Morning Sentinel from Waterville, Maine • 26

lliW '4 4 7 twh 7 4 '4 4 4 D2 Saturday August 7 2004 Religion Central Maine Newspapers Briefs Church plans special service VASSALBORO The annual Homecoming Sunday worship service will be at 11 am Sunday at the Riverside Congregational Church The Rev David Gluker min ister from 1985 to 2003 of irst Radio Parish Church of America will deliver the message Lawrence Merckens pastor will lead the worship A compli mentary luncheon at the church prepared by the ellow ship will follow the service White plans Sunday concert MADISON Brad White singer saxophonist and pianist will perform at 6 pm Sunday at Calvary Pentecostal Church White formerly of the James Blackwood Quartet will perform a wide array of Christian music All are invited to attend this event The church is located at 160 Old Point Ave Campbell to play Canaan show CANAAN The Campbells will perform at 6 pm Aug 15 at the Canaan Calvary Church The Campbells are a full time gospel ministry from Maine They tour throughout the United States and Canada Bible program starts Monday REEDOM reedom Con gregational Church will be pre senting the vacation Bible school from 9 to 11:30 am Monday through riday All ages are welcome Call 382 4003 for more information Compiled from staff reports More Episcopal dioceses blessing gay couples MW The Associated Press Episcopal Bishop John Bryson Chane stands on the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral on July 26 in Washing ton DC In June Chane conducted the first ceremony for gay partners using his new liturgy By RACHEL ZOLL AP Religion Writer A vote last year that seemed like a defeat for gays in the Epis copal Church has in a twist led to an increasing number of dioceses developing just what advocates wanted official services for same sex unions At the tumultuous Episcopal national convention a year ago this week bishops gutted a mea sure that would have authorized drafting a liturgy blessing gay partnerships But at least six dioceses have interpreted even the watered down legislation that eventually passed as a go ahead to develop services or policies for blessing same gender couples saying lan guage in the resolution encour aged formalizing the ceremonies in local parishes Several bishops had argued the measure was simply an acknowl edgment that some parishes were already conducting the cere monies even though the church settled the question of whether the Bible bans gay sex But many other Episcopalians disagreed pointing to a key sec tion which recognized that faith communities are operating within the bounds of our common life as they explore and experi ence liturgies celebrating and blessing same sex in many other dioceses there had been blessings of unions done secretively or said the Rev Daniel Webster spokesman for the Diocese of Utah which in May ap proved three different liturgies for same sex ceremonies this said and what the action of the Gen eral Convention allowed was to do this in the The Rev Kendall Harmon the ologian for the conservative Dio cese of South Carolina among traditionalists who predict ed a year ago that the measure known as U051 would lead to more same sex blessing cere monies despite what some bish ops said He accused Episcopal bad more incremental move ment toward a revision of the sexual The Rev Kendall Harmon leaders of playing down the im port of the legislation to mask its real intent had more incremental movement toward a revision of the sexual Harmon said actually happened is changed our teaching just wish be honest about Among the other US dioceses moving forward with the services or developing