Dear Friends,

As I prepare for our move to Maine, I wanted to share with those of you who could not be at our Coffee Hour conversation some thoughts about what I will be doing once we arrive there.

First and foremost, I will be helping us to get settled. While arrangements have not been finalized, it looks as if we will be moving in early April to a new home in Portland (Thomas begins his work on May 1). Those of you who have moved households in the past know how challenging, and exciting that can be. When plans come to fruition, I will let you know of our new address and contact information.

I very much want to be present with Thomas as he begins his ministry as the tenth bishop of Maine. He will make his first visitation to a parish – St. Mark’s in Waterville – on June 23, the day after his consecration. We have both already experienced warm welcomes and an eagerness to get to know us as we get established there.

As for my own ministry, I want to be open to working again in a parish. That may take the form initially of supply preaching, perhaps interim work, or a more lasting relationship with one parish. If I do work for an Episcopal church within the diocese, I would have another bishop from an adjacent diocese who would be assigned to have oversight over me.

I also want to be open to ministries beyond a local parish, and am eager to see what possibilities might emerge for me. In my prayer, life, I have been made aware of the need to simply “be open” to what it is that God is doing in my life in this new chapter of it.

I also shared last Sunday a little bit about the Diocese of Maine. It is comprised of 60 parishes and 18 summer chapels. The bishop is required to make a visitation to each parish at least once every two years. The diocese was originally part of the Diocese of Massachusetts, but became independent in 1820, when Maine became a state separate from Massachusetts.

The diocesan cathedral, St. Luke’s, is located in downtown Portland, and the diocesan offices are adjacent to the cathedral in Loring House. St. Luke’s was the first cathedral in the American church to have been designed and built as a cathedral.

The consecration of every bishop in Maine except the first has been held at the cathedral, and Thomas’ service of consecration will be held there as well. Though the cathedral is large, because of anticipated numbers, tickets will be required. I will keep you informed if any tickets do become available. The service will also be live streamed, and many parishes in Maine will be planning gatherings in their local churches to watch the service together.

I hope this answers at least a few of your questions. I know I will have many more myself, to be answered in the living out of our lives in the months ahead. I do know that we will be going to Maine with the prayers of many surrounding us, and for that I am grateful.

Faithfully,

Tom