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The E-Pistle of Thursday
March 30th, 2023
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Please note that due to the length of content, the full E-pistle may not appear on your screen.
If viewing in your email browser, please click the above button link above to access the whole newsletter.
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Weekly Ministries
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The Food Pantry is open from 9 am to 11 am every Thursday.
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Noon prayer is offered every Wednesday via Zoom.
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The Tuesday 12:10 Eucharist gathers weekly in Emmanuel Chapel. Join via Zoom.
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Contemplative Prayer is offered every Thursday at 4:30 pm via Zoom.
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Compline is offered weekly on Friday from 8-8:30pm on Zoom. For additional details contact Ray Murdoch Curry
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An Update on Our Search From the Senior Warden
Town Halls To Be Held
April 2nd and April 16th in the Upper Hall
following the 10:00A.M. Service
Written by Sam Allen, Senior Warden
Your Wardens and Vestry met on March 28 and worked on laying some foundations for our Searches for an Interim Dean and Dean. Our initial focus must be on the search for Interim Dean. In many ways, this will be an expedited and somewhat simplified “dry run” for our Dean search.
The Dean search process will be conducted with the guidance of our Consultant, The Rev. Pamela Mott. We are also aided by having our Associate Priest, The Rev. Suzanne Roberts, working for the Diocese as Acting Transition and Deployment Officer.
Read Full Update Here
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Ministry Formation Days
April 22nd & April 29th, please see details below
Liturgical Ministries: April 22 9a–1p
Vergers, Ushers, Altar Guild, Acolytes, Flower Guild, Lectors & Intercessors
Hospitality and Support Ministries: April 22 1-4p Building & Grounds/Facilities, Sunday Fellowship Time (AKA Coffee Hour), Greeters, Kitchen Committee, Community Suppers, Memorial Receptions
Formation Ministries: April 29 9a–1p
Sunday School, Nursery, Teen Fellowship, Adult Education, Newcomer Classes
Outreach Ministries: April 29 1-4p
St Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center, Community Kitchen, Public Policy & Environmental Action, Food Pantry
The Upper Hall
Contact: The Rev. Dr. Paul St. Germain
Please bring a brown-bag lunch (beverages provided), and share fellowship with fellow parishioners at the morning and afternoon events.
Ministry Formation Days St. Luke’s is entering an exciting time of transition—from an acting priest-in-charge to a full time interim-dean to eventually, by God’s grace, a new dean. As in any transition, there are areas where special attention and support for its members is helpful. This encourages a smoother “ministry in transition”. This is also a time to invite increased participation, and offer the congregation fresh ways to engage, and perhaps explore joining a group “short-term”—as part of ALL of our “ministries” —“in transition”. Every member of the congregation is invited to come together—and explore more about a ministry which may be calling you. The best definition of a “call” I have heard is: “something when doing brings us closer to God”. This is an excellent Lenten or Easter exploration—perhaps taking even a “resurrection” look at where we are and what God is calling us to do!
We are offering four separate Saturdays in April to uplift four areas of Cathedral ministry and engage the following:
- Challenges and expectations of ministry during change and how to meet them
- “What you always wanted to know about this ministry but were afraid to ask…”
- Review of existing methods and procedures
- How to support the St. Luke’s Community through YOUR ministry and service.
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As The Episcopal Church’s Good Friday Offering enters its second century, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry invites bishops, congregations, and supporters—in his annual Lent letter—into “that selfless way of living” demonstrated by Jesus of Nazareth on the cross.
Read Full Article Here
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"This is a different Easter message. I’ve shared Easter messages from Jerusalem some years ago, and I have shared Easter and Christmas messages from a variety of locations. Last year for Christmas, we were in San Diego. Today I’m in Paris, part of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe. We just finished a revival—over 50 young people and some 300-400 people from all over Europe who came for this revival service. It was a remarkable thing to behold and be part of."
Read Full Message Here
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Easter Egg Hunt
Apr. 9th
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: The Bishop's Garden
Rain Location: Emmanuel Chapel
Contact: Sarah Dowling
Our annual Easter egg hunt will be held between the Easter services at 10: 30 am. This fun filled time will be held in the Bishop’s Garden which is behind the gated section at the front of St. Luke’s. If it is rainy, the egg hunt will be held in the Chapel. Everyone is welcome!
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Easter Offerings are available to be made online through our secure online giving platform Realm.
Offering Envelopes are also available in the Nave at both entrances. Please place your envelopes in the plate during the offertory. The cut-off for names to be listed in the Easter bulletins is Tuesday, April 4th.
