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On Monday and Tuesday of next week, I will be serving as a presenter at the Faith in Action Maine Advocacy Days in Augusta. Part of my work will be providing some biblical and spiritual foundations for work on poverty and hunger. Another part of my work will be teaching people how to talk to legislators about issues of poverty and hunger using a technique developed by Marshall Ganz of Harvard University called "Public Narrative."
Public narrative is how we communicate our values through stories, bringing alive the motivation that is a necessary pre-condition for changing the world. Through public narrative, we tell the story of why we are called to action ("story of self"), the values of the community within which we are embedded that calls us as a collective to action ("story of us"), and the challenges to those values that demand an immediate response ("story of now"). The story of self is your personal connection to an issue and why you are passionate about it. The story of us is about how we all are affected by this issue, about the consequences, and about how all this has an impact on the listener and the listener's community. The story of now is the about urgency of the situation and the making of an ask for something to happen.
While the Faith in Action days will present Public Narrative as a tool for advocacy, I first learned it as a tool for evangelism. It provides a framework for many of my sermons and I have used it to teach military chaplains about preaching. In 2009 representatives of all the diocese in the province of New England were trained in Public Narrative. In 2013, it was taught to all deputies for General Convention. The hope was that as Episcopalians developed their own public narrative - as we each began telling people what being part of the church means to us and to the communities where we live, and why it is important for them to be part of it now - our churches would grow. Our new presiding bishop uses Public Narrative as a way to invite people to be part of the Jesus movement. Jesus used stories to tell people about the kingdom of God. I bet you can do the same thing.
When it comes to talking about our faith - or about applying our faith to issues we face in the world - people often struggle with what to say and how to say it. Public Narrative - using the story of self, the story of us, the story of now - gives us a model that works. Why not give it a try?
Dean Shambaugh
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Would you like to write an E-pistle cover letter? While the dean is gone on Sabbatical, the e-pistle cover letters will be written by staff and volunteers. This is a great way to highlight a program or ministry or share a theological reflection. Submissions should under 400 words and sent to Lynne England (
office@cathedralofstluke.org). Items will be chosen by cathedral staff at the Thursday morning staff meeting.
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Interfaith Advocacy Days March 27-28
It's Not Too Late to Sign Up!
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Want to DO something?! Interfaith Advocacy Days (March 27 & 28)
is an opportunity to gather as people of faith to worship, learn and speak out with moral fervor. The first day will be focused on four key areas of public policy: Homelessness, Hunger, Health Care and Environment. On the second day we get to live out our faith in a public way and talk to our legislators in the State House. For more information and to sign up click here.
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Rossini Club Concert This Sunday
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The March concert of the Rossini Club will be held on Sunday, March 26 at 3:00 pm. Featured performers will include soprano Mary Johnston with pianist Mark Braun, pianist Diane Walsh, and violinist Alexander Romunal with pianist Angela Olszta.
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Oboist at 5:15 on April 2
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Kathleen McNerney will play oboe during the Twilight In the Chapel service on Sunday April 2. Ms. McNerney is on the music faculty at both Bates and Bowdoin College, teaches at the Portland Conservatory of Music and is co-artistic director for the chamber music ensemble VentiCordi. She has performed nationally and internationally. A small reception will follow the service. Dean Shambaugh will be the celebrant.
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Everything You Need for Easter is Here
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Holy Week and Easter Services
April 9-16
Palm Sunday: 7:30, 10:00 and 5:15 with procession at Longfellow square at 9:45
Maundy Thursday: 7:00 pm
Good Friday: Noon and 7:00 pm
Holy Saturday/The Easter Vigil: 7:00 pm
Easter Day 7:30, 9:00, 11:00, and 5:15 with an Easter Egg Hunt at 10:30 am
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Many have been asking about my sabbatical plans. I will be away from St. Luke's from April 17 (the day after Easter) to September 16 (the day before our fall startup.) This follows the diocesan norm of four months of sabbatical every five years, extended to five months by adding this summer's vacation.
