The E-pistle of Sunday, January 29th, 2023

The Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany

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Thank you to the Dean on his

Final Sunday at St. Luke's


Today is Dean Shambaugh's final Sunday at St. Luke's.



We would like thank him for 18 years of service, listening, compassion, and love that he has given to this community.


The Shambaugh family will always be a welcomed part of our St. Luke's community wherever they are on life's journey.


We wish Ben, Shari, Katie, and Scott peace as he embarks on his new call to serve as rector of St. Luke's in East Hampton, New York.


Thank you Ben.


With love,


The St. Luke's Staff and Community Members



Don't forget to come to the Celebration of Dean Shambaugh's ministry on Saturday, February 4 from 6-8 pm in the Cathedral Nave!



Bulletin

Youtube Live

Facebook Live

Sunday Morning Service Participants


Preacher and Celebrant: The Very Rev. Dr. Benjamin A. Shambaugh, Dean

Assisting: The Rev. Suzanne Roberts, M.D. & The Rev. Rebecca Grant, Deacon

Music Leader & Organist: Christian M. Clough

Assisting Organist: Randall Mullin

The Cathedral Choir

Ushers: Peter Bingham, Mary Linneman, Bob Parshley, & Martha Parshley

Lector: Georgia Bancroft

Prayers Leader: John Bancroft

The Healing Team: Sara Schmalz & Mary Strnad  

Live Streaming: Jack Swanton and Sam Allen  

Acolytes and Vergers; The Flower Guild; The Altar Guild


Music copyrights granted under OneLicense.net #A-713087. Sources: The Hymnal 1982, Lift Every Voice and Sing II, Wonder, Love, and Praise, The Saint Helena Psalter, The Book of Common Prayer, Enriching our Worship, The Holy Bible (NRSV).

Thank you in advance for your offering today. You can 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.

Happening at the Cathedral on Sunday

Annual Meeting & Vestry Nominations


The Annual Meeting of the Congregation will be held this Sunday, 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, one vestry for two 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, Joanne DeKay and Gayl Anglin (vestry) will be rotating off.




Please help us save the environment by downloading the report on your personal device and bring it with you so we don't have to make as many copies!



Vestry Nominations

Sr. Warden - Sam Allen

Vestry (three 3- year, one 2-year and one 1-year position) Jamie Moore, Mike Thorne,

Jamie Cough, Linda Carleton, Judd Hume. The top vote getters will have the three year positions, etc.


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). 

Please see the biographies of vestry and Diocesan Convention nominees below.

Livestream with Youtube Live
Livestream with Facebook Live
The 2022 Annual Report

We Are St. Luke's

We Are St. Luke's Video

Childcare and Sunday School

Sunday Mornings|9:45am

Location: Upper Hall

Contact: Sarah Dowling


 Our Sunday school and nursery are both open today. Sunday school begins in the upper hall at 9:45, with children returning to their families at the sharing of the Peace. The nursery is open every Sunday from 9:45-11:30. Families are always welcome!

Learn More About Childcare and Sunday School at St. Luke's

Roots of Jesus Study Group

Sunday Mornings|8:45am-9:45am

Location: The Chapter Room

Contact: The Rev. Dr. Bob Hanson 



If one thinks theologically about who one is, or, more accurately “whose one is” then, exactly as it was with Jesus, before us, one must study and inhale, (as in breathing deeply, God’s voice and Word) the Old Testament, the only Bible Jesus had, and that, in its scriptural form, only on the Sabbath. This study, and this study alone, brings us to the Lord's teachings about Himself. A running head start might be to focus on the major characters in the Tanakh i.e., Moses, Samuel, Saul, David, Isaiah I &II,, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Job. One needs to read and ponder their contributions to their understandings of God, the characters strengths and weaknesses, and their individual contributions to an understanding of their God. Remembering, as we do so, that what Jesus learned about God was what these characters had experienced, and knew. What was the central characteristic they all proclaimed? And why were only 39 books included in the sacred canon? And why did they appreciate that human suffering was a part of God’s plan? And why, from their multiple points of view, did they believe that God loved the creations, ie, the world that He had made.? And can we love God without loving His creations, our fellow humans? Actually His creations also include as sacred the earth as a living phenomenon and its animals.And can we ever understand ourselves without first accepting the Father of all that is? And what do these Old Testament characters say about Sin and Suffering. In your opinion was Jesus well fortified with the wisdom he needed for His mission, or was there still more that needed to come? 