For additional information please visit the Holy Week 2023 page on the website.
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Building and Grounds Work Day
April 1st, 2023
8:30am-12:00pm
Contact: Claire Hammen
Please join us for a spring cleanup on the cathedral grounds. If the weather permits, focus will be given to yard work and small jobs around the building.
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Altar Guild Polishing Party
This Saturday
April 1st, 2023
9:00am – 12:00 p.m.
Location: The Upper Hall
Contact: Rita Siavelis
Please join the Altar Guild for our upcoming polishing party on Saturday April 1, 2023 from 9:00am-12:00pm in the Upper Hall.
During the polishing party, the Altar Guild polishes the silver and brass so that it shines for the Easter Season.
The time spent is rewarding and full of laughter and good conversation. Light refreshments will be provided so bring yourself and a little elbow grease.
RSVP to Rita Siavelis or just show up the day of the event. We look forward to seeing you!
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The Healing Team
This Sunday, April 2nd, the healing team will be Mary Strnad and Oscar Mokeme.
If you have any questions about receiving prayers during these times, please email Judd Hume or call at (207) 773 - 5611
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Public Policy and Environmental Action Team Meeting
Tuesday April 11th, 2023
6:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M
Location: Zoom
Contact: Sarah Braik
All are welcome!
Ecotips from the Public Policy and Environmental Action Team
St. Luke's is now composting!
The Cathedral is now participating in Garbage to Garden's curbside composting service. The church office and the flower guild, food pantry, kitchen and coffee hour coordinators have the combination to the locked tote, located near the dumpster.
Here’s what can be composted:
-All food waste, including cooking oil
-Paper (as long as it is not shiny)
-Leaves and brush (thinner than a pencil)
-Napkins and paper towels
-Non-waxed paper plates
-Plain cardboard with no stickers or tape (cardboard with stickers and tape can go in our brand new cardboard dumpster!)
If you are not composting at home, check out Garbage to Garden's residential service.
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Public Policy and Environmental Action Team
Coffee Hour Presentation
Sunday April 23rd
At the Conclusion of the 10:00A.M. Service
Location: The Upper Hall
Hold the Date: Sunday April 23 after the service - during coffee hour the PPEAT Committee will be showing two brief films created by the American Resilience Project who share the work being done in other communities to strengthen civic engagement for achieving the necessary energy transition, adapting to sea level rise, managing the climate crisis, strengthening food security, and more.
Please mark your calendars and plan to attend this informative discussion that shares such hopeful stories of what is already happening and explore with us what might be possible here in our own community.
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Community Supper Announcement
Please attend the April 22nd discussion.
On Sunday April 22nd and 29th Rev. Paul St. Germain will chair sessions in the Upper Hall to discuss our ministries, provide information to parishioners, and discuss what changes might be made to better serve the parish and reflect current needs.
Community Supper will be discussed on the 22nd, and we invite our loyal volunteers, attendees and anyone interested to join us and share your ideas. In light of this meeting, we will not schedule a May Community Supper, but explore the idea of the Kitchen Management Committee and its wonderful volunteers hosting the parish picnic in June, and launching a new Community Supper schedule starting in September 2023.
If you have any questions or wish to join the Community Supper Team, please contact
Dawn Brennan-Daly
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New Ventures Maine
Apr. 11th
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: St. Luke’s Cathedral Community Kitchen,
143 Park St., Portland, ME 04101
Contact: Sarah Hutchins
Event Details Here
New Ventures Maine is a statewide program of the University of Maine at Augusta, University of Maine System, an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.
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Realm Online Giving Platform
The Cathedral has launched our online giving platform, Realm, which also serves as our new database.
If you are interested in establishing monthly or weekly recurring gifts for your 2023 Pledge or other outreach gifts, now is the time to do so.
Please see the link here to be able to access our giving page.
Please note, Realm is not where you make your pledge. It’s where you will schedule payment of your pledge in whatever increments you might like to do. That could be weekly, monthly, or in one lump sum payment as you set up your recurring gift or one time gift please look at those options and make sure the amount that you enter is what you want withdrawn each week or each month.
You can also donate to St. Luke’s through our new and secure “Give and Text” feature. Please TEXT “TEXTCSL” to 73256. Our 2023 Pledge Campaign is ongoing. Pledge materials and information are available here.
