St. Luke’s Episcopal Church |
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Lifelines: News and updates for you from St. Luke's |
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This Sunday's worship service will be a combination of Ash Wednesday and the First Sunday in Lent. More details below. . . |
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While I am well aware that snow days are part and parcel Minnesota life, I was really bummed that our observance of Ash Wednesday was disrupted by this one. The last few years of worship adaptations and sudden pivots made this cancelation feel especially heavy. Worshiping together with you, as a community, is incredibly meaningful to me and going through the motions at home alone just isn’t the same. I missed gathering with you and praying together.
On Tuesday night, Bishop Craig wrote to the clergy with sympathy for the challenges of weather cancelations and with options for make-up liturgies. (In the Episcopal Church, clergy are bound to follow the rubrics [liturgical rules] in the Book of Common Prayer, which don’t allow for moving the observance of Ash Wednesday to a different day. Deviations from the rubrics require the bishop’s permission, hence his email.) One option was to hold a make-up Ash Wednesday liturgy sometime between now and Sunday. Scheduling ruled that out, so I went with the second option: offering the Imposition of Ashes during worship on Sunday.
With that addition, our worship this Sunday will be a bit of a doozy. On the first Sunday in Lent, by tradition, we begin our worship by using Great Litany to pray for pretty much everything. This year, after the affirmation of faith, we’re going to add in a chunk of Ash Wednesday, imposing ashes and praying the Litany of Penitence in place of the confession, before celebrating the Eucharist together. It’s more than is ideal for a single service, but I believe it’s all important so that we can officially begin Lent together as a community.
Bishop Craig was clear that this mash-up of Ash Wednesday and the First Sunday in Lent was only for this year. The last few years of pandemic adaptations have inured us to unusual liturgical practices. Given that, it’s important for us to return the fullness of our tradition, rather than just rolling with the latest compromise because it’s easier that way.
I’m looking forward to our unusual worship service this weekend, but more than that, I’m looking forward to praying together with all of you.
Yours in Christ,
Justin
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Rev. Justin on Vacation: February 28 to March 11 |
My family and I will be on vacation beginning on Tuesday, February 28. I'll be back for worship on Sunday, March 12. (Katie and I are taking Elizabeth to explore Disneyland and southern California. She is very excited to go meet the princesses.)
A supply priest (TBD) will lead worship on Sunday, March 5.
The Rev. Alice Mae Applequist is available for pastoral emergencies: 507-202-5230
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Call or text: 612-618-3826
Email: revjustinc@gmail.com
Drop in Office Hours: Wednesdays, 12:30 to 3:00.
If you'd like a visit, communion, prayer, or just time to talk, please call, text, email, or drop by office hours. I'd love to connect with you!
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Sunday Eucharist: 9:30 a.m.
Please join us for worship on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. as we celebrate Eucharist on the First Sunday in Lent. Since we had to cancel worship on Ash Wednesday, we'll also be offering the imposition of ashes during the service. As always, please join us for coffee hour following worship.
If you can't make it in person, please tune in for the livestream on St. Luke's Facebook page. You don't need an account to watch the video; just click the link above and the livestream should be the first post on the page. Download the bulletin to follow along at home.
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Wednesday Evening Lenten Worship
5:30 p.m. in the Chapel
Please join us for Evening Prayer on Wednesdays at 5:30. Barbara Solbrig offered to lead the service while Rev. Justin is on vacation. It's about thirty minutes of prayer, scripture, and quiet reflection--the perfect mid-week Lenten reset.
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Make Music with Us!
Choir
We need your voice! If you'd like to sing, please meet in the worship space Sunday mornings at 8:45 to rehearse the hymns and service music. We also rehearse at 7:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month.
