A Message from the Bishop Regarding the Tragic Deaths in Lewiston: An Online Prayer Vigil to Be Held This Evening at 5:30

The E-Pistle of Thursday

October 26th, 2023

St. Luke's Webpage

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Events

Published by the Episcopal Diocese of Maine

26 October 2023

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today in the Diocese of Maine, our hearts are breaking, and like Rachel, we weep for our children. In our grief, we invite you to gather with us today at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom to mourn and to pray. Together, we will ask God to receive all who have died into the arms of God’s mercy, to bless those who mourn with the hope of eternal life, and to strengthen our hearts to bring an end to gun violence in all its forms.

I have invited Bishop Hirschfeld of New Hampshire and Bishop MacVean-Brown of Vermont to join us, along with Bishop Peggy Johnson, the interim bishop for the United Methodist New England Annual Conference, and the Rev. Jane Field, executive director of the Maine Council of Churches.

In Christ,

The Right Reverend Thomas J. Brown

Bishop of Maine

Oct 26, 2023 05:30 PM

Join Zoom Vigil

Meeting ID: 818 3355 6408

Passcode: 321846

Pre-convention Meeting Rescheduled

Our prayer vigil will be held in place of the Pre-convention Meeting originally scheduled. We will hold that meeting on Zoom on Thursday, November 2 at 5:00 p.m. A meeting reminder for this new date will be distributed next week.

Community Announcements

A Message of Thanks Regarding Diocesan Convocation

from

Bishop Brown

Dear Cathedral Community,

You epitomize hospitality! The diocesan convocation on Saturday, 21 October was a triumph. Your care and devotion was reflected in absolutely everything. Thank you for sharing with the diocesan community a sparkly clean cathedral, beautiful flowers, well-ordered and staffed liturgy, outstanding music (which included welcoming singers from throughout the diocese), delicious food, and warm and generous hearts. You are a cathedral, and I give thanks to God for your vocation and commitment.

In Christ,

The Right Reverend Thomas J. Brown

Bishop of Maine

Highlights from Diocesan Convocation

Watch the Livestream from Convocation

Read Bishop Brown's Convocation Address

This Evening's Performance of the Lion in Winter

Has Been Cancelled Due to The Tragedies in Lewiston

In reflection of the tragic losses in Lewiston, the Portland Shakespeare Company has cancelled this evening's performance of The Lion in Winter.

If you have additional questions please contact their director James Hoban.

Thank you for your understanding.

Finance Committee Meeting Minutes

To read the most recent minutes from the Cathedral Finance Committee please visit here.

Trunk Or Treat to be Held This Saturday at the Cathedral

Our annual Trunk or Treating is this Saturday afternoon at 2:00 PM (Oct 28).

Join us in St. Luke’s parking lot, for pumpkin decorating, cornhole, snacks and cider and a costume parade and moving from car to car to score treats!

*We are looking for individuals with vehicles (decorated or not!) to consider coming to help the kids who are trunk or treating! The weather is supposed to be glorious!

Please contact Sarah Dowling with any questions that you may have.

Holiday Fair Update

The Cathedral’s 2023 Holiday Fair will be held on Saturday, November 11 in conjunction with Portland’s annual State Street Stroll. We have recruited 16 volunteers to date to help make the Fair a success. So far, we have people to help organize and operate these tables: Hand-Made Gifts, Vintage Linens, Nativity and Winter Home items, Live Music, Jewelry, Attic Treasures, Jams and Jellies, Toys & Games, and Hot Beverages and Baked Goods.

We urgently need:

-Volunteers who are flexible to assist where most needed on

November 11

-Donations of items to help support the Fair in the categories listed

above especially Christmas items, toys and sports items.

To have a successful fair, we need at least twice as many donations as we have now!

Please email Fair Coordinator Sarah Dowling to volunteer your time/expertise.

With additional questions or information, email or call or text Sarah at 207-653-1017.

Donations for the Fair can be left in the lower hallway or brought down the Sunday school hallway and left on the pew across from room 4. Please mark your donations(s) as a Fair donation!

Please note that we will not be accepting donations of books and furniture.

Calling All Bakers For the Fair!

We need everyone's help with providing baked goods for the fair.

Donations of pies, cakes, cookies, muffins or any other baked goods would be greatly appreciated. Please label ingredients.

Let Liz Stover know what you can bring via a call, text or email and please deliver to St Luke's on Friday 11/10 (The day before the fair).

With any questions please contact Liz Stover by email or at 272-4922.

Thank you for your help!

Christmas Table For Fair

If you have any Christmas related items for the fair please contact Liz Stover by email or phone at (207)-272-4922

Please bring all items to St Luke's on Friday 11/10 (The day before the fair).

A Note from Christian Clough

Randy Mullin, CSL’s longtime Volunteer Assisting Organist, has withdrawn from his role. Randy has been a generous contributor to CSL’s musical life for years, and we have all benefited from his immense talent, professionalism, and meticulousness.

I have been particularly helped in my new leadership role here by his musical offering. Randy demurred when we offered to hold a public celebration and farewell, preferring to leave quietly, much as he has exercised his ministry these many years.

If you would like to reach out to Randy to express your own gratitude and good wishes, he can be reached by e-mail or by mail at 215 E Grand Ave #608, Old Orchard Beach, Me 04064.

