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Snow Days and Sabbaticals
Do you remember the excitement of snow days when you were young? No school, playing with friends, watching TV, hanging out, building snow-forts and having snowball fights... the anticipation alone would keep a kid up late when snow was forecast for the next day. I remember when a rumor that wearing your pajamas inside out would guarantee a snow the next day wardrobe swirled around my kid's school, resulting in lots of bedtime wardrobe changes, giggles, and sleepless children.
As an adult, snowdays are a little calmer. In fact, with the hush of blanket of snow, the warmth of a fire, the opportunity to sleep in, take a nap or read a book, snow days force us to slow down. With the call of fresh powder, snow days can also usher us outside for the renewal of ruddy cheeks that only exercise in the cold can create. Snow days, are a reminder that it is OK to take a day off and take time for true Sabbath rest.
Snow days offer a hint about Sabbatical time. In the words of the Lilly Endowment National Clergy Renewal Program, "
Sabbaticals seek to strengthen congregations by providing opportunities for pastors to step away briefly from the persistent obligations of daily parish life and to engage in a period of renewal and reflection. Renewal periods are not vacations, but times for intentional exploration and reflection, for regaining the enthusiasm and creativity for ministry, for discovering what will make the pastor's heart sing.... The responsibilities are continual, and the pace and demands of parish life can be relentless, often leaving even the most dedicated pastors recognizing the need to replenish their own spiritual reservoirs to regain energy and strength for their ministry. Life-giving experiences-strengthening relationships, renewing a sense of call, meeting and serving the neighbor in a new way, finding joy and purpose in a simplified life, traveling to new lands and unfamiliar territories, creating opportunities where members of the congregation can exercise their gifts for ministry-are common themes of these renewal times. Profound discoveries that pastors and their congregations describe as "life-changing events" occur as they participate in this program." ( Note that for Lilly, the sabbatical is an opportunity for rest, renewal, and rediscovery of ministry for both the pastor and congregation.)
In the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, clergy are given four months of sabbatical every five years. When combined with vacation, this typically means five months away from the congregation. Because of the capital campaign and Rose Window wall construction, my sabbatical scheduled for a year or so ago will begin April 17 (the Monday after Easter) and will end September 16 (as our fall program year is beginning). The vestry has engaged the Rev. Canon Sam Henderson to be priest-in-charge here while I am gone. The funding of his position is covered in our 2017 budget.
People have asked what I plan to do during this time. Currently there are many options up in the air. Once things have become clear, I will let you know. In the meantime, I thank you for this opportunity and pray that it will be a time of rest, renewal and rediscovery for you and for me.
Dean Shambaugh
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At St. Luke's Tomorrow, February 18
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Building and grounds work day
8:30 - Noon
Mandala Journaling
9 -11 am
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Early Music in the Chapel
Saturday, February 18 at 7:00 pm
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Italian and English continuo songs Music's Quill, with special guest Raffael Scheck, 'cello
Join
Timothy Neill Johnson, tenor,
Timothy Burris, lute and theorbo and
special guest Raffael Scheck, 'cello this Saturda evening Emmanuel Chapel. This early music concert will f
eature works of Giulio Caccini, Domenico Gabrielli
and Henry Purcell.
Tickets are available at the door: $15, and $10 for seniors (students 17 and under, free)
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Interfaith Prayer Vigil for a Moral Budget
02/22 11:30-12:15 in Augusta
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Join Bishop Lane, the Maine Council of Churches, Main Equal Justice Partners, and leaders from Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Quaker, and Unitarian communities in a time of prayer for a moral budget on Wednesday at the Hall of Flags at the State House in Augusta. If you cannot be present, please pause at 11:30 for a moment of prayer. All are welcome to join our Sunday school kids in coloring candles that will be held during the vigil. See flyers by the entrances of the cathedral.
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Rossini Club February Concert
February 19 at 3:00 pm
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The February Concert of the Rossini Club will be held in the Cathedral Nave this Sunday.
A reception will follow, during which you can meet the performers.Suggested donation $10/$5 seniors. Students admitted free of charge.
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The Caregivers Support Group will meet on Wed. Feb. 22nd at 10:30am. We meet every other week in the Oratory Room on the lower level. You can enter by the back door off the parking lot.
The group is open to spouses, children or friends who are caring for or have in the past cared for someone with an incapacitating illness. The group is led by Mary Leigh Hanson and Ralph Cordes.
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Quick thinking saves
the Valentine Cookie Walk!
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Though cancelled due to bad weather on Sunday, so many bakers brought their Valentine bakery items to the church that a group quickly formed in the upper hall and jumped into action to put on the sale, all before 10 am.
The Valentines Day Cookie Walk fundraiser collected $400.00 for the Haiti Recovery Fund and the St. Luke General Fund! Blessings and thanks to all who participated -
A little snow can't hold our enthusiastic congregation back!
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Pihcintu to Sing at February 26
Twilight Service
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Pihcintu, a chorus made up of young women of various ages will be singing during the "Twilight In the Chapel" 5:15pm service on Feb. 26. Con Fullam is the director of this multicultural chorus made up of immigrant folk from around the world who now live in Maine. Many come from backgrounds filled with tragedy and personal danger. A snack reception will follow the service. Rev. Suzanne Roberts will be the celebrant.
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Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday,
and Lent!
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February 28 is Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday! Mark your calendars for our annual pancake dinner from 5-6:30 pm followed by a jazz concert at 7 pm in the nave.
March 1 is Ash Wednesday, with services at 7 am, 12:10 pm, and 7 pm, as well as ashes to go at Monument Square.
Lent will feature a Sunday morning before church newcomers/inquirer's class, an after church Lenten Series, and at least one quiet day.