Handbells
The St. Luke's Handbell choir practices weekly on Wednesday night from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. We meet in at St. Luke's, downstairs in the office area. Anyone interested in having fun while making a joyful noise is welcome. For more information, contact Harold Solbrig / harold@solbrigs.us / 507-319-2628
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Birthdays
- John Jacobs
- Terry Klampe
- Odin Lovell
- Naomi Lovell
- Randy Schubring
- Jena Garness
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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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Sunday Morning Faith Formation
In the Fellowship Hall during coffee hour
Faith Formation is on hold this week because of the Annual Meeting. Here's the schedule for the next few weeks:
February 26 - Episcopal 101: The Baptismal Covenant
March 5 - Coffee hour (no faith formation)
March 12 - Dan Miglets-Nelson, ECMN's Minister for Children & Youth
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We are thankful and blessed to now have enough individuals who have agreed to join our first small group! Our goal with these groups is to explore together a life centered on Jesus; centered together. This is a discipleship series of a guided small, gathered community exploring how to become more deeply rooted in love with God and connected with one another, so that we grow to look, act, and love more like Jesus. We are currently working with our first group to find a time for our first and ongoing gatherings. . Look for periodic updates from our first small group as we engage in this important work of discipleship together.
For those who would like to participate in a future small group, please reach out to Diane O’Mara ( dianeomara@charter.net, 507-261-3773) to express your interest. As enough individuals agree to participate to form more groups, we will kick them off. |
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Depolarizing: Respecting Others With Different Beliefs |
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The Episcopal Church in Minnesota, Braver Angles and the Episcopal House of Prayer invite you to a workshop designed to give congregations the tools to bring Americans together, bridge the partisan divide, and inspire the beloved community.
- Americans no longer see their political opponents as simply wrong or misguided, but as enemies who must be defeated at all costs. We do not accept this.
- Our mission is to strengthen our democratic republic by treating people who disagree with us with honesty and respect.
- We believe the contemplative approach can equip us to hold opposites in tension.
Join us at the ECMN offices at 1101 West Broadway Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55411 or via Zoom on Saturday, February 25, 2023 from 9:00am to 3:30pm. There is no charge to attend and lunch will be provided if you let us know you are coming at: ECMNBraverAngelsEHOP@gmail.com. If you wish to attend via Zoom, please email us at ECMNBraverAngelsEHOP@gmail.com and we will send the Zoom link prior to the workshop.
Peace,
Christine Luna Munger
Depolarizing: Respecting Others with Different Beliefs
Saturday, February 25, 8:30am to 3:30pm
ECMN Office, 1101 West Broadway, Minneapolis, MN 55411
No charge, lunch provided if registered
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Calvary - St. Luke's Collaboration Corner
Episcopalians Working Together
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- Rochester Public Schools needs volunteers to help our youngest learners, many of whom fell behind during the pandemic, improve their reading. St Luke's has had a long relationship with its neighborhood school, Sunset Terrace, and is helping recruit volunteers to listen to children read in the reading room. Lisa Levi, the reading specialist, can use our help for as little as 20 minutes, and as much as a full school day, 9:30-3:30. You choose the day, the time, and the recurrence (if you can come weekly, for instance). If you have to miss due to a vacation, that is just fine. The teachers and the little readers are so appreciative (and fun) 😊
- 1st step is to have a background check from the school district. On the webpage of Rochester Public Schools, scroll to the bottom, and click on ‘volunteers in education”. Fill out your name and address etc; answer “community member” on question about affiliation; answer “mentor” on question about function: and answer ‘Sunset Terrace” on question about building. In a few days you will be good to go.
- 2nd step is to contact the reading teacher with your preferred schedule at lilevi@rochesterschools.org and let her know you are from one of the Episcopal Churches.
- 3rd step is to please let Amy Caucutt know you plan to volunteer, so she can keep track of the numbers. 9 have already indicated an interest, and several have started from St Luke's.
- Remember, bring your collaboration ideas to Amy Crockett at Calvary (crockettsae@hotmail.com) or Amy Caucutt at St Luke's (amycaucutt@gmail.com). Got an idea? Let’s do it together!
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Please check out Calvary's weekly newsletter, The Visitor, published on Wednesdays. Current and archived editions are available here. In addition to a variety of worship services, Calvary regularly has other public events that are sure to be of interest to folks like us. |
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Sunset Terrace Elementary School has sent a huge “Thank You” to the parishioners of St. Luke’s for the donations we have made to the Operation Backpack program over this past year. So far our gifts have fed, warmed, and nurtured more than 100 kids and supported several families who were in great need. Thank you again for your generosity.
During the month of February, we are focusing on John Marshall High School needs:
1. Warm waterproof gloves/mittens for teens
2. Shampoo and Conditioner
3. Tooth brushes/Toothpaste/Floss
These supplies can be dropped off at St. Luke’s, Monday through /Friday, 8-5, and, of course, on Sunday. Drop in the bins that are located in the downstairs foyer.
