The Weekly E-Pistle

Thursday, July 11th, 2024

UPCOMING

Luke’s Garden To Host Guest Speaker

This Sunday July 14

Upper Hall

At the Conclusion of Coffee Hour

Join us at coffee hour in the Upper Hall this Sunday, July 14, as we welcome guest speaker, Ophelia Hu Kinney, for a discussion on intersectionality between being a member of the LGBTQ+ community whilst being Asian American.

Please see Ophelia’s biography below.

If you cannot make it in person, a zoom link is available here

Ophelia Hu Kinney (she/her), is the child of Chinese immigrants. She is a mother, sister, and wife, and she lives in Scarborough – which was once called "the land of many grasses" by the Sokokis people. Her writing stirs the waters between spirituality and the practice of awe.

Ophelia serves as the Director of Communications at Reconciling Ministries Network, a nonprofit dedicated to LGBTQ justice and inclusion in The United Methodist Church. She's the worship coordinator at HopeGateWay, and she co-facilitates the Queer Parents Group at Birth Roots in Portland. Right now, she's learning about parenting a toddler and about the creatures that share this slice of earth with her.

Sing with the Cathedral Pick Up Choir

July 28th & August 25th

Interested in singing at the cathedral this summer? Join the cathedral pick up choir on the July 28th and August 25th.

We will gather in the choir room at 8:45AM to learn a very simply anthem which will be sung at the 10AM liturgy.

Come as you are—ALL ages welcome, no prior singing experience necessary, no robes required, no processions to worry about—to enrich our summer worship. The anthems will be distributed on the day of the services, and will be simple enough to learn in the time allowed, but if you would like to see the music in advance, please send an e-mail to Canon for Liturgy and Music, Christian Clough and he will send you a link to a scan of the music.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Minutes from Lesser Chapter

To read the minutes which were approved by the Lesser Chapter from their meeting held on May 15, 2024, click here.

To read draft minutes from the most recent meeting of the Lesser Chapter held on June 26, 2024, click here.

To view previous minutes, or to access additional resources, visit the vestry page on our website, here.

Parish Administrator Out of Office July 15-22

Parish Administrator, Avery Levesque-Schott, will be out of the office on vacation from Monday July 15 until he returns on July 22nd.

During this week, we will not be accepting additional submissions for the E-pistle.

While Avery is away, the Reverend George Stevens will be in the office from Tuesday, July 16-Thursday, July 18 to assist community members.

In case of a pastoral emergency, please call George at (978)-578-8084 or send him an email.

To leave a message for the office, please call (207)-772-5434 and press option 1 or send an email. Avery will respond to your message once he returns to the office.

The Healing Team

Healing Prayers are offered in the small chapel to the right of the communion rail during and after communion by two members of the Healing Team.

We are humbled and grateful to offer this ministry for and with you.

We will be offering prayers during the 10AM services on July 14, 21, and 28.

The Healing Team will be on break during the month of August, and will resume the second Sunday of September.

New Cathedral Treasurer Email

With the appointment of new cathedral treasurer, Randi Hogan, our IT team has updated the treasurer’s email. To contact Randi with any future questions you may have, please use the email address here.

Committee for the Fall Fair

The topic of our annual Fall Fair was discussed at the last three meetings of the Lesser Chapter.

During the meetings the vestry has identified three important aspects of the fair: community fellowship, neighborhood outreach, and fundraising.

Our primary work in the fall will be continuing parish-wide work on conflict transformation and a search for our next dean.

In response, the vestry is imagining a fall event that keeps the primary focuses of the fair intact, but at a scale reflective of the central work we’re called to do as a community.

If you’re interested in joining a leadership group to take on this fun project, please let Interim Dean George Stevens via email.

Space still available

for a Variety of Camps this Summer!

"Camp Bishopswood has been owned and operated as an arm of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine since the early 1960’s. Located on the shores of Lake Megunticook near Camden, Maine, Bishopswood is a beautiful, picture-perfect slice of God’s creation – ideal for a children’s summer camp!"

Opportunities This Summer Include:

Youth Camp for children 8-16: Campers can do 1 week or multiple week sessions

Mini-Camp for ages 6-8

Summer Finale: September 13-15. A weekend multigenerational summer camp experience for people of all ages. Registration for this experience is now open! There is also a day-only option on Saturday, Sept. 14.

