From your Dean
In these highly anxious times, it can be helpful to remember the “comfortable words” repeated in every of the Rite 1 service: "Come to me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn for me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

A yoke is a heavy piece of wood that links two animals, such as oxen, so they can pull a plow or wagon together. In Jesus’ time, the word "yoke" was used to refer all of the rules and regulations that faithful Jews were to follow. In comparison, the yoke Jesus brings – of loving God, loving our neighbor, and putting them first -- is far lighter.
Jesus is saying that if we take on the yoke of love – if we focus not on rules but relationships – we will find rest for our souls, and our anxiety will be taken away. In using the word "rest", Jesus promises those who come to him the rest of the Sabbath and the eternal Sabbath, the rest in peace that comes from being part of the Kingdom of God.

On these last fleeting days of summer, Sabbath rest takes particular significance. Tilden Edwards of the Shalem Institute says that "if we miss the Sabbath we are missing a profound human truth: our need for what the great Jewish Scholar Abraham Heschel called 'a sanctuary -- a cathedral in time.'"

Edwards goes on to quote some of Heschel's words about Sabbath time. Six days we wrestle with the world, wringing profit from the earth; on the Sabbath we especially care for the need of eternity planted in the soul. The world has our hands but our soul belongs to someone else." The Sabbath is not for gaining strength for more efficient work -- man is not a beast of burden... Sabbath is the climax of living. Rest as if all your work were done... Sabbath is an example of the world to come."

Good words to remember on the Sabbath. Good words to remember this last week of August as well.
Bishop requires vaccination for all clergy and staff
This week the Bishop of Maine sent out a letter requiring all clergy and staff in the diocese to be vaccinated. You need to know that St. Luke’s has complied.

All of our clergy and staff have been fully vaccinated. 

St. Luke’s is continuing with our policy of having everyone, regardless of vaccination status, mask while indoors, including during worship services (with the exception of those reading or leading the service). There is plenty of space in the nave and we encourage those who wish to practice distancing as well. For the time being, we are continuing our policy of not serving food and will strive to keep lemonade/coffee hour outside as long as weather permits.

We ask that parishioners follow these policies and strongly encourage everyone who can to be fully vaccinated. If you have concerns or questions, please contact one of our clergy.  Remember that we are doing these things not just to protect ourselves but to love our neighbor, especially the most vulnerable, including children and those who for medical reasons cannot take the vaccine. 
Photo from Maine Public


See the bishop’s letter here

Link to Maine Public article here.

See a photo of St Luke's Cathedral
in a New York Times article here
Scroll to end of article to view!
Sunday, August 29, 2021
7:30 Holy Eucharist (in Person)

10:00 Holy Eucharist (In Person)
Click here for livestream. 

Lemonade Hour

Please Note that the 5:15 service is on summer break.

Reminder -Sunday Morning Healing Prayers will be held next Sunday, September 5. Healing Team ministers once again will be offering private prayers in All Saints Chapel at the 10:00 am service. You are invited to come to the chapel after receiving communion to request prayers for yourself or for others. Masks are required. 
Homecoming Sunday September 12
and other Fall Activities!
Summer is drawing to an end, it's back to school time and here at St. Luke's, we are looking forward to seeing you all at Homecoming Sunday on September 12. It's looking like a busy fall with something for everyone...

Sunday school begins with a weekly hybrid program of in person and zoom gatherings from 9:45- 10:30 am. Parents are encouraged to contact Sarah Dowling here to register your child for Sunday school.

Albert Melton and the Cathedral Choir will offer music at the 10 am Sunday service and the 5:15 Sunday service restarts after summer break.

The Dean is planning a Newcomer's group to begin September 19 - we'll gather in person from 9-9:45am. More details to come.
Concerts are back with our first Rossini Club Concert slated for Sunday, September 19 at 3:00 pm.

Taizé returns on September 22 and World Too Beautiful is set to return in September as well.

