An Appeal from the Bishop

Advent is a special time for Province 1 Bishops. From November 27 through December 1, I join the Bishops of Province One (New England) for our annual Advent retreat. Some years we have taken the classical “get away and be still” experience. Other years, we have joined together on a service project (I framed windows during our last Habitat for Humanity project). This year, we go to New Orleans to work in the relief effort. We will live in dorms, cooking our own food, working long days in the still-devastated areas, sliding into sleeping bags for a night’s rest. I need your help in two ways: 1) Most importantly, support your bishops with prayer. 2) Secondly, purchase a gift card from Wal-Mart (amounts from $10 up are available) and mail it to me directly (143 State Street, Portland 04101). Gift cards help urgent needs for clothing, food and household items. I want to carry gift cards with me, to pass out as seems most helpful and prudent; I’ll put a small sticker on each card reading “With prayers from your sisters and brothers in the Diocese of Maine”. If you’d prefer, a donation to the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund (memo line: New Orleans) will be added to the check I plan to give them as we leave. Yours in Christ, + Chilton