The Weekly E-Pistle

Thursday, September 26th, 2024

A Reflection from the Reverend George Stevens, Interim Dean

Dear Friends,

This Saturday parishioners of the Cathedral of St. Luke will be gathering for World Café. This meeting provides an opportunity for us to put into practice many of the tools we’ve learned through this year’s Conflict Transformation process.

The aim of this meeting is to put into practice the tools we’ve learned in our Conflict Transformation process and gauge the readiness of our community to begin the process of calling our next dean. I ask for your presence and prayers.

To be present, just sign up using the link below or click here.

Our Book of Common Prayer offers a great model for how to pray for us this weekend. This prayer, For the Parish, is found on page 817.

Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

See you Saturday (and Sunday too)

-George

UPCOMING

Conflict Transformation

World Café

Parish-Wide Conversation

Sign-Up Available!

This Saturday, September 28, 9AM–noon

The Cathedral Nave

*Please note that overflow parking is available at the Cumberland Club

if parking at the lot at 134 Park Street is filled

RSVP Here

This Saturday, September 28th, from 9A.M. to noon, all parishioners are invited to participate in the fourth and final phase of our conflict transformation work.

Please note that it is not necessary to have participated in Phases 1-3 of the conflict transformation process to attend. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate!

We will gather in the Nave for a parish-wide conversation about our communal life using a “World Café” format.

Please click here to learn more about this type of conversation style.

Conversations will center on questions developed in conjunction with our consultant Susan Czolgosz and will occur in small groups of 6–8 people.

Fellow parishioners have been invited to act as table facilitators, timekeepers, and notetakers.

Light breakfast options and coffee will be provided during this gathering.

An online sign-up registration form to attend is available here.

If you need help signing up, a member of our team will be at coffee hour with the church laptop and would be glad to assist you.

Additional help is also available by contacting parish administrator, Avery Levesque-Schott via email.

With questions please contact The Reverend George Stevens, Interim Dean

or Sam Allen, Senior Warden.

Stewardship Campaign 2025

"Walk in Love"

Communications & Materials Coming Soon!

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

-Ephesians 5: 1-2, NRSV

Please stay tuned to the E-pistle in the coming weeks for upcoming communications for our 2025 Stewardship Campaign.

This year, our stewardship theme, 'Walk in Love' invites us to journey together in faith, unity, and purpose.

Inspired by Ephesians 5:1-2, we are called to imitate God's love in our lives and our community.

As we navigate our path forward, including our ongoing process of conflict transformation, walking in love reminds us that our faith journey is not solitary but shared.

It challenges us to align our actions with our values, to support one another in times of need, and to be open to the transformative power of God's love.

Through our stewardship, we have the opportunity to tangibly express this love - whether through our time, talents, or resources.

As you reflect on the stewardship theme please use the following questions:

What are examples of walking in love you have experienced at St. Luke’s?
What ministry of our congregation is most hopeful or most exciting to you?
When was a time that the community was there for you?
How do you experience God’s abundance?

If you are interested in sharing your reflections with the wider congregation in the form of testimonial during an upcoming service, participating in a stewardship video, or sharing your thoughts in writing, please contact the parish office via email.

Help Stuff Envelopes

If you would like to help stuff stewardship materials, please join us in the Upper Hall on Wednesday, October 16th at 1PM for a mailing party.

Coffee, tea, and pastries will be available! If you are interested in participating please email the parish office.

Portland Rossini Club Concert

This Sunday, September 29

3:00PM

The Cathedral Nave

Tickets at the door: $15/ 10$ for seniors

Join the Portland Rossini Club this Sunday for the opening concert of their 154th season!

The concert will feature the following selections:

-string quartet, Ladies of Note, performing Juan Arriaga’s Quartet No. 1 in D minor

-pianist Steven Blumenthal playing Robert Schumann’s Kinderszenen

-soprano Torrey Gimpel and pianist Jonathan Prak performing songs by Giacomo Puccini, Douglas Moore, and George Gershwin

-pianists Ruth Matt and Leah Neuchiller playing Allegro movement of Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony.

Tickets $15 at the door.

To learn more visit the Rossini Club's website here.

Pick-Up Choir Opportunity in October

Join Us!

10:00AM Service on October 6

Meet in the Choir Room at 8:45AM

Join us on October 6 for a pick up choir which will sing during the 10:00AM Eucharist.

