The Weekly E-Pistle

Thursday, July 4th, 2024

A Reflection from the Reverend George Stevens, Interim Dean

Dear Friends,

It has become an annual tradition in our family to celebrate the Fourth of July in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts.

Our day begins with breakfast on the curb while watching the parade. The parade is the kind that you might imagine happening in small towns all over the country. It seems that anyone who wants to march joins in. Little league teams, scout groups, kids on bikes, antique cars, aging Civil War reenactors, and marching bands fill the streets for just over an hour.

While I absolutely love the ‘Americana’ of our annual trip to the parade, I am also aware of the greater significance of the day that brings us there each year.

In the ‘Prayers’ section of the Book of Common Prayer is a beautiful prayer for our country often attributed to George Washington. It was actually written by the Rev. George Lyman Locke in 1882, and has been included in our prayer book since that time.

I share it with you in Thanksgiving for all that we’ve been given. I hope you have a fantastic Fourth of July.

See you Sunday!

-George

Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

NEWS FROM GENERAL CONVENTION

The Right Reverend Sean Rowe Elected 28th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

Published by the Episcopal Diocese of Maine

"On a day full of prayer and celebration, the Rt. Rev. Sean W. Rowe, bishop of Northwest Pennsylvania and bishop provisional of Western New York, was elected to be the 28th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. The election, which was decided on the first ballot, took place during the 81st General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, where on Wednesday at mid-morning, members of the House of Bishops walked from the Kentucky International Convention Center to nearby Christ Church Cathedral to cast their votes. Their decision was made by noon, with the announcement held until after a lunch break, sparking much excited speculation among members of the House of Deputies (HOD), visitors, and the press.

When it was announced, the news was greeted with elation in the HOD, which confirmed the bishops' vote by a 95-percent majority. Here is what some members of the Maine deputation had to say about the presiding bishop-elect

"The energy! He's been a bishop for 17 years and now he's going to be our presiding bishop—the man is a saint." — Deputy Richard Rozene

"I was elated. I'm very excited about what he's going to be capable of getting done for us." — Rev. Joshua Hill

"I’m delighted about the new presiding bishop. I’ve heard from several different people who worked with him. They all sing his praises regarding his ability to be forward thinking, an excellent administrator, and easy to work with." — Rev. Lisa Fry

"I think it's a real blessing for the church that he was elected on the first ballot; it's a real mandate for him. I can't wait to see what the future has [in store for] for The Episcopal Church." — Deputy Mark Spahr

At 49, Bishop Rowe is the youngest presiding bishop ever elected, he was also the country's youngest Episcopal priest when he was ordained at 24, and became the denomination's youngest bishop at 32. He will begin his nine-year term on Nov. 1. Read more about the presiding bishop-elect and the election process here.

In his address to the HOD, which you can watch here, Rowe expressed gratitude to his fellow nominees, stressed that a willingness to take risks and embrace change was key to the future of the church, and urged the HOD to "hold our structure lightly," with an eye on providing more church resources for dioceses, "where ministry happens on the ground." He suggested that the time between now and his installation on Nov. 1 be considered as "a kind of relational jubilee," where anger and resentments built up during the pandemic and post-pandemic years be forgiven "for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Rowe finished his speech with a quote from "Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander," by theologian Thomas Merton, who spent much of his life in Kentucky.

“In a time of drastic change one can be too preoccupied with what is ending or too obsessed with what seems to be beginning. In either case one loses touch with the present and with its obscure but dynamic possibilities. What really matters is openness, readiness, attention, courage to face risk. You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith, and hope. In such an event, courage is the authentic form taken by love.”

Presiding Bishop Elect, The Rt. Rev. Sean W. Rowe addresses

the House of Deputies

Bishop Brown walking with his fellow bishops to Christ Church Cathedral in Louisville, Kentucky, to vote for the 28th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church.

Photo by Randall Gornowich

Watch the Video Below to Hear Bishop Brown's

Thoughts on the Election of The Rt. Rev. Sean W. Rowe

House of Deputies Reelects

Julia Ayala Harris as President

Published by the Episcopal Office of Public Affairs

“Julia Ayala Harris, a deputy from the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma, was reelected June 25 as president of the House of Deputies of The Episcopal Church. Originally elected at the 80th General Convention in 2022, Ayala Harris' second term as one of the denomination’s two presiding officers begins on June 28 at the close of the church’s 81st General Convention.

Ayala Harris, 43, is the first Latina and the first woman of color to serve as president of the House of Deputies. A first-generation Mexican American and the daughter of an undocumented immigrant, she was reelected from a field of three candidates on the first ballot. To ensure procedural impartiality, she yielded the chair to Crystal Plummer, a deputy from the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago during the vote.

Ayala Harris received 521 votes, 107 more than the required number to elect. Candidate Zena Link of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts received 241 votes; the Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton, a candidate from the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, received 64 votes. Ayala Harris’ reelection on June 25 was historic, marking a slate of three women of color vying for the leadership position.

