The E-pistle of Sunday, May 12th, 2024

Ascension Day Observed

Holy Eucharist Rite II

7:30AM in Emmanuel Chapel



Holy Eucharist, Rite II 

10:00AM in the Nave & Livestreamed

5:15PM Holy Eucharist

in Emmanuel Chapel

The Cathedral Church of St. Luke

in the

City of Portland

and the

Episcopal Diocese of Maine

Whoever you are,

and wherever you may be on the journey of the spirit, 

The Episcopal Church welcomes you.

Welcome to St. Luke’s Cathedral



We are a community of faith with ancient worship and modern thought, catholic traditions and progressive theology. We proclaim a Biblical perspective for thinking people, a respect for reason, science, and a diversity of perspective. This empowers compassion and care for both the wider community and one another. Our commitment to welcome and inclusion is central to our mission modeled on the Kingdom of God and proclaimed by Jesus Christ. 

Sunday Morning Service Participants

Preacher & Celebrant

The Reverend George Stevens, Interim Dean

Assisting

The Reverend Rebecca A. Grant, Deacon

Music Leader & Organist

Christian Clough, Canon for Liturgy & Music

Lector

Sam Allen

Prayers Leader

The Reverend Anne Fowler

Ushers

Peter Bingham, Chester Bishop, Bob Parshley, Martha Parshley

Verger

Alec Thorne

Crucifer

John Hennessy

Live Streaming

Jack Swanton, Sam Allen

The Healing Team

Peter Carleton, Sara Schmalz

Eucharistic Ministers

Rich Pitre, Maggie Gardner

Contributing Ministries

The Cathedral Choir, Acolytes, Vergers, The Flower Guild, The Altar Guild,

The Kneeler Guild, The Healing Team, Eucharistic Ministers

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

5:15PM Service of Holy Eucharist

Celebrating: The Reverend George Stevens, Interim Dean

Reflecting: Rich Pitre

This morning’s altar flowers are offered by Betsy Bodor

in loving memory of her parents, 

Patricia and John Sexton,

and in honor and memory of all mothers on Mothers’ Day.

Happening at the Cathedral Today

Coffee Hour

Coffee Hour - Please join us after the service for a time of fellowship in the upper hall through the doors to the left of the altar. All are welcome.



Interested in hosting? It is an important part of our parish life and provides us with a time for connection. Hosting is fun and easy, it requires bringing in a baked good and brewing coffee the Sunday of your choosing. Please consider signing up, a lot of gratitude comes with the job. Thank you!

Check the hosting schedule by visiting the link here.  

Please email Meredith Cough with your date.

Community Announcements

Summary of Phase I in Conflict Transformational Work

On Wednesday May 8th, the Reverend George Stevens and Senior Warden, Sam Allen sent a letter which included a link to the summary of Phase I interviews with Susan Czolgosz.

To read the letter, click here.

A link to the summary is available here.

Copies of both the summary and the letter are available in hard copy form at both entrances of the Nave as well as in the cathedral office.

Discussion of Phase II in Conflict Transformation Work

Last Wednesday 1 May, the Rev’d George Stevens sent out a letter outlining next steps in our conflict-transformation work with Susan Czolgosz of WorkLife Consulting, discussing Phase II, which has two distinct parts: Education and Small Groups.

This week, we have begun our Education sessions with Susan.

Links to sign-up to participate are available here and on hard copies of the letter, available at both entrances of the nave.

If you need help signing up, the church laptop will be available during coffee hour this Sunday, or contact Avery Levesque-Schott, Administrator, who would be glad to assist you. Please contact the office via email or by phone at 207-772-5434 if you need assistance signing up.

The Departure of the Reverend Suzanne Roberts

On Friday, April 26th, the Reverend Suzanne Roberts, Associate Priest, communicated with the congregation that she would be stepping away from her role at the cathedral on June 30th.

To read the communication to the congregation, please click here.

The letter from the Reverend Roberts is available at both entrances of the nave. On the back of the letter the Reverend George Stevens, Interim Dean, expresses words of thanks for Suzanne’s service and ministry at St. Luke’s over the last 19 years.

In order to thank Suzanne for her dedicated care to our community, our service on Sunday, June 30 will include a Liturgy of Leave-taking followed by a festive coffee hour reception, in which we will offer our blessings for the next chapter of her ministry.

