of the 'old ways', the wilderness skills known and cherished by traditional Northern cultures. This trip will be an opportunity for us as men to grow together and individually into the strongest, best versions of ourselves.

Most evenings, around the campfire, we'll explore classical understandings of mature, vital manhood, and how to live a life of purpose, power and passion in response to the great needs of the world in our time. Topics will include: men and nature, vocation and following your soul's deepest calling, embodiment and embracing instinctual energies, asceticism, spiritual disciplines, and spiritual growth, and cultivating authentic relationships. We will include some practical training in practicing classic ascetical and spiritual disciplines including prayer, meditation, fasting and physical conditioning. Website for more information.

August 2-12 Nature And Spiritual Transformation (Open to everyone)

This 11-day journey in the eastern portion of New York's Adirondack Park near Lake George is a comprehensive, experiential encounter with the power of the natural world to facilitate spiritual growth. While drawing on insights from other spiritual traditions, our focus will be on the role of nature and wilderness as experienced in the Christian monastic and contemplative traditions as a doorway into transformed relationship with God. Participants will experience first-hand powerful exercises and practices for entering into deeper relationship with both Creator and Creation. This program is open to any person with an established spiritual discipline, and is designed especially for pastors, retreat leaders, counselors, spiritual directors, and others who seek to support and guide others in deepening their interior lives.

Following several days of training, participants will build a shelter using natural materials, and then participate in a three-day solo patterned around an inner participation in the Paschal Mystery - the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This time of intensive prayer and optional fasting is a powerful opportunity to enter into the willing death of old aspects of the self that no longer serve us, and to open to the emergence of a life of increased inner freedom and deeper union with God.

Website for more information.

Episcopal Diocese of New Hamphire initiates search for Canon for Mission Resources. Click to see Job Description.

Mission is Message!

Seven Criteria for Mission (as adopted by Maine Diocesan Convention on October 23, 2011)

Diocesan resources will support program/ministry efforts that are Christ-centered and Gospel-oriented.
Diocesan resources will support program/ministry efforts that collaborate with other churches, communities and affinity groups and demonstrate a willingness to share personnel and resources.
Diocesan resources will support those program/ministry efforts led by those who can demonstrate their experience as well as passion for their particular ministry
Diocesan resources will support program/ministry efforts with evaluation processes in place and those that can articulate a plan to achieve sustainability.
Diocesan resources will support program/ministry efforts whose leaders are willing to share their successes and best practices as well as failures with other congregations or collaborative groups that wish to replicate their work in other parts of the Diocese.
Diocesan resources will support program/ministry efforts that demonstrate a willingness to move from a centralized approach to ones that will involve and benefit a wide range and number of people within the diocese and beyond.
Diocesan resources will support program/ministry efforts that demonstrate the values of transparency, equity, fairness and collaboration.

The Province 1 Energy Stewardship Minister, the Rev Stephanie Johnson, has been busy! Check out the new Energy Stewardship web page (click here or use the "drop down menu" under Ministry Networks on the red bar above) and learn about the "Turn of the Light for God's Sake" campaign currently underway.