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The E-Pistle of Thursday
March 14th, 2024
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Dear Friends-
I’m grateful that so many of you were able to join us last Sunday to hear Susan Czolgosz’ interpretation of our Congregation Assessment Tool (CAT) Survey. For some, the results of the survey were challenging to hear. For others, the results were ‘a relief’ as one parishioner said. For all of us, the results provide guidance for next steps in this interim time.
If you haven’t had a chance to read the executive summary or see the slides from Susan’s presentation, electronic versions are available below. We also have hard copies in the parish office. If you would like to see the complete twenty-eight page report, we have a few copies available in the office too.
This weekend, your vestry will meet in to discuss the next steps our community will take together. After meeting with Bishop Thomas Brown next week, we will share the results of our prayer, discussion and discernment with you.
In the meantime, I ask for your prayers. Our Book of Common Prayer provides Collects for various occasions. The Collect appointed ‘For the Unity of the Church’ seems especially appropriate for this time. I commend it to you.
Almighty God, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed for his disciples that they might be one, as you and he are one: Grant that your Church, being bound together in love and obedience to you, may be united in one body by the one Spirit, that the world may believe in the one whom you have sent, Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (BCP, p.255)
See you Sunday-
George
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Resources from the Congregational Assessment Tool (CAT)
Results Presentation this past Sunday
This past Sunday, March 10th, we welcomed CAT consultant, Susan Tamborini Czolgosz, via Zoom to speak with our congregation about the results of our CAT survey.
Below, please find resources from the presentation, including the executive summary and the slides.
With any questions please email the Reverend George Stevens.
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Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
at CSL this Sunday
with prize-winning teenage fiddler
Beck Welling
from New Gloucester
Shortly after beginning his ministry at CSL in 2022, Christian Clough, Canon for Music & Liturgy, met Beck’s mother Hannah at Common Ground Country Fair, and their first conversation led to a discovery of a common interest in music. Christian extended an invitation for Beck to play at St. Luke’s that day. We are thrilled it is finally happening!
Please see Beck's Biography below:
Beck Welling is a sixteen-year-old fiddler from New Gloucester, Maine. He began taking lessons at age four-and-a-half with renowned local fiddler Ellen Gawler. In July 2019, with Ellen and her advanced fiddle group, Beck traveled to the Shetland Islands to participate in Folk Frenzy, a week-long celebration of Shetland music. Thus began Beck’s love of Scottish fiddling, only reinforcing the connection to the country that his family’s heritage provides.
In 2001, with Ellen’s encouragement, Beck began lessons with the acclaimed Scottish fiddler Seàn Heely. All of Beck’s lessons with Seàn are via Zoom, but Seàn has taken Beck to a whole new level. In September of 2023, Beck competed in, and won, the Northeast Junior Scottish Fiddling Championships. In the fall of 2024, Beck will go on to compete in the National Competition.
Next to the Scottish genre, Beck also enjoys playing Irish tunes, and looks forward to sharing his love of this music with you all!
Beck is available for events, dances and gatherings of all types! He can be reached via email.
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Eucharistic Minister Training This Sunday, March 17th
Mark your calendars for Eucharistic Minister (chalice bearer) training this Sunday, March 17th after the 10 am service. We’ll review the tasks assigned to the Eucharistic Minister, handle the “holy hardware” and answer any questions that you might have about fulfilling this ministry. After the service take a moment to get a cup of coffee and then meet us at the altar rail in the church.
If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to Deacon Rebecca via email.
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Easter Flower Offering 2024 | |
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Each Easter the St. Luke’s Flower Guild welcomes contributions to support the flowers which are beautifully arranged for our Easter Sunday services.
Gifts are made in memory of loved ones or thanksgiving for God's blessings in your life.
The names of all individuals and thanksgivings are noted in the Easter Sunday Bulletin.
To make a gift to contribute to the flowers at Easter, please complete either the online or physical form below and make a payment using the following options:
1) Use our online giving software through Realm (see further below for additional instructions)
2) Mail a physical check to our address of P.O. Box 4141, Portland, ME 04101.
Please complete the online form or enclose the physical form in your mailing
3) Place the completed form with a check enclosed in the plate during the offertory.
4) Drop off completed form and check to the cathedral office during office hours.
Please note: Additional physical forms are also available at both entrances to the Nave, in the cathedral office, or can be mailed by request.
We will accept submissions of names for the Easter Bulletin until March 27.
If you have any questions please contact the parish office by email or at 207-772-5434
or
email Flower Guild co-chairs Mary Doughty and Kathy Watt.
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Instructions for Giving towards the Easter Offering
using Realm Online Giving
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Portland Rossini Club Concert This Sunday at 3:00PM
Join the Portland Rossini Club for their concert this Sunday afternoon at 3:00PM in the Cathedral Nave.
The concert will feature:
Violist Melissa Lund Ziegler and pianist Amy Hunter performing Henri Vieutemps Viola Sonata, Op. 36
Elizabeth Harmon, mezzo-soprano, and pianist James Nga performing Schubert’s Suleika I and An die Musik, as well as two songs by Leonard Bernstein
Cellist Hugh Judge and pianist James Nga performing Beethoven’s Sonata No. 1 for Cello and Piano
Pianists Ruth Matt and Leah Neuchiller performing Gershwin’s Three Preludes for Piano.
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Foyer Groups Return! Simple Food, Simple Fellowship
Foyer Groups are small groups (around 8) persons sharing simple meals and fellowship. The intention is to have fun and provide an opportunity for us to meet each other and/or to become better acquainted. Each group meets once a month for a simple meal and relaxed conversation in the homes of members.
Foyer Groups are not intended to do anything, but simply to be what Christians are: groups of people who gather together and “love one another.” Foyer Groups provide time to be with one another so that friendship may grow.
