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The E-pistle of Sunday, September 10th, 2023
The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Holy Eucharist, Rite II
7:30AM in Emmanuel Chapel
Holy Eucharist, Rite II
10:00AM in the Nave & Livestreamed
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Celebrating the Season of Creation | |
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The Cathedral Church of St. Luke
in the
City of Portland
and the
Episcopal Diocese of Maine
Whoever you are,
and wherever you may be on the journey of the spirit,
The Episcopal Church welcomes you.
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Welcome to St. Luke’s Cathedral
We are a community of faith with ancient worship and modern thought, catholic traditions and progressive theology. We proclaim a Biblical perspective for thinking people, a respect for reason, science, and a diversity of perspective. This empowers compassion and care for both the wider community and one another. Our commitment to welcome and inclusion is central to our mission modeled on the Kingdom of God and proclaimed by Jesus Christ.
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Sunday Morning Service Participants
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Preacher
The Rev. George Stevens, Interim Dean
Celebrant
The Rev. Suzanne Roberts M.D., Associate Priest
Assisting
The Rev. Rebecca A. Grant, Deacon
Music Leader & Organist
Christian M. Clough, Canon for Liturgy & Music
Assisting Organist
Randall Mullin
Lector
Judd Hume
Prayers Leader
Ellen Detlefsen
Ushers
Bob Parshley, Martha Parshley, Melissa Coy, Susan McCuller
Head Verger
Eleanor Roberts
Crucifer
Alec Thorne
Torches
Liam Coy, Lucy Pride
Live Streaming
Jack Swanton, Sam Allen
Contributing Ministries
The Cathedral Choir, Acolytes, Vergers, The Flower Guild, The Altar Guild, The Kneeler Guild
Music copyrights granted under OneLicense.net #A-713087. Sources: The Hymnal 1982, Lift Every Voice and Sing II, Wonder, Love, and Praise, Voices Found, My Heart Sings Out, The Saint Helena Psalter, The Book of Common Prayer,, Enriching our Worship, The Holy Bible (NRSV).
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The altar flowers today are offered to the glory of God
& given from the garden of St. Luke's Parishioners
the Rev. Alice Goshorn and Robyn Goshorn.
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Hearing Assistance Devices Available
St. Luke’s has 10 new headsets for those who need hearing assistance and most people who use them find them very helpful. Each week, five will be out on benches in the nave near our two entrances. The headsets will already be turned on and the volume turned up to about 70%. The only adjustment that may be necessary is for volume which can be raised and lowered using two silver buttons on the front of the unit. After using the devices, please return them to one of the benches near the exits. If you need assistance, please ask one of the ushers. For additional information, please ask Senior Warden Sam Allen.
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Thank you in advance for your offering today. You can donate to St. Luke’s through our new and secure “Give and Text” feature. Please TEXT “TEXTCSL” to 73256. Our 2023 Pledge Campaign is ongoing. Pledge materials and information are available here.
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Happening at the Cathedral Today | |
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Welcome to Our New Interim Dean:
The Rev. George Stevens
The cathedral is delighted to welcome our new Interim Dean, The Rev. George Stevens on his first Sunday at the cathedral. We ask that you kindly fill out a name tag (available in the upper hall and at both entrances to the Nave) in efforts to help the Rev. Stevens as he begins his time in our community.
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Today is Start-Up Sunday!
Welcome back to our Sunday School program, the Cathedral Choir, and Organist Randy Mullin! We recognize the vital role that these ministries play in the life of the cathedral community, and are grateful for the contributions of their participants.
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Parish Breakfast Happening Today
Join us for a parish breakfast in the Lower Hall from 8:30-9:30AM TODAY, September 10th, to celebrate startup-Sunday and to welcome The Rev. George Stevens to St. Luke’s.
This parish gathering will be a wonderful opportunity for the cathedral community to come together in between the 7:30AM and 10:00AM services.
Name tags will be available to fill out. This will assist The Rev. Stevens as he meets community members.
Please note that gluten free options will be available.
The menu for the breakfast is as follows:
Pancakes, blueberry and plain
Gluten free and vegan, too!
Maple syrup
Scrambled eggs
Blueberry muffins
Sausage links
Vegan sausage links
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Luke's Garden to Meet Today!
Join members of St. Luke’s LGBTQIA+ group, Luke’s Garden, Today in the Chapter Room at noon for our monthly meeting!
Orion Williams will be leading a discussion about the history and symbolism of pride flags. With any additional questions please contact Orion Williams.
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Roots of Jesus Study Group |
Sunday Mornings|8:45-9:45AM
Location: The Chapter Room
Contact: The Rev. Dr. Bob Hanson at 207-405-8250.
Join us in the Chapter Room from 8:45–9:45 AM on Sunday mornings. Bob Hanson, Biblical scholar, linguist and theologian, leads our group. For more information call Bob at (207) 405- 8250. Activity units are distributed for each session. Assigned readings are from the Biblical books under consideration. The journey is a joyous one.
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The Season of Creation 2023 | |
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The Season of Creation is celebrated each year from September 1 to October 4 by Christians all over the world. Its purpose is to renew, repair, and restore our relationship to God, all creation, and to each other. The Episcopal Church participates in this and urges action for climate justice, an end to environmental racism, and an end to destruction of the Earth.
This celebration began in 1989 when Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios of the Orhodox Church
proclaimed September 1 as a day of prayer for the Earth. Subsequently, the World Council of Churches extended the day to a season in its present format. In 2015 Pope Francis published his encyclical. Laudate Si, and made the season official in the Roman Catholic church.
During this season, communities of faith and all individuals are encouraged to participate in activities of prayer, sustainability, and advocacy for the Earth and all beings, including the plants, animals, and all those affected by climate disruption.