For the sabbatical period, the Rev. Canon Sam Henderson will serve as priest in church, providing pastoral care, leading worship on Sundays, covering for weddings and funerals, and overseeing daily operations. The Rev. Suzanne Roberts, the Rev. Richard Rasner and other staff and volunteers will continue their usual duties and all programs and activities will maintain their regular schedules. I will not be in the office or checking church related emails or voice mails during this time.
I am aware that the preparations for the fall programs and activities will need to happen while I am away. With this in mind, the vestry will be use its April 7-8 retreat to set goals for this sabbatical period and for the year to come. My personal plans for the sabbatical are still evolving. It will begin with time spent with Shari's family in Oregon followed by a time on retreat. Beyond this and some time at my family's camp in Michigan, it may include some continuing education, time on the water and in the Maine woods, and playing in a few summer band concerts along the way. I have been asked to put together a large article for the Anglican Theological Review about the role of cathedrals in cities, particularly looking at St. Elizabeth's and St. Luke's work with immigrants and refugees, so writing and research will be a piece of the puzzle as well.I thank St. Luke's for this opportunity of rest, renewal and reflection, and look forward to seeing you on my return.
- Dean Shambaugh
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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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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)
2nd and 4th Wednesdays
5:45 pm: Taize Service in Emmanuel Chapel
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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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Getting Involved in Advocacy at St. Luke's
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Spiritual Formation
for Adults
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A Newcomers/Inquirer's Class is being held at 9am on Sunday mornings 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.
Social Justice is the theme of this year's Lenten Series,
this week's topic is the environment. "As part of the Episcopal Church, we are called "to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth." Sunday morning, Luke Brostek will give a brief teaching and facilitate a discussion on where God might be calling us as individuals and as a parish community with regards to creation care." Join us Sunday, March 26 at 11:30am in the upper parish hall.
The Explorers
are reading the last four (4) sections of the Road to Joy by Bishop Tutu and the Dalai Lama. These two men come from opposing faith positions, and yet they have points of meeting, and, sometimes, even agreement. Their thoughts, clarifications and courage will enrich our lives into the future. Join us for searching and searing conversation. We meet each Sunday from 8:45 to 9:45 am, in the Chapter Room.
Heart of the Matter explores religious belief through the work of Joseph Campbell. 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.
The Tuesday Bible Study
and brown bag lunch continues each week after the 12:10 service.
The Thursday pm theological discussion group is reading Bertrand Russell's and Richard Tarness's contributions to better understand the conditions in the Levant for the spreading of the new Gospel. Might St. Paul have read Plato? Did Jesus ever meet or talk with Philo of Alexandria? Could Jesus have known Hillel or Gamaliel? With Jesus' knowledge of Greek might he have read Heraclitus or Pythagoras? Join us in our research on what the historical Jesus might have known prior to beginning his last ministry in Jerusalem. We meet in the Chapter Room from 7 'til 9 pm.
Spring Training, April 29
Gather with Bishop Steve Lane and Episcopalians from across the diocese for a day of learning, sharing, and growth. A church leader? A clergy person? Someone interested in spiritual growth or community outreach?
With 20 workshops to choose from, you'll find what you're looking for. The topic offered by each workshop will be framed around he question: How do I be a Christian? There's no cost for this event, which will be held at St. Paul's Church and the public library in Brunswick. See details here
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150th Anniversary Committee
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Interested in helping with plans to celebrate St. Luke's 150th year? See George Cooper.
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Love to take pictures? We are always looking for photos of folks participating in activities here at St. Luke's. Please email your pics (smart phone images are just fine!) to Lynne in the parish office - she would love to utilize them for our social media and other uses.
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Altar Guild Polishing Party
Saturday, April 1
10:00 am - Noon
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On Saturday, April 1st, the Altar Guild will be polishing all the Cathedral's silver and brass. Arrive at 10, we'll be done at noon. We're hoping our Choir friends can come help us again, and ushers will polish brass offering plates, vergers will help with torches and candlesticks and Flower Guild will come polish brass vases. You can come help, too. Think of it as active prayer. "Our Father, this is fun!" Our legendary cucumber sandwiches and champagne will be served.
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