Each month, a member (or two) host a gathering. Foyer Groups are not a study or prayer group; they have no agenda other than spending time with one another, which is important for the building of Christian community in our parish. The uniqueness of the Foyer Group is its lack of formal structure, its openness of communication, and it's free access given to the Spirit.
Those interested in signing up to join a group can sign up on the bulletin board outside the church office. Sign up sheets will also be available at both the 7am and 5:15 services. The deadline for sign ups is this Sunday, March 17.
Please contact Judd Hume (who is coordinating this effort) via email or by telephone at: (207) 773-5611 if you have questions!
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Join Us for the Inaugural
St. Luke’s Chili Cook Off on Friday March 22nd
Join us for our first ever St. Luke’s Chili Cook Off on Friday, March 22nd in the lower hall. This event will be a time of fun, food, community, and friendly competition to support the pantries operating out of the cathedral who support our neighbors.
Families and children are welcome and encouraged to attend! We will have board games, coloring, and cornhole available beginning at 5:30PM in the Upper Hall. Dinner will be available beginning at 6:00PM in the lower hall.
We need volunteers to make this event run smoothly and successfully!
The deadline to sign-up to volunteer is Tuesday, March 19th!
We are especially looking for volunteers in the following areas:
- Make a chili for the competition (2 spots remain!)
- Serve as a vote counter
- Serve as a greeter
- Help to supervise the family fun area in the upper hall
- Help with clean up
A sign-up sheet is available electronically here or on the bulletin board outside of the office.
If making a chili isn't a role you would like to volunteer in, there are plenty of additional ways to help.
The event is open to all. We encourage and welcome donations for the following groups:
St. Elizabeth’s Essentials Pantry: Toothpaste, toothbrushes, diapers sizes 3-5
St. Luke’s Food Pantry: canned tomatoes, canned tomato soup, flour, cornmeal, dried white beans, pinto beans
cooking oil, pasta
Greater Portland Family Promise: Diapers of all sizes
A general suggested offering to support the cost of the event $5 is also welcome, but not mandatory to attend.
With questions about volunteering, please contact parish administrator, Avery Levesque-Schott by email or by phone at 207-772-5434, to learn more about how you can help!
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Holy Week Schedule of 2024 | |
Please see the schedule below for service times during Holy Week of 2024. With any questions, please contact the Rev. George Stevens. | |
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HOLY WEEK SERVICE SCHEDULE
March 24th, 2024, Palm Sunday
7:30am & 10:00am
March 28th, 2024, Maundy Thursday
7:00pm
March 29th, 2024, Good Friday
12:00pm, & 7:00pm
March 30th, 2024 The Great Vigil of Easter
7:00 pm
March 31st, 2024, Easter Sunday
9:00am | Festival Eucharist with Brass & Timpani
March 31st, 2024, Easter Egg Hunt
10:15am in the Bishop's Garden
(rain location: Emmanuel Chapel)
March 31st, 2024, Easter Sunday
11:00am | Festival Eucharist with Brass & Timpani
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St. Luke's Food Pantry Needs Reusable Shopping Bags | |
5:15PM Sunday Worship
This Sunday the 5:15 service continues.
We look forward to ongoing conversation about planning and scheduling of future services. All are welcome!
Please contact Tim Wilkins if you want to help with the service, or have any questions. Thank you!
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Looking For Individuals to serve as Treasurer and
Junior Warden
The cathedral is looking for individuals interested in serving in the positions of treasurer and junior warden.
If you are interested in serving as treasurer please contact The Rev. George Stevens or Tim Wilkins, with any questions.
If you have interest in either of these positions please email The Rev. George Stevens or Senior Warden Sam Allen.
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Christian Education at the Cathedral
Interested in Christian Education? In the coming weeks the vestry will be beginning work on creating a fresh job description for the Interim Director of Religious Education at the Cathedral of St. Luke.
If you’re interested in helping shape this new position, please contact Interim Dean the Rev. George Stevens.
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Last Week's Service
Click the attached link to view last week's bulletin
To watch the livestream of last Sunday's service, click here.
Click here to watch Sunday's sermon offered by The Reverend Suzanne Roberts, Associate Priest
To read the Rev. Roberts' sermon, click here
To View past services visit our Youtube Page or visit the archive page on our website to read past bulletins, sermons, and newsletters.
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Ongoing Opportunities &
Community Resources
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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.
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Painted Rocks
and Prayers for Peace
in the Holy Land
Linda Carleton is painting rocks as prayers for peace in the Holy Land. She would like to paint one for you in exchange for a donation of any amount to the Dean’s Discretionary Fund.
Contact Linda if you would like one.
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Access Your Realm Profile
The Cathedral’s new online database, Realm, is a useful tool for parishioners to manage their contact and pledging information.
Realm helps our community by improving our record keeping in a more streamlined fashion.
When joining Realm you can sign-up to be a part of the online directory in the database.
To activate your Realm profile please contact our financial administrator Nina Andersen.
Nina will assist you with the few steps necessary to access your profile.
We look forward to sharing this exciting new technology with you!
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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 each Tuesday at Maine Beer Company in Freeport, 6-8 PM for Trivia.
Other events happen sporadically throughout the month, however trivia is a wonderful 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.
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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
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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.
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Weekly Ministries
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The Food Pantry is open from 8 am to 11 am every Thursday.
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The Tuesday 12:10 Eucharist is offered every week in Emmanuel Chapel in-person and on Zoom.
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Noon prayer is offered every Wednesday via Zoom.
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Compline is offered weekly on Friday from 8-8:30pm on Zoom.
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Click on the Episcopal Maine Logo above to learn about all that is happening in the wider Diocese.
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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
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