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E-Pistle of Thursday
January 5th, 2023
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Please note that due to the length of content, the full E-pistle may not appear on your screen. Please click the 'View Entire E-pistle Here' button above to access the whole newsletter. | |
Epiphany Service
Friday January 6th| 12:10pm
Location: Emmanuel Chapel
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About Epiphany
January 6 is the feast of the Epiphany. The word “Epiphany” means “showing” or “manifestation.” The liturgical name for the feast of the Epiphany is “the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.” This title tells us that the significance of the Wise Men is that they were gentiles. In other words, the significance of the Wise Men is that they were not Jewish. The coming of the Wise Men was an epiphany because it showed that Jesus came not just for the people of Israel but for all people everywhere, regardless of culture, class, color or creed.
Read Full Reflection Here
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Weekly Ministries
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St. Elizabeth's Jubilee Center is offered every Tuesday from 8:30 am to 11 am.
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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 also offered weekly on Friday from 8-9pm on Zoom. For additional details contact Ray Murdoch Curry
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St. Luke's Community Announcements
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Pick Up Choir on Sunday Morning
Interested in singing on a Sunday service for the first time?
Join us this Sunday, January 8th at 8:45 am in the choir room to be a part of a pick-up choir.
Music leader Christian Clough will lead all in the learning of a musical selection for the service.
We hope you can join us!
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The St. Luke's Public Policy and Environmental Action Team
Meeting
Tuesday January 10th| 6pm-7pm
Location: Zoom
Contact: Sarah Braik
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PPEAT Eco-Tips
Third Act is an organization founded by Bill McKibben to enable elders 60 years of age and above to use their wisdom and experience to address climate climate change. The Maine Third Act working group is actively working on defunding fossil fuels and protecting democracy. Click HERE to learn more or to join.
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January Community Supper Cancelled
Out of an abundance of caution for the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the January Community Supper has been cancelled.
Thank you for your understanding.
For additional information please contact Dawn Brennan- Daly.
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New Ventures Maine
Tuesdays Jan. 10, Feb. 7, Mar. 7 | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: St. Luke’s Cathedral Community Kitchen,
143 Park St., Portland, ME 04101
Contact: Sarah Hutchins
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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Annual Meeting & Vestry Nominations
The Annual Meeting of the Congregation is scheduled for January 29, 2023 at 11:30 am. This year’s meeting includes the presentation of the budget and the election of a Senior Warden for a two-year term, three vestry members for three years and one vestry member for one years, and five delegates to Diocesan Convention. On January 29, Anna Christie (senior warden), Peter Bingham, Jamie Cough, and Gayl Anglin (vestry members) will be rotating off. For all committee members and leaders of ministries and activities, annual reports are due to the Cathedral office by January 15. Watch the bulletin and E-pistle for pre-annual meetings and other events.
Vestry Nominations
Sr. Warden - Sam Allen
Vestry (three 3- year and one 1-year position) Jamie Moore, Eleanor Roberts, Mike Thorne, Jamie Cough, Linda Carleton, Judd Hume. The top vote getters will have the three year positions.
Delegates to Convention (5 positions): Curtis Maurand, Gayl Anglin, Judd Hume, Orion Williams, Fred Fowler
Nominations are allowed from the floor. While the annual meeting will be live-streamed, parishioners will need to be present in order to vote. (Votes are limited to parishioners in Good Standing, people of regular attendance who are pledging members or givers of record).
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Judd Hume
-Nominated for Vestry and Delegate to Diocesan Convention
"Judd Hume began attending St. Luke's in April, 1994, after retiring from serving as a minister in the Mennonite Church. Since he joined St. Luke's, he has participated as a torch bearer, a crucifer, sub-deacon, and sang with Hank Beebe and Albert Melton in the Cathedral Choir. He also taught Sunday School. From 6/91 until 10/2011, Judd worked as a substance abuse counselor. He currently volunteers at Reiche Elementary School as a tutor with first graders.
Judd feels he was particularly blessed singing with Albert Melton. He learned of servant leadership, patience and grace while singing with Albert. More recently, he serves on the Healing Team and on the BBCC. Both of these ministries are calling of his soul. Since being a sophomore in high School (1972), he has had a calling to racial reconciliation. Prior to coming to St. Luke's, he has served in a bilingual church in NJ, and a multiracial Mennonite church in Philadelphia.