Thank you so very much!
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If you have children or grandchildren or are aware of parents who are struggling to pay childcare, please join us at this Childcare round table with Rochester Area Legislators. Childcare and pizza provided.
ISAIAH's childcare coalition, Kids Count on Us, is organizing to make Minnesota a place where care is affordable for all families, regardless of where they live or how much money they make, and where teachers working in Childcare receive the wages and benefits they deserve.
We have a childcare crisis in Minnesota, but we have the chance to win funding in this year's budget that will transform affordability, equitability, and wages. Join this roundtable this Friday, with Rochester legislators to show your support and need for it.
Pizza will be served and there will be activities provided for children.
"Pizza with a Purpose" Childcare Roundtable
Friday, February 24 | 6-7pm
Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Rochester
Sen. Liz Boldon, Sen. Carla Nelson, Rep. Kim Hicks, and Rep. Andy Smith will be present at the roundtable to hear from us. Showing up together is important to demonstrate public support for full funding of the Childcare Assistance Program, permanent retention payments for providers and teachers, and a new Department of Families, Youth, and Children.
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St. Luke's Facebook and Website Pictures |
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Pictures, pictures and more pictures!
Diane O’Mara is requesting your help, so she can more easily update St. Luke’s Website and post to St. Luke’s Facebook page. If you took any pictures of the Candlemas Service or reception, could you please send them to Diane. If you have pictures of any other St. Luke’s events, such as blessing of the animals, Doug’s wiener roast during the Bishop’s visit, or any events at all, please send pictures via email to dianeomara@charter.net. Just label the subject line St. Luke's – event and replace the word event with whatever the event was. Most importantly , let’s all start taking pictures, since many of us carry our phones everywhere, so that our Website and Facebook page starts reflecting all the beautiful and caring activities St. Luke’s congregation is involved in, outside of St. Luke’s and inside of St. Luke’s. This type of activity will cause people to Like and Share, which will spread the word that St. Luke’s Episcopal is out in the community!
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Recognizing Volunteerism Through Pictures and Facebook Posts |
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Almost all of us volunteer in the Rochester community. The parting words of each service tell us to make a difference in our community and in our world. We want to show the Rochester community that people from St. Luke’s Episcopal use their hearts and hands for sharing and caring and helping, not just on Sunday, but every day of the week.
When you are volunteering, let us know what organization you are involved in. Have someone snap a picture so that it can be shared on our Facebook page. From Mayo Clinic, “Research also has shown that volunteering leads to lower rates of depression and anxiety. . . Volunteering reduces stress and increases positive, relaxed feelings by releasing dopamine.” This publicity will also help spark new volunteers for your favorite organization as St. Luke’s Facebook posts are liked and shared. In each post we can mention the organization you are volunteering for and link to their website. Imagine the possibilities through sharing your volunteer activities!
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If you have donations of new or gently used household items, including couches, tables with chairs, beds, bedding, towels, dishes, etc, here are many wonderful options.
Catholic Charities at 507-287-2047 will arrange pickup from your house and accepts all the above. Donations are used for refugee families.
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church Resource Room at 507-288-7313 works with St. Vincent De Paul for helping Rochester homeless families and adults or for families in crisis with relocation needs to start their new apartments. They accept non-furniture items. They will arrange a time when you can drop off your items.
St. Vincent De Paul (507-250-5715) directly accepts beds, tables, dressers and household items, (not couches), but will usually ask you to hold onto the items until move in day, as they do not have a storage place. They appreciate a drop off, but will pick up if needed.
The Landing (507-884-0423) and The Warming Shelter (507-458-1223) accept new or gently used adult socks and jeans, which are given to homeless adults. Feel free to drop these off at St. Luke’s and we’ll get them delivered.
If you have any questions about any of these ministries or would like to help volunteer, please email dianeomara@charter.net.
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Bible Study: John
Bible Study is on Spring Break while Rev. Justin is on vacation. We'll begin again on Wednesday, March 15.
Meeting ID: 827 6194 5638
Passcode: 1884
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Book Group
Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing by Lauren Hough (non-fiction)
Tuesday, February 28th, 6:30 pm
Discussion through Zoom.
Enjoy the book; then join us for a discussion led by Shanna Altrichter.
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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