The E-Pistle of Thursday

February 29th, 2024

A Reflection from The Reverend George Stevens, Interim Dean

Dear Friends-

Some of the best prayers are borrowed. Here’s one from Frederick Buechner that inspired me this morning. 

Lord, catch me off guard today. Surprise me with some moment of beauty or pain. So that at least for a moment I may be startled into seeing that You are here in all Your splendor. Always and everywhere. Barely hidden, beneath, beyond, within this life I breathe. Amen.

See you Sunday-

George

Community Announcements

Congregational Assessment Tool (CAT) Results Presentation

on Sunday, March 10th

On Sunday, March 10 at noon, the results of the Congregational Assessment Tool survey will be presented to the congregation of the Cathedral of St. Luke. 

At this meeting, Susan Czolgosz, of WorkLife Consulting, will interpret the survey results in preparation for our search for the new Dean of the Cathedral. 

There are two ways to participate in this meeting; in person and via Zoom. 

In person participants will gather in the Upper Hall following coffee hour to view Susan’s presentation. 

Others may choose to join the meeting via Zoom by clicking here.

This presentation will last around an hour.  For those who cannot attend, a recording of the meeting and all relevant materials (executive summary, slides, etc.) will be available. 

Please join us.

Most Recent Minutes Available from

the Lesser Chapter and Finance Committee

To read the minutes from the Lesser Chapter Meeting held on February 21st, 2024, click here.

To read the most recent minutes from the minutes from the Finance Committee Meeting held on February 20th, 2024, click here.

To view previous minutes, or to access additional resources, visit the vestry page on our website, here.

Choral Evensong this Sunday at 4PM

Join the Cathedral Choir, this Sunday evening, March 3rd, at 4PM for a service of choral evensong. Music includes Thomas Tallis’s Dorian Service, anthem by Felix Mendelssohn, Anglican chants by Ritchie & Briggs, and two hymn texts by women poets in celebration of Women’s History Month.

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.

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 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! 

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.

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

St. Elizabeth’s Pantry Update

Thank you to everyone who contributed dental items over the last few weeks! 324 neighbors received an extra bag of dental supplies in addition to personal care items. Current needs include replenishing linens and housewares for the month of March. Shopping bags, newspapers, and packing supplies are also needed. 

Questions?  Contact Byrd Wood.

The St. Luke's Public Policy and

Environmental Action Team Meeting

PPEAT will  meet Tuesday March 12 from 6-7 PM.

All are welcome. Join us via Zoom.

For more information email Ruth Roemer.

Eco-Tips from the

Public Policy &

Environmental Action Team

Praying in Lent for Creation: Visit Here to View as a Webpage



This is a daily prayer based on the Ignatian Examen, which an individual may wish to incorporate at the end of the day to evaluate one's relationship to the earth. (The Ignatian Examen was developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola to reflect prayerfully with God on the day).

 1. I give thanks to God for creation and for being wonderfully made. Where did I feel God’s presence in creation today?

2. I ask for the grace to see creation as God does – in all its splendor and suffering. Do I see the beauty of creation and hear the cries of the earth and the poor?

3. I ask for the grace to look closely to see how my life choices impact creation and the poor and vulnerable. What challenges or joys do I experience as I recall my care for creation? How can I turn away from a throwaway culture and instead stand in solidarity with creation and the poor?

4. I ask for the grace of conversion towards ecological justice and reconciliation. Where have I fallen short in caring for creation and my brothers and sisters? How do I ask for a conversion of heart?

5. I ask for the grace to reconcile my relationship with God, creation and humanity, and to stand in solidarity through my actions. How can I repair my relationship with creation and make choices consistent with my desire for reconciliation with creation?

6. I offer a closing prayer for the earth and the vulnerable in our society.

Coffee & Conversation

Each Wednesday at 1 PM in the upper parish hall, join Deacon Rebecca Grant for an informal gathering - coffee and conversations.

There’s no book to read, no service commitment, simply an opportunity to gather and talk about what's happening in our lives. You could also help coach the deacon into retirement from her professional life! 