For additional information call the Rev’d Dr. Bob Hanson, Biblical scholar, linguist and theologian, on (207) 405-8250.

The Cathedral Choir

Thursday Evenings |7pm-9pm  

Sunday Mornings|10 am Service


Location: The Cathedral Nave

Contact: Christian M. Clough


Each week we are blessed with the gift of music from the St. Luke's Cathedral Choir under the direction of our Canon for Liturgy and Music, Christian M. Clough. If you are interested in singing with our choir in future services, please contact Christian. 

Learn about how you can get involved with this group

Announcements

The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Paul St. Germain

joins our

St. Luke's Family

as Transition Priest in Charge

Paul will serve as Transition Priest in Charge for St. Luke’s from February 1 until May 1. He will be in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays and available at other times on an as needed basis. A native of Vermont and cradle Episcopalian, Paul has served parishes of many sizes, primarily in the Midwest, for over thirty years. He graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in History, followed by a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School where he received Yale’s prestigious Wilcott-Caulkins Award for public speaking. In addition to a Diploma of Anglican Studies from Berkeley Divinity School, he holds a Doctor of Ministry from Virginia Theological Seminary. Professionally, he has twice been appointed to the State of Ohio’s Council on the Humanities, and served for over a decade as a technical advisor to the Diocese of Southern Ohio on liturgy and the use of imagery in worship, and website communication. He also has consulted on church development and planning—and served for ten years as head of The Miami Valley Episcopal Russian Youth Exchange Program. Paul loves travel, and has built a number of collegial relationships through service here, Central America, and Eastern Europe, leading over thirty pilgrimages and ministry trips since 1995. His focus is often Anglican history with a primary interest in the role of ritual in modern culture. He is a close follower of the British Royal Family, enjoys Star Trek and Good Food, sailing with Cunard, motoring in his Mini Cooper, and caring for Tavish, a particularly vocal and opinionated Scottish Terrier. He lives a few blocks away from St. Luke’s. Paul will be assisted by the Rev. Suzanne Roberts, the Rev. Anne Fowler and the Rev. Christopher Worthley.

He can be reached at [email protected]

Celebrate the Ministry of Dean Shambaugh

February 4th|6:00 p.m. -8:00pm

Location: The Cathedral Nave


-Childcare available at the Cathedral

-Refreshments will be served

-Livestream for speeches will begin at 7pm


Join Us Saturday, February 4th at 6pm at the Cathedral to celebrate the 18 years of ministry together with our Dean, The Very Rev. Dr. Benjamin Shambaugh.


We hope that you can join us in saying thank you to him as he embarks on his new call to St. Luke's in East Hampton, New York.


Give a Contribution in Support of Dean Shambaugh's

Farewell Celebration or to a General Collection


Dear cathedral community,


If you wish to make a financial gift in support of Dean Shambaugh's farewell celebration or for a general collection please drop off a check to the parish office or mail to the cathedral at P.O. Box 4141, Portland, ME 04101.

Please denote in the memo either "For the Dean's Farewell Celebration" or

"For Ben's General Purse."

For any additional questions please email our treasurer Tim Wilkins.


Thank you for your generosity.

Stewardship Update

As of January 7, 2023, the parish had received 142 pledges for $411,417.84. There are

13 new pledging units. Half the pledgers increased their pledge from the previous year. Several dozen of 2022 pledgers have not been heard from yet, and Finance Committee and Lesser Chapter members are in the process of reaching out to them for their support.


Give/ Pledge to St. Luke's

New Online Giving Platform Launched


The Cathedral has launched it's new 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.

