E-Pistle of Thursday December 1st, 2022

Reflections of the Week

Feeling Blue in Advent

From Dean Shambaugh,

You may have noticed that we have been using blue instead of purple as our liturgical color this Advent. Blue is a “Sarum” color, coming from rites developed at Salisbury Cathedral in the 11th century, restored during the English Reformation, then rediscovered during the Oxford movement of the latter 19th century. Blue was used with the goal of getting away from what had become a very Lenten-like penitential theme of Advent.

Read Full Reflection Here

The Greening of the Cathedral

Special thanks are given for the team of volunteers who tirelessly set up the Christmas tree, hung wreaths, and other decor to prepare the cathedral for the season’s many concerts and activities.

Thank you Sam Allen, Curtis Maurand, Dick Farnsworth, Stan Kuziel, David Savage, Peter Bingham, Claire Hammen, Joyce Cassidy, Mary Doughty, Byrd Wood and Kathy Watt for helping to welcome in the holiday season at St. Luke's!

Events at St. Luke's

The Portland Community Chorus

December 2nd | 7:30pm

December 3rd | 2:00pm

Location: The Cathedral Nave

Contact: The Parish Office

Learn about event details

Mandala Journaling with the Advent Story

Saturday, December 3rd | 9am-11am

Location: The Chapter Room

Contact: Linda Carleton

register prior to event by emailing Linda
All Materials Provided

A Service of Lessons and Carols with the Cathedral Choir

December 4th | 4:00 PM

Location: The Cathedral Nave

Contact: Christian Clough

Learn more about Lessons and Carols

Diocese of Maine to Sponsor Book Launch from Dr. Catherine Meeks

December 8th |6:30 pm

Location: Zoom

Registration Link

Facebook Event

Learn about event details

Lila Bean Festive Holiday Pop- Up

Bake Sale

December 4th | 10:00 am-12:00pm

Location: Outside Community Kitchen

Enjoy scones, holidays cookies, cakes and pecan rolls!

St. Mary Schola

"Blow the Trumpet"

An Advent Concert

December 10th | 3:00 pm

Location: The Cathedral Nave

Contact: The Parish Office

Learn about event details

The Maine Pop's Band Christmas Benefit Concert

Benefiting the St. Luke's Food Pantry

December 11th | 2:30 pm

Location: The Cathedral Nave

Contact: The Parish Office

Learn about event details

Christmas with Renaissance Voices

December 17th| 7:30 pm

December 18th | 2:00 pm

Location: The Cathedral Nave

Contact: The Parish Office

Learn about event details

A Christmas Eve Family Service

December 24th | 5:00 PM

Location: The Cathedral Nave

A Christmas Eve Family Service with the Bishop of Maine featuring our Christmas Pageant

A Candlelit Christmas Eve Service

December 24th | 10:00 PM

Location: The Cathedral Nave

A Candlelit Christmas Eve service with the Bishop of Maine and music offerings from the St. Luke's Cathedral Choir.

Prelude begins at 9:30

St. Luke's Community Announcements

The Passing of Brian Wilson

It is with mournful hearts that we announce the passing of St. Luke's parishioner Brian Wilson. For those who knew Brian, he was a source of kindness, light and joy for so many through the sharing of his music, compassionate listening, and willingness to help others.

St. Luke's will host a service in celebration of his life on December 17th at

11 am, with a reception to follow in the upper hall.

St. E'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!

Food Pantry Advent Calendar

Please see the calendar below to learn more about the needs of the pantry in their efforts to care for our neighbors during this holiday season. For additional information please contact Mary Brighthaupt at

Stewardship Update

Many thanks to all who have submitted pledge cards for 2023. As of November 19, We have received 110 pledges for $345,476.72. Nine are from new pledgers. Over half of repeat pledgers increased their pledge amounts. Both the amount pledged and the number of pledges is running somewhat ahead of the past several years.

A gentle reminder to the approximately 75 of you who pledged for 2022 but not yet for 2023, and to other members and friends who would like to pledge: please take a moment to fill out a pledge card, on paper or online, and submit it to the Cathedral so that we can move forward with budgeting for next year. To pledge online, visit www.stlukesportland.org/Give and click on Online Pledge Form.

Thank you again, and have a memorable holiday season.

Dan McDonald, Chair, Stewardship Committee

The Healing Team

The Healing Team will be serving the following dates:

12/4/22. Mary Strnad and Oscar Mokeme

How to Get Involved at St. Luke's

St. Elizabeth's Boot Drive Update

Contact: Martha Parshley

Wow, what a day! We set a new record at St. E's this morning with 264 neighbors arriving for their essential products and 164 pairs of boots distributed. Many of our neighbors arrived early (a growing trend) and were eager to make their boot selections. This distribution of boots was made possible by the support of our partner churches, concerned individuals and others who contributed to our successful boot drive this year and a wonderful crew of volunteers.

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!

Learn about how you can help the St. Luke's Food Pantry

A Christian Life of Faith:

Signs and Thresholds Along the Way

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

Learn about how you can get involved with this group

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

Learn about singing in the choir and how you can get involved

Public Policy and Environmental Action Team Eco-Tips

"The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to serve it and to guard it (Genesis 2:15)"

Are you not sure how God is calling you to preserve and repair the Earth? Yale Climate Connections has developed a survey to help you find the right match between climate action and your personality and lifestyle. Complete the survey here.

Family Promise Housing Help

Thank you for your ongoing support of Family Promise and the unhoused families in our area. As you may know, Many families who have been living in area motels have received eviction notices because Emergency Rental Assistance is ending. The warming shelter in Portland - the City of Portland Family Shelter overflow has been full and 14 families (52 people who are seeking safety and asylum in Maine) were on the street.

Greater Portland Family Promise is organizing faith communities to begin housing families in their buildings. Woodfords along with their partner Coastal Church began hosting at Woodfords this week. We are looking for volunteers from St. Luke's to help at Woodfords.

The shifts are from 5 pm - 8:45 pm in the evenings to socialize with guests and also from 8:30 pm - 8:00 am which is an overnight shift. Here is the link to sign up.

Events in the Community

Day of Prayer and Action in Augusta December 7th

Watch a special announcement below from Bishop Thomas Brown about a Day of Prayer and Action in Augusta!

Select the Episcopal Maine Logo to learn about all that is happening in the wider Diocese.

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