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Do you get the diocesan e-news? You should! Click here to sign up!
Mark your calendars for diocesan "Spring Training" -- one day seminars on all aspects of the Christian Life -- on April 19 in Brunswick!
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We are on the verge of completing the final piece of Phase I of the capital project, which is the installation of a protective lens over the exterior of the Rose Window. The project has been scheduled and delayed throughout the month of February by inclement weather and is currently set for Monday through Wednesday, February 20 through 22.
The installation of the lens and the replacement of the credence, which was done late last year, are the last items for Phase I, which encompasses the restoration of the Rose Window and other exterior masonry work. We have sufficient cash in the Living Stones account to cover these remaining costs for Phase I. After these final costs and payment of our pledge to Camp Bishopswood are paid we will begin accumulating funds for Phase II of the project.
Phase II is the "program related" phase of the project in which we will make capital improvements to our facilities to better carry out our mission. A forecast of expected income from pledged gifts to the Living Stones account over the year will be developed. At the same time, the Building Committee will review the areas of building, furniture and fixture improvements that were defined during the campaign and develop detailed, up-to-date cost estimates for the different initiatives. The Vestry will then take this information regarding available funds and create a prioritized list of projects and an implementation timeline for the next year to 18 months. This timeline will then be presented to the congregation, reviewed and discussed.
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Financial Peace University Begins March 5
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This program will meet Sundays from 9-9:45 am beginning March 5. Nursery care will be provided for young children. See Jamie Cough for more information.
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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 11:45 am 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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Youth Group will be going to Bayside Bowl from noon - 1:30 this Sunday.
Please contact Jon Radtke at
jradtke@cathedralofstluke.org
by Saturday if you would like to attend. Bowling is free, bring money for food!
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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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Don't forget to friend us on
Facebook - St Luke's Cathedral, Portland, ME
Click
here for our full calendar
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Happy 100th Birthday, Francis Madeira!
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100th birthday. As a longtime member of St. Luke's we'll
honor him at coffee hour.
We hope you'll join us!
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All are invited to a Lenten Quiet Day here at St. Luke's on March 18 from 10 am to 2 pm led by the Rev. Mary Lee Wile. To register, contact Sarah Braik at
Sponsored by the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross.
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Getting Involved in Advocacy at St. Luke's
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To learn about the Maine Episcopal Network for Justice or the Faith Action Network, contact John Hennessy.
jhennessy@episcopalmaine.net
For information about St Lukans participating in local events, contact Liz Parsons
ecparsons33@hotmail.com
For deeper discussions on the moral side of current issues, plan on attending our Sunday morning Lenten series beginning March 5!
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St. E's Donation
Drop Off Hours
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Please note our new hours:
Mondays 9-11 am
Tuesdays 7:30-11 am
Please leave your items in the lower vestibule. Thanks!
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Spiritual Formation
for Adults
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A Newcomers/Inquirer's Class will be held at 9am on Sunday mornings beginning in March. This is great for anyone wanting to learn more about the Episcopal Church or St. Lukes and is also for anyone (youth or adult) interested in being confirmed in May.
Lenten Series Social Justice is the theme of this years adult program for Lent. The program starts on March 5 with a presentation by Liz Parson entitled What is religion and why does it matter?: How to bring a faith based perspective in the public square. The Lenten Forum will start at 11:30 in the upper hall. Other topics will include: health care, the environment and race.
The Explorers
are beginning The Book of Joy by Bp. Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama. Please read the first two chapters. We meet from 8:45 'til 9:45 on Sunday mornings...in the Chapter Room.
Heart of the Matter
explores religious belief through the work of Joseph Campbell each week. It's a great place for those seeking new ways of understanding their relationship with their faith. Join us in Classroom 8 on Sundays from 8:45-9:45
am.
Dwelling on the Word is on winter break.
The Tuesday Bible Study
and brown bag lunch continues each week after the 12:10 service.
The Thursday evening Theological Study Group
is also beginning a new course of study on how the early Judao-Christians influenced the thought, shape and content of western society. There will be a study guide, a reading schedule and handouts. We meet on Thursday evenings from 7 - 9 pm. Dr. Hanson's paper on science and ethics is available in the Chapter Room.
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As of February 1, we have received 181 pledges, totalling $348,822. If you lost your pledge card or need stewardship information, click here! We are still a little short of our 2017 budgetary goal of $355,393 so please send your pledge card in as soon as convenient. Thank you!
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We held our Annual Meeting on January 29. Missed it or want to revisit a particular item?
Read the minutes of the Annual Meeting and the Annual Report (including the 2017 budget) on
the cathedral's website.
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Middle School Event
Congratulations and thank you to Erich Chase and Louisa Radtke Rowe
who are part of the leadership team for the Diocesan Middle School event in March. The middle school event (grades 6-8) is March 10-12 at St Paul's. Register at
www.maineyouth.org
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Outdoor Cathedral day trip for high school age youth Saturday March 11, 2017
8:00 am to 8:00 pm
Join us for a winter hike on snowshoes in Pinkham Notch at the foot of Mt. Washington. Lunch and dinner will be provided. You do not need to have experience or equipment, just the desire to have fun and explore the White Mountains. Bring a friend and see Jon Radtke for registration forms.
Luke Brostek and Meredith Cough will guide the trip. Meredith has been trained by the AMC to take youth outdoors in the winter and has Wilderness First Aid training. Luke is an avid outdoorsman and will complete his Outdoor Leadership Training this spring.
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On Weekdays when the Portland Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather, so is St. Luke's. The office and pantries are closed and all meetings are cancelled.
On Sundays, Worship Services are always held.
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