St. Luke's Episcopal Church
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Lifelines: News and updates for you from St. Luke's
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Reflection From a Parishioner
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Since Justin’s column is on vacation this week, senior warden Amy asked me to share a few of my experiences as part of my St. Luke’s Episcopal church family, whom I have grown to love so deeply. Instead, I decided to tell you why I joined St. Luke’s. I started attending services here in 2007 because their website said ‘Scripture, Tradition, Reason’ and years ago, a friend of mine had switched to the Episcopal Church and loved it. It took me many years to make the switch, because it’s easier to follow the path of least resistance, until one day, you can’t. As I entered the church, the organist was playing a song I knew and had loved as a little girl. That made St. Luke’s feel like home right away. As I paged through the Wonder and Love song book, I found many other hymns I recognized and I figured there must be a big hymn factory somewhere that just stamps on the names of various churches. Probably not, but still.. The priest was dressed the same as the priest in my former church, the readings were the same, the service and prayers were very similar, but during the homily there was interaction with the congregants. That never happened in my old church! At one point when the priest asked a question, a little boy who was sitting up by the altar with other children who were helping, raised his hand wildly and said, “Dad, Dad, I know the answer!” I rejoiced as I thought, “This priest is married!” My previous church didn’t allow priests to marry and that stance was one of the big reasons I had left. I felt becoming a priest and staying single were two completely different vocations. Some of the apostles were married too I knew. Before inviting the congregants to communion, the priest said, “This is Christ’s table and so all are welcome”. That was music to my ears, as I truly believed all should be able to share the gifts of Christ’s body and blood, the gifts that were given to all at the Last Supper. Even the little children were receiving. I asked the priest about it later and he said, “Episcopalians believe that receiving the gift of the Eucharist is like having a birthday. Your child celebrates their birthday already at year 1, and even though they don’t exactly understand what’s going on, they know it’s part of such great love.” Two more exciting things happened that morning. The lady sitting in front of me(lovely Margee) said, “You have a pretty voice, would you like to join the choir?” Yes! The usher(our dear friend Chris who is now in heaven) talked to my husband and me after the service and laughingly steered us toward the Fellowship Hall. He said, “You will never be alone at St. Luke’s Episcopal. “He was so right. Episcopalians recognize that each of us is on their own unique faith journey. Some stand, some kneel, some sit, whatever feels comfortable. I knew I was home and I’ve never looked back.
Warmly,
Diane O’Mara, Junior Warden
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Rev. Justin is on vacation. He'll return to the office on Monday, August 22. If you need something in his absence, please connect with Karen in the church office (gouldk@stlukesepiscopal.org, 507-288-2469) or one of St. Luke's wardens, Amy (amycaucutt@gmail.com) or Diane (dianeomara@charter.net).
If you have a pastoral emergency, please connect with:
I'll see you when I get back!
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Sunday Eucharist: 9:30 a.m.
Please join us for worship on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and plan to stay for coffee hour following worship.
If you're interested in singing with the choir, please join us at 8:45 to rehearse the music. We're not wearing robes currently and there's no commitment, so give it a try!
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The choir is back!
Calling everyone who wishes to sing in joyful praise and fellowship! We're doing a soft restart of the choir this summer, meeting in the worship space at 8:45 to rehearse the hymns and service music. We're not wearing robes right now and there's no commitment. Let's make music together!
Handbell Choir
The St. Luke's Handbell choir practices weekly on Wednesday night from 7:30 to 8:30 PM downstairs in the St. Luke's church building. Anyone interested in having fun while making a joyful noise is welcome.
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Birthdays
- Barry Lehman
- Cathryn Manduca
- Nancy Klampe
- Kit Muellner
- Ann Jost
- Lynn Kinyon
- Betsy Bornholdt
- Valerie Lehman
- Olivia Kraemer
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Anniversaries
- Kevin & Karyn Graves
- James & Julie Farley
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Have news to share with the congregation? Please get in touch with Rev. Justin (612-618-3826, revjustinc@gmail.com) or Karen (507-288-2469, gouldk@stlukesepiscopal.org).
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How have you called to serve others? The San Jose Obrero Mission has asked us to join them and serve a meal to migrant workers in Montgomery, MN this fall. Would you be able to help?
St. Luke's and Calvary are working together for this event. We will be serving two meals on Sunday, September 4, 2022. Meals are served at 4:15 and 6:15. We are looking for volunteers to join us in Montgomery on that day. We set up, serve, socialize and clean up. If you speak Spanish - it is a great way to practice your skills.
If you are unable to go with us, we are also looking for a few donations of supplemental food items. Please access the sign up genius link for what we will need or contact one of the coordinators for items needed.
If you have questions, you can contact one of the coordinators.
St. Luke's: Barbara Solbrig - 507-319-0165
Calvary: Colleen Spillers - 507-421-6946
Thank you for your support of our fellow Episcopal neighbors!
