The Portland New Church Is An Interfaith Community
The PNC is like a gathering place of many rivers.
We are fortunate to have a number of individuals and groups using the PNC building as a place of gathering. Though they are independently run and attended, the energy and love these people put into their offerings adds to making this a wonderfully diversified place of usefulness, creativity, and sacred community. Find below information on these offerings and visit our Calendar to see daily activities.
Portland New Church Services
On the 2nd Sunday of every month 9:30 - 10:30, our Portland New Church Service is led by Pastor Lorraine Kardash, consisting of music, prayer, reflection, and free-spirited communion.
All are welcome. Fellowship follows.
On the 4th Sunday of the month, we have an Art oriented gathering from 9:30~11:30. All materials supplied. No art experience necessary. Through a number of different mediums, we offer projects which help to explore our inner selves, and appreciate the creative soul. For more information, contact Lorraine by email:
maineportlandnewchurch@gmail.com
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*Currently, 4th Sunday offerings are on hold for the summer, but start again in September.*
The Chaplaincy Institute of Maine (ChIME) is a community of compassionate learning and service.
With 20 years of experience educating and ordaining interfaith leaders in New England and beyond, ChIME is an institution dedicated to serving communities by offering a opportunities for individuals to explore what it means to live with Integrity, Spiritual Presence and Prophetic Voice.
During a 2-3 year program of study, service, and community, the Interfaith Ministry program educates and ordains Interfaith Ministers, also known as community chaplains. The Clinical Pastoral Training Program (CPTCSM) provides spiritual care providers with opportunities for further developing chaplaincy skills. In addition to these core programs, ChIME offers a variety of workshops, Open Houses, and Interfaith Gatherings to invite the public to join us in exploring and connecting with the world in a deep and meaningful way.
For more information, visit https://www.chimeofmaine.org/ or email
Namory Keita, Master Village Drummer
Drum Class / All levels
5:30-6:30 Monday evenings
Portland New Church
603 831 9609
Namory Keita, Master Drummer, is a sought after teacher and performer with a unique style and a wealth of traditional knowledge very rare to find outside the villages of Guinea. His resources include not only his wonderful ability to engage any audience but also his relationships with dancers and drummers locally and around the world.
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Visit his site:
KMC Boston – Portland, Maine Branch
The Maine branch of Kadampa Meditation Center Boston aims to make meditation classes as accessible as possible, holding weekly classes on meditation and modern Buddhism that are open to everyone regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, or faith. You don’t have to be a Buddhist to learn how to meditate or to benefit from it. We wish to inspire and empower people to reach their full spiritual potential, in order to be of greatest benefit to their family and friends and, by developing inner peace, be active contributors to world peace.
We hold weekly, drop-in meditation classes at Portland New Church on Wednesdays at 6:15pm with our Portland-based teacher Clare Morin, and workshops on Saturdays, often with our resident teacher from Boston, Gen Kelsang Khedrub. Everyone is welcome! More info: www.MeditationInMaine.org
Marita Kennedy-Castro - Movement & Dance
Free *Your* Movement, Private Individualized Movement Lessons with Marita Kennedy-Castro.
Guided, embodied-movement lessons assist you in accessing greater connection to your own authentic movement exploration, somatic awareness practice and freedom of physical expression.
For details & appointment contact Marita: https://embodytherhythm.com
Traditional Dance of Guinea, West Africa with Marita Kennedy-Castro.
Learn foundational movements, cultural and historical context, style and choreography of Guinean traditional dance in this upbeat dance class for Beginners, honoring the source and original teachers of this form. Fridays 9:00-10:15am
Details: https://embodytherhythm.com
Salon Es
Salon Es comes as an assertion of the need of community among the local artists that might not have the place, space and people to share their work with. In these Salons, ALL of us, trained, self-taught and the curious, have a chance to present Visual and Performing Arts in whatever state these might be to a very supportive audience, along with conversation about each and everyone's work and Art in general.
Preferred ages from 18+. $5.00 donation at the door. danzon2002@yahoo.com
Led by Esduardo Mariscal, Choreographer, Teacher, Visual Artist.
WholeHeart Yoga Center
Mindful and gentle yoga honoring the heart and wholeness of yoga. Our studio is mostly online now, with our Monday morning class both online and in PNC space. We also hold outdoor yoga events in spring and fall.
Find more at https://wholeheartyoga.com
Circe Moss MacDonald’s business is Ritual Lab: Ceremonies for People and Planet, offering ceremonies and rituals to support spiritual well-being in the community; all ages and backgrounds welcome. We sing, express gratitude, play, reflect, grieve, and transform together. Ritual Lab is for folks who yearn for more connection in their lives.
An Eco-Chaplain, Water Priestess, and Ceremonialist, Circe regularly conducts seasonal ceremonies at The Portland New Church, the University of Southern Maine, and around the Mid Coast region to celebrate nature and help people metabolize grief about climate change, based on teachings of the StarHouse and the work of Joanna Macy and Matthew Fox.
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Having earned two ordinations; the first as a Transdenominational Minister at The StarHouse in Boulder, Colorado in 2003; the second as an Interfaith Chaplain from The Chaplaincy Institute of Maine in 2019, Circe has been conducting wedding ceremonies, memorial services, and rites for passage for 20+ years. Contact Circe here.
Circe is also a massage therapist, offering bodywork at Arcana in downtown Portland, and a puppeteer in the Mayo Street Arts community.
Maine Sacred Harp Singing Group
The Maine Sacred Harp singing group meets at PNC on the 2nd and 4th Sunday afternoons most months, from 2-5pm. We gather to sing in 4-part harmony from traditional shape-note tunebooks. Since this is a system of music notation originally created to teach the musically illiterate to sight-read music, it is perfect for beginners as well as experienced singers, and we welcome all. It is participatory rather than performance-based, and anyone who is curious is encouraged to come, listen, and try it out. Any questions? Email us at: sksandberg@gmail.com
Rev. Todd Glacy - Sacred Sound and Living
My primary passion is the exploration of music and sound as a medium for inner and outer spiritual work, creative expression, and community building.
As a facilitator I have offered a variety of events and workshops at PNC including: Gong Journeywork, Community Kirtan, Ocean of Om, Ecstatic Dance, Community Drum Circles and Electronic Multi-Media immersions (to name but a few).
Rev.Todd Glacy
207-229-9965
Supporting LIfe's Journey
Open Studio session runs on Fridays from October 6th until November 3rd, 10 am-12 pm. For those with previous experience in a medium of choice and would like the freedom of working on your own project while receiving one-on-one supportive feedback and demos as needed. Perhaps you want to fine-tune a particular aspect of a landscape painting or break new territory with an abstract composition. This class will open new doors in developing your unique creative path.
Each class will begin with a short meditation for heightening awareness while minimizing inhibitions associated with the creative process.
For further info., including all group classes in oil, watercolor, pastel, and charcoal, and inquiries about future classes at The New Church, please visit:
https://www.christopherdreed.com/group-classes
Private drawing and painting lessons are also available for the beginner, intermediate, or advanced level. For more info. to book a time at The New Church, please visit:
The Witches of Downeast
~ only hosts events for members at this time
The June date is the Maine Heathen/Pagan Potluck Moot
Gather for fellowship and food for the Maine Heathen and Pagan Community
Donation of $3-5
4:00 Gather 4:30 Blot/Ritual 5:00 Feasting
FMI email: janinemarie333@gmail.com