A Reflection from the Rev. George Stevens on the Violence in the Holy Land

The E-Pistle of Thursday

October 12th, 2023

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A Weekly Reflection from the Rev. George Stevens, Interim Dean

Dear Friends-

News of the horrifying violence in the Middle East has consumed my thoughts this week.

In thinking about why I’m so unsettled by the violence, I remembered what theologian and writer Frederick Buechner said in his book The Magnificent Defeat about how we are connected to one another. He says, “Your life and my life flow into each other as wave flows into wave, and unless there is peace and joy and freedom for you, there can be no real peace or joy or freedom for me.”

In some way deeper than we can understand, our lives are tied together. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul describes this interrelationship that we have with each other as ‘many parts of the same body.’ I believe that this extends beyond geography, religion, or any other boundary we might impose to separate ourselves from others. In this way, the pain and suffering of others is ours too.

Let us ask God to grant peace and joy and freedom for others and in doing so, find it in ourselves.

See you Sunday-

George

Published by the Episcopal Diocese of Maine

11 October 2023

The Episcopal Church in Maine joins our voice with people of other faiths, and no faiths, to lament and denounce the violence in the Holy Land.

We condemn Hamas’s heinous attack against Israel and innocent civilians
We pray for an end to this senseless and inhumane violence
We pray for leaders throughout the world to work together so that there is peace between Israel and Palestine

Because of the Prince of Peace, I am faithfully yours,

The Right Reverend Thomas J. Brown

Bishop of Maine

A Prayer from the Archbishop of Jerusalem: Hosam Naoum

O God of all justice and peace we cry out to you in the midst of the pain and trauma of violence and fear which prevails in the Holy Land.

Be with those who need you in these days of suffering; we pray for people of all faiths - Jews, Muslims and Christians and for all people of the land.

While we pray to you, O Lord, for an end to violence and the establishment of peace, we also call for you to bring justice and equity to the peoples. Guide us into your kingdom where all people are treated with dignity and honour as your children for, to all of us, you are our Heavenly Father.

In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen.

Community Announcements

Please Host a Diocesan Choir Participant Fri. 10/20 to Sat. 10/21.

Some members of the diocese will be coming to the cathedral to sing for Diocesan Convocation and are looking for a place to sleep following a Friday evening rehearsal.

Requirements are minimal, as they will only be with you from 9 PM Friday until about 8 AM Saturday. Please contact Canon for Liturgy & Music, Christian Clough you are available to help. Thank you!

Come to Convocation at the Cathedral on October 21

published by the Episcopal Diocese of Maine

What is Convocation? Convocation is a diocese-wide time to celebrate being “Together: With God, In Call, For Mission”!

The celebration will take place at the Cathedral of St. Luke on Saturday, October 21.

THIS IS FOR THE WHOLE DIOCESE and is not limited to clergy and delegates to convention.

From 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. there will be time for fellowship and learning about diocesan ministries while you enjoy morning refreshments. Eucharist will begin at 10:30 a.m., and we expect it will conclude by noon. Find details here.

The Celebratory Eucharist will feature a Diocesan Choir. (You can sign up to sing in the choir here.)

Bishop Brown's sermon will also be his annual convention address and will share highlights from the Diocesan Listening Sessions held in the spring.

Registration is free and open now! To help us plan, please let us know if you are coming, how many people you plan to bring, and if you need childcare by October 15.

Reminder: Help Assemble Stewardship Materials Tomorrow at 1:00 PM

This Friday, October 13th at 1:00PM we will be stuffing our stewardship mailing materials in the Upper Hall.

We are looking for volunteers who would be able to assist in making this a smooth process to start our 2024 Stewardship Season.

If you are able to help please contact parish administrator Avery Schott.

Tea/ Coffee & cookies will be available to all who come to help!

Thank you for your help!

Holiday Fair Update

The Cathedral’s 2023 Holiday Fair will be held on Saturday, November 11 in conjunction with Portland’s annual State Street Stroll. We have recruited 16 volunteers to date to help make the Fair a success. So far, we have people to help organize and operate these tables: Hand-Made Gifts, Vintage Linens, Nativity and Winter Home items, Live Music, Jewelry, Attic Treasures, Jams and Jellies, Toys & Games, and Hot Beverages and Baked Goods.

We urgently need:

-A coordinating team

-Volunteers who are flexible to assist where most needed on November 11

-Donations of items to help support the Fair in the categories listed above.

Please email Senior Warden Sam Allen to volunteer your time/expertise: smallen@mit.edu

We will be set up to receive donated items for the fair beginning Monday, October 16. There will be labeled bins in the lower portico for donations.

Please note that we will not be accepting donations of books and furniture.

Celebration of the ministry of The Rev. Anne Fowler

& the work of former Junior Warden Claire Hammen

to Occur on Sunday October 22nd

On October 22nd, the cathedral community will recognize the ministry of The Rev. Anne C. Fowler at the cathedral during the interim period in clergy leadership.

The Rev. Fowler will be transitioning away from her role as assisting clergy at the cathedral and returning as a parishioner.

Furthermore, the cathedral community will recognize the work of former junior warden, Claire Hammen, for her numerous years of dedicated leadership.

Please join us on October 22nd as we thank both the Rev. Fowler & Claire Hammen for their service to the cathedral.

The Coffee Hour following the 10:00AM service will be held to celebrate the work of both Claire Hammen and the Rev. Fowler.

St. Elizabeth's Pantry Coat Drive

As we gear up for colder temperatures, St. Elizabeth’s is launching its annual coat and boot drive. Many of our neighbors come from warmer climates and don’t have the necessary clothing for fall and winter in Maine.

