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Education plus
These days, if you go to a seminary or a conference on Christian Education, you quickly learn that what we have thought of as Sunday School, youth group or adult classes, isn't called Christian Education any more. There things are now called "spiritual formation." More than a name change, this new title represents a paradigm shift. Now, instead of information, we are talking about formation. Instead of helping people know about God, the goal is to help people know God. It is a move from head to heart, from facts to feelings, from exposition to personal experience.
Of course facts are important. Information is important. Context matters and so does theology. If, however, these things are not connected to our spiritual lives - if they don't help us connect with God - they are simply an academic exercise that feeds our minds but not our souls.
Spiritual formation is not just what happens in Sunday School classes. It happens in prayer, in worship, in conversation with others, and in a wide variety of other activities, times and places. Lent is a good time to ask yourself some questions. How is your soul being fed? How is your spiritual life being nurtured? How is spiritual formation happening to you?
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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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Calling all parents & kids!
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Join a Community Conversation "Children, Teens and Families -- What else can we do?" A facilitated conversation on engaging children, teens and families in the life of the Cathedral. We will meet on Sunday, March 12 at 11:30 in the lower hall.
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Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) Maine Join us on Thursday, March 16th for our monthly dinner program. We are planning a special St. Patrick's Day menu and the donation remains $5.00 for those over 60 and $7.00 for those under 60. We also have a special guest speaker!
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Instead of giving up something for Lent, try giving something... to Haiti!
Every quarter in the offering plate goes to provide a meal to a child at the school St Luke's built in Duny, Haiti, often the only meal they get that day. Unfortunately the price of food and the number of children continues to rise and the amount of quarters in the plate don't meet the need. Our goal is to provide meals to all the children there. We can do this if we all work together. Thank you! Every quarter counts!
The Haiti Partnership Committee
will meet on Sunday, March 12 at 11:40. We will be discussing the findings of a recent trip by parishioners Bill Slack and Karin Draper, teacher salaries, other priorities and how to proceed. All are welcome!
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Seeking Communications Manager
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We are looking for a new communications staff person: Do you know someone who might be interested in working with our website, social media and other communications, helping to us communicate better with our parishioners and share and promote our ministries and activities to the wider community? We are looking for someone at $15/hour for 10-15 hours a week. Contact the parish office for more information.
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In a recent Lenten message, the Episcopal Public Policy Network's E-newsletter stated, "when we welcome a new member to our family at Baptism, Episcopalians recite together the Apostles' Creed, which begins: 'I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.' God's act of creation of the earth and oceans we share together is bound to our own creation, to the spirit of life that animates our souls. We honor God by caring for creation." In that spirit, the e-pistle will now include a regular Creation Care column.
Information presented here will highlight how St. Lukans are realizing our baptismal covenant in relation to Earth and offer ideas about how we can all do more.
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News From St. Elizabeth's Jubilee Center
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In June we will celebrate the 10th anniversary of St. Elizabeth's moving to the cathedral. This will also be the 10th anniversary of my serving as Executive Director.
I have given notice to the bishop and our Advisory Board that I will be retiring from the director's position effective June 15 of this year. I have so much enjoyed these ten years and the opportunities I have been given to work with our neighbors but I feel it is time to move on. The Advisory Board will be meeting this week to discuss details of a search.
Rev. Dick Rasner
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Faith in Action: Maine Advocacy Days - March 27 and 28 - Registration is now open.
The Maine Episcopal Network for Justice along with the Maine Council of Churches, The Preble Street Faith Advocacy Network, and the Capital Area and Winthrop ministerial associations will sponsor a two-day Interfaith advocacy training on Monday and Tuesday, March 27 and 28 in Augusta.
On Monday participants will gather at South Parish Congregational Church to worship, hear an address by the Rev. Bill Barter, priest-in-charge of Trinity, Lewiston, and attend sessions on two of the following issues: healthcare, poverty/hunger, the environment, and homelessness/housing.
Each session will be co-led by a Maine policy expert and a person of faith to offer a faith-based perspective on that issue. Sessions will also offer instruction on how best to advocate for that particular issue. There will also be an panel on civil discourse and advocacy led by leaders of different faiths.
On Tuesday participants will gather at the State House for breakfast and a send-off to meet their local legislators and to attend the legislative sessions and hearings.
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Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed on Saturday evening, March 11. Smile - you may lose an hour of sleep, but it's a sign that Spring is on it's way!
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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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Financial Peace University
Sundays at 9 am
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This program meets Sundays from 9-9:45 am in the lower parish hall. . Nursery care will be provided for young children. See Jamie Cough for more information.
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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
sbraik642@gmail.com.
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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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.
Lenten Series Social Justice is the theme of this years adult program for Lent. Please join John Hennessy this Sunday for a discussion about the faithful approach to a moral state budget. We have the opportunity to reach out to local legislators and share why at moments like this, people of faith must speak out. We will spend our time talking about several initiatives in the budget that would harm people in our community and what we can do to make a difference. Join us at 11:30 in the upper hall.
The Explorers' sessions on The Book of Joy are becoming more interactive and more animated. It's particularly interesting to think of being joyful from other religious perspectives.
For the coming week we'll be discussing pages 144 - 193. We meet from 8:45 to 9:45 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.
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 pm theological discussion group
is taking back its western cultural inheritance. We're reading Tarnas' Passion of the Western Mind and Bertrand Russell's the History of Philosophy. Join us from 7 - 9pm for the tour of a lifetime.
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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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St. Paul's, Brunswick - Saturday, 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. Stay tuned for details!
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