Ayala Harris can serve up to three consecutive terms, or, in her case, a total of eight years.”

A Summary of

The 81st General Convention

To read a full synopsis of General Convention including a weekly summary, legislation, and election results please read the publication from Episcopal News Service here.

UPCOMING

“Uke’arist” This Sunday 7 July

Local ukulele ensemble “Ukuleles Heal the World” (which includes cathedral parishioner Fred Fowler), will share the joy of music in our 10AM worship this Sunday.

Plan to arrive early enough to hear them play the Prelude (ca. 9:50AM), and other selections throughout the liturgy.

When they perform in places of worship, their motto is "Fidicula Inter Angelos”, which can be translated as "Ukuleles Among Angels”.

To learn more about the group, visit their website here.

Sing with the Cathedral Pick Up Choir

July 28th & August 25th

Interested in singing at the cathedral this summer? Join the cathedral pick up choir on the July 28th and August 25th.

We will gather in the choir room at 8:45AM to learn a very simply anthem which will be sung at the 10AM liturgy.

Come as you are—ALL ages welcome, no prior singing experience necessary, no robes required, no processions to worry about—to enrich our summer worship. The anthems will be distributed on the day of the services, and will be simple enough to learn in the time allowed, but if you would like to see the music in advance, please send an e-mail to Canon for Liturgy and Music, Christian Clough and he will send you a link to a scan of the music.

The St. Luke's Public Policy

and Environmental Action Team Meeting

Tuesday July 9 at 6:00PM in person in the Upper Hall.

All are welcome and encouraged to attend!. We will share a meal together and conduct our regular business meeting.

The meal will consist of a potluck. Please bring a dish to share.

For more information email Ruth Roemer

Luke’s Garden To Host Guest Speaker

Sunday July 14

Upper Hall

12:00PM

Join us at coffee hour in the Upper Hall on July 14 as we welcome guest speaker Ophelia Hu Kinney, for a discussion on intersectionality between being a member of the LGBTQ+ community whilst being Asian American.

Please see Ophelia’s biography below.

If you cannot make it in person, a zoom link is available here

Ophelia Hu Kinney (she/her), is a queer United Methodist lay leader serving HopeGateWay in Portland, Maine, the Communications Specialist at Reconciling Ministries Network, and a member of the New England Annual Conference. She grew up an atheist in a non-Christian household, became a Christian as an adult, and joined The United Methodist Church which she calls home. Her home church’s mostly queer leadership gets to co-create an experience of worship and community that is growing and giving.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Cathedral Offices Closed Thursday and Friday

July 4-5

In Observation of Independence Day

The St. Luke's Parish Office is closed today, July 4, and tomorrow, July 5, in observation of Independence Day.

Our administrator will be working remotely on Monday, July 8, and can be reached via email. He will return to the office Tuesday morning, July 9, at 9:00A.M.

If you have a pastoral emergency, please contact The Reverend George Stevens via email, or call (978) 578-8084.

A Prayer for Independence Day

O ETERNAL God, through whose mighty power the founders of our nation won their liberties of old; Grant, we beseech thee, that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain these liberties in righteousness and peace;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Reverend George Stevens Out of the Office July 8-15

George will be spending time with his family and serving at a summer chapel on Martha’s Vineyard as part of his ministry within the Diocese of Massachusetts.

In case of a pastoral emergency, please call him at (978)-578-8084 or send him an email.

New Cathedral Treasurer Email

With the appointment of new cathedral treasurer, Randi Hogan, our IT team has updated the treasurer’s email.

To contact Randi with any future questions you may have, please use the email address here.

Phase II Educational Sessions and Phase III Small Groups

Sessions are Ongoing!

Sign-Ups Available

All cathedral community members are invited and encouraged to sign up for Phase II Educational sessions and Phase III Small groups on Zoom with Susan Czolgosz of WorkLife Consulting.

Times and sign-up links are available in the email which was sent on June 7th. Click here to read the email.

If you are unable to sign-up for sessions at home, we will have access to the sign-up pages for both Phase II and III available at coffee hours via the cathedral laptop. A member of our team would be glad to assist you.

If you need help or clarification with this process, please contact our parish administrator Avery Levesque-Schott for assistance via email or phone (207)-772-5434.

Phase II

The Phase II Educational Sessions begin on Friday June 28th.

The Educational Sessions are additional times to the initial meetings held in May.

Phase II workshops are designed to equip members in conflict mediation, caring communication skills and structured dialogue. They will introduce the idea of interest-based conflict, address the root causes of our congregational conflict, and will teach us how to avoid pitfalls in the future. This phase of our conflict transformation process seeks to build rapport and trust within our community.

If you attended one of the earlier Phase II Educational Sessions in May and would like to participate again, you are welcome to do so. We ask that you please be courteous and allow all members of the community an opportunity to participate.

