As Jesus and his disciples traveled along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and the birds in the sky have nests,
but the Human One has no place to lay his head.” - Luke 9:57-58
St. Luke's Episcopal Church
Lifelines: News and updates for you from St. Luke's
As Amy says below, we're sharing some sobering news about our building this week. It's not unsolvable or impossible-to-navigate, but it does need our attention. As always, please keep praying for God's guidance for our community.
Warden's Corner
We have some sobering news to share with the Congregation concerning physical needs of our building. Despite the wonderful upgrades in recent years like the kitchen and elevator, we have pretty much kicked the can down the road on some significant building maintenance issues. We didn’t have the money, so we just didn’t look. The following is note to the Vestry from Doug Butler describes what we’ve discovered:
 
St Luke’s HVAC and Buildings & Grounds committee has and is taking a close look at St. Luke's building and grounds issues. Many of them have become serious and potentially expensive. We have estimated a need for at least $200,000 to get our building more seasonally compliant. Some of the issues include: excessive energy loss and rising utility rates; broken windows (casement, panes, hardware); failing heating and cooling system; plumbing and fixtures and more. We currently spend $80,000 per year for routine building and grounds maintenance. St. Luke's was designed to serve up to 200 people. Today our membership totals 65. What are we to do?  
 
Justin has suggested to the Vestry that we really need to combine this maintenance discussion with our ongoing discernment regarding building rental and possible property sale. As we consider how we use our building and how it might create some additional revenue for us, we need to think deeply about God’s call to us at this time in this community.
 
I know we can do this, but we must start. I, at least, have so many memories tied up with our land, our sanctuary, our fellowship hall and especially our Sunday School area, that I have some difficulty imagining changed use, even if it brings in needed revenue. I am put in mind of what some of us have had to do as we faced downsizing from the homes in which we raised our children to our smaller retirement apartments. We find that our lives, though changed, go on; our memories go on; and we do not need all of our accumulated things after all. I am hopeful that the changes we face at St Luke’s can be addressed with the optimism of a bright, but different future.
 
Your Senior Warden,
Amy Caucutt
289-1327
From the Rector
I want to reiterate my invitation to you to join me in prayer. St. Luke’s is facing some big challenges right now and, as Christian people, our response must begin and end in prayer.
 
Last week, I began a daily practice of walking the perimeter of our property and praying for God’s guidance. The questions before us are big enough that I felt drawn to connect to God through words and action. So I’ve been walking though our property, living with it for a little time every day, and using the BCP’s prayer of self-dedication on behalf of our whole community. This week I switched to a new prayer, one for guidance:
 
Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favor, and further us with your continual help; reveal to us your will for our building and our land, that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and at the last, by your mercy, obtain eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Please join me in praying daily for St. Luke’s and God’s guidance for us. Our present challenges aren’t impossible or unsolvable. Together, through our prayers and discernment, we can navigate these though these things and come to where God would have us be.
 
Yours in Christ,
Justin
Connect with Rev. Justin
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!
Worship with us
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 can't make it in person, please tune in for the livestream on St. Luke's Facebook page. Download the bulletin to follow along at home. If you can't catch it live, all our worship services are archived there for viewing anytime.
Call for Chalice Bearers!
Our return to communion at the rail means we now need a chalice bearer to help with distribution. It's a pretty straightforward job: come up after the Our Father and offer the tray of cups to each person after they've received the bread.

If you're interested, please speak to Rev. Justin. Thank you!
Pastoral Care Notes
Celebrating this week
Birthdays
  • Evan Martinak
  • Susan Smolders
  • Melanie Johnson
  • Julie Phyliky
  • Oscar Quinones
  • Nancy Robertson
Anniversaries
  • James & Judy Buettner
  • John & Karen Ostrander
Updates
Julie & Bob Phyliky
The Phyliky's house in Montana was affected by the recent flooding along the Yellowstone river. Gary and Debbie Whicker were in the neighborhood when the flooding started and were able to get some things out. Thankfully, no one was hurt. They have flood insurance and have a restorer working to clean things up.

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).
Calvary - St. Luke's Collaboration
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!

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.
Director of Music Search
We're forming a search committee to find a new Director of Music for St. Luke's. If you are able to contribute to the effort and interested in helping out, please get in touch with Rev. Justin.

Thanks!
Stewardship
St. Luke's Stewardship Committee is looking for members. Our primary focus is preparing and conducting St. Luke's annual pledge campaign. We also work on other fundraising activities to keep our church running. Please give it some prayerful consideration and get in touch with Rev. Justin if you're able to help.

Thank you!
St. Luke's Operation Backpack
A Big Thank you to all for your generous donations to Operation Backpack for the 2021-2022 school year! 😊 As the kids have the summer off, St Luke’s is taking a summer break on gathering donations too. Be looking for giving news this coming Fall! Have an enjoyable, lovely summer!
Home and Hearth
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.

Catholic Charities is currently in need of small household items, bedding (twin is needed, but will take full size also), towels, kitchen utensils, pots and pans, glass cookware, baking pans, plates, bowls and cups, glasses and cutlery. Random drop-off is Mondays, please call first if other days work better. Thank you for your generosity, we are reminded of the slogan that was so popular a few years back, WWJD- What Would Jesus Do?
Reading in Community
Bible Study: Luke

We're reading our way through Luke's account of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Join us Wednesdays at 10:30 on Zoom to discover new insights.

Click here to join the meeting or call in: 312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 827 6194 5638
Passcode: 1884

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.
Submissions
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.
St. Luke’s is...
           Joyful community
           Faithful service
           Transformational worship
                                   Growing in relationship with God in Christ.