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How to Get Involved at St. Luke's | |
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Clynk Bags Available to Support The Young and the Restless
Contact: Shana Rose
St. Luke’s has returned to the Clynk Initiative Program. There are bags available at both entrances of Nave with barcodes that correspond to the Cathedral’s account. Anyone is welcome to take a bag and are encouraged to bring it to a local redemption center or grocery store that accepts Clynk. Proceeds from this initiative will support our young adults group, “The Young and the Restless.”
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Coffee Hour Sign-Ups
Sunday Mornings
Following the 10:00am Service
Location: The Upper Hall
Contact: Meredith Cough
Sign-Up Form
Coffee Hour is a ministry of fellowship that keeps our community connected, it is especially important during this leadership transition at St. Luke's.
Please consider hosting a coffee hour some Sunday this spring. Basic snacks and beverages are provided for you to serve, if you would like to augment that with fresh fruit and baked goods feel free to organize that beforehand.
A sign-up sheet is located on the bulletin board or you can click the link below and sign up online or simply contact me and I'll sign you up. Abundant amounts of gratitude come with the job, thank you!
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Support our Cathedral Communications by
Joining our Communications Committee
The Third Wednesday of the month
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: The Upper Hall
Contact: Avery Schott
Do you have an interest in engaging with our wider community?
Do you have ideas pertaining to the design of our web materials and newsletter?
If so, please join our Communications Committee!
Please note, you do not have to have technology based skills to participate.
If you are interested in offering support, have ideas, or want to learn more about our communications please email Avery for further details.
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Join the Knitters and Kneeler Guild
Every Thursday
Location: The Upper Hall
“Best way to use Yarn” April 6th, 2023
“Choose your Design” April 13th, 2023
“Planning for a Border” April 20th, 2023
Each week until May 4th, 2023
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St. Elizabeth's Essentials Pantry
St. Elizabeth's is looking for stock pots (ie. larger pots with lids for stews and soups) for distribution next month. We have collected about 100 stock pots so far, but hope to have 300 on hand in April. Also, our shelves of bedding/bath mats/pillows are now bare. Comforters are especially popular.
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Urgent Need for Volunteers at Family Promise Warming Shelter
The Family Promise Warming Shelter at Woodfords needs our help. We have agreed to provide volunteers for the 5-8:30 shift on Tuesday, 04/04. There are other April dates in need of volunteers as well. Can you help?
If you could help, sign up with this link
If you are new to Family Promise, we simply ask that you sign up to work with a trained volunteer. Again, thank you for all you do for our families! Call Lynne, Connie or Mary with any questions or concerns.
Lynne England: (207) 318-9848
Connie Bingham: (207) 415-1441
Mary Linneman: (207) 409-4253
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Support State Street Church Warming Center
March 5- April 28th
Location: State Street Church
Sign-Up Link
Volunteers are needed nightly for an evening shift (6-8:30pm) and an overnight shift (8:30pm - 7:30am).
2 volunteers are needed for each shift, every night.
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Monday Night Zoom Book Group |
Every First and Third Monday of the Month
6:00-7:00 pm
Location: Zoom
Contact: Linda Carleton
The Monday Zoom Book Group will begin reading Barbara Brown Taylor’s The Luminous Web: Essays on Science and Religion on Monday, April 17. Taylor suggests that we might close the gap between spirit and matter, between the sacred and the secular.” The Jamestown Cross Book Review describes the book as “profound in its implications and a must-read for anyone seeking to reconcile the faith they cling to with the science they encounter.” The group meets on 1st and 3rd Mondays from 6-7pm. The Luminous Web is only four chapters and we’ll complete it in 2-4 weeks. Contact Linda Carleton if you’d like to join us.
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The Second Saturday of the Month
9:30-12:00 pm
Location: The Lower Hall
Contact: Linda Carleton
On Saturday, April 8, the Mandala Journaling group will be exploring Stage 4 of the sacred circle. This is the stage of Beginnings, of turning toward the light with a new idea, project or relationship. It’s a time of both excitement and vulnerability. The American Madonna painting in Emmanuel Chapel is a poignant illustration as Mary releases a toddler Jesus into an unknown world. No experience is needed to begin the spiritual practice of mandala journaling. We meet every 2nd Saturday in the Lower Hall. Contact Linda Carleton for more information
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Bulletins, Sermons, and
E-pistle Archives
If you are looking to see previous bulletins, sermons, or prior publications of the E-pistle, please see the archive page on our website.
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Select the Episcopal Maine Logo to learn about all that is happening in the wider Diocese. | |
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stlukesportland.org
(207)-772-5434
Physical Address:
143 State Street, Portland, ME 04101
Parking Available at:
134 Park Street, Portland, ME 04101
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 4141, Portland, ME 04101
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