The Weekly E-pistle from the Cathedral Church of St. Luke

The E-Pistle of Thursday

April 25th, 2024

St. Luke's Webpage

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A Reflection from the Reverend George Stevens

"Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches.” John 14:4-5

Whenever I think of the passage from John, where Jesus describes himself as the vine, I’m reminded of the above sixteenth century icon of Christ the vine.

What I love about it is how the vine that Christ is part of is not some windy tendril, but a hearty almost tree-like trunk.

It’s a visual reminder of the strength of what we’re a part of when we join with Christ and how its possible that we are able to bear fruit!

See you Sunday!

George

Community Announcements

The Public Policy and Environmental Action Team

Coffee Hour in Celebration of Earth Day

PPEAT are hosting coffee hour in honor of Earth Day this Sunday, April 28. We have invited representatives of three organizations who work to protect the climate and the environment with local Portland Chapters. The Portland Climate Action Team, Third Act, and Citizens' Climate Lobby will have tables with literature during coffee hour and beginning at 11:45 they will each give a ten minute talk about their work. We hope you will attend.

Spring Eco-Tips

from the

Public Policy and Environmental Action Team

Use natural air filters for cleaning the air. For example, peace lilies and spider plants will clean the air without your having to use products with toxic chemicals.
Compost green waste such as dead flowers and old food, either through Garbage to Garden or your own compost section in your yard.
Recycle larger items like sofas, freezers, TV’s, etc. These may require more specialized treatment. Ecomaine.org is a resource for learning how to dispose of most items in a way that is environmentally friendly.
Consider investing in solar panels for your home.
With the light of Daylight Savings Time, you can reduce dependence on electric lighting, and when you do need to use the lighting form electricity, switch to LED light bulbs.

The Public Policy and Environmental Action

Team Meeting

PPEAT will meet Tuesday May 14 from 6-7 PM.

All are welcome. Join us via Zoom.

For more information email Ruth Roemer.

Cathedral Workday this Saturday

Join the Building and Grounds Committee for their workday, this Saturday, April 27th, from 8:00AM until Noon.

Weather permitting, there will be a focused effort on the front and back entrances, clearing winter debris, and installing wood chips in and around the hedges and Loring House.

Please feel free to bring along wheel barrows, rakes, and shovels to move mulch.

For those interested in checking for “BATS” in the belfry, the group will be going up into the tower to lubricate the bell mechanism and conducting a visual inspection of the inside of the tower masonry.

Other items include making minor repairs to the parquet flooring around the altar area using wood glue, cleaning the spalling of the stone inside the tower entrance, leveling the chips in the Park Street play area, and if there is time, sort and remove items from the boiler room that have accumulated and are no longer wanted.

Please join us for all or a portion of the morning. All are welcome with no previous skills required.

With any questions, please contact Fred Fowler.

Cathedral Clergy Out of the Office For Clergy Retreat

This upcoming week, members of our clergy team will be attending a Diocesan clergy retreat from Sunday April 28th (after the conclusion of services) until Tuesday, April 30th.

International Labyrinth Day

The first Saturday in May is International Labyrinth Day. The cathedral is blessed to have a lovely labyrinth right outside of our tower doors. Information about walking the labyrinth can be found by scanning the sign posted at the entrance to the labyrinth. Consider walking the labyrinth on Saturday, May 4th.

If you’re looking to deepen the spiritual aspect of time spent walking the labyrinth, consider Robert J.F. Elsner’s book Walking the Church Year.

The book provides meditations to accompany you on your journey through Advent, Ordinary Time, Lent, Easter Season, and many other occasions on the Church Calendar.

The book is available from Church Publishing at ChurchPublishing.org: Walking the Church Year - Standard Edition or on Amazon.

Walk and pray through the path of the Cathedral’s labyrinth.

St. Luke’s Food Pantry Fundraiser Bags

St. Luke’s Food Pantry will receive $1 for each $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger Bag sold in May at the Bayside Hannaford at 295 Forest Avenue, Portland. Donations of the bags themselves would also be gratefully received. Thanks to our ever-generous supporters; you allow our work to continue.

Looking at our Rose Window through Mandala Eyes

When: May 19th

Where: Cathedral Nave

Time: 11:30AM -12:30PM

After Church on May 19th join Linda Carleton for a discussion about how our rose window evokes the twelve stages of the Mandala Great Round and of the Christian life. Bring your coffee and your eagerness to engage in fruitful discussion!

Contact Linda Carleton with any questions you may have.

The Healing Team Schedule

The Healing Team will serve on the following Sundays in April and May. Prayers of healing may be requested in the small chapel to the right of the communion rail after or during communion. Healing Team members offering prayers of healing are:

April 28, 2024 Sara Schmalz, Peter Carleton

May 5, 2024. Sara Schmalz, Oscar Mokeme

Park Street Door Code

In order to maintain security efforts at the cathedral, the code on the park street entrance has been changed. If you have questions please contact acting junior warden Fred Fowler, The Reverend George Stevens, or call the parish office (207)-772-5434 if you are in need of the access code. Thank you for your understanding as we make efforts to keep our building safe and secure for all.

