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The E-pistle of Sunday, January 8th, 2023

Thank You For Joining Us Today

We are most grateful to welcome you to our Sunday worship. We wish you God's blessings and love for this day.

We hope that you can feel part of the Cathedral community wherever you are in your life's journey. Know that this is a place of welcome and love for all.

The church is so much more than a building or our Sunday services. At the core of the body of the church is each of you. God’s love and compassion which you carry out into the world from this place, is the living church.

Blessings to you.

  Sincerely, 

Dean Shambaugh and the Cathedral Community.

Sunday Morning Service Participants

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

Celebrant: The Rev. Suzanne Roberts, M.D. 

Assisting: The Rev. Rebecca Grant, Deacon

Music Leader & Organist: Christian M. Clough

The Cathedral Choir

Ushers: Peter Bingham, Melissa Coy, Susan McCuller, & Gail Swanton

Lector: Cecilia Marchetti

Prayers Leader: Susan McCuller

The Healing Team: Gail Kesich & Judd Hume

Live Streaming: Jack Swanton and Sam Allen  

Acolytes and Vergers; The Flower Guild; The Altar Guild

Happening at the Cathedral on Sunday

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!

Sunday Mornings| 9am-10am

Location: The Oratory

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

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. 

Pick Up Choir Today

Interested in singing on a Sunday service for the first time?

Join us today, 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!

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

Location: The Chapter Room

Contact: The Rev. Dr. Bob Hanson 

 Join us in the Chapter Room from 8:45 until 9:45.a.m. on Sunday mornings. Bob Hanson, Biblical scholar, linguist and theologian, leads our group. For more information call Bob at (207) 405- 8250. Activity units are distributed for each session. Assigned readings are from the Biblical books under consideration. The “journey is a joyous one.”

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.  

Letter from the Dean

(copy of what was sent out yesterday)

Dear friends,

I write to inform you that I have accepted a call to serve as rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, East Hampton, New York in the Diocese of Long Island, beginning May 1, 2023. With agreement from the bishop and vestry, my transition time will begin February 1. This means that January 29, 2023 will be my last Sunday at St. Luke's. A farewell celebration is being planned for Saturday, February 4.

The Rev. Paul St. Germain, a newly retired priest with large church experience and a wonderful caring soul who recently moved just a few blocks away, has agreed to be with St. Luke's during the transition time, after which the diocese will assist St. Luke's in finding an interim and begin a search process. Paul will be ably assisted by the Rev. Suzanne Roberts, the Rev. Anne Fowler, the Rev. Christopher Worthley, and the Rev. Rebecca Grant. All may be reached through the cathedral office 772-5434 or office@cathedralofstluke.org

May of 2023 will mark 18 years of mission and ministry together. Being with you and serving as the Dean of the cathedral have been a great adventure, a joy, and a blessing that has truly been a high point of my career, my life, and the life of my family. Together we have done God’s work in serving the wider community, standing for love and justice, caring for others and ourselves, striving to make sure that all are welcome,  and helping people experience God’s presence through worship, music, and spiritual growth. Thank you for going on this journey with me. I deeply love Maine. I love St. Luke's and I love you. I will always have a special place for you in my heart.

I am so proud of all that we have done together. From the successful campaign for Marriage Equality to the revitalization of our pantries during Covid, completion of the Rose Window wall repairs and capital campaign and strategic transitions in cathedral staff, the Spirit is at work and new life and energy are bubbling up all over the place. As was clear in the wonderful services on Christmas, St. Luke's is in a good place and ready for the next stage of its life. The same is true for me. May God be with us all as our journeys continue.

With love and gratitude,

Ben

The Very Rev. Dr. Benjamin Shambaugh

Dean of the Cathedral

cc. The Bishop of Maine and Lesser Chapter of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke

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

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