The Spirit of St. Luke's - Latest News July 17, 2020

July 17, 2020

Dear People of St. Luke’s:

Well, this has been a longer pause than anyone expected. We usually think about a pause being brief which is part of the definition. While we St. Luke’s” are “in a pause” we are neither idle nor stopped. The banner on Cove in front of St. Luke’s reads WE ARE HERE with the website address underneath. This is a reminder to our community we may look quiet but it IS NOT!!!

Tuesday July 7th, Vicki Zambardino for the Back-to-School Event Ministry and I met (masked and distanced) at the Boys and Girls Club at the Port Salerno clubhouse. This was a photo opportunity to present a check for $5,000 to support their Weekend Food Backpack program in honor of Trudy Godshalk, one of the founding members not only of St. Luke’s but also of the B&GC of Port Salerno. The ministry elected to do this in lieu of probably an impossible regular Back-to-School Backpack Event before school sessions start (or not) or whether the supplies would be the same in class or virtual. So this gift from St. Luke’s and Episcopal Charities is supporting weekend feeding of 100 families per week for 5 weeks! Please see picture below. Shawn Keil, Director for Community Development, and Keith “Fletch” Fletcher, President and CEO, are also in the picture. Great work, Back-to-School Team!

Carole Eschenburg has graciously given to St. Luke’s a beautiful statue carved from green serpentine of a gorilla mother and child. The Sculptor is Henry Honzo from Zimbabwe. It has been placed in the Memorial Garden in the Beloved Pet Section with St. Francis. We are also grateful for the contributions of the Dwyer Family: James crafted a low pedestal for the 2 ton carving and Debbie found the perfect spot along with arrangements for delivery. Well done!

St. Luke’s first virtual VBS will be July 27-31, Monday through Friday 9-11am. Kaia Martino is co-director with me. She is 17 and a student at South Fork with aspirations to be a kindergarten teacher since age 7. Last summer she was part of the SLSA Summer Performance Camp and in The Wizard of Oz. NEEDED are some 15-17 year olds and adult helpers no matter what age (remember it is virtual) who are interested children getting to know and love Jesus. Our theme is Rocky Railway, appropriate for our times, and the power of Jesus in our lives. VIRTUAL (=Zoom) training and participation so no in person contact. There are four training sessions, specifically covering the Overview, Roles (story teller, crafts, host for a daily KidVideo, supplies, and a communication liaison with parents), and a run through. First team meeting is July 20 ^th . Please call 772 287-1722 to volunteer.

Join us Tuesdays at 7PM for a book study: How to be an Anti-Racist. The congregation will receive the Zoom link each week. We are called as followers of Christ to see and hear. Join us in this calling as we hear Ibram Kendi, a professor of history and author. He offers research, history, and personal stories from many disciplines to clarify how we can make choices as to who we are and how we respond to racist and anti-racist policies.

As I said we are not paused but moving forward with the life we are called to live in Christ as we proclaim Christ in our world. I hope to see you at coffee hour or in the Memorial Garden or at our book study or in ministry Zoom meetings.

The Rev. Carol Barron +

Sunday's Reading s July 19, 2020

CALENDAR

Sunday Services & Daily Devotion Readings can be viewed online at our website, Facebook and YouTube.

Vacation Bible School - Virtual Classes

July 27 - 31 Mon - Fri 9 - 11am

ANNOUNCEMENTS

COFFEE HOUR

is offered via Zoom on Sunday at 11am. Please join us with all your BLING and be dazzling!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86558177343

CHRISTIAN BOOK STUDY

Continues on Tuesday July 21 at 7pm with the reading and review of Abrim Kendi's How to be an Anti-Racist. We continue with Chapters 3 - 6. If you have not joined before, do now! The Zoom link is sent to the Parish every Tuesday.

A NOTE REGARDING PLEDGE PAYMENTS

When mailing donations to St. Luke’s, please send to the following address: P.O. BOX 117, Port Salerno, FL 34992. Thank you!