liturgies based on the resolution are Vermont Wash ington DC North Carolina Long Island and Massachusetts where the highest court declared gay marriage legal The ceremonies are not weddings but still offer a blessing to the couple from within the church Some additional dioceses in cluding Delaware and New Hamp shire had authorized same gen der blessings before last convention Disagreement over the mea sure has implications beyond the denomination and could fuel a growing split with its sister churches in the global Anglican Communion Many Anglican leaders have condemned the American church for last year consecrating Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hamp shire who lives openly with his male partner These leaders called primates have also sepa rated themselves from an Angli can diocese in Canada that autho rized same gender ceremonies An Anglican commission is study ing how to keep the 77 million member communion unified Episcopal leaders say there was no hidden intent to the resolution Competing interpretations of church rules unusual and stem from how the denomination operates they say The Episcopal Church has no central authority so many policies are set through legislation at the General Convention where bish ops clergy and lay people gather every three years to vote If a measure is ambiguous delegates return home with their own view of what it means always going to have people who are going to interpret legislation conceivably in a differ ent said Bishop John Chane of Washington DC who in June conducted the first ceremony for gay partners using his new liturgy believe that con sensus is ultimately the way in which we live in a community of faith really limits the power of the Holy The Diocese of Vermont which developed its new liturgy in June had already been conducting gay blessings in response to the 2000 Vermont law making the state the first to legalfy recognize civil unions However Bishop Thomas Ely would not have formalized the ser vice without last church legislation on the issue according to his spokeswoman Anne Clarke Brown resolution did have an Brown said felt that if we had that resolu tion he might have been more Episcopal conservatives com tend that although dioceses are permitted to adapt some church teaching locally they cannot alter core issues of faith which tradi tionalists say include prohibitions on gay sex And they argue that overseas Anglican leaders threatening tQ split from the US church will see the new diocesan liturgies as am other justification for a perma nent break Said Harmon: have a col lision J4 I A dtftw Christian I i 4' Academy 416 2093 wwwrlveroffifecrccom Solid Rock Baptist Church 4 A Place to Call 66 Ridge Rd WM 'Pastor Kent Sexton 877 9500 Sunday 1 'Nmunrom mi iiimuiMMia iiM'SwreMMrir Thursday CBC Teens 6:30 8:30 pm Wednesday Prase and Prayer 630 pm Nursery Available Handicap Accessible Worship 8 30 am and 9 30 am Nursery care provided during 8:30 Sendee airfield irst Baptist Elm and Newhall Streets Worship Sunday 930 am Sun Evening Service 6 pm Weds Eve Bible Study 6 pm Shawmut Chapel Bray Ave Shawmut 453 0036 Sunday Service 9 am Bible StudyPrayer Meeting Wed 7 pm Pastor Stephen Donahue Madson Spiritualist Camp Madson BE On the Comer of Beach Rd and Salmon Rd Open July 11 Aug 22 Daily ServiceWEvento Programs at Camp or Cal 474 2552 tor Into Central Maine Christian Center 202 Norridgewock Ave Skowhegan Sunday Message 10:30 am and 6:30 pm All Souls Universalist Church' 27 Church Street Oakland Services and Church School 10 AM Reverends: Scott Jones and Don Hinckley "i Smithfield Baptist Rte 137 Head of North