Stay tuned for so many more offerings !
Evening Compline is back on September 6
Compline is an ancient service of night prayers that stretches back to Saint Benedict. A perfect way to have a meditative end to the day and prepare for the quietness of night.

Starting Monday, September 6, we'll meet online Monday - Friday at 8:00 pm.
Join our evening compline service via ZOOM

Monday & Wednesday, led by Tom and Emma Flinn
Tuesday & Thursday, led by Jon Radtke
Friday, led by Ray Davis Murdoch Curry
Gratitude from the Food Pantry
Hospitality Coordinator Needed to organize Coffee Hour
We are looking for a Hospitality Coordinator to assume the responsibilities of scheduling coffee/lemonade hour hosts on Sundays. This ministry is particularly important as we continue fellowship gatherings during the changing pandemic. At this point, we'll gather in the cloister as long as weather permits. Thank you to Shari Shambaugh for her outstanding service during the last several years. Contact the cathedral office office@cathedralofstluke.org
Ushers Needed!
As we move back into the fall season at St. Luke’s, we need some more ushers. If you enjoy meeting and assisting people, this may be the job for you. If you are interested, please let Anna Messmer (aemessmer@maine.rr.com) know. On the job training is available.
Strategic Plan
The most recent Long Range Strategic Plan for St. Luke’s Cathedral was completed in 2013 and had a horizon of 5 years. The Plan was reviewed in 2018, but its goals and objectives were not changed. You may review the 2013 plan, with the 2018 comments here.

Recognizing that strategic plans need to be regularly reexamined, refreshed and updated in order to reflect the current realities and objectives of an organization and set goals for the future, the Vestry earlier this year directed the preparation of a new Long Range Strategic Plan for the Cathedral. 

The Strategic Planning process will begin this fall. The Vestry is looking to form a committee of 7-12 or so people who are willing to devote significant time over the next few months to envisioning the planning process, engaging with the broader parish community to solicit thoughts and ideas, and then establishing goals for the next few years and writing a report. 

If you are interested in participating in the Strategic Planning process for the Cathedral, please contact Lynne England at the Parish office. Her contact information is telephone 207-772-5434, email office@cathedralofstluke.org. Please make your wishes known to her by Labor Day.
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry offers a prayer
for the people of Afghanistan
 
Eternal God, hear our prayer for the peoples of Afghanistan. There is a profound humanitarian crisis. Countless people, mostly women and children, are now fleeing and vulnerable. The lives of many are now endangered. The hopes of many are forgone. Send your Spirit, Lord, to rally the resolve of the nations of the earth to find pathways to save human lives, protect human rights, and to resolve the hardships of those seeking refuge, asylum, and safety. Hear our prayer for the peoples of Afghanistan. This we pray as followers of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.
 
The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church
Episcopal Migration Ministries is helping Afghans

 
NOTE: For the many people who have asked how they can support The Episcopal Church's efforts to resettle and provide direct assistance to Afghans seeking special immigrant visas, please visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give.
Update on Haiti
The area immediately west of Duny devastated by the recent earthquake will be in need of assistance in the coming months. Many of you have asked, how can I help? 

Our partnership director, Rev. Dr. Kesner Ajax, lives in Les Cayes which is the area most affected by the earthquake. We are anxiously waiting for his report of the situation on the ground.  A donation sent to St. Luke's Cathedral with the memo Haiti Earthquake relief will be collected and sent to the Episcopal Church Partnership Program at the Diocese in Haiti. These are people we work directly with every year. The people in the communities they represent may have lost their homes, their family, have to pay funeral expenses or have health needs because of the quake. This is our best recommendation on how to help going through an organization that we trust and have experience with. Thank you for supporting our friends in Haiti.  

Click here for our Haiti-Maine website, with a donate button at the bottom of the page

Duny is in the center of the circle. The arrow points to the quake

An article from the Episcopal News Service: