St. Luke’s Episcopal Church |
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Lifelines: News and updates for you from St. Luke's |
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We’ve got a busy couple of weeks coming up at St. Luke’s!
This weekend is the Episcopal Church in Minnesota’s annual convention and this year, it’s happening right here in Rochester. Friday and Saturday, Barbara Solbrig, Kathy Connelly, and I will be headed downtown to the Kahler along with delegates from all over Minnesota to pray, deliberate, network, and conduct the business of the church. Please hold us, all the delegates, and this convention in your prayers.
Specific to St. Luke’s, I hope you already have the evening of Tuesday, November 1, marked off on your calendar. You’re invited to join your vestry, wardens, and rector on Zoom as we work on building a strategic plan to revitalize St. Luke’s. During this Learning Session, we’re asking: What can we learn from others in our quest to become a more viable congregation? And how does that apply to us in our current situation and in our current community? More details are on the invitation below (see “Building St. Luke's Viability”). Please note: You need to RSVP to get the Zoom link. I hope to see you there!
On Sunday, November 6, we’ll hold our annual commemoration All the Saints. Just as we did last year, you’ll be invited to come forward during the prayers of the people to light a candle for the faithful departed you’d like to remember. New to our commemoration this year, you’re also invited to bring a picture of those you’re remembering. There will be tables at the front of the worship space for the picture, our little part of the great cloud of witnesses.
Finally, a bit of fun. Since Halloween is this Monday, let’s continue the tradition we started last year by dressing up for church.* You wear a costume (or something fun) to church and I’ll have some candy to pass out after the service. Deal? And don’t worry, even if you’re not up for wearing a costume, I’ll have a piece of candy for you. God loves without distinction, so I’ll follow suit and give candy without distinction. :-)
Yours in Christ,
Justin
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* Just to counter the bizarre claims that Halloween is somehow satanic: Its roots are in ancient Christian celebrations of the dead.
Halloween was originally the vigil preceding the feasts of All Saints (Nov 1) and All Souls (Nov 2), known collectively as All Hallows. Over centuries that vigil, known as All Hallows Eve, accumulated a variety of practices including: visiting cemeteries, praying for the dead, sharing special foods, lighting candles to guide the dead on visits to their earthly homes, carving vegetables (either to represent the dead or ward off evil spirits), and wearing costumes or masks to confuse any vengeful spirits.
Modern culture and changing attitudes toward death and spirits rounded off the edges and we’re left with a decidedly secular festival where kids dress up and beg for candy. The centuries also polished the language, wearing away some of the letters and squishing the rest together, turning All Hallows Eve into “Halloween” (‘een’ is a shortened version of ‘even,’ an archaic form of ‘evening’). The original suite of days commemorating various orders of deceased people also eventually condensed onto a single celebration observed on the first Sunday in November when we remember all of them.
Kids dressing up like something spooky (or fun) and collecting candy from neighbors is about as Christian as a block party and it’s also just about as satanic. That is to say: It’s not satanic at all. We celebrate this distant cousin of those early commemorations because it’s fun and it builds community. Sounds like a perfect thing to do with our church community!
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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 always, please plan to stay for coffee hour following worship.
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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're also planning monthly rehearsals for more involved pieces; watch this space for more information
Handbells
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. For more information, contact Harold Solbrig / harold@solbrigs.us / 507-319-2628
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Coffee Hour: The Eighth Sacrament
The time we spend together in conversation and fellowship is as important to the life of our community as our worship. We need your help to make it happen! We particularly need coffee hour hosts: People who are willing to provide some treats, make the coffee, and get things cleaned up afterward. Take it on as a solo exercise or pair up with friends. Either way, your help is needed and appreciated. If you have questions about any of it, from setup to coffee making to clean up, Harold Solbrig is the one to talk to ( harold@solbrigs.us / 507-319-2628)
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Sunday Morning Faith Formation |
What a fascinating and thought-provoking discussion we had on Sunday! It seems that many of you were as captured by Do I Stay Christian? as I was. I'm grateful for our conversation and looking forward to this week.
We continue on Sunday with a discussion of Chapters 11 through 15 (the beginning of the "yes" section). Here's the schedule for the next few months:
___Oct 30 - Chs. 11 through 15
___Nov 6 - All Saints Sunday (no book discussion)
___Nov 13 - Congregational conversation: Advent worship (no book discussion)
___Nov 20 - Chs. 16 through 20
___Nov 27 - Thanksgiving weekend (no book discussion)
___Dec 4 - Chs. 21 through 24
___Dec 11 - Chs. 25 through Afterward
Don't let the chapter counts scare you off---the whole volume is 228 pages, so each discussion covers about 35 pages. If you don't have a copy yet, I'm happy to help you get one.
I'm really excited about this series of conversations and I hope you are, too!
Justin
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Birthdays
- Nancy Brubaker
- Gary Walker
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Anniversaries
- John & Zoei Pritchard
- Pat & Cathy Botz
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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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Building St. Luke's Viability |
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What can we learn from others in our quest to become a more viable congregation? And how does that apply to us in our current situation and in our current community? We hope to begin to answer these questions as a group on Tuesday, November 1, via Zoom.
As the Vestry has been communicating via recent Lifelines articles, during Bishop Loya’s visit, and through the recent State of St. Luke’s discussion at Sunday worship, our congregational viability requires us to determine ways to adapt quickly. Your vestry has determined that the first step in developing a strategy to build ongoing viability is to learn what our best strategic options may be and to do this as a congregation. We will begin this process by learning about and discussing what other congregations have done in similar situations to increase their viability.
