The E-pistle of Sunday, September 24th, 2023

The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Holy Eucharist, Rite II

7:30AM in Emmanuel Chapel

Holy Baptism & Eucharist, Rite II

10:00AM in the Nave & Livestreamed

Celebrating the Season of Creation

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

The Rev. George Stevens, Interim Dean

Celebrants

The Rev. George Stevens, Interim Dean

The Rev. Suzanne Roberts M.D., Associate Priest

Assisting

The Rev. Rebecca A. Grant, Deacon

Music Leader & Organist

Christian M. Clough, Canon for Liturgy & Music

Assisting Organist

Randall Mullin

Lector

M. Parker Roberts

Prayers Leader

Curtis Maurand

Ushers

Bob Parshley, Martha Parshley, Stan Kuziel, Gail Swanton 

Head Verger

Eleanor Roberts

Crucifer

Orion Williams

Live Streaming

Jack Swanton, Sam Allen

The Healing Team

Elise Magnuson, Peter Carleton

Contributing Ministries

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

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). 

Hearing Assistance Devices Available

St. Luke’s has 10 new headsets for those who need hearing assistance and most people who use them find them very helpful. Each week, five will be out on benches in the nave near our two entrances. The headsets will already be turned on and the volume turned up to about 70%. The only adjustment that may be necessary is for volume which can be raised and lowered using two silver buttons on the front of the unit. After using the devices, please return them to one of the benches near the exits. If you need assistance, please ask one of the ushers. For additional information, please ask Senior Warden Sam Allen.

Happening at the Cathedral Today

PPEAT To Host Conversation with

Curtis Bohlen Today Following the 10:00AM Service

The Public Policy and Environmental Action Team is hosting a presentation and discussion with Curtis Bohlen today, Sunday, September 24 in the Upper Hall following coffee hour at 11:45 AM. All are welcome.

Curtis Bohlen, Director of the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP), is an aquatic and wetland biologist with a background in ecology, economics, and public policy. CBEP builds collaborative partnerships with agencies, organizations, and individuals to seek solutions to environmental challenges and improve management of Casco Bay. In recent years, the organization has expanded efforts to help communities prepare for climate change and a changing coastal ocean.

Casco Bay lies at the heart of Maine's most populous region. The Bay (and our other waters ) shape our communities, offer meaning and create memories for residents and visitors alike. Casco Bay has so far proven resilient, in part because of our still largely forested landscape, the Bay's strong tides, and community commitment to, and investments in clean water. But climate change and sea level rise already affect the Bay's ecosystems and pose new challenges for coastal (and inland) communities. In response, CBEP is working to expand the circle of people with whom we work and connect our traditional water quality and habitat work with community needs.

Sunday Mornings|8:45-9:45AM

Location: The Chapter Room

Contact: The Rev. Dr. Bob Hanson at 207-405-8250. 

Join us in the Chapter Room from 8:45–9:45 AM 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.

Community Announcements

Blessing of the Animals on October 1st (Next Sunday)

Next Sunday, is the Sunday closest to the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

Please join us at 9:45 in the labyrinth to the right of the State Street Entrance for the Blessing of the Animals. All are encouraged to bring their beloved pets to receive a blessing. If you have a pet who would not be comfortable out in public, please bring a photo of them, and we will bless the image. We also encourage all of our younger members with stuffed animals to bring them along so that they might also receive a blessing. All are welcome, even the petless!

Coffee Hour

For the time being, Liz Griffin and Gail Kesich are managing the Coffee Hour schedule. If you have any questions or would like to sign up to host, please contact Gail Kesich  or Liz Griffin.

A Note Regarding Streaming Difficulties on Youtube Live

Dear St. Luke's Community,

Over the last two weeks we have experienced difficulties with the livestream on Youtube Live. We have heard feedback from several parishioners and would like to apologize for any difficulties you may have experienced.

We are trying our best to figure out why this issue may have occurred and ask for your patience and understanding as we all navigate the complications associated with technology.

Our facebook livestream has been functioning regularly and is a viable option if Youtube streaming has unexpected difficulties.

Thank you for your understanding as we seek to make our services accessible to all.

The Healing Team

The Healing Team Schedule for Sundays in September

September 24, 2023   Elise Magnuson, Peter Carleton

October 1, 2023      Gail Kesich, Oscar Mokeme

Healing Team members offer prayers until the end of the Postlude for anyone including service leaders, Choir members, Altar Guild et al. If you have any questions, please contact Judd Hume at either (207) 773 - 5611 or by email.

St Elizabeth’s Essentials Drive in September

St E’s serves 280+ neighbors Tuesday mornings from 8:30 to 11 am. Essential items include toilet paper, bars of soap, feminine products, etc. Diapers, tooth paste, blankets, towels and sheets, and pots, pans and cookware are provided monthly.  

We are having an Essentials Drive throughout September to help with rising costs and an increasing number of neighbors being served. You can participate by contributing bars of soap, rolls of toilet paper, packages of diapers, donating cash or by writing a check payable to "St. Elizabeth's Jubilee Center".

All essential items will be blessed during the service on September 24th and then delivered to St Elizabeth’s. Any contribution that you can make is very much appreciated.

St. Luke's Food Pantry in Need of Contributions

The Food Pantry welcomes your contributions of oil, flour, and dried beans!

These continue to be the most wanted items and and the most difficult for us to keep in stock.

Donations can be dropped off at any service or at the Cathedral's rear entrance. Thank you! Both neighbors and volunteers are grateful for your support!

With any questions please contact Mary Brighthaupt.

Ongoing Opportunities & Announcements

Availability of the St. Luke’s Community Kitchen

We are completing a 2023-2024 school year calendar (Sept. - June) for the Community Kitchen and Lower Hall. These two calendars when completed will be posted downstairs on the door to the Lower Hall, and the door to the Community Kitchen.

Any St. Luke's parishioner or ministry interested in scheduling time in the Community Kitchen, or the Community Kitchen and Lower Hall should contact Dawn Brennan-Daly.

Dawn will contact you to schedule a brief meeting and training, and place your event, date and time (recurring or one-time) on the Community Kitchen and Lower Hall Google Calendars (part of the cathedral Google calendar.) Scheduling is based on availability.

Donate to the Dean's Discretionary Fund

With the arrival of The Rev. George Stevens, our St. Luke's financial team invites you to make a donation to the Dean's discretionary fund if you are able.

This will ensure that the Rev. Stevens has access to a sufficient amount of funds for neighbors needing assistance.

Donations are able to be made online on Realm and by selecting (The Dean's Discretionary Fund) on the drop-down menu or by mail to P.O. Box 4141, Portland, ME 04101.

Thank you!

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 the second Tuesday of each month at Rising Tide, 6-8 PM in Portland. Other events happen sporadically throughout the month, however second Tuesdays at Rising Tide is a great place 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.

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

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



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

• Noon prayer is offered every Wednesday via Zoom.



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

• Compline is offered weekly on Friday from 8-8:30pm on Zoom. For additional details contact Ray Murdoch Curry

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