AUBURN — The public is invited to an evening presentation on Community Chaplaincy at Beacon Hospice from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 20. The Rev. Sarah Shepley, a member of the core faculty of the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine (ChIME), will present.

It will be held in Suite 10A in the Beacon Hospice facility at 245 Center St.

Community chaplains serve in a variety of roles, providing a listening presence and spiritual grounding to nonprofit boards, environmental groups, hospitals and hospices, and more. Rev. Shepley recently served with a group of nursing students travelling to the Dominican Republic from USM. She will reflect on this trip and also discuss the ChIME program and answer questions.

ChIME is an open community committed to transformation of the self and planet earth through education, ordination, support, celebration and service. Is is an intensive two-to-three-year chaplaincy training program for those seeking to deepen their spiritual growth and discover their path of service in community.

Fully employed adults are able to participate in the ChIME program, because it takes place one evening a week and one weekend a month. In addition, volunteering to be a “listening presence” in a community organization is a key component of the ChIME training. Each student is committed to 150 hours of volunteer service each academic year. They serve in local faith communities, hospitals, detention facilities, shelters and nursing homes, as well as in street ministry, youth ministry and art and music ministries.

Throughout the academic year, ChIME also offers several weekend sessions that are open to the public for a modest fee. For example, on Sunday, April 6, ChIME is offering an all-day session with Benedectine Sister Anne McCarthy on “Christianity, the Sacraments, and Social Action.” For more information or to register, call 207-347-6740 or email admin@chimeofmaine.org.

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