Choral Evensong on November 5th

Join the Cathedral choir under the direction of Canon for Liturgy and Music, Christian M. Clough, for a service of choral evensong November 5th at 4PM in the Cathedral Nave.

Thanksgiving Day Service at the Cathedral

Please join us on Thanksgiving Day, November 23rd, 2023 at 10:00 AM in Emmanuel Chapel for a service of Holy Eucharist with The Right Reverend Thomas J. Brown, The Bishop of Maine, presiding.

All are welcome!

St. Elizabeth's Pantry Coat Drive

As we gear up for colder temperatures, St. Elizabeth’s is launching its annual coat and boot drive. Many of our neighbors come from warmer climates and don’t have the necessary clothing for fall and winter in Maine.

Large and Extra-Large sized coats for both men and women are most needed, but coats and boots of all sizes are welcome. Items should be in clean, good condition.

Monetary donations may also be made for the purchase of new coats and boots for our neighbors.

Financial contributions can be mailed to: St. Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center PO Box 4036 Portland, ME 04101 or visit here.

Hold the Date! PPEAT Coffee Hour

On November 12 the PPEAT committee is hosting coffee hour after the service where we’ll hear from State Representative Christopher Kessler, one of the four members of the State Legislature who serve on the Maine Climate Council. Please plan to come listen to Chris who will share with us the work of the Council and how we as individuals and St. Luke’s overall can also contribute to efforts to reduce Maine’s emissions by 45% by 2030.

Seeking Input for the Sunday 5:15 pm Service

We are seeking input from parishioners interested in restarting the Sunday 5:15PM service in the chapel. A working group is forming to explore how we might form this service, possibly using lay leadership. One option is to launch a time limited series of 5:15 services starting in the Sundays following Epiphany, and reassess whether continuing into the new year is feasible.

We are hoping this group will consider options, ask questions and explore ideas together on how to proceed. An organizational meeting is planned for Sunday, November 19 at Noon.

If you have thoughts or are interested in joining in, please contact Tim Wilkins.

St. Luke's Food Pantry in Need of Contributions

The Food Pantry welcomes your contributions of oil, flour, and dried beans!

These continue to be the most wanted items and and the most difficult for us to keep in stock.

Donations can be dropped off at any service or at the Cathedral's rear entrance. Thank you! Both neighbors and volunteers are grateful for your support!

With any questions please contact Mary Brighthaupt.

Visit Hannaford over the Bridge

and Support Our Food Pantry in November

During November, St. Luke's Food Pantry will receive $1 from every $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger Bag sold during the month of November at the Hannaford on 50 Cottage Road in South Portland.

Plus, our pantry will receive $0.25 from every Hannaford Snack Pals Plate sold there.

Autumn Eco-Tips

from the Public Policy & Environmental Action Team (PPEAT)

1.Leave the leaves on the lawn. They will go through the cycle of decomposition and promote healthy microbial activity in the soil. If you do decide to clean up the leaves, put them in a compost pile.

2. For fall ( and any season) beverages such as pumpkin lattes, hot cider and coffee, use a reusable mug. This action will save on the many paper cups that are thrown in the landfill and will also help to save trees.

3. Purchase local and seasonal foods. This action decreases fossil fuel used in transportation over great distances. In addition, the local produce is fresher, and its purchase helps local farmers.

4. For Halloween, consider making costumes at home and refraining from using plastic containers for the trick or treat event.

Opportunity for morning meditation in Emmanuel Chapel

St. Luke’s Parish Administrator Avery Levesque-Schott invites you to join him in Emmanuel Chapel from 7:00AM-8:00AM on Tuesday & Thursday mornings for a time of silent sitting and walking meditation.

A brief reading will be offered with accompanying active listening dyads. Coffee, tea, and pastries will be available in the Upper Hall following the conclusion of the meditation.

…and especially tenors! Contribute to CSL’s music ministry:

The choir could really use a couple more tenor voices (and others are still welcome, too)! If you fit the bill (or aren’t sure), please drop in on a choir rehearsal (Thursday 7PM or Sunday 8:45AM) and check it out!

Play an instrument or sing? We invite you to share your musical talents with our worshiping community in our praise of God. Or, do you know someone with talents to share? For more information or to discuss your interests, please contact Christian Clough, Canon for Liturgy & Music.

Last Week's Service

Click the attached links to view last week's Bulletin.

To read the sermon from The Rev. Christopher Worthley visit here.

To watch the livestream from Diocesan Convocation visit here.

To read the address from Bishop Brown during Saturday's Convocation Service, visit 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 in the Wider Community

Portland Shakespeare Company

St. Luke's is thrilled to welcome the Portland Shakespeare Company to Emmanuel chapel for their performances of The Lion in Winter.

Tickets are available here.

St. Elizabeth's Pantry to Host Benefit Concert on November 18th

at Trinity Episcopal Church in Portland

Ongoing Opportunities &

Community Resources

Help the Cathedral With Recycling

As Portland does not pick-up recycling for businesses we are looking for volunteers to take home the paper we gather in blue bins and add them to parishioner's recycling bins at their homes (We do however recycle cardboard and compost both of which have been a very successful campaigns).

If you would like to help please contact Sarah Braik or Tim Wilkins. Thanks for your help.

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.