If you would like to participate in preparations for the celebration please contact the parish office.

Eco-Tips from the

Public Policy and Environmental Action Team

The Farm Bill is an omnibus, multiyear legislation that sets national agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and forestry policy. Updated every 5 years, the 2023 Farm Bill was extended until fall 2024.

The biggest fight over climate policy this year will be in the Farm Bill.

It’s time to start advocating that the 2024 Farm Bill include policies and practices that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector. We believe that it is no longer acceptable to use taxpayer money to support industrial farming and ranching practices that continue to degrade agricultural land, pollute our waterways, and harm the environment.

We can do better, and the new farm bill can be a great start.

The House and Senate Farm Bill frameworks have been released for comments. The Senate framework contains the climate mitigation guardrails from the Inflation Reduction Act. The House framework deletes the guardrails in Title I Conservation text. The House Agriculture Committee will consider markups during May.

Please call your senators and representatives to urge them to support the Senate recommendations in the new Farm Bill.

• Contact Senator Angus King
• Contact Senator Susan Collins 
• Contact Representative Chellie Pingree

Work on Cathedral Connector Roof

Beginning on Monday 20 May, Horch Roofing will be working on repairs to the connector roof between the offices and upper hallway (weather permitting).

Access to this portion of roof will make the portico entrance unavailable as Horch will have their equipment stationed in this area.

All individuals accessing the building from Park Street will be asked to please use an alternative door directly adjacent to the lower hall and oratory. Proper signage will be displayed to indicate this.

As a result of this project, parking directly near the portico entrance will be reserved for Horch Roofing employees.

The anticipated timeframe of the repairs will be approximately one week.

Thank you for your flexibility and understanding as we make the necessary repairs to the building.

With any questions please contact Fred Fowler at (207)-233-9572.

St. Luke’s Food Pantry Fundraiser Bags



St. Luke’s Food Pantry will receive $1 for each $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger Bag sold in May at the Bayside Hannaford at 295 Forest Avenue, Portland. Donations of the bags themselves would also be gratefully received. Thanks to our ever-generous supporters; you allow our work to continue.

The Healing Team Schedule



The Healing Team members offer prayers of healing in the small chapel, to the right of the communion rail, during and after communion through the end of the postlude.

The following team members will be serving on the following Sundays:

May 12, 2024  Peter Carleton, Sara Schmalz

May 19, 2024  Betsey Deleuse, Mary Strnad

May 26, 2024  Judd Hume, Elise Magnuson



June 2, 2024.  Betsey Deuleuse, Oscar Mokeme

The Biblical Study Group

Summer Learning Resources



The Biblical Study Group will be on vacation until 1 September.

When we resume, we will meet Sundays 8:00-10:00AM.

Our ongoing theme is discovering the nature and meaning of “being created in the image of God.” To stimulate spiritual growth over the summer months, we invite you to read the following recommended resources:

1) God: A Biography by Jack Miles. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, The New York Times calls this text “a tour de force.” Published by Vintage Books, Random House Publishing, New York, 1996

2) Jung’s Thoughts on God: Religious Depths of the Psyche by Donald Dyer, PH.D. Published by Nicholas Hays, 2000 P.O. Box 2039, York Beach, ME 03910.

“It is only through the psyche that we can establish that God acts upon you.”

3) Jung’s May of the Soul: An Introduction and In Support of Jung’s Extensive and Intensive Thought by Murray Stein.

Published by Open Court Publishing Co., P.O. Box 300, Peru, Illinois 61354. To order call 1-800-815-2280.

COMING UP SOON at ST. LUKE’S

Courage, Resilience, & Artistry: Music of the Holocaust

A Public Lecture and Recital

7:00PM Tomorrow Monday, 13 May

Dr. Susan Eischeid, author, professor of Oboe at Valdosta State University, and noted scholar, will discuss her new biography of SS Overseer Maria Mandl and the women’s orchestra of Auschwitz-Birkenau, during a public lecture and recital entitled Courage, Resilience, & Artistry: Music of the Holocaust.

"We see May 13th as an opportunity to gather to reflect on past, present, and all-too-possible future anti-Semitism in Maine and across the nation and indeed, the world over. An opportunity to reflect and talk and pray together, made more palpable by the power of music," says Maine composer Sara Lambert Bloom, who taught Eischeid at the Cincinnati Conservatory.

