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The E-Pistle of Thursday
March 23rd, 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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A Note from Your Senior Warden
The searches for an Interim Dean and Dean are in the early stage, but we are moving forward. At our Lesser Chapter meeting on March 15 we voted to invite the Rev. Pamela Mott, currently Priest-in-Charge at Grace Church in Bath, to serve as our Search Consultant. Pam has accepted our invitation to serve in this capacity.
Our immediate focus needs to be on hiring an Interim Dean. Our Transition Priest-in-Charge, Paul St. Germain, will continue to serve half-time through April. Ideally, we would have an Interim Dean on board in May. If needed, Paul could continue to fill in half-time before the Interim Dean arrives, but he will be taking a long-planned family trip during the month of May. The Lesser Chapter will be designating a small group to serve as the Interim Dean Search Committee. We plan to hold two Town Hall meetings after our Sunday services to gather information from parishioners about specific qualities we should look for in the Interim Dean.
Read Full Letter Here
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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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"Walking with Jack”
(The Story of C.S. Lewis)
Thursday Evenings
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Location: The Upper Hall
Contact: The Rev. Dr. Paul St Germain
Considered by some the greatest Christian writer in the English language, this tells the story of how a brilliant atheist embraced faith in Jesus Christ in the mid Twentieth Century.
“Walking with Jack” is a series of multimedia events that will include illustrated presentations reflecting 40 years of study and travel to Oxford University and Lewis’ home – The Kilns; the biographical tribute: “The Magic Never Ends”(narrated by Sir Ben Kingsley); and an old-fashioned “reading-group style” gathering to hear passages from Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, A Grief Observed, and the beloved Chronicles of Narnia.
Thursday evenings 7:30 to 9:00 PM. Refreshments will be served. Presented by The Rev. Dr. Paul St Germain.
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Lent 2023: “Our Hope for Years to Come – The Search for Spiritual Sanctuary”
Meditations by Micah and Martin Marty
Explore the depths of the soul on a journey of “ressourcement” (or a return to the divine source) in this modern spiritual classic. Through images, hymnody, and words let us wade into the “well-spring of living water” and discover the Spirit’s own sanctuary. This individual journey begins on Ash Wednesday and triumphs on Easter morning. Throughout Lent, this theme will be uplifted in a number of ways – from sermons to the “mere Christianity” of CS Lewis.
Several meditation “spaces” around the cathedral will be available to encounter this book. We are invited to pause, ponder, and perhaps reflect upon the divine beginnings (or sparks) of our faith. Books are also available for purchase. Access the book here– or any online bookseller.
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PPEAT Lenten Resources
The Public Policy and Environmental Action Team recommends these two resources for Lenten practice and reflection.
The Creation Justice Ministries 2023 Lent Resource: Daily Reflection-Action Calendar to Cultivate Creation Justice can be downloaded here. This calendar includes daily tips for personal action, learning, advocacy and reflection.
The Rev. Mary Jane O'Connor-Ropp, of St. David's in Kennebunk, has developed Walking with Suffering Creation: A Meditative Experience in Eight Days, which can be downloaded here.
Each meditation includes an invitation, reflection and prayer, and they need not be done on consecutive days.
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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 new archive page on our website.
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The Healing Team
This Sunday, March 19, the healing team will be Gail Kesich and Judd Hume
Healing team members for upcoming services are listed below:
April 2, 2023. 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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Easter Offerings are available to be made online through our secure online giving platform Realm.
For additional information please visit the Holy Week 2023 page on the website.
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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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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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Hannaford Giving Tag Program
Anytime you are in a Hannaford grocery store if you purchase new reusable bags and follow instructions on the tag to choose
ST LUKE'S FOOD PANTRY from their list, $1 comes to us. Even better: throughout March, for all bags purchased at the Hannaford on Cottage Road in South Portland all donations automatically come to St. Luke's with no need to register online.
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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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Altar Guild Polishing Party
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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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
“Tips for best Needlepoint” March 30th, 2023
“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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Sign Up to Support the Flower Guild
We’re pleased to announce that the 2023 Flower Chart is up on the bulletin board and ready for your memorials and celebrations. We thank the many individuals who signed up on the flower chart in the past for their donations and special flower requests in memory of, or in honor of loved ones, and in celebration of births and anniversaries. The requested donation is $75. Your memorials also contribute to the sanctity of each service and add to the beauty of St. Luke’s Cathedral.
For additional information contact Kathy Watt or Mary Doughty.
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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. Focus will be given to yard work and small jobs around the building.
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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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Family Promise Needs Your Help
The new Warming Shelter located at Woodfords Church is up and running and we need volunteers to help cover the 5 shifts a day in this 24/7 endeavor. 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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St. Alban's Lenten Series
St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Cape Elizabeth, will be presenting a Recital Series for the season of Lent. These 30-minute recitals will take place each Tuesday during Lent at 6:00 p.m., and are intended to serve as an opportunity to gather in a holy space and let go of our earthly troubles. Admission is free, but donations are kindly encouraged.
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St. Mary Schola
De Profundis:
Music for the Lenten Season
Saturday, March 25th
Location: The Cathedral Nave
St. Mary Schola will present two performances of the De Profundis: Music for the Lenten Season.
The program includes a capella works by Champion and Josquin and Cantata 131 Aus der Tiefen by J.S. Bach. Also featured is a rare performance of a Miserere mei setting attributed to Costanzo Festa which likely served as a model for the famous setting by Gregorio Allegri.
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Stations of the Cross with Trinity Episcopal Church
April 7th, 2023
12:00pm
Location: Trinity Episcopal Church, 580 Forest Avenue, Portland, ME
Contact: Rev. Deacon Heather Sylvester
You are invited this Good Friday (April 7th) at noon to join Rev. Deacon Heather Sylvester at Trinity Episcopal Church, Portland (580 Forest Ave) on a neighborhood walk with stops at various places as Stations of the Cross.
Take time this Lent and recognize Christ's suffering and redemption in our community. For example, the fourth station of the cross will be held outside the center for grieving children.
In the event of inclement weather, we will walk the stations of the cross in Trinity's sanctuary with a nod to the places we would've visited. Please email Rev. Deacon Heather Sylvester to let her know you will be attending.
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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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