He has a desire to serve on the Vestry in addressing the spiritual, physical and financial needs of the Cathedral congregation."
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Sam Allen
-Nominated for Vestry
I retired in 2013 after a career of teaching, research, and administration at MIT. My field is physical metallurgy (when asked, I say I’m an engineer who knows a lot about metals). My wife, the Rev.’d Anne Fowler, grew up in Portland and we both felt a strong pull to relocate here after retiring. We moved to Deering Highlands in 2013 and began to attend St. Luke’s early in 2014.
At St. Luke’s I served as Junior Warden from 2015-2019, and then as Senior Warden 2019-2021. I am also a member of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, the Finance Committee, the Endowment Committee, the Public Policy and Environmental Action Committee, co-leader of Noon Zoom, and have served as a delegate to Diocesan Convention for several years. I love St. Luke’s and look forward to continuing to help shepherd the Cathedral forward.
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Michael B. Thorne
-Nominated for Vestry
Perhaps the happiest day of my life was the Sunday was when Jim, Nate, and I stood with our newborn Alec, stood at the baptismal font of this church.
His older brother had been baptized at another church where we as "a two dad family" had been relegated to a private chapel- away from the congregation.
For me this church, St. Luke's, and our Episcopal Church, more broadly are a national treasure.
I'm not sure that I am very successful at being a Christian, but the people in this community provide me with examples of what that looks like in real life and make me want to work at being a better person.
I also believe, that this faith community has not only "the right stuff" to survive but actually thrive in this city. To achieve that we need to compliment our clergy with a strong lay leadership team.
We have been at St. Luke's for 15 years now. And during that time I've had a turn at serving on the Vestry, attending Diocesan Conventions, teaching Sunday School, getting in the way at St. Elizabeth's, and offering unsolicited opinions on a host of topics. If I can master the steps of liturgical garb, you may see me swaying with a cross or candle stick on Sunday morning.
I've been back in Maine for twenty years now after a career in Boston, where I was a minor officer of a major Boston bank. I was an Area Leader in the realm of human resources, mergers, and systems conversions.
My formal schooling was at UMaine and Harvard Extension.
My partner, now spouse, Dr. Jim Theberge and I have been together 35+ years and have lived in Cape Elizabeth where we've raised two sons Nate (20) and Alec (15) who have been active members of St. Luke's.
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Linda Carleton
-Nominated for Vestry
The spiritual journey that led me to The Cathedral Church of Saint Luke has been a rocky, winding road. I was raised in a family that was decidedly hostile to religion in general and Christianity in particular, and it took me many years to shed that bias. I’ve always been a spiritual seeker, and as a former teacher of high school history and comparative religions, I have a deep appreciation for the sacred in all religious traditions. For a while I considered my “spiritual but not religious,” but was drawn to the community of church. I passed five years as a Unitarian Universalist, before finding a home in the United Church of Christ. After 25 years of teaching, I received a powerful call from God and retired to attend Yale Divinity School. In 2001 I was ordained in the U.C.C. to a ministry of refugee resettlement, founding the Melita Welcome House through a church in Guilford, Connecticut.
When Peter and I retired to Chebeague Island In 2008, I parleyed my childhood piano
lessons into serving as organist for the Chebeague United Methodist Church. For five years I
painted, wrote and led workshops on mandala journaling and the Enneagram at churches and
retreat centers in Maine. I discovered Saint Luke’s after coming for its Taizé services. I fell in
love with this church that serves the Portland community, is true to its liturgical past and
doctrinal traditions while honoring other sacred tradtions, and embraces contemporary
movements in Christian theology and worship. Over my past decade as a member of Saint
Luke’s I have worked with both Saint Elizabeth’s Essentials Pantry and Saint Luke’s Food
Pantry, served as Chair of the Outreach Committee and its Alternative Giving Program,
coordinated our World Too Beautiful service, participated in the Strategic Planning Committee,
served as a Stewardship Ambassador, and facilitated book groups and mandala journaling and
rock painting workshops. It is now my very great joy to be singing in the Cathedral Choir.
In serving on the vestry at Saint Luke’s, I hope I might contribute toward helping the
Cathedral build on the many ways it already serves as a spiritual resource for its members and
the greater Portland community and envision new ones as well.