Please join us Tuesday, November 1st, 7-8:30 pm, via Zoom to learn, share, and contribute. To receive the meeting link, please RSVP to Karen Gould at St. Luke's office: 507-288-2469 or gouldk@stlukesepiscopal.org.
The learning and discussion will focus on…
- Budgeting balancing strategies (ex. using our grounds and/or facilities differently, sharing/reducing staff, fundraising)
- Strategies to build community/increase membership (ex. new member campaigns, Faithful Innovation)
- Collaboration strategies (ex. partnering with other faith communities)
Please prepare ahead by becoming familiar with and ready to discuss what you find valuable in the attached list of resources. (You aren't expected to read everything below; just follow your curiosity and dig into what interests you.) These resources are links to books, articles, and information that the vestry has located related to these topics via Internet searches and reviewing national and diocesan websites. It is not an exhaustive nor a deeply vetted search but a start in the time we’ve had.
We sincerely hope you will join us as we seek to discern God’s next steps for St Luke’s together.
Resource List – Click links for access to the resources
National Episcopal Church
Books
Other Resources
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Altar Flower Coordinators |
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I want to announce that I will be retiring as Altar Flower Coordinator after 4 1/2 years. I have greatly appreciated your generosity in providing a vase or 2 of flowers each week and I have cherished this connection with each of you.
Sue Engelman has graciously agreed to become the Altar Flower Coordinator and will begin when I leave for the winter. A special thanks to Linda McCarty who has served as my backup for several years, she will continue to help Sue.
Thanks to Barbara Solbrig who we share the sacristy with and her dedication to the altar set up.
Sue Butler
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St. Luke's Pledge Drive and Stewardship Campaign |
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This year’s Annual Pledge Drive and Stewardship Campaign is underway. The Vestry is hopeful we will be able to design a budget for 2023 that will allow us to implement a progressive service and worship program without dipping into reserves. Through out this past year, we have grown stronger as lay leadership has taken the reigns for planning fellowship events, implementing building and grounds work, monitoring financial affairs, and providing administrative assistance. St. Luke’s relies on you, our members, for financial strength and stewardship energy to keep our programs going and to fund new initiatives.
For planning purposes, we need to know your 2023 pledge intentions. Pledge income is vital for the support of continuing programs. Several ways to let us know your commitment for 2023 are:
The Vestry’s 2023 budget plan promises to be progressive and balanced if membership support is strong enough. Our drive ends December 4th. Call a Vestry member if you have questions.
Thanks for your prayers and generous support.
Doug Butler, Vestry Member
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You may have noticed some sheets titled ‘Welcome to St. Luke’s' on the tables in the Narthex and in the Fellowship Hall.
As part of our renewed congregational effort to welcome visitors, if you notice someone new, or who you don’t know, please introduce yourself, hand them a welcome sheet and most importantly, invite them to sit with you for coffee and fellowship after the service. Do you remember the feeling of not knowing anyone the first time you stepped into a new place? Some of us kept coming back because we felt so warmly invited. Also, if you have suggestions for additions to the welcome sheet, please send them to Diane at dianeomara@charter.net or call 507-261-3773.
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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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Calvary/St. Luke's Salvation Army Bellringing Campaign |
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Calvary and St. Luke’s will be ringing bells on behalf of the Salvation Army and their social service efforts for those in need in the Rochester area.
The selected locations are Andy's Liquor Crossroads from 9 am - 1 pm, and Hobby Lobby 1 pm - 3 pm on November 18th.
Here is the link to sign up:
If there are questions, comments or need for additional slots, please feel free to contact Martha Mangan at any time: mart188@charter.net or 507-261-3286.
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ECMN's Annual Convention will take place here in Rochester this weekend, Friday and Saturday, October 28 & 29. Click here for a full schedule and details on worship livestreams.
If you tune in and something looks familiar, that's because the altar and candlesticks belong to St. Luke's! The bishop was looking for something a little holier than a folding table and asked us if we could provide an altar and accoutrements.
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Rochester Public Schools started on Tuesday, September 6
and St. Luke’s is fired up to help families in our neighborhood continue to get ready and learn all year long.
Each month during the 22/23 school year, “Operation Backpack” will list in the Lifelines five of the most needed school supplies at Sunset Terrace Elementary and John Marshall High School. These can be dropped off at St. Luke’s , Monday through Friday, 8-5 and of course on Sunday. Drop in the bins marked ‘Snacks’, ‘Sunset Terrace’ or ‘John Marshall’ located in the downstairs foyer. Our Operation Backpack Team will deliver them to the schools.
October’s Top Five Greatest Needs at John Marshall High School:
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Snacks for students - healthy-ish and individually wrapped (goldfish, animal crackers, granola bars, fruit cups, beef sticks, etc.) Due to covid they must be wrapped for each student.
- Men's belts in a variety of sizes, black and brown.
- Beanie hats for winter in black and gray, adult sizes.
- Leggings, black, women's sizes M - XXL.
- Jogger pants, black or gray, men's or women's M - XXL.
Thank you for providing this wonderful help! School is so much more fun and productive when students and teachers have the supplies they need to learn.
Thank you so much for your generosity.
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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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Our neighbors in Southwest Florida have been devastated by Hurricane Ian. 24 of the 79 church buildings in that diocese have been destroyed, with countless more clergy and parishioners having to rebuild. Please pray for our neighbors in Southwest Florida, and, if you're able, please consider making a financial gift.
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Being a Christian is Like Being a Pumpkin |
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From The Episcopal Church |
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Presiding Bishop Search Survey
The Episcopal Church Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop invites all Episcopalians to participate in a survey. The responses will help the committee develop a profile of the skills, qualities, and gifts the church seeks in its next presiding bishop, considering what the church and world may look like in the