The E-Pistle of Thursday

February 15th, 2024

A Reflection from The Reverend George Stevens, Interim Dean

Dear Friends-

We marked the first day of the season of Lent on Wednesday with the imposition of ashes, the Litany of Penitence and the Holy Eucharist. One of my favorite portions of the service is the ‘invitation to a Holy Lent’ which takes place just before ashes are imposed. The text is remarkable in that it offers a brief history of lent and an outline for a how we might also have a holy Lent. 

Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer. BCP page 264

I look forward to traveling this journey together-Easter (and Spring) are just a few short weeks away!

                                                                  --Blessings

                                                                  George

Community Announcements

The Dean’s Discretionary Account is Running Low! 

The Dean’s Discretionary Account is used to help those who come to St. Luke’s seeking assistance with bills, rent, utilities, food and other items. 

It receives its funding from the loose plate offering on the first Sunday of the month, gifts given in lieu of payment for weddings and funerals and from generous gifts from parishioners. 

Last year, the account supported more than 50 individuals with more than $10,000 in financial support. 



Unfortunately, the account is low and we’re unable to continue this outreach ministry without your help. 

If you would like to make a contribution to the Discretionary Account please either bring in a physical check to church on Sunday, mail a check to our mailing address of P.O. Box 4141, Portland, ME 04101, or visit our online giving through Realm via the link here. Please select 'Dean's Discretionary Fund' in the dropdown menu.

Thank you very much for your generosity. 

Eco-Tips from the

Public Policy &

Environmental Action Team

Last year at the behest of the Diocesan Climate Justice Council the Cathedral of St. Luke appointed the Public Policy and Environmental Action Team as its Earth Keeper, with Sarah Braik as point person. The Earth Keeper was tasked with working with the parish to develop a Covenant to Care of Creation. Click HERE to view St. Luke's Covenant.

As part of our goal of sharing sustainability resources with the parish, we would like to make available a Lenten resource developed by the Rev. Dr. Mary Jane O'Connor Ropp, Earth Keeper for St. David's in Kennebunk. WALKING WITH SUFFERING CREATION: A Meditative Experience in Eight Days is a series of meditations that take 1 1/2 to 2 hours to complete. They can be done one at a time, at your own pace. We hope you will incorporate them into your Lenten practice.

Exploring Senior Spirituality

This class will be an opportunity to explore the subject of our changing spiritual experiences as we journey through the final chapters of our lives. Using tools such as journaling and discussion we will explore topics including mortality, forgiveness and regret, legacies, preserving our stories, and meaning in life.

We will meet on Tuesday afternoons from 1-2:30pm, a total of seven classes spread out over 9 weeks. Class size will be limited to 10 people.

For more information or to register please contact Rev. Suzanne Roberts.

Coffee & Conversation

Each Wednesday at 1 PM in the upper parish hall, join Deacon Rebecca Grant for an informal gathering - coffee and conversations.

There’s no book to read, no service commitment, simply an opportunity to gather and talk about what's happening in our lives. You could also help coach the deacon into retirement from her professional life! 

We’re planning this for a season - weekly opportunities where you can attend one, attend all, drop-in as it works for you. Bring your lunch, if you'd like. Topics range from “what's happening in your life” to “what brings you joy” and more.

You can email Rebecca or call at 207-441-7155.

Volunteer to Serve on the Altar Guild  

We love volunteering on the Altar Guild, and think you would too! Volunteering with Altar Guild is fun and rewarding.

Together, we can work to enable our congregation to engage in worship that is filled with order, beauty, peace, and tranquility.

For more information, contact Kate Leschey or Rita Siavelis.

Looking for Volunteers to Serve as Eucharistic Ministers

The Cathedral is seeking volunteers to serve as Eucharistic Ministers.

Have you ever felt a pull to be part of what happens in the course of our worship services?

If so, consider serving as a Eucharistic Minister (chalice bearer) during the worship services.

Training will be provided along with an alb. If you're interested or have questions, please contact Deacon Rebecca either in person or via email.

The Biblical Study Team

We’re discovering, as we move along through St. Paul’s travels, how Christian doctrine was formed, and collected. Paul’s letters were all written 20 year intervals before St. Mark’s gospel which dates from the early 60’s. Each gospel follows at 20 year intervals. One follows Paul’s travels by reading Luke’s “the Acts of the Apostles,” which surfaced in the late ‘80’s. Paul’s letters were written from the early ‘50’s, up through the late 60’s. This is all of course, the first millennium.

These letters trace the development of Christianity’s doctrine of God, the salvistic role of Jesus, the Anointed One, and how Paul understood what content was to be retained and what of the Tanack was no longer to be prayed or practiced. Join us for this exploration of the “basics” of our Biblical beliefs.

Questions are always invited. We look forward to welcoming you.

With questions contact Bob at (207)-405-8250.

The Healing Team Schedule

The Healing Team will be offering prayers during communion on the following Sundays:



February 18 Mary Strnad, Judd Hume

February 25 Betsey Deleuse, Peter Carleton

March 3 Oscar Mokeme, Mary Strnad

If you have any questions, please contact any member of the healing team.

You may also contact Judd Hume by email or by phone at (207) 773 - 5611.

Highlights from the Past Week

Please see some highlights below from this past week in the life of the cathedral community. Thanks are given to parishioner Nancy Mawhinney for the photos.

Last Week's Service

Click the attached link to view last week's bulletin

To watch the livestream of last Sunday's service, click here.

Click the attached link to view the Ash Wednesday service bulletin

To watch the livestream of the Ash Wednesday service, click here.

Click here to watch Sunday's sermon offered by The Reverend George Stevens, Interim Dean

Click here to watch the Ash Wednesday sermon offered by The Right Reverend Thomas J. Brown, The Tenth Bishop of Maine

To view the livestream that was recorded during the 2024 Annual Meeting, please click here.

All resources from the Annual Meeting are available on our Vestry Page 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 Rossini Club Concert This Sunday:

Richard Roberts Memorial Concert

Join the Portland Rossini club for their next concert this Sunday, February 18th, 2024 at 3 p.m.

Pianist Steven Blumenthal, with clarinetist Stephen Schiffman, will perform Carol by Gerald Finzi, as well as the Brahms Sonata No. 1, in F minor

Pianist Christopher Staknys will perform Vivaldi’s Winter from The Four Seasons, with poetry narrated by Audrey Stack, as well as the first movement of Scriabin’s Sonata No. 2 in G-sharp minor

Pianist Sydney Patten will perform works by Rachmaninoff, Ginastera, Patten, and Joplin.

If you would like to purchase tickets or learn more about the Portland Rossini Club visit their website here.

Ongoing Opportunities &

Community Resources

Click on the Episcopal Maine Logo above to learn about all that is happening in the wider Diocese.

https://episcopalmaine.org/

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