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Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)
I recently saw a blog which a writer used this scripture passage both to challenge the religious verbiage so common in our culture and to raise the bigger question of what it means to do the will of God. The writer answered this question by going to Matthew 25 ("whatever you to the least of these, you do to me.") Another good response might have come from Luke 10:25-37 (Jesus explaining how to love our neighbor using the story of the Good Samaritan). In our tradition, doing the will of God is summarized in the promises of the baptismal covenant, the commitment we make to match what we believe with how we live our lives. (BCP, p. 304-305) The passage I quoted above reminds us that doing this is part of what it means to follow Jesus Christ. To quote in the Letter of James "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
This is not about "works righteousness" or earning our way into heaven, it is about responding to the gift of grace we have already received: about loving as we have been loved, about forgiving as we have been forgiven, and about giving the world concrete illustrations of the kingdom of God.
The word "Epiphany" means "manifestation" or "showing" and this season of Epiphany is a season set aside to show Jesus and share Jesus with the world. Over the course of the next few months, St. Luke's will offer a number of different opportunities to learn how to do those things in very practical ways. We begin this coming Sunday at 11:30 am when members of Preble Street's Faith Advocacy Network and Homeless Voices for Justice will be with us to talk about ways to respond to issues of poverty. Come hear about homelessness from those who are or who have been homeless. Come learn about serving those in need from professionals who do that work every day. Come discover what you can do to make a difference and put your faith in action. Come and make Epiphany real.
Dean Shambaugh
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Buy-in Saturday to welcome immigrants
and stand up against vandalism
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St. Luke's clergy recently joined other local ministers and rabbis from Portland in writing a letter to the editor condemning the vandalism of a Forest Avenue Halal market on Christmas Eve. Tomorrow, Saturday, we invite you to join us in support immigrants and stand up against racism by participating in a "buy in" and shop at a Muslim owned business in town, or, if you don't buy anything, stop by, say you are from St. Luke's and let them know you are glad they are here.
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Martin Luther King Weekend
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Dean Shambaugh to give the benediction at the Martin Luther King dinner.
Click here for more information.
Guest Preacher on January 15: The Rev. Dr. James Gertmenian He served pastorates in New York and Connecticut until 1996 when he was called as Senior Minister of Plymouth Congregational Church in downtown Minneapolis. He served this 2000 member congregation until 2015, when he retired and moved to Cumberland, Maine. With the Plymouth Church congregation in 1999, Jim founded Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, an organization that, by 2016, has developed over $100 million in housing, much of which serves formerly homeless youth and adults. Jim also co-chaired, with Minneapolis' Mayor, an 80 person commission that developed at 10-year comprehensive plan for ending chronic homelessness in the city. He has received awards for his work in social justice and interfaith relations. Jim is a hymn writer, and a number of his works appear in various denominational hymnals in the United States and Canada. The family has summered on Great Cranberry Islandfor nearly forty years. With Dean Shambaugh, Jim is a co-founder of the Preble Street Faith Advocacy Network.
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Martin Luther King Day of Action:
Preble Street Faith Advocacy Network
Teach in on Homelessness
January 15, 11:30 am in the upper hall
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Come and hear about homelessness from people who have experienced it. Learn what is the best thing to do when you encounter a homeless person asking for help. Find out about what you can do to help end homelessness. WHO SHOULD COME: Any youth and adults who want to find out how they can help end homelessness in Maine. PRESENTERS:
Jan Bindas-Tenney, Advocacy Director for Preble Street.
The Rev. Dr. James Gertmenian, Former Chair of the Commission for ending homelessness in Minneapolis, MN.
Members of Homeless Voices for Justice, people who have formerly or are currently experiencing homelessness who will share their personal stories.
"I always wondered why somebody didn't do something about homelessness. Then I realized that I am somebody." (Anonymous)
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SIng Out For Justice This Sunday at Trinity
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Mandala Journaling, January 21
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Mandala Journaling as Spiritual Practice From birth to endings, our lives conform in myriad ways to the 12 stages of the mandala Great Round. This class uses a variety of mandala-making techniques to deepen our awareness at each stage of the journey. 3rd Saturdays, 9-11 in the Chapter Room. $5 materials donation. Contact Linda Carleton for more information.
