Summer Worship Times
8:00 am - Rite I service
and
10:00 am - Rite II service
No breakfast or Christian Formation
Begins June 3rd
Return to Fall Schedule
on September 9th
Confirmation and Bishop O’Neill’s Visit
Bishop O’Neill is going to be at St. Luke’s on Sunday October 14th, when we will celebrate St. Luke’s Day.
Also as part of that day, we will celebrate Confirmation. There are a number of adults and youth who have expressed interest in being confirmed. Father Andrew will be leading some classes prior to the Bishop's visit, so please watch the newsletter, announcements and calendar for details.
Music Camp 2012
Music Camp 2012 is coming! St. Luke’s Fourth Annual Music Camp Regular Registration ($55) is due June 1st. Registration forms are available at: http://www.stlukesfc.org/choirs-camp. Music Camp is August 6-12, 2012.
From Father Andrew...
Dear Companions on the Way,
Now that Easter has come (remember it’s a season 50 days long), I’m sensing that you are getting closer to calling your next Rector and I’m now most likely more than half way through my time with you. So I’m praying about what are the tasks that I can do during this remaining time and how I might best help St. Luke’s be prepared for it’s next rector. As I do so, I’m aware that I’ve gotten to know you and sense something of the particular character and gifts that is distinctive to St. Luke’s. This is a congregation that particularly values learning and scholarship and has a high percentage of members with advanced degrees and experience. You appreciate more than many, that education and formation yield significant benefits.
I believe that St. Luke’s should be able to offer opportunities to its members and to the wider community to be formed and educated in our faith that reflect a high level of excellence. As the search time begins to look at candidates, they will find many well educated clergy with gifts for teaching, but St. Luke’s is blessed with a wealth of talented teachers and persons committed to formation right now.
Yet many Episcopalians resist education offerings. The Rev. Linda Grenz who is an expert in Christian Formation wrote:
Episcopalians understand that children and youth need Christian formation. But we tend to forget about the adults. Once we’ve been confirmed…or certainly once we’ve left youth group...we’re “done.” We might occasionally attend the rector’s adult forum. A few folks go to a weekly Bible study class or join an EFM group. But most adults do not see weekly, intentional study as important; few congregations convey that lifelong learning is an expectation for all Christians.
I think St. Luke’s is primed to challenge that view. I would like to begin a discussion this spring with the idea of providing strong formation opportunities this fall. I am looking for people who might be interested in helping develop and launch a program. There is no need to re-invent the wheel. Good formation ministries and programs exist, but to provide them, we need to be ready to invest some time, energy and resources to make it happen. Please send me an e-mail if you would like to be part of this conversation (interimrector@stlukes.org).
Part of what is prompting this initiative is that our Bishop is going to be at St. Luke’s on Sunday October 14th, when we will celebrate St. Luke’s day. There are a number of adults and youth who are already planning to be confirmed by the bishop when he comes, and I’m hoping that we can offer a high quality series of classes for them and others in the parish. That also creates an opportunity for a “refresher” program for the rest of us.
This fall will also be a time when the parish can build some momentum for receiving the new Rector. Having new members received by the Bishop and newly confirmed members creates an atmosphere of new ministry and vision that translates to the new vision and energy of a new Rector. I would encourage all of St. Luke’s to think about how to “hit the ground running” when the new Rector arrives. Offering quality spiritual and faith formation opportunities will go a long way to that end.
Shalom,
Andrew+
The Rev. Andrew A. Cooley, Interim Rector
From the Senior Warden...
It is my privilege to welcome you on behalf of the members of St. Luke's Church. We at St. Luke's are in a special place at this time. After our rector of more than 11 years retired, we are in the transition process of searching for and calling a new rector for St. Luke's. We currently are blessed to have Fr. Andrew Cooley as our interim rector. He will serve as interim rector of St. Luke's until we call a new permanent priest. We are a growing community of faith and believe we are "called to vital, ever-deepening relationship with Christ and neighbor." We view this time of transition as an opportunity for continued growth as we prayerfully discern God's call to serve, recognizing the unique and valuable gifts that each of us has to contribute to building God's kingdom. We thank you for your interest in St. Luke's and pray that you will join us and add yet another dimension to our parish life.
The Epistle to the Hebrews states "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unaware." We stand ready to welcome you and trust that you will find the Spirit of Christ in our midst and God's love in our lives.
God Bless!
Jeff Fryer, Senior Warden