We will meet in the choir room at 8:45AM to prepare Shaker songs and psalm

All ages (yes, including children!), abilities, experience levels are welcome!

For more information, contact Christian Clough

Choral Evensong

Sunday October 6

4:00PM

The Cathedral Nave

Join us on Sunday October 6 at 4PM for our first choral evensong of the choir season.

The service will feature music by Dorothy Papadakos, Jennifer L. Stammers, Louis Halsey, Théodore Dubois.

Help us spread the word! Invite your friends and neighbors!

We look forward to gathering together for this moving service of worship and music.

PPEAT Meeting

October 8

6-7PM

The St. Luke's Public Policy and Environmental Action Team will

meet Tuesday October 8 from 6-7 PM.

All are welcome. Join us via Zoom

For more information email Ruth Roemer.

Vote Forward Letter-Writing Party

Sunday October 13

11:45AM

The Upper Hall

In Romans 13:8-9 Paul exhorts us to love our neighbor and participate in the life of civil society grounded in the commandment to love our neighbor. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry tells us that “It is a Christian's obligation to vote and more than that it is the Church's responsibility to get souls to the polls.”

To that end, on Sunday October 13 at 11: 45 AM, following coffee hour, the St. Luke’s Public Policy and Environmental Action Team is sponsoring a Vote Forward letter-writing party to encourage Americans to go to the polls this November.

We will supply letters and envelopes and you will add your own positive, heartfelt and nonpartisan personal note in the body of the letter. Come and write as few as 5 or as many as 20 letters.

And check out the Episcopal Church’s Vote Faithfully Election Election Engagement Toolkit

Luke's Garden

To Host a Screening of Documentary

1946: The Mistranslation

that Shifted Culture

October 27th at 12PM

in the Chapter Room

Join Luke's Garden, St. Luke's LGBTQ+ group for their next gathering on October 27th following coffee hour, for a screening of 1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted Culture.

This impactful documentary is described as the following:

"1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture is a feature documentary that follows the story of tireless researchers who trace the origins of the anti-gay movement among Christians to a grave mistranslation of the Bible in 1946.

It chronicles the discovery of never-before-seen archives at Yale University which unveil astonishing new revelations, and casts significant doubt on any biblical basis for LGBTQIA+ prejudice.

Featuring commentary from prominent scholars as well as opposing pastors, including the personal stories of the film’s creators, 1946 is at once challenging, enlightening, and inspiring. "

Learn more on the webpage here.

The screening is open to all who would like to attend. For more information contact Orion Williams.

Concert for Climate

October 27

2:30PM

Cathedral Nave

Join pianist Sydney Patten alongside musical guests and speakers for the Concert for Climate on October 27th at 2:30PM in the Cathedral Nave.

This is a multimedia event designed to educate, entertain and inspire the audience of all ages to take specific actions to help mitigate climate change. This is a not-for-profit educational and fundraising event. Proceeds will benefit the Maine chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby, and help to bring young people to the annual conference in Washington D.C.

Tickets are available at the link here.

For more information contact the organizer of the concert here.

The Cathedral Choir Presents: Gabriel Faure's Requiem

Sunday, November 3

10AM & 3PM

The Cathedral Nave

For more information contact Christian Clough, Canon for Liturgy and Music

A Presentation on

Charles Fletcher Dole, Liberal Theology, and Reform

by Paul Burlin

Sunday, November 10

Upper Hall

11:30AM

Join us on Sunday, November 10 following the 10AM service, for a presentation by Paul T. Burlin, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of New England, and St. Luke's parishioner, on his recently published book titled Charles Fletcher Dole, Liberal Theology, and Reform.

Charles Dole, a long term Unitarian minister and Social Gospel advocate who lived from 1845 to 1927, was born in Maine into what he described as “an ultra-orthodox” Congregational family. As an adult he tacked off to the radical wing of Unitarianism. While his theological perspective was time-bound, Dole might well provide inspiration to any adult who struggled (or struggles) with the religious perspective of their upbring.

To read this text and Paul's other books, please visit the link here.

St. Luke's To Host Service of Holy Eucharist

for Diocesan Convention

Saturday, November 16

11:30 AM

The cathedral will host a service of Holy Eucharist during the 205th Diocesan convention on Saturday, November 16th at 11:30AM.

All are welcome to attend.

Details regarding participating in the liturgy will be published soon. Please stay tuned!