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Jamie Cough
-Nominated for Vestry
I grew up as a catholic and was received into the Episcopal church after we landed at St. Lukes over 30 years ago.
I am the father of 3 adult children and recently welcomed a grandchild to the family.
We live in Portland and I have been working in the power industry for a long time in various capacities. I am grateful for the wonderful and supportive home that is St. Luke’s. I hope to serve this community in any ways as I am able to.
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Curtis Maurand
-Nominated as Delegate for Diocesan Convention
I came to St. Luke’s in 1999 and was confirmed through St. Luke’s in 2,000. I have been a member of the choir since 2001. I am always interested in sacred music and liturgy. I have been involved Native American and South American Spiritual groups in the past and have a special interest in the Diocesan efforts at reconciliation. I was an information technology professional. I retired in 2019. I have interests in history, photography, cooking and baking.
Curtis's Website
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Gayl Anglin
-Nominated as Delegate for Diocesan Convention
Gayl was raised in the church, but did not become an Episcopalian until graduate school. As many graduate students in the social sciences, she took a critical look at her entire life and decided to find a church that aligned not only with her spiritual beliefs, but also with her social values. During this time, she was enrolled in a feminist theory course with an Episcopalian priest (with whom she is still in contact) who was instrumental in her finding the Episcopal church. She has lived around the US and has experienced a wide variety of parishes, finally landing in Maine in 2011 and Portland in 2014.
Gayl has a doctorate in Political Science and is a college professor and department chair in the health sciences, where she specializes in health law, ethics, policy, and cultural competence. She lives in Portland with her husband, Vern, and teenaged sons, Matthew and Isaac. Unlike their mother, the boys are cradle Episcopalians and were recently confirmed at St. Luke’s. She has been a member of St. Luke’s vestry for the past three years and is passionate about the national church’s commitment and work towards racial reconciliation.
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Eleanor Roberts
-Nominated for Vestry
"I have spent most of my life as a St. Luke's parishioner, from a 7 year old in Sunday school to returning as an adult. Since returning I have served as a verger, and sat on the Cathedral Strategic Planning Committee. St. Luke's is important to me because it is both a place of respite and reinvigoration. I can enjoy the peace and tranquility of services while being surrounded by people working to make a difference, who build community instead of exclusivity. My goals as a member of the vestry would be to increase inclusivity, to support events and ideas that open the church doors for all, and to work for more voices and experiences to be fully recognized and represented by the church as whole."
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Orion Williams
-Nominated as Delegate for Diocesan Convention
I am a 24 year old living in South Portland. I love Portland as well as the church community I have found myself in. St. Luke’s has made me feel more welcome and safe than I have ever felt in such a community. I love the environment and the aesthetic feeling the services give me, and I love being a part of it. I feel truly loved here.
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Jamie Moore
-Nominated for Vestry
I'm a social worker living in Portland with my partner and my 9-year-old son. I came to St. Luke's through the youth group in the 90s, and I participated in a lot of Diocesan youth events from middle school through young adulthood. After living outside of Maine for a while, I've been attending St. Luke's steadily for about the past 7 years and have become more involved in various groups and activities over the years - most recently joining the choir last September. I love the people at St. Luke's, and I look forward to the potential opportunity to represent and support the congregation as a member of the Vestry.
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Fred Fowler
-Nominated as Delegate for Diocesan Convention
Fifteen years ago, my wife, Pat and I moved to Maine permanently from Cazenovia, NY. Prior to our move our goal was to find a new church home. After visiting a number of Episcopal Churches during vacation
trips to the Portland area, we connected with St. Luke’s as participants in the Tuesday 12:10 pm Eucharist service led by Fr. Webster. He was the first to make us feel at home and fed us spiritually. Immediately upon moving here we became active volunteers at the Cathedral finding it a way to meet new people with common interests. As time progressed we became more active in leadership roles. I was raised up as Jr. Warden, working closely with Fr. Webster to learn all aspects of the building physical plant. After serving my terms as Jr. Warden I took on the role of senior warden. I found it rewarding and satisfying to serve God in this capacity. I took an interest in the governing structure of the Diocese and was elected the Diocesan Council for one term and then was chosen by Bishop Lane for a second term where I served on the Finance Committee. This last fall I rotated off of an additional term of being the area representative on Diocesan Council but was invited to stay on as a lay representative on the Grant Committee. A couple of years ago I approached the Diocese with the idea to develop an advisory group for parishes to request guidance on building projects and issues that rise up. Working with Canon Martin, we recruited three other diocesan members, with specific skill sets to serve on the group and be available to address questions from parishes. I am an active member of the Cathedral Finance, Endowment, and Buildings and Grounds Committees enjoying working with a variety of folks focused on doing God’s work through management of resources and making improvements to the building to better serve those who use it on a regular basis. I continue my connections with the Diocese by offering oversight of property maintenance and repair working with Canons Martin and Reimer. It is always a joy to attend Diocesan Convention and connect with folks from around the State and listen to their spiritual journey stories, struggles and successes that I can then bring back to our Cathedral.