The lecture and recital will take place tomorrow at 7:00PM in the cathedral nave and will be open and free to the public. 

The recital will feature the following musicians:

Christian M. Clough, baritone, Susan Story Frank, soprano, James Kennerley, piano, and Kathleen, McNerney, oboe. 

To learn more about Dr. Eischeid’s work visit her website

To read notes written by Sara Lambert Bloom, an organizer of the event, please click here.

Award Winning Documentary

"The Philadelphia Eleven" Coming to Portland

7:00PM Tuesday, May 14th

The Nickelodeon Theatre

published by The Episcopal Diocese of Maine

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of women’s ordination to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church, the compelling new documentary "The Philadelphia Eleven" will have a limited theatrical release in 11 selected cities—including Portland!

The screening this coming Tuesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. at the Nickelodeon 6 will feature a post-screening conversation with five noteworthy Maine women priests: the Rev. Merrill Bittner, one of the Philadelphia 11; the Rev. Sukie Curtis, the first woman ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of Mississippi; the Rev. Cn. Nancy Moore of Christ Church, Norway; the Rev. Dr. Vicki Lovely Smith of St. Martin's, Palmyra; and the Rev. Portia Royall Hirschman, a parishioner of St. Mary's Falmouth and a supply priest.

We hope you will join us for this exciting event, and that you will share this information with your family, and friends!

Read about the panelists and get assistance with buying tickets here.

The Public Policy

and Environmental Action

Team Meeting

6:00PM Tuesday, May 14th

PPEAT will meet Tuesday May 14 from 6-7 PM. 

All are welcome. Join us via Zoom. 

 For more information email Ruth Roemer. 

Looking at our Rose Window through Mandala Eyes

11:30AM Sunday, May 19th

After Church on May 19th join Linda Carleton in the cathedral nave for a discussion about how our rose window evokes the twelve stages of the Mandala Great Round and of the Christian life. Bring your coffee and your eagerness to engage in fruitful discussion!

Contact Linda Carleton with any questions you may have.

Soul Talk

10:00AM Tuesday, May 28th

Soul Talk is a monthly conversation about our spirituality and relationship with God.

Join us 10:00-11:30AM the fourth Tuesday of each month in the Oratory

(lower level at the far east end of the building.)

Our first meeting will be Tuesday 28 May.

The topic this month will be “SOUL— What might it be and how do we experience it?”

Feel free to just drop in, but if you’d like to receive short readings, videos, and/or art work beforehand, contact Linda Carleton to get on the list.

Ongoing Opportunities & Announcements

Join the Young and The Restless

We are St. Luke’s 20s-30s-year-old ministry. We are an active group at the cathedral which also gets together outside of the church.

Join us as we go hiking, ice skating, play trivia, or just enjoy each other’s company! If you are new to us, welcome! We meet every Tuesday at Maine Beer Company in Freeport for Trivia from 6-8.

 Other events happen sporadically throughout the month, however trivia is a great opportunity to meet us if you’re joining us for the first time. Contact Shana Rose to stay up to date with group activities and information.

The Kneeler Guild and

Prayer Shawl Knitters

Tuesday

2:30PM

The Upper Hall.

For additional information contact Jeri Edgar 207-303-8447 or Nancy Mawhinney 207-775-7500

Everyone is welcome, whether you are curious or want to begin. Kneeler kits cost $75, which include directions, yarn, needles & canvas. Novices are welcome; we will teach you as needed. Prayer Shawls: 26-29” by 60”; select your yarn & needles. Coffee & Tea available.

Join Luke's Garden

LGBTQIA+ Group

Luke's Garden is the cathedral's LGBTQIA+ group which meets every 2nd Sunday of the month following coffee hour.

All are welcome!

For additional information contact Orion Williams

Weekly Ministries

• St. Elizabeth's Jubilee Center is offered every Tuesday from 8:30 am to 11 am.

• The Food Pantry is open from 8 am to 11 am every Thursday.

• The Tuesday 12:10 Eucharist is offered every week in Emmanuel Chapel in-person and on Zoom.

• Noon prayer is offered every Wednesday via Zoom.

• Compline is offered weekly on Friday from 8-8:30pm on Zoom.

Click on the Episcopal Maine Logo above to learn about all that is happening in the wider Diocese.

https://episcopalmaine.org

stlukesportland.org

(207)-772-5434

Email

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