We’re planning this for a season - weekly opportunities where you can attend one, attend all, drop-in as it works for you. Bring your lunch, if you'd like. Topics range from “what's happening in your life” to “what brings you joy” and more.

You can email Rebecca or call at 207-441-7155.

Volunteer to Serve on the Altar Guild  

We love volunteering on the Altar Guild, and think you would too! Volunteering with Altar Guild is fun and rewarding.

Together, we can work to enable our congregation to engage in worship that is filled with order, beauty, peace, and tranquility.

For more information, contact Kate Leschey or Rita Siavelis.

Looking for Volunteers to Serve as Eucharistic Ministers

The Cathedral is seeking volunteers to serve as Eucharistic Ministers.

Have you ever felt a pull to be part of what happens in the course of our worship services?

If so, consider serving as a Eucharistic Minister (chalice bearer) during the worship services.

Training will be provided along with an alb. If you're interested or have questions, please contact Deacon Rebecca either in person or via email.

Looking For Individuals to serve as

Treasurer & Junior Warden

In the upcoming months the cathedral is looking for individuals interested in serving in the positions of treasurer and junior warden.

If you are interested in serving in any of these positions please email The Rev. George Stevens or Senior Warden Sam Allen.

The Biblical Study Team

Session #124. St. Paul writes to Rome in 57 A.D: Saul is still in Corinth. Reflecting back on his visits to Thessalonica and Galatia and looking forward to visiting Rome. The need was for a clear declaration of Jesus’ message: so, Romans is not a letter, but a proclamation! The leaders of the synagogue were either very angry, or very confused: on two accounts, i.e, who was this radical troublemaker, Saul? Rome, as a kingdom with “divine leaders” is to be met by Saul with the message of a new kingdom with its own god-king and a royal prince, the now resurrected Jesus. Saul’s proclamations will be met with violence by both the Jewish people and the Romans. Saul, a Jesus-Christ mystic, faces challenges on every front. The year is 59 AD. Both Peter and Paul were executed in 70 A.D. under Titus, then emperor. Join us in the Oratory Room from 12:00-1:30PM. All are welcome.

Questions are always invited. We look forward to welcoming you.

Looking for Chair Donations

Acting Junior Warden, Fred Fowler, is extending an invitation to see if any businesses in wider community would have chairs that they would be willing to donate to help furnish the upper hall.

If you know of any connections please contact Fred via email.

Thank you!

The Healing Team Schedule

The Healing Team will be offering prayers during communion on the following Sundays:



March 3 Oscar Mokeme, Mary Strnad

If you have any questions, please contact any member of the healing team.

You may also contact Judd Hume by email or by phone at (207) 773 - 5611.

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 Christopher Worthley, Assisting Clergy

To View past services visit our Youtube Page or visit the archive page on our website to read past bulletins, sermons, and newsletters.

Resources from Last Week's Sermon

Following last week's sermon, the Reverend Christopher Worthley wishes to share discussed resources which were used as background material.

The links to these resources can be found below:

Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification  

Salvation and the Church An Agreed Statement

Resources from the Diocese

& Wider Church

Bishop Brown's Lenten Message

Click Below to Watch Bishop Brown's Lenten Message for 2024

Toward GC81: Registration open for

General Convention Visitors

published by the Episcopal Office of Public Affairs

Online registration is open for visitors to the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church, scheduled for June 23-28 in Louisville, Kentucky. An onsite registration area will also open June 21.

Visitor registration fees for the entire convention are $150 in advance, or $180 at the site. The cost for day visitors is $50 per day. Youth ages 12 to 18 will pay $50 for the whole convention. Access to the exhibit area only is $20 per day.

Visitor registration fees allow access to all areas of General Convention, including visitor galleries in the House of Bishops and House of Deputies, legislative committee rooms and hearings, the exhibit area, and worship services.

All registrants will be required to show a photo ID and sign a liability waiver and photo release agreement when they pick up their badge at the registration area.

Find more registration information and resources for attendees.

Events in the Wider Community

Ongoing Opportunities &

Community Resources

Click on the Episcopal Maine Logo above 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