The Biblical Study Group on Break

The Biblical Study Group will be going on break. We will resume on Sunday, September 1st and meet at our regular time in the Oratory from 8:00AM-10:00AM. With questions please contact The Rev. Bob Hanson at 207-405-8250.

Last Week's Service

To view last week's bulletin click here

To watch the livestream of last week's service click here.

To listen to the sermon offered this past Sunday by the Reverend George Stevens, Interim Dean, 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.

Events and Resources

in the Wider Community

Portland Rossini Club Concert This Sunday

Join the Portland Rossini Club for their concert on April 28th at 3:00PM.

The concert will feature students of Laura Kargul, Director of Keyboard Studies at the University of Southern Maine's Osher School of Music.

To learn more about this event and the Rossini Club, visit their website here.

Harmony Unveiled:

Nurturing Nicaragua's Future Together

Date of Event: Tuesday, May 7

Location: St. Nicholas Church, 350 Rt. 1, Scarborough, ME 04074

Time: 7:00PM

We hear and read about Central America and think we know something about the people, and about immigration, in specific, and yet oftentimes what we’ve been told turns out to be questionable. Come hear firsthand experience from someone who has been living and working in Nicaragua for over 35 years. Sarah Woodard has extensive experience working among those less advantaged in support of economic development, food security, and access to affordable healthcare.

Renaissance Voices Concert on Friday, May 10th

Join Renaissance Voices under the direction of maestro Harold Stover

(St. Luke's parishioner) for their next concert on Friday, May 10th at 7:30PM in the Cathedral Nave.

Musical selections include works by John Dowland, Thomas Morely, Edward Elgar, Selections from the Great American Songbook and more.

To learn more about Renaissance Voices and to purchase tickets for this upcoming concert, visit their website here.

Award Winning Documentary

"The Philadelphia Eleven" Coming to Portland

published by The Episcopal Diocese of Maine

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of women’s ordination to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church, the compelling new documentary "The Philadelphia Eleven" will have a limited theatrical release in 11 selected cities—including Portland!

The screening on Tuesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. at the Nickelodeon 6 will feature a post-screening conversation with five noteworthy Maine women priests: the Rev. Merrill Bittner, one of the Philadelphia 11; the Rev. Sukie Curtis, the first woman ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of Mississippi; the Rev. Cn. Nancy Moore of Christ Church, Norway; the Rev. Dr. Vicki Lovely Smith of St. Martin's, Palmyra; and the Rev. Portia Royall Hirschman, a parishioner of St. Mary's Falmouth and a supply priest.

We hope you will join us for this exciting event, and that you will share this information with your family, and friends!

Read about the panelists and get assistance with buying tickets here.

Apply to be an Episcopal Church Ecojustice Fellow

The Episcopal Church Department of Reconciliation, Justice, and Creation Care invites applicants for the 2024 Ecojustice Fellows program, open to young adult Episcopalians between 21 and 30 years old. In this five-month virtual/remote program, fellows will participate six to eight hours per week between June and mid-October and receive a stipend of $2,750. Fellows will receive training in creation care theology and advocacy and will develop a local ecojustice project in their congregation, institution, or diocese. Applications will be accepted until May 15. Visit Here to Apply online.

Resources from the Diocese &

the 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.

The Diocesan Digital Museum is Live!

published by The Episcopal Diocese of Maine

"Thanks to a partnership with HistoryIT, the Diocese is thrilled to announce the launch of a Digital Museum! Hundreds of archival materials have been digitally preserved and are now fully accessible and searchable at any time of day. Initial exhibits now on view include the diocesan Bicentennial and Bishops of Maine; you can also browse the Image Gallery and peruse the Timeline.

Much more will be added to the museum in the months to come! Please enjoy the initial offerings he re."

Formation Conversations with Emily Keniston

Thursday, May 16, 10-11 a.m.

published by The Episcopal Diocese of Maine

“Formation” is the work of deepening our faith and learning about God, our faith tradition and ourselves throughout the course of our lives. And how we “form” Episcopalians is changing a lot as our churches and communities change! No matter what your connection to forming Christians is, you are welcome at these informal conversations where participants share ideas and updates, bring questions, and pray for one another. You can come to one, two or all conversations; they are held via Zoom on the third Thursday of each month from 10-11 am. Questions? Please be in touch with Director of Faith Formation Emily Keniston.

Youth Called to Join Bishops United Against Gun Violence at General Convention

June 25-27

published by The Episcopal Diocese of Maine

"High school students who are called to be advocates and witnesses against gun violence are invited to join the Episcopal Diocese of Maine at the 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Louisville, KY. Youth will learn from experienced community organizers in the gun violence prevention movement, spend time with participants in Bishops United Against Gun Violence, and experience the convention. Lodging and most activities will be at Christ Church Cathedral in Louisville. The deadline to register is May 8. Those interested in participating, are urged to contact Director of Faith Formation, Emily Keniston, as soon as possible. All registration materials must be received by May 8."

Ongoing Opportunities &

Community Resources

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.

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!

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.

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

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.