One of our most rewarding volunteer activities is coordination of the 10:00 AM
ecumenical morning prayer service each Tuesday at Piper Shores Retirement Community in Scarborough. It continues to be a joy in providing access to worship opportunities for those who may no longer have a connection to a parish since moving to the facility. We are blessed to have been invited to participate in this ministry by Fr. Richard Ellis, a resident and member of St. Luke’s.
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Lesser Chapter and Finance Meeting Minutes
Please select the buttons below to access the minutes of the finance and lesser chapter meetings which were held last week.
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Sabbatical Update
Clergy of the diocese are given four month sabbaticals ever five years. Dean Shambaugh was due a sabbatical this year but it had been delayed because of Covid. At its November meeting, the vestry agreed to give Dean Shambaugh a four month sabbatical beginning January 29th following the annual meeting. We are pleased to announce that during this time, the Rev. Paul St. Germain will be available for ten units (mornings, afternoons or evenings) during the week and three Sundays a month. Paul comes with extensive large church experience and will be the primary contact for day to day operations, pastoral care, and worship planning. He may be contacted through the office 772-5434, [email protected] He will be assisted by the Rev. Suzanne Roberts, the Rev. Christopher Worthley, and the Rev. Anne Fowler, as well as our deacon, the Rev. Rebecca Grant. Note that in the absence of the dean, the authority of the parish rests with the Senior Warden. For more information about the Rev. St. Germain, see his website.
What am I doing on Sabbatical?
Several people have asked what my plans are for sabbatical time which begins February first. While things are evolving, some highlights are in place, including time with family, continuing education, spiritual development, and travel. February will include some get-away time with Shari and a week of continuing education. In March, I hope to be deployed for two weeks with the Coast Guard to serve as chaplain to sector San Juan, Puerto Rico. Also in March, I have several days of retreat scheduled at the Society of St. John the Evangelist in Boston. In April, I will be going to France. I will spend some of Holy Week in Paris and Easter at the parish of a french pastor in a small town in Provence who I helped raise up for the ministry. After that Shari will join me and we will spend time visiting friends in Arcachon, a small town south of Bordeaux, returning to Maine the end of the month.
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St. Elizabeth's Blanket Collection
Response to a Crisis in the Community: Many have raised concern about hundreds of asylum seekers and others who are at risk of losing their accomodations in local hotel rooms. St. Luke's is working with other local congregations, with the diocese, and with St. Elizabeth's Jubilee Center in figuring out the best way to move ahead. Watch the e-pistle for more information In the meantime we are doing a special drive to add warm blankets to the winter coats and boots we are currently collecting. Want to help? Bring warm blankets, boots and coats to St. Elizabeth's and we will make sure they get to those who need them!
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Food Pantry Gives Thanks to the Maine Pops
The Food Pantry Loves the Maine Pops! The Maine Pops Christmas Concert at St Luke's raised $1,549 for our food pantry. That's a lot of oil and beans! Thanks to those talented and deeply generous folks.
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Food Pantry Grant Award
The Episcopal Diocese of Maine Diocesan Council has awarded St. Luke's Food Pantry a $3,000 grant to support our work with domestic poverty. Competition was fierce for these grant funds and we are proud that the pantry volunteers' consistent and faithful work is recognized and supported by the Diocesan Council.