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Join the Women's Walk Portland
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Nominations for election
at Annual Meeting on January 29
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Nominations for election at the annual meeting on January 29 at 11:30 am: For Senior warden (a second two-year term): George Cooper; For Vestry (a three-year term): Georgia Bancroft, Michael Brennan, Michael Courts; For Delegate to the Diocesan Convention in October (first five are delegates, the others are alternates. Note that in previous years, most alternates have served): Sam Allen, Lisle Blind, Donna Bolden, George Cooper, Fred Fowler, Carter Jedry-Irvin, Misha Pride, Jack Swanton
As always, additional nominations may be made from the floor.
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Statements from the Presiding Bishop and the National Cathedral about Prayers and Participation in the Inauguration
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Weekly Child Care:
Our nursery (adjacent to the Upper Parish Hall) is available for children 4 years old and under from 9:45 am to 11:45am on Sundays.
Sunday School for pre-K-5th grade is from 9:45 to 10:30 (with the children rejoining their parents at the Peace). Swing by any time after 9:45.
Youth Group for middle and high schoolers is from 11:30-12:30 every week. . All young people in grades 6-12 are invited to attend.
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Sundays:
07:30 am (Chapel)
10:00 am (Nave)
4:00 pm (Nave) - Evensong on 1st Sundays
5:15 pm (Chapel)
Our Sunday 10 am services are livestreamed on our website.
Remember, the office is closed on Mondays.
Tuesdays:
12:10 pm:
Worship (Chapel)
Wednesdays: 5:45 pm: Taize or
Contemplative Prayer
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Spiritual Formation
for Adults
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The Explorers
The Explorers are reading Chapters 1 and 2 in Donna Hick's groundbreaking book Dignity, Yale University Press, 2011. The Hick's book, lauded by authorities in the business of reconciliation and negotiation, and recommended by our bishop, describes the preconditions for resolving conflict and building the foundation for vastly improved personal relationships. We meet every Sunday at 8:45am.
Heart of the Matter
We meet on Sundays at 8:45am.
Dwelling on the Word
is on winter break.
The Tuesday Bible Study
and brown bag lunch continues each week after the 12:10 service. Please note there will be NO 12:10 service or bible study on Tuesday, 12/27.
The Thursday Night Theological Reflection Group meets from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in the Chapter Room. We are studying quantum mechanics, that branch of physics that investigates the functions of subatomic particles. These particles are the very sources of all of life. sources that were unknown to the sciences less than 40 years ago. As people of faith our interest is to discover from science those laws that teach us, as creatures, how to live our lives in harmony with nature. Join us!
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Lukulele's , Monday 01/16
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The
Lukuleles will gather Monday evening, January 16, at 7:00
. The Lukuleles are a loose-knit group of ukulele players and those who wish to be.
All ages and skill levels are welcome, including those who have never played a ukulele.
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Parish Meetings in January
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January 22 Town Meeting on the Budget
with year end and year to come financial information
January 29 Annual Meeting
including an Appreciative Inquiry/Visioning process
Annual Reports are past due
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If you lost your pledge card or need stewardship information, click here! We need to have the information in as soon as possible in order to prepare our 2017 budget. Thank you!
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Financial Peace University is Back!
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Learn to take control of your financial life in a manner consistent with your values. This program will meet Sunday's from 9-9:45 beginning 02/05. Nursery care will be provided for young children. Registration information to follow.
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Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders - Please join SAGE Maine for a dinner on Thursday, January 19th at 6PM in the lower parish hall. Suggested donation for those over 60 is $5.00 and $7.00 for those under 60. The meal is provided through the Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging thanks to funding from the Older Americans Act. Feel free to bring a dish to add to the table if you would like.
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Help Evaluate our Christmas Services
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What did you think of the Christmas services this year? What went well? What would make next year even better? Please send your thoughts to
office@cathedralofstluke.org.
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On January 29th there will be a blessing of the prayer shawls. Please let Helen Smith (772-7057) know if you have made one. Your gift of time, love and prayers needs to be acknowledged. Thank you.
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Faith in Action: Maine Advocacy Days
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Discover how voices of faith can make a difference in the public square. Mark your calendars for March 27 & 28.
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