Phase II Sign-up

Phase III

Phase III of the conflict transformation process is the small group experience. Phase III sessions began on Monday June 24th.

It is a two-hour commitment. Groups of no larger than 8 individuals will gather to create an intentional listening community. The pre-requisite for participation in the small groups is attendance in the Phase II workshops. This is mandatory.

If you have not yet participated in a Phase II Education Session, there are sign-ups available here.

The small group experience at its core is an opportunity for healing and reconciliation.

Phase III Sign-up

‘In Person’ Sessions

For both Phase II and Phase III sessions, we are offering specific sessions which are ‘in person only’. For these meetings participants will gather in the Chapter Room at the cathedral, and join a singular Zoom call to connect with Susan. If you sign-up for this type of meeting, you must attend in person.

Space still available

for a Variety of Camps this Summer!

"Camp Bishopswood has been owned and operated as an arm of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine since the early 1960’s. Located on the shores of Lake Megunticook near Camden, Maine, Bishopswood is a beautiful, picture-perfect slice of God’s creation – ideal for a children’s summer camp!"

Opportunities This Summer Include:

Youth Camp for children 8-16: Campers can do 1 week or multiple week sessions

Mini-Camp for ages 6-8

Summer Finale: September 13-15. A weekend multigenerational summer camp experience for people of all ages. Registration for this experience is now open! There is also a day-only option on Saturday, Sept. 14.

Back this year after a several-year hiatus is a mini retreat especially for those who do formation work in our diocese on Friday, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. As in years past, this will be an opportunity to spend a day in conversation with formation folks, to enjoy delicious food, and imagine ways in which we can collaborate and uplift one another in our formation work.

To view dates, camp offerings, register for camp, and to learn more visit Bishopswood's webpage here.

To support Camp Bishopswood, visit their giving page here.

Watch the video above to learn more about Camp Bishopswood

LAST WEEK'S SERVICE

To view last week's bulletin click here.

To view last week's service livestream click here.

To listen to last week's sermon preached by The Reverend Suzanne Roberts 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.

OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES

Hannaford Supports Our Food Pantry

Once More in July

In May the bag donation program at the Bayside Hannaford raised $742 for St. Luke's Food Pantry!

Now, once again in July, our food pantry was chosen to receive donations from a different store.

Our pantry will receive $1 for each $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger Bag sold throughout July at the South Portland Hannaford on Cottage Road.

Pantry volunteers are proud to have their work acknowledged by our local stores and neighbors!

Cultivating Climate Resilience: An Inclusive Discussion

July 11, July 18

9:00-10:00AM

The South Portland Library

Published by the South Portland Land Trust

The South Portland Land Trust, in partnership with the South Portland Library, invites you to a three-session discussion of ALL WE CAN SAVE (One World, 2021), an anthology of essays and poems by women regarding "Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis."

The discussions will be led by Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder, a writer and editor based in Northern New England and the author of the forthcoming book, MOTHER, CREATURE, KIN (Broadleaf Books, 2025). The sessions will be held in the Main Library from 9:00 to 10:00 AM (or a bit longer) on June 27, July 11, and July 18 (all Thursdays). Please save these dates and plan to attend all three sessions.

Paperback copies of the book can be purchased from various outlets for around $12, and the Library will have a number of both physical and electronic copies available at the Main Library or though the Library System.

To register for the All We Can Save discussion group, please click on the link here to go to the Library page where you can sign up.

Eco Tips from the Public Policy

& Environmental Action Team

Last week the Science and Technical Committee (STS) of the Maine Climate Council released its updated report: Scientific Assessment of Climate Change and Its Effects in Maine,

This report includes new data on a number of important resilience topics:

Climate,
Human Dimensions
Sea Level and Coastal Hazards
Marine
Agriculture
Biodiversity
Freshwater
Forests and Forestry.

Here are just a few of the key findings:

Maine's climate is getting warmer, wetter and we are experiencing new extremes.

Sea level is 7.5 inches higher than in early 20th century Maine, and the rate of sea level rise has nearly doubled in the past 30 years.

The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 97% of the world’s ocean surface and is experiencing near-constant ocean heat waves.

In Maine, resilience to climate change depends on relationships: this includes a strong sense of community among residents, solid connections between the economy and healthy natural systems, and maintaining ties to heritage.

Read the whole Executive Summary here

To learn more about PPPEAT visit their page on our website here.

The Healing Team

The Healing Team offers prayers weekly on Sunday during and after communion in All Saint's Chapel (the small chapel to the right of the communion rail).

The following team members will be serving in the coming weeks:

July 7, 2024 Sara Schmalz, Judd Hume

Contribute to St. Luke’s Summer Music Ministry

The Cathedral Choir will be in recess from 9 June through Labor Day, and summer is a great time to make a musical contribution to our worship as a singer or instrumentalist. Help us to keep our music well-supported with your offerings.

Please email Christian Clough, Canon for Liturgy & Music.

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!

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 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

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.