Pond Sunday Morning Worship 1 0 am Sunday School 8 50 am Pre school through Adult Sunday Bible Study 6 pm' ABCJUSA Oakland Baptist Church Street Oakland 465 7828 9 30 am amily Worship School 9:30 a Worship Service 10:30 am Sunday Evening Service 6:00 pm Thursday Prayer Meeting 8:30 pm irst Congregational Church River Road Norridgewock Worship Service 10:30 am ti Rev Russel Lane Brown Memorial United Methodist Church 13 Church St Clinton 426 9519 Sunday Worship 1000 Handicapped accessible Nancy DePoe Pastor Skowhegan ederated Church Congregational and American Baptist 1 Island Avenue 474 2776 Worship Service 10 am hour to follow VassaSrotoMtedMethaMt Church Rte 32 North Vassaboro 873 5664 Sunday Saric to MuCtwdi School team Pastor Gray Hmm Blessed Hope Church 10 Pleasant Street Waterville Sun Worship 9:30 am KidZone at 9:30 wwwblessedhopechurch org DrTlmothy Setzer Pastor jj HOPEULL MinistriesWinslow Baptist Church 1 Hopeful Dr Rte 201 873 0531 Sun Worship 9 am' Sunday School 10:30 am Nursery Provided wwwhopeful org China Baptist Church Chma Village Worshlp93OAM Waterville irst Baptist Elm and Park Streets Worship 9:30 am Korean Service at 11 :00 am Immacuiata Heart of Mary High Street airfield Saturday Evening Mass at 4:30 pm Sunday Mornmg Mass at J30 am Stmday Evening Mass at 6 00 pm St Episcopal 60 Eustis Parkway Waterville Sunday Holy Eucharist 8:00 and 9:30 am" Nursery avail Holy Euchanst Wada 10 am Rector: Hie Rev Susan Larimer' aith One loving God one unfolding religion one human family 872 7972 Norridgewock Community Baptist Gtaacfa or PtopW Man Street Norridgewock Sunday Worship 1030 am EVentog Services 6 pm Living Water Community Church Services held in Champions fitness Ekn Plaza WM 872 9890 Sunday 10 am 8:45 am Sunday School tor al Ages Wada Seracs 6 pm aomehng far al agei Nuraery shL mnunakiebcorgWn9 wator Second Baptist Church 172 Water St Waterville Sun Services Warn and 6 pm Sunday School 9 00 a it Weds Bible Study and Prayer Meeting 7 PM United Baptist Church of Madison 43 Maple Street Madison 1000 a Worship Service Wednesday Prayer and Bible 'Study at 6 30 pm Rev Dan Curtis Handicap accessible Nursery Provided 5 Vnkm Church otBelgratie Lakes UMC RevWdliamPMeyerPator Sundays 930 Worship Sendee Ntnetv 945 Church School Universalist Unitarian Church Comer of Elm and Silver Streets WatervUe Worship Service 9 30 am Religious Ed Classes and Nursery Rev Severn Towl 873 4006 wtvlorg Grace ellowship 60 West River Rd Waterville Jt 872 Sunday Worship 9 30 am Children's Church 10:00 am Temple AcademyWee Count Notre Dame de Lourdes 273 Water Street Skowhegan? Saturday at 4'30 Sunday 9 30 am Confessions 330 Parish of the Holy Spirit Waterville 872 2281 Notre Dame Silver St Sat 4 prnjSun 10:30 am 9 Rands Elm SI Sat 5 30 pm Sun 8:30 am Sacred Heart Pleasant St Sun 7:30 and 9:30 am' St Bridget's Church Main Street North Vassalboro Sunday Mass 9 00 a St John The Baptist 47 Monument St Winslow Rati irriau nt A Art Vs West Sidney Baptist Church 51 Pond Rd (Route 23) Sunday Services 1 1 :00 am and 6:00 pm Wed Prayer Meeting 7:00 pm Pastor Donald Woodman Sunday Worship 11 00 am Women's Ministry Tuea 6:30 nm I Bible Studies Thura 11 am 1 airfield United Methodist Church Intersection of Rte 201 and 1 95 iSunday School 9:45 AM Adult School 10 AM United Methodist Church 20 West School St Worship and Church School 900 AM 1 The Rev Laurel Brown 465 3222 Nursery Available Main St and Weston Ave Madison Sun Worship 900 am Sun School 9:00 am AdiSt Bible Study Thure 6 30 pm Handfcapped Accessible Pastor Nathan Richards 695929 Sunday School Al Ages 920 am Winslor Congregational Church UCC 26 