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”.

Thank you from Ben and Shari

Thank you everyone for a beautiful final service on Sunday, January 29 and a truly wonderful celebration on Saturday, February 4. Both events involved a huge number of people working behind the scenes and we are truly grateful for all who did so much to give us such a good goodbye. Thank you. We love you and will miss you. May God be with us all as our journeys continue.

love,

Ben and Shari Shambaugh

As of May 1 our address will be 22 James Lane, East Hampton, NY 11937 shambaugh04103@gmail.com

Video of the service on January 29 and the celebration on February 4 is on the Cathedral Youtube Live webpage

West End News Highlights Dean Shambaugh's Ministry

click here for full article

A Warm Welcome to Paul from the

 St. Luke's Food Pantry

Last week we welcomed Paul, our newest food pantry volunteer. Paul and his wife Rose arrived in the US several months ago from Angola. He taught geography and computer science in Luanda and Rose is a trained cook.

Paul speaks English well and on Thursday mornings he makes our food pantry an even more welcoming place by interpreting for our Portuguese-speaking neighbors.

Paul and Rose have transitioned from living in a shelter to living with St. Barts parishioners in Yarmouth temporarily. If you have any ideas about permanent housing in the area, please email Anne Jacobs.

St. Luke's Community Kitchen to

Host Cooking Classes with Guest Chefs

Monday, March 6th|6:00p-8:30pm

Location: The St. Luke's Community Kitchen

All proceeds support St. Luke’s Community Kitchen.

To Register: Dawn Brennan-Daly

Cost is $75/pp with seating for 12 participants.

Chef Will Donnelly will show you how to prepare home-made pasta with a delicious sauce, and then enjoy dinner together. Please BYOB.

Chef Donnelly was born in South Africa and started cooking at an early age with his family after moving to New York City. He continued his education at the Culinary Institute of America and has cooked in professional kitchens and restaurants in London, New York and Portland. He brings over 18 years of experience to his cooking, catering and classes, and is committed through his teaching to preparing better, healthier meals at home while supporting local, organic, humane farming.

Learn more by going to Loving Bite Catering and on Instagram, Will Donnelly (@sharplikeknife)

PPEAT Eco-Tips Regarding PFAS chemicals

PFAS, or Per and Polyfluoralkyl substances are a group of chemicals used to make water, grease, and stain-repellant items. Often labeled Teflon, Scotchgard, Stainmaster, Polartec, and Gore-tex, these have been found to create environmental degradation through product disintegration, pollution, and discharge into waterways. Some of these have even been reported in human blood. According to the Environmental Working Group, some carpets, clothing, and Glide Floss contain PFAS.

The Environmental Working Group lists items contaminated with PFAS and provides a pdf that one can download for more information. Go to www.ewg.org

PPEAT Eco-Tips for Diocesan Climate Justice Council

Have you checked out the Diocesan Climate Justice Council web page yet? Even if you have, we urge you to take another look and read about the Council's work. New things are always being added. Take a look at "Sustainable Practices for Individuals" and other resource links. Recently added are links to some excellent blogs written by fellow Mainers about environmental topics and a link to the Maine chapter of Third Act, Bill Mckibben's new climate organization for those over the age of 50. And if you want to do something to address global warming but are not sure what, here is a helpful survey developed by Yale Climate Communications: What can YOU do about climate change? Take this quiz to find out.

PPEAT Lenten Resources

The Public Policy and Environmental Action Team recommends these two resources for Lenten practice and reflection. 



The Creation Justice Ministries 2023 Lent Resource: Daily Reflection-Action Calendar to Cultivate Creation Justice can be downloaded here. This calendar includes daily tips for personal action, learning, advocacy and reflection.

The Rev. Mary Jane O'Connor-Ropp, of St. David's in Kennebunk, has developed Walking with Suffering Creation: A Meditative Experience in Eight Days, which can be downloaded here.

Each meditation includes an invitation, reflection and prayer, and they need not be done on consecutive days.

Becoming Beloved Community Newsletter from the

Episcopal Church

Please read the reflection below from the Episcopal Church's Becoming Beloved Community Newsletter in reflection of the death of Tyre Nichols.

We Must Stop Forgetting

By Stephanie Spellers

I have not watched the film of five Black Memphis police officers beating 29-year-old Tyre Nichols to a pulp. I have not seen the EMTs who did so little while a beloved child made in God’s image lay dying at their feet. 

I have not looked, yet it is all I can see. Just reading the account is enough to conjure the most horrific, tortured images—worse than anything Hollywood could script. I have not seen the video, but I cannot unsee it, and I honestly don’t want to unsee it. We have become too good at forgetting.  

Read Full Newsletter Here

Have Your Say: Youth Retreat & Forum

February 17th-19th

Location: Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center, New Hampshire

Contact: Emily Keniston

Interest Form

Current middle and high school youth from the Episcopal Dioceses of Maine and New Hampshire are invited to participate in Have Your Say: Youth Retreat & Forum. This event is a two-night, two-day retreat at Barbara Harris Camp and Conference Center in New Hampshire to invite prayer, community building, fun, and discernment about how youth experience God at work in the world right now, and what they want their church to do about it.

Interested caregivers can fill out this interest form to indicate their middle or high school child’s interest in attending the event. A registration form will then be emailed to interested parties. Email Director of Faith Formation in the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, Emily Keniston, with questions or concerns. 

*The Episcopal Church in New Hampshire is having a Family Fun Day at Barbara Harris Camp and Conference Center on the Saturday of the youth event, Feb 18th, so some families may want to participate in that event but have a teen join in the Have Your Say track, too. Please email Emily Keniston for more information about how that can work.

The Healing Team

The Healing Team will serve on these dates with the following Healing Team members:

February 12, 2023 Mary Strnad and Peter Carleton

February 19, 2023 Sara Schmalz and Elise Magnuson

February 26, 2023 Gail Kesich and Judd Hume

March 5, 2023 Oscar Mokeme and Sara Schmalz

Please contact Judd Hume at (207) 773-5611 or with any questions.

New Online Giving Platform Launched

The Cathedral has launched our 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.

You can also 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.

Family Promise Needs Your Help

Portland Friends is hosting GPFP families. Help is still needed!

The GPFP rotational model is up and running and we still need your help!

There are  currently two sets of volunteer opportunities.  One involves shifts at the day center at the YMCA on Forest Avenue. We are looking for help filling morning, midday, and afternoon shifts Monday - Saturday.  The  day center is generally staffed with one Family Promise staff person and a volunteer. We need the most help Tuesday and Thursdays between 10-2 and on Saturday when the kids are there. Sign up at the YMCA day center here.

The other involves volunteering at the host church, which alternates every two weeks. Portland Friends will host our families from February 8 through February 22. There are opportunities for spending time with the families from 5:00 to 8:15 pm, and overnights, as well as shifts on Sundays and Presidents’ Day on February 20. Sign up at Friends with this link.

  Please Contact Ann if you have questions, or Wayne if you’re having trouble signing up. 

At this time, we welcome both trained and untrained volunteers from our faith communities. Many thanks to all who have stepped up to help - we could not do this without you!

Lynne England: (207) 318-9848

Connie Bingham: (207) 415-1441

Mary Linneman: (207) 409-4253