5:15 pm Service Will Transition To Seasonal Status


With Dean Shambaugh's departure, the 5:15 pm Sunday Service will go on hiatus. This service will be on seasonal status with the appointment of a full time interim. For additional questions please email the Rev. Dr. K. Paul St. Germain.

Messiaen Concert by Ensemble Chamarré


Sunday, February 26th 3:00pm

Location: The Cathedral Nave

Freewill offering in support of St. Elizabeth's Pantry

Contact: Christian Clough


Please join us on Sunday, February 26th at 3pm in the Cathedral Nave as we host Ensemble Chamarré for a concert of the music of Olivier Messiaen. Please read the description of the concert below:


Ensemble Chamarré is dedicated to performing the powerful and moving "Quatuor pour la fin du temps" by Olivier Messiaen. This piece (translated as the Quartet for the End of Time) was composed during an excruciatingly difficult time while Messiaen was captured and held in a German POW camp during World War II. The Quartet for the End of Time draws its inspiration from the Book of Revelation, birdsong, and the colors of the northern lights. The first performance was held in the camp during the bleak winter of 1941 with Messiaen at the piano, and fellow prisoners playing violin, cello, and clarinet. Ensemble Chamarré seeks to help the listener to experience the context of this extraordinary masterpiece of chamber literature by describing the conditions at the camp and details of Messiaen's experience as it relates to the music. Listeners may draw inspiration from this musical and spiritual journey of triumph and redemption over despair.

 Past performances were greeted with great enthusiasm from audience members, who described it as “a transforming experience”. Following these successful performances together playing Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time, and witnessing the transformational qualities of that musical work and the audiences' response, as well as the musicians’ chemistry of working together, the musicians decided to formally create an ensemble dedicated to playing this powerful piece. The musicians who make up Ensemble Chamarré individually bring a great mix of experiences to the ensemble: from performances with the Boston Symphony on international stages to recording for Aerosmith, from movie soundtracks to concerto solo performances. They have performed worldwide, earning praise from reviewers citing their “mesmeric” and “brilliant” playing and “amazing delicacy” and “musical wizardry”.


State Street Church Housing Help with

Maine Episcopal Youth Service Corp.



February 5th, 2023

12:00pm

Contact: Please RSVP to the Rev. Peter Swarr


State Street Church is moving ahead with creating a winter shelter for unhoused families at their Church. They have been meeting with Maine Immigrant's Rights Coalition, other area faith leaders, the City of Portland, and they are beginning to transform part of their lower level into a place where people are able to stay warm, stay safe, and find shelter even as the city is no longer to offer shelter to so many individuals in our city.


Our State Street Community members need help to move items out of their space, help with cleaning, and loading a commercial dumpster. The Youth Service Corp. will be contributing $1000 towards this project. As we advocate for safe and warm housing for all.


Business Basics Workshop with the

St. Luke's Community Kitchen


Tuesday, February 7th

6:00-7:30pm

The Lower Hall


 Please join us for Business Basics workshops hosted by St. Luke's Community Kitchen in partnership with New Ventures through a grant from Bangor Savings Bank.

The first session is on Tuesday, Feb. 7th from 6-7:30 PM in the Lower Hall of St. Luke's. Please park and enter at 134 Park Street.







This and the two additional workshops (March 7th and April 4th) are free of charge and aimed at helping anyone who owns or starting a new business.


Please register at no cost today. Seating is limited.


Register here.





Weekly Ministries

  • St. Elizabeth's Jubilee Center is offered every Tuesday from 8:30 am to 11 am.
  • The Food Pantry is open from 9 am to 11 am every Thursday.
  • Noon prayer is offered every Wednesday via Zoom.
  • The Tuesday 12:10 Eucharist gathers weekly in Emmanuel Chapel. Join via Zoom.
  • Contemplative Prayer is offered every Thursday at 4:30 pm via Zoom.
  • Compline is also offered weekly on Friday from 8-9pm on Zoom. For additional details contact Ray Murdoch Curry

St. Luke's Webpage

Give/ Pledge to St. Luke's

Events

E-Bulletin Board

https://episcopalmaine.org/

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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