Ltorgow St Winslow on toe Kennebec MOAMAdutBUeStody 1000 AM Church School Morning Worship 1 0SO Nursery Avail St Peters Rte 32 China WiU NOT open this Season St Sebastian 149 Main Street Madison Sunday Mass at 9:00 am St Church 25 Church St Oakland Masses Saturday 4 pm Sunday 7:30 am and 1 1 :00 am Sat Confession 3 30 3 50 ttrfrtlin Rtfofmw I Beth Israel Synagogue 291 Main Street Waterville River of Life Christian ellowship (207)872 7551 (207)873 7413 10 am Service al Athene Mountaintop Christian ellowship 191 High Street Oakland Phone and ax (207) 465 3544 email mtntop9prexarcom Sunday Service 9 30 AM Home Cell Groups Weds 630 PM Nursery Available Handicap Accessible i Pastors Richard and Unda Brink baturaay at 4 uu 1 Sunday fit ft CXI a and Ito AM wi St Joseph Maronite All Saints Episcopal Church Catholic Church Malbons Mills Road Skowhegan ront Street Waterville Sunday 10 AM Holy Euchanst with Catnrdau Maae at nn i Sunday School Nursery Available Saturday Mass at 400 474 2629 Rev Lev Sherman St Helena Rte 27 Belgrade 1 Sat Mass 7 pm Sun Mass 9 and 10:30 am Sidney Second Baptist Church 3022 River Rd (Rte 104) Sidney 547 3376 10 AM Sunday Services Pastor Philip Watkins North airfield riends Rt 104 airfield' Sun Service 1 1:00 am 12:00 pm' 4' EmalfumcOowf net i Web: wwwhowsnat04M7liimn Kennebec Valley Baptist Church Marston Rd Watervfls Sunday School 945 am Worship 1 1 am and 6 pm Wednesday AdUtBUe Study 12 Youth Programs 6:45 pm Deaf Mnlstry and Nursery Sevres provided Rev Karin Grant Pastor 672 7021 of Are A Pentecostal Church of aith Inc 34 Sanger Ave 1 Sunday Worship 11 am and 7 pm i Pastor John enlason 465 7968 WEaamiywhw Rfisiirraptmn 36 Cool Street Waterville 872 5208 Worship 900 am Staffed Nursery Visitors Welcome wwwhomegwlnet lcr7 i Norridgemck SsmdHiayJUmhd Chwcb MethorSst Qmh if Upper Maine Street Norridgewock 634 5054 aaafSlreslWbtonile6727584 Sat Sabbath School 9 30 Worship Sendee 1045 i Wed Prayer Meeting 6:30 PM Book of Romans aith Evangelical ree Church 250 Kennedy Memorial Drive Waterville Sun Worship 8 30 am and 1 030 am Pastor Biff Cripe 1 airfield Church of the Nazarene 81 Main Street 453 7436 Worship 10:45 am and 6:00 pjnU'v irst Congregational Church UCC 77m 7 Eustis Parkway Waterville PastorDaveGiles fr Sunday Worship at 830 and 10 00 am Nursery aval at 10:00 am sanrice Church School at 9:45 am Handcapped Accessible Rev Dr David Anderman Rev Dr ASce Anderman MmSsoo Congregational Church UCC Crossroads Bible Church rrwuvng unnst or me uross noaos or me Jts Rte 201 and 148 Madson 474 7178 Worship Getchell St Baptist Worship Serv and Junior Church 9:30 am Wed Prayer Meeting 6:30 pm Pastor Ronald Corey 872 6047 Trinity Evangelical ree Church 12 McClellan St Skowhegan 474 8833 email: trinltyefmidmalnecom Sat Contemporary Sent 6 Sun School 2 all ages 9:30 am Sun amily Worship Setv 10:45 am Sun Evenly Serv6 pm Weds Evening Prayer Meeting 7 pm Nursery Available Handicap Accessible Pastor Richard Berry "'102 Ridge Road WatervWe 873 3054 Sat Worship Service 930 Sabbath School 1 0:45 Wednesday Prayer Meeting 7 pm Christian Science Society 5 School Street Waterville Service Sunday 10 AM Wednesday Meeting 7 pm Reading Room Before and Alter Services airfield Center United Methodist Church Worship Sundays 9 a Nursery Available Pastor: Kristen Bfom gay cwsl Wai 5 51 wjr jr 5 L73 Well tar SMtotmrveiTi i'miniisrrei nmv wwwamw I i "HA ViilillflniilMiGlilBii MiMHiwiiilMaiii'li liilOiiiiiiitofaAsiiiiwfailalwJ'qa ewZli Alt ui" iai 'Al 1 A 4 ai rvutvd vuiv Main street rh OR INORMATION AND RATES ON YOUR WORSHIP LISTING CALL: 861 9203 OR 1 800 452 4666 EXT 203 JOAN ALLEE gs.