THE SEASON OF CREATION

About the Season of Creation

The Season of Creation, September 1st through October 4th, is celebrated by Christians around the world as a time for renewing, repairing and restoring our relationship to God, one another, and all of creation.

The Season of Creation Celebration Guide for Episcopal Parishes is a curated liturgical resource assembled by the Rev. John Elliott Lein (priest in Maine) and the Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas (Creation activist and priest in Massachusetts) from prayers, readings, and liturgies created all over the global Anglican Communion and beyond.

Here at St. Luke’s, we will honor creation in liturgy with several events which you can learn about below. To learn more about the Season of Creation visit the webpage here.

Blessing of the Animals

October 6th

The Labyrinth

9:45AM

On October 6 we will observe the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Please join us at 9:45AM 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 if you do not have a pet!

Recording Available from Last Week's Guest Speaker

Susanne Lee

Last week the St. Luke's Public Policy & Environmental Action Team welcomed Susanne Lee, Faculty Fellow with University of Maine’s Sen. George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, for her presentation entitled Maine Food: Too Good to Waste. Susanne's presentation was also attended by parishioners from our neighboring congregations from St. Peter's and St. Alban's.

Thanks are given to all who helped make this impactful presentation possible.

If you were not able to attend Sunday's presentation but would like to learn more, a recording is available below and on the cathedral Youtube and Facebook pages.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

St. Elizabeth’s Coat Drive

As the cold weather approaches, St Elizabeth's is looking for donations of coats and boots (new and gently used) to make available for our neighbors.

Please leave your donations in the blue box in the lower hall, next to the stairs.

Contact Byrd Wood if you have questions.

Nightingale Fall Festival

October 17 from 4PM-7PM

144 State Street, Portland, ME 04101

Ageism Awareness Day

October 9

Ageism refers to stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel), and discrimination (how we act) toward others or ourselves based on age. It negatively impacts our health and well-being, our financial security, and the economy. It exists in many forms, influencing everything from personal interactions to public policy, and impacts us at every age.

The good news is that we can do something about it, and we begin by spreading the word on Ageism Awareness Day Oct. 9, 2024.

Learn more here.

Preble Street Conference on Homelessness:

Solutions Start with ME

Thursday, October 17th

8AM-5PM

The Holiday Inn by the Bay

88 Spring St, Portland, ME 04101

Homelessness is a crisis and is continuing to escalate throughout Maine. This crisis is driven by a wide range of complex factors including a lack of affordable housing and accessible emergency shelter, minimal shelter funding, an increase in unsheltered individuals, and rising numbers of people needing support for managing substance use disorders and behavioral health issues. 

New effective strategies and systemic changes are needed to meet the growing challenges in Maine. This 2nd Conference, Solutions Start with ME, provides an opportunity to hear from leaders doing similar work in other parts of the country. Through collective action, we hope to have greater impact for the most vulnerable people in our community. This year’s event will take place on Thursday, October 17, 2024 at the Holiday Inn By the Bay, in Portland, ME.

Join Preble Street, the Atlantic Charitable Fund, and other key stakeholders from throughout the state – state and local government, nonprofits, faith leaders, funders, people with lived experience, and business leaders – to collectively focus on critical solutions for Maine to tackle this growing issue.

To learn more visit the webpage here.

RESOURCES FROM THE DIOCESE

& WIDER CHURCH

To read about stories, resources, and events from around the Diocese of Maine, read their newsletter, The DioLog, by clicking the link here, or by clicking on the Episcopal Maine Shield in the bottom of this email. Please note that events highlighted below are only a small portion of all resources available.

Statewide Interfaith Prayer Service

will Commemorate Lewiston Anniversary

Tuesday, October 1

10AM

Plaza Between Cross Building and State House in Augusta

Published by the Episcopal Diocese of Maine

"On Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 10 a.m., Bishop Brown, along with Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish and Muslim faith leaders, will be leading an interfaith prayer service outdoors in the plaza between the Cross Building and the rear entrance of the State House in Augusta. This service will commemorate the one-year anniversary of the tragic mass shooting in Lewiston.

As we gather to remember those lost and offer support to survivors and the community, Bishop Brown along with all other faith leaders will, together, offer a message of hope, healing, and unity. All are welcome to attend as we come together in faith and solidarity."

Spirit Chats

Tuesdays, Oct. 15, 22, 29, and Nov. 5,12, 7 p.m.