Back this year after a several-year hiatus is a mini retreat especially for those who do formation work in our diocese on Friday, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. As in years past, this will be an opportunity to spend a day in conversation with formation folks, to enjoy delicious food, and imagine ways in which we can collaborate and uplift one another in our formation work.

To view dates, camp offerings, register for camp, and to learn more visit Bishopswood's webpage here.

To support Camp Bishopswood, visit their giving page here.

Watch the video above to learn more about Camp Bishopswood

LAST WEEK'S SERVICE

To view last week's bulletin click here.

To view last week's service livestream click here.

To listen to last week's sermon preached by Christian Clough, Canon for Liturgy and Music, click here.

To read Canon Clough's sermon, click here.

To View past services visit our Youtube Page or visit the archive page on our website to read past bulletins, sermons, and newsletters.

OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES

Sign-Up for Phase III Small Groups—Sessions are ongoing!

Phase III of the cathedral's conflict transformation process is the small group experience, and requires a two-hour commitment.

Groups of no larger than 8 individuals will gather to create an intentional listening community whilst working with consultant, Susan Czolgosz.

The small group experience at its core is an opportunity for healing and reconciliation.

Click here to sign up for a Phase III session.

Hannaford Supports Our Food Pantry

Once More in July

In May the bag donation program at the Bayside Hannaford raised $742 for St. Luke's Food Pantry!

Now, once again in July, our food pantry was chosen to receive donations from a different store.

Our pantry will receive $1 for each $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger Bag sold throughout July at the South Portland Hannaford on Cottage Road.

Pantry volunteers are proud to have their work acknowledged by our local stores and neighbors!

Sunday 5:15PM Service of Holy Eucharist

The 5:15PM Service is a lay-lead worship service of Holy Eucharist and meditation which gathers each Sunday in Emmanuel Chapel. Each week we welcome a member of the clergy to celebrate the Holy Eucharist.

The service invites all in attendance into a space of quiet and stillness with music, scripture, and reflections.

With questions about the service please contact Liz Parsons.

We look forward to welcoming you to future services. Please join us!

Below are photos from previous services along with a reflection offered by parishioner, Phyllis Wilkins.

Parishioner Eleanor Roberts offers a reflection

The Reverend Christopher Worthley, celebrates The Holy Eucharist

The Altar Prepared for Service

Click here to read a reflection offered by parishioner Phyllis Wilkins on July 7

Eco Tips from the Public Policy

& Environmental Action Team

Last week the Science and Technical Committee (STS) of the Maine Climate Council released its updated report: Scientific Assessment of Climate Change and Its Effects in Maine,

This report includes new data on a number of important resilience topics:

Climate,
Human Dimensions
Sea Level and Coastal Hazards
Marine
Agriculture
Biodiversity
Freshwater
Forests and Forestry

Here are just a few of the key findings:

Maine's climate is getting warmer, wetter and we are experiencing new extremes.

Sea level is 7.5 inches higher than in early 20th century Maine, and the rate of sea level rise has nearly doubled in the past 30 years.

The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 97% of the world’s ocean surface and is experiencing near-constant ocean heat waves.

In Maine, resilience to climate change depends on relationships: this includes a strong sense of community among residents, solid connections between the economy and healthy natural systems, and maintaining ties to heritage.

Read the whole Executive Summary here

To learn more about PPPEAT visit their page on our website here.

Contribute to St. Luke’s Summer Music Ministry

The Cathedral Choir will be in recess from 9 June through Labor Day, and summer is a great time to make a musical contribution to our worship as a singer or instrumentalist. Help us to keep our music well-supported with your offerings.

Please email Christian Clough, Canon for Liturgy & Music.

Access Your Realm Profile

The Cathedral’s 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!

Coffee Hour

Coffee Hour - Please join us after the service for a time of fellowship in the upper hall through the doors to the left of the altar. All are welcome.

Interested in hosting? It is an important part of our parish life and provides us with a time for connection. Hosting is fun and easy, it requires bringing in a baked good and brewing coffee the Sunday of your choosing. Please consider signing up, a lot of gratitude comes with the job. Thank you!

Check the hosting schedule by visiting the link here.

Please email Meredith Cough with your date.

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

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.

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.

The Parish Prayer List

Names remain on the prayer list for 3 consecutive weeks unless otherwise requested. If you wish for a name to be added, contact Avery Schott, Parish Administrator via email.