Lupton Abshire
From the Rector

A Foot-Stompin' Good Time!

Please join us for the 2017 Annual Gathering on Sunday, January 29. With a single worship service at 9:00am, this is the one time of the year the entire congregation worships all together. The lunch following the service is a great opportunity to get to know fellow St. Luke's members and newcomers. Here's the schedule for the morning:
 
9:00am - Holy Eucharist (Rite II) and Sunday School for kids K-8 grade
9:30am - Children join adults for Holy Communion
10:00am - Presentation of 2017 Budget and election of Vestry Candidates
10:25am - Potluck Chili Lunch and music by the Mason Street Pickers bluegrass band

Last year's Annual Gathering was fun and frolicking. Please come as we gather to recommit ourselves to God's mission for St. Luke's Episcopal Church. 
-Fr. Abshire+

P.S. Scroll to the bottom of this email for another reason to show up on the 29th!
 
Each week the Rector or the Associate Rector will focus on  
how God is continuing to call St. Luke's into new life in Christ.
2017 Budget Review in Preparation for the Annual Gathering

Join Fr. Abshire and the Vestry during at 9:30am in the Library on Sunday, January 22 to review the 2017 budget.
What's happening this week at St. Luke's:

All events
Lectionary Readings for Sunday, January 22, 2017
Calendar | Sunday Schedule | Contact | Prayer Requests
Newcomers' Social

Please join us Thursday, January 19 at 6:30 p.m. for an evening of festive non-alcoholic beverages, wine, cheese and good company in the narthex.

Get to know the folks at St. Luke's, other newcomers like yourself, and make some new friends. We'd love to get to know you!

RSVP here by Wednesday, January 18, so we can prepare the food, and to register for child care for the event.
Eucharistic Visitor Training 1/28

A Eucharistic Visitor is a lay person authorized to take the consecrated elements to members of the congregation who, by reason of illness or infirmity, were unable to be present at the Celebration of the Eucharist.

The training on January 28 is in Loveland. There are also two more trainings scheduled, in Colorado Springs and Breckenridge. Information
Have you got the new church directory yet?

Our new church database includes an online directory, with pictures (if you add yours).

On Sunday, January 22 after the 8 a.m. service and between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., Donna will be available at a table in the narthex  to walk you through setting up the Shelby Membership app so you can carry the directory with you!

Bring your smartphone or tablet, whichever you prefer to use. You can also log in via desktop computer from home, and we can show you how.

If you would like to download the mobile app ahead of time, it's available free for both iPhone and Android. 
2017 Vestry Candidates

Loretta Hoffmann and Gail Hemenway have agreed to serve as candidates for the 2017 Vestry. Kirsten Slaughter-Rice has agreed to serve as Vestry Clerk (ex officio). We are seeking a third qualified candidate. Please feel free to recommend someone to Fr. Abshire.

The congregation will vote to approve the three-person slate at the Annual Gathering on Sunday, January 29. Learn more about the Vestry.
Faith Family Hospitality (FFH) Auction Fundraiser

On January 29 at 5:30 p.m., FFH is holding a Hard Hat Fundraiser Dinner & Auction.

They are asking each congregation involved to contribute a basket (valued at $100 or more) to the auction. If you would like a short-term project to coordinate the St. Luke's basket (baskets are due on January 23), please contact Annette Lynch.

In addition, FFH is hoping that 10 folks from each congregation will attend the event. Learn more and buy tickets here. Tickets must be purchased by Wednesday, January 25.

We believe that each of us is made in God's image: beautiful and beloved, unique and whole.
 
St. Luke's has begun the process of exploring the possibility of being recognized as a "Believe Out Loud" Episcopal congregation that welcomes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons.

The next Believe Out Loud conversation will be in February in the Library during 9:30 a.m. Spiritual Deepening & Fellowship time. Stay tuned for the exact date and topic.

Read more about Believe Out Loud, including resources to read in advance to prepare for the discussion.
Who is That Man in the Black Hat?

Another tradition of the Annual Gathering returns this year as Fr. Abshire joins our fiddler for a special number during the potluck! Sign up here.
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