Calvary and St. Luke's Outreach Teams
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Mobile Vaccine Clinic at St. Luke's
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St. Luke's is pleased to host a free mobile vaccine clinic on August 19th. Rochester Public Schools, Olmsted County Public Health, Mayo Clinic have partnered to provide a collaborative Mobile Immunization Clinic. This is a fast, easy, and convenient way to keep our children, schools, and community healthy throughout the year! For more information, click the flyer at right.
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Calvary - St. Luke's Collaboration
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St. Luke's and Calvary Episcopal Churches in Rochester, MN, are beginning works to collaborate. We are seeking input from both congregations and collecting your ideas. What great ideas can you think of to encourage our parishes to work together to serve each other to serve God? You can consider the areas of Worship, Education, Social and Outreach - or another category, too. Imagine the greatness we can do when we all join together.
Please fill out this survey to share your ideas!
**The team would love it if you'd complete the survey by July 31** Thanks!
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Please check out Calvary's weekly newsletter, The Visitor, published on Wednesdays. Current and archived editions are available here.
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Donations to St. Luke’s of new and gently used household items is on hiatus for a few months. If you would like to continue to share your treasures with others in need during this time a good resource is Catholic Charities at 903 West Center Street Suite 220 in Rochester, 287-2047.
Catholic Charities is currently in need of small household items, twin bedding, towels, kitchen utensils, pots and pans, glass cookware, baking pans, plates, bowls and cups, glasses, cutlery and kitchen tables and chairs. Random drop-off is Mondays, please call first if other days work better. Thank you for your generosity.
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From the Episcopal Church in Minnesota
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An update from Lambeth
Beloved in Christ,
Today is the seventh of twelve days Melissa and I are spending at the Lambeth Conference of bishops in Canterbury, England. The Lambeth Conference has met every ten years (or so) since 1867, and was last held in 2008. There are about 700 bishops here and around 500 spouses, coming from 165 different countries.
The days start very early and go very late. There is regular worship, we spend around three hours each day in Bible Study, and each afternoon, we spend time discussing a variety of “calls” that ask for common action around issues facing the church. My Bible study group includes bishops from Burundi, South Sudan, India, England, and Australia. The conversations are rich, challenging, and deeply nourishing. I have also attended workshops on how Anglicans around the world are addressing the crisis of climate change, and how various provinces are repenting of their colonial pasts and engaging in the work of reconciliation with indigenous people. This is a gathering of bishops for mutual discernment, cooperation, and fellowship. Nothing that happens here has any binding impact on the Episcopal Church or the diocese of Minnesota.
Some of you may have seen on social media or in various church news outlets stories about conflict, animosity, and deep division among the bishops gathered. The overwhelming majority of people I have interacted with here are wondering what conference those reports are about. While there are critically important issues about which we have real and serious disagreements that matter, the overwhelming spirit is one of trying to find ways to walk together as much as we possibly can, while also acknowledging our real divisions with love and integrity. The tone of the conversations have been charitable and loving. There’s been a sense of beginning to heal from some of what has been hard in our common life, and a tentative hope for the future. I’ll have more to say about the specific content we’ve been discussing in the days to come, once I’ve had a little time to reflect.
Why should any of this matter to us in Minnesota? Because I believe it really matters that we are part of a large global and historic communion of churches. As Episcopalians, we are part of something much bigger and far more diverse than ourselves. We are connected to followers of Jesus who gather under the most challenging of circumstances, facing crushing poverty, political persecution, and daily threats to their very lives. It’s been so powerful to connect with bishops so very different from me, and my great hope is that it will become more regular to convene communion-wide gatherings that involve all orders of ministry, in addition to bishops. We are always better when we connect across every form of difference.
One of the promises I made when I was consecrated as your bishop was to share in the governance of the church throughout the world, and attending this gathering is part of how I fulfill that promise. It is always my job to represent Minnesota to the wider church, and the wider church to Minnesota. It’s an immense gift and privilege that you have trusted me to engage this work. And as rich as this time has been, I’m very eager to return home.
Grace and peace,
The Right Reverend Craig Loya
X Bishop
Episcopal Church in Minnesota
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Bible Study: Luke
Bible Study is on Summer break, returning on August 24. We hope to see you then!
Meeting ID: 827 6194 5638
Passcode: 1884
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Book Group
The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich (novel)
Tuesday, September 27th, 6:30 pm
Discussion through Zoom.
Enjoy the book; then join us for a discussion led by Julie Phyliky.
Watch for a St. Luke's Book Group notice to join the meeting by computer or phone.
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If you've got something to include in next week's Lifelines, get in touch with Karen (507-288-2469, gouldk@stlukesepiscopal.org). The deadline is Wednesday at noon.
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St. Luke’s is...
Joyful community
Faithful service
Transformational worship
Growing in relationship with God in Christ.
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