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Stewardship Update
Pledges for 2023 continue to come in. As of December 11, the Cathedral has received 128 pledges for $393,628.72, inclusive of 12 new pledging units. A full 50% of the repeat pledgers pledged an increase for 2023. However, the Cathedral has still not heard from 60 pledging units who collectively pledged about $81,000 for 2022. Our team of St. Luke’s Stewardship Ambassadors is being asked to send gentle nudges to those for whom pledging may have slipped their minds. As the Finance Committee and Lesser Chapter continue to work on a budget for 2023, please remember that every pledge is important. The Cathedral Staff works hard every day to help us enjoy having St. Luke’s as our spiritual home. We hope you are enjoying the wide variety of worship services and musical events taking place at the Cathedral this holiday season.
Give/ Pledge to St. Luke's
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The Healing Team
"The Healing Team will serve, at the 10am Eucharist with the following Healing Team members:
January 8, 2023 Gail Kesich, Judd Hume
January 15, 2023 Elise Magnuson, Peter Carleton
January 22, 2023. Mary Strnad, John Leddy
January 29, 2023 Sara Schmalz, Mary Strnad
February 5, 2023. Oscar Mokeme, Ruth Roemer
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How to Get Involved at St. Luke's | |
Help Asylum Seekers through Family Promise
Volunteers are needed at the day center on Forest Avenue and at the host congregations. People ask "what do volunteers do?" Its evolving, with guidance and support from staff and host congregation coordinators. Volunteers need not be trained, but should be warm, welcoming, culturally sensitive, and flexible.
Sign ups: For the day center at the Y on Forest Avenue: https://signup.com/go/ko/KGQdm
For Williston Immanuel: https://signup.com/go/to/FYzzi
Questions? Reach out to Lynne England (after December 26) at [email protected];
Connie Bingham at [email protected]; or Mary Linneman at [email protected].
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Buy a Hannaford Bag and Support the St. Luke's Food Pantry
- We are participating in the Hannaford Bag Tag Program
- Purchase a $2.50 reusable Community or Fight Hunger Bag at any Hannaford Store and use the attached giving tag to direct a 1$ donation to our pantry!
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A Christian Life of Faith:
Signs and Thresholds Along the Way
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Sunday Mornings| 9am-10am
Location: The Chapter Room
Contact: Dean Shambaugh
So much of what we do at St. Luke’s is designed to help others. What about nurturing and exploring our own spiritual lives? What about our questions and struggles of faith, our relationship (or not) with God?
- Lead by Dean Shambaugh
- All are Welcome (resuming Jan 8)
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Journaling with the
Sacred Circle
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The First Saturday of the Month Beginning January 7th | 9:30am-11:30am
Location: The Chapter Room
Contact: Linda Carleton
Journaling Within the Sacred Circle (or mandala) is a way to deepen your connection with God and with your own soul. Come explore the 12 Stages of the Mandala Great Round as they relate to the seasons of the year, the stages of our lives and the Christian story. . The only thing you’ll need is an open heart and mind. All materials are provided. You can come every month or drop in when you’d like.
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Monday Night Zoom Book Group |
Every First and Third Monday of the Month Beginning January 16th
6:00-7:00 pm
Location: Zoom
Contact: Linda Carleton
We will be reading Sophronia Scott’s Louie Award winning book, The Seeker and the Monk: Everyday Conversations with Thomas Merton. A 2004 nominee for the African American Literary Awards best new author, Scott was hailed by Professor Henry Louis Gates as “potentially one of the best writers of her generation." In The Seeker and the Monk, she writes an imaginary conversation with 20th century mystic, monk and activist Thomas Merton based on his extensive private journals and offers guidance on how to live in these fraught times. As a Black woman who is not Catholic, Scott both learns from and pushes back against Merton, holding spirited, an intimate conversations on race, ambition, faith, activism, nature, prayer, friendship, and love. She asks: What is the connection between contemplation and action?
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Try on the Cathedral Choir |
Thursday Evenings| 7pm-9pm
Location: The Choir Room (Adjacent to undercroft)
Contact: Christian M. Clough
- Showing up does not commit you to the choir
- No audition required
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Diocesan Youth Group Service Corp
January 7th| 12:00pm
Trinity Episcopal Church
Contact: Sarah Dowling
This gathering will involve packing food for those experiencing homelessness who are served by the Trinity Episcopal Community. The goal is to serve 10,000 meals in 2 hours in partnership with an organization called The Outreach Program.
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Podcast: Elizabeth Strout’s Maine, with Bishop Thomas J. Brown
Click the link here to read about Bishop Brown's interview with Madeleine Davies about the American Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Elizabeth Strout.
Listen to the full podcast below.
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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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