St. Luke's Episcopal Church |
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Lifelines: News and updates for you from St. Luke's |
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How Are Episcopalians Different |
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St. Luke’s Episcopal Church members come from many different faith and cultural backgrounds. Some say “I grew up without God in my life at all and I want to explore”. Some are cradle Episcopalians, some are immigrants and have experienced God in different and profound ways. There are so many backgrounds. At St. Luke’s, we are reminded weekly, “Whoever you are, wherever you are from, wherever you are headed, you have a place here at St. Luke’s”.
Each of us recognizes that all of us are on our own unique faith journey.
Episcopalians are given the opportunity weekly to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus, to remind us that Jesus died for us. It is understood by all that some of us are not ready to participate yet. Others joyously take part in this celebration.
We come to the service bringing our human frailties, and are given space to pray as we wish, in thanksgiving, in asking forgiveness, in seeking courage or wisdom to tackle an upcoming problem, to overcome heartache or loneliness, for determination, for understanding, and for every human need.
I have heard younger people say church isn’t relevant in today’s world, that people go to church, listen to music and go home, hypocritical and smug. Are Episcopalians different? Bishop Michael Curry says “Being Christian is not essentially about joining a church or being a nice person, but about following in the footsteps of Jesus, taking his teachings seriously, letting his Spirit take the lead in our lives and in so doing, helping to change the world from our nightmare into God’s dream.”
Over the years at St. Luke’s Episcopal, here are just a few of the ways we have been involved in local and world needs, joining in laughter, fellowship and work. Cooking for Dorothy Day Homeless Shelter, volunteering at Family Promise, sponsoring a student’s tuition in Vision of Hope for Haiti, ISAIAH, mentoring a child at Sunset Terrace Elementary School, providing a meal for immigrants at San Obrero Mission in Montgomery, Highway 52 Garbage Pickup, helping Catholic Charities in resettlement of Afghan refugees in Rochester, planting and upkeep of a rain garden on St. Luke’s property, providing holiday meals and personal and household goods to people facing economic hardships in our community, knitting a shawl that is then blessed and delivered to someone facing an upcoming hardship, volunteering at Channel 1, providing a birthday bag to a child living at the Women’s Shelter and a myriad of other ways.
Each of us and our families have unique gifts that can be shared to make a difference in the world, outside of our family unit, and in doing so, you will begin to realize the Holy Spirit has taken the lead in your lives.
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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Anniversaries
- Ronald Menaker & Linda Mansfield
- Dan & Sandy Berndt
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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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Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club warmly invites you to Chat Bridge, Mondays 10 - 11:30. This is an informal group with mentors available to help with bidding, leads, and play of the hand. If you are a "party' bridge player, Chat Bridge will give you insight into what duplicate bridge looks like. There is no charge, no partner needed, and is a drop-in event. Beginning and intermediate classes will start in September; registration is done online with Rochester Public Schools Community Education, Adult Enrichment. Hope to see you soon!
Sue Greenberg, Club Manager
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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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