Each year the Ecumenical Steering Committee for the Season of Creation suggests a different theme. This year’s theme is Let Peace and Justice Flow. Its symbol is a mighty river, taken from the words of the Prophet Amos who cried “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24). This year’s Season of Creation calls us to work for ecological and climate justice for those most impacted by climate injustice and the loss of biodiversity. ( seasonofcreation.org ). This call for justice includes not only humans but all beings.
St. Luke’s, Williston-Immanuel and St. Alban’s will be holding a number of activities during the Season of Creation. Watch the Bulletin and Epistle for these events. Some have been listed under Save the Date. We invite you to join in the many ways we can work and pray for creation.
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Save the Date:
Season of Creation events
Save the date: Season of Creation events
The annual Season of Creation begins September 1. Please mark your calendars for the following events:
- Contemplative Fall Walk at Pleasant Hill Preserve Sunday, September 10th
1:30-3:30pm
“A celebration of trees in fall, this walk balances naturalist knowledge with gratitude and reflection. Learn about the Elm tree that lives next to the Pleasant Hill Preserve parking lot, listen to the whispers of the wisdom of the forest, and practice pausing to appreciate fall wonders. This walk will be led by Nicole Diroff, a Maine Master Naturalist, United Church of Christ minister, and Program Director at The BTS Center, focused on spiritual leadership in a climate-changed world."
Please join us in honoring the Season of Creation out of doors. Families with children age 8 and older are welcome to attend. Please dress for the weather as we will be outside for the entire time. Sunscreen and tick preventatives are recommended. Directions are available here.
Please note: The parking lot is small. Carpooling is recommended.
Contact Sarah Braik if you need a ride or can provide a ride to others.
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Community Harvest Supper Thursday Sept. 21, 5-7PM
(N.B., this is a corrected date and time) (see announcement below)
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Presentation by Curtis Bohlen, Director, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership on the Casco Bay Watershed Sunday Sept. 24, 11:45AM
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Book discussion group facilitated by St. Alban’s, Cape Elizabeth, September 11-October 30
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The St. Luke's Public Policy and
Environmental Action Team Meeting
Tuesday September 12 from 6-7 PM.
All are welcome.
Join us via Zoom
For more information email Sarah Braik
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St. Luke's Zoom Book Group
Saint Luke’s Monday Zoom Book Group will resume on Monday, September 18 by reading Why Religion Matters by Huston Smith, the author of the classic bestseller The World’s Religions.
In it he delivers a passionate, timely message: the human spirit is being suffocated by the dominant materialistic worldview of our times. Smith champions a society in which religion is once again treasured and authentically practiced as the vital source of human wisdom. The group meets first and third Mondays from 6-7. You can attend by following this link.
For the first meeting we’ll read the the introduction, preface and Chapter 1. For more information, contact Linda Carleton.
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St Elizabeth’s Essentials Drive in September
St E’s serves 280+ neighbors Tuesday mornings from 8:30 to 11 am. Essential items include toilet paper, bars of soap, feminine products, etc. Diapers, tooth paste, blankets, towels and sheets, and pots, pans and cookware are provided monthly.
We are having an Essentials Drive throughout September to help with rising costs and an increasing number of neighbors being served. You can participate by contributing bars of soap, rolls of toilet paper, packages of diapers, donating cash or by writing a check payable to "St. Elizabeth's Jubilee Center".
All essential items will be blessed during the service on September 24th and then delivered to St Elizabeth’s. Any contribution that you can make is very much appreciated.
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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!
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Tuesday 12:10 Service to Resume September 12th
Join us in Emmanuel Chapel as the 12:10 service resumes from its summer break.
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Help the Cathedral With Recycling
With the Season of Creation upon us we are looking for easy ways to help reduce waste and be better stewards of the earth. 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.
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Ongoing Opportunities & Announcements | |
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Availability of the St. Luke’s Community Kitchen
We are completing a 2023-2024 school year calendar (Sept. - June) for the Community Kitchen and Lower Hall. These two calendars when completed will be posted downstairs on the door to the Lower Hall, and the door to the Community Kitchen.
Any St. Luke's parishioner or ministry interested in scheduling time in the Community Kitchen, or the Community Kitchen and Lower Hall should contact Dawn Brennan-Daly.
Dawn will contact you to schedule a brief meeting and training, and place your event, date and time (recurring or one-time) on the Community Kitchen and Lower Hall Google Calendars (part of the cathedral Google calendar.) Scheduling is based on availability.
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Donate to the Dean's Discretionary Fund
With the arrival of The Rev. George Stevens, our St. Luke's financial team invites you to make a donation to the Dean's discretionary fund if you are able.
This will ensure that the Rev. Stevens has access to a sufficient amount of funds for neighbors needing assistance.
Donations are able to be made online on Realm and by selecting (The Dean's Discretionary Fund) on the drop-down menu or by mail to P.O. Box 4141, Portland, ME 04101.
Thank you!
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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 the second Tuesday of each month at Rising Tide, 6-8 PM in Portland. Other events happen sporadically throughout the month, however second Tuesdays at Rising Tide is a great place 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.
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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
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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!
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Weekly Ministries
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The Food Pantry is open from 8 am to 11 am every Thursday.
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Noon prayer is offered every Wednesday via Zoom.
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Compline is offered weekly on Friday from 8-8:30pm on Zoom. For additional details contact Ray Murdoch Curry
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stlukesportland.org
(207)-772-5434
Physical Address:
143 State Street, Portland, ME 04101
Parking Available at:
134 Park Street, Portland, ME 04101
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 4141, Portland, ME 04101
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