Large and Extra-Large sized coats for both men and women are most needed, but coats and boots of all sizes are welcome. Items should be in clean, good condition.

Monetary donations may also be made for the purchase of new coats and boots for our neighbors.

Financial contributions can be mailed to: St. Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center PO Box 4036 Portland, ME 04101 or visit here.

St. Elizabeth's Pantry to Host Benefit Concert on November 18th

at Trinity Episcopal Church in Portland

St. Elizabeth's Essentials Pantry -

Looking for Housing for a Volunteer

Bernardo is a loyal volunteer at the Pantry and needs a 1 bedroom or studio apartment, or a room in a house to rent. He speaks very good English and is an asylum seeker from Angola where he taught physics and math.

He is also a petroleum engineer. General Assistance will pay his rent (about $1,200/month) until he gets his work permit and a job.

He is responsible, hard working, and happy to help out with yard work or chores around the house if applicable.

Please contact Anne Jacobs for more information.

Seeking Input for the Sunday 5:15 pm Service

We are seeking input from parishioners interested in restarting the Sunday 5:15 pm service in the chapel.

A working group is forming to explore how we might form this service, possibly using lay leadership.

One option is to launch a time limited series of 5:15 services starting in the Sundays following Epiphany, and reassess whether continuing into the new year is feasible.

We are hoping this group will consider options, ask questions and explore ideas together on how to proceed. If you have thoughts or are interested in joining in, please contact Tim Wilkins.

St. Luke's Food Pantry in Need of Contributions

The Food Pantry welcomes your contributions of oil, flour, and dried beans!

These continue to be the most wanted items and and the most difficult for us to keep in stock.

Donations can be dropped off at any service or at the Cathedral's rear entrance. Thank you! Both neighbors and volunteers are grateful for your support!

With any questions please contact Mary Brighthaupt.

Environmental Action Tip from St. Luke’s Public Policy & Environmental Action Team (PPEAT)

The Lambeth Call on the Environment and Sustainable Development provides a theological rationale for why creation care is a global mission imperative. It also outlines some bold commitments in tackling the environmental crisis, including just financing, community resilience building, advocacy, biodiversity restoration and promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Visit here for more information.

Linda Carleton Book Discussion Rescheduled for This Sunday

A discussion with Linda Carleton regarding any topics from her recent memoir, "All God, If God There Be" has been rescheduled for this Sunday, October 15th from 11:45AM-1:00PM in the Chapter Room.

For more information, contact Linda Carleton.

…and especially tenors! Contribute to CSL’s music ministry:

The choir could really use a couple more tenor voices (and others are still welcome, too)! If you fit the bill (or aren’t sure), please drop in on a choir rehearsal (Thursday 7PM or Sunday 8:45AM) and check it out!

Play an instrument or sing? We invite you to share your musical talents with our worshiping community in our praise of God. Or, do you know someone with talents to share? For more information or to discuss your interests, please contact Christian Clough, Canon for Liturgy & Music.

Luke’s Garden Meeting to Be Held on October 22nd

This month’s meeting of Luke’s Garden LGBTQIA+ group will be taking place on October 22nd at noon in the Lower Hall. This meeting will consist of planning for next steps for the upcoming year. With any questions please contact Orion Williams

Last Week's Service

Click the attached links to view last week's Bulletin.

To view the livestream of last Sunday's service, click here.

Listen or watch the sermon preached by the Rev. George Stevens by clicking the corresponding links.

To View past services visit our Youtube Page or visit the archive page on our website to read past bulletins, sermons, and newsletters.

Ongoing Opportunities &

Community Resources

Help the Cathedral With Recycling

As Portland does not pick-up recycling for businesses we are looking for volunteers to take home the paper we gather in blue bins and add them to parishioner's recycling bins at their homes (We do however recycle cardboard and compost both of which have been a very successful campaigns).

If you would like to help please contact Sarah Braik or Tim Wilkins. Thanks for your help.

Access Your Realm Profile

The Cathedral’s new online database, Realm, is a useful tool for parishioners to manage their contact and pledging information.

Realm helps our community by improving our record keeping in a more streamlined fashion.

When joining Realm you can sign-up to be a part of the online directory in the database.

To activate your Realm profile please contact our financial administrator Nina Andersen.

Nina will assist you with the few steps necessary to access your profile.

We look forward to sharing this exciting new technology with you!

Join the Young and The Restless

We are St. Luke’s 20s-30s-year-old ministry. We are an active group at the cathedral which also gets together outside of the church.

Join us as we go hiking, ice skating, play trivia, or just enjoy each other’s company! If you are new to us, welcome! We meet each Tuesday at Maine Beer Company in Freeport, 6-8 PM for Trivia.

Other events happen sporadically throughout the month, however trivia is a wonderful opportunity to meet us if you’re joining us for the first time. Contact Shana Rose to stay up to date with group activities and information.

Join Luke's Garden

LGBTQIA+ Group

Luke's Garden is the cathedral's LGBTQIA+ group which meets every 2nd Sunday of the month following coffee hour.

All are welcome!

For additional information contact Orion Williams

The Kneeler Guild and

Prayer Shawl Knitters

Tuesday

2:30PM

The Upper Hall.

For additional information contact Jeri Edgar 207-303-8447 or Nancy MaWhinney 207-775-7500

Everyone is welcome, whether you are curious or want to begin. Kneeler kits cost $75, which include directions, yarn, needles & canvas. Novices are welcome; we will teach you as needed. Prayer Shawls: 20” x 60”; select your yarn & needles. Coffee & Tea available.