On Zoom

Published by the Episcopal Diocese of Maine

"Deepen your connection with God and fellow companions this Autumn through Spirit Chats, an exciting opportunity for small group faith sharing. Have you ever experienced a “God-incident” in your life and wanted to share it but weren’t sure where or with whom? Perhaps this has so spilled over into your daily life, you want to talk about it with others but find it difficult to find the setting. If you feel God has been moving in your life, and you want to hear from others how God is moving in theirs, the Evangelism Task Force—a joint project of the Episcopal dioceses of Maine and New Hampshire—has an opportunity and an invitation for you to share your story during Spirit Chats."

Register here to receive the Zoom link. Reach out with questions to the Rev. Tim Higgins or the Rev. Alanna Van Antwerpen.

OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES

Noon Zoom has been moved to Thursdays

The weekly meeting of Noon Zoom has been moved to Thursday afternoons.

If you would like to participate and receive updates, please email Sam Allen.

St. Luke's Flower Guild

There are still openings on the altar flower schedule until the end of the calendar year if you would like to sign up to give flowers in memory of someone or to acknowledge an occasion such as an anniversary.

If you are interested, please see the sign-up chart posted on the bulletin board outside of the parish office. Once you have signed up, please bring or send a monetary donation (a 75$ gift is customary) to the office along with the information to be included in the Sunday service bulletin.

If you have questions about the process please contact the parish office at (207)-772-5434 or contact flower guild co-chairs, Mary Doughty and Kathy Watt.

Considering the Creed

Tuesday Evenings in October

6:30-8:00PM

The Chapter Room

Some of us affirm the Nicene Creed each Sunday as a bedrock of our worship; others admit that they say it with their fingers crossed!

As we approach the 1700th anniversary of the Creed, St. Luke’s is offering a five-week class designed to explore our questions about the Creed and what it means to be a creedal church in the modern age.

Each week will be led by different members of the Cathedral staff and retired clergy. Come for one session or many!

Meetings will take place Tuesday evenings, 6:30-8:00 in the Chapter Room or via Zoom.

With any questions please Contact Linda Carleton

Week 1, October 1

Introduction to the Nicene Creed and its history and a chance to share our initial thoughts about the creed.

Led by the Rev. George Stevens, Bob Hanson, and Linda Carleton

Week 2, October 8

God, the Father.

Led by the Rev. Christopher Worthley

Week 3, October 15

The Birth and Nature of Jesus.

Led by the Rev. George Stevens

Week 4, October 22

“The Comma” which represents the life of Jesus and the Passion, Death and Resurrection.

Led by Linda Carleton

Week 5, October 29

The Holy Spirit and the Church.

Led by Deacon Rebecca Grant

Soul Talk

Every Fourth Tuesday of the Month

10-11:30AM in the Oratory

Soul Talk is an informal coffee and discussion group exploring our faith and experience of God meeting on fourth Tuesdays, 10-11:30 in the Chapter Room.

Our next meeting will be October 22nd.

Come once a month or once in a while!

If you’d like to receive materials prior to each month’s meeting contact Linda Carleton via email.

Sunday 5:15PM Service of Holy Eucharist

The 5:15PM Service is a lay-lead worship service of Holy Eucharist and meditation which gathers each Sunday in Emmanuel Chapel. Each week we welcome a member of the clergy to celebrate the Holy Eucharist.

The service invites all in attendance into a space of quiet and stillness with music, scripture, and reflections.

With questions about the service please contact Liz Parsons.

We look forward to welcoming you to future services. Please join us!

Access Your Realm Profile

The Cathedral’s 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!

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.

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.

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.

The Biblical Study Group

The Biblical Study Group meets in the Chapter Room at 8:30AM.

The topic for our sessions is the search for the one and only God, Elohim or Adonai, within ourselves.

This topic asks us to reflect on several large questions. How is this possible? When did we begin our search? Why do we know so little about this concept? God invites us to call him “father.” Who then is our mother? What other divine presences do we need to meet? What then is our relationship to the Christ figure?

We will further discuss the concept of the Imago Dei. This is the icon or banner of the all powerful and creative maker of all universes, all space and time, and of us, humankind, as being “very good.”

Join us for our study of the search of becoming “who we were meant to be.”

We are led by Bob Hanson, retired university professor, Episcopal priest, author, peace activist, and Jungian analyst. With questions, contact Bob at (207)-405-8250.

The Parish Prayer List

Names remain on the prayer list for 3 consecutive weeks unless otherwise requested. If you wish for a name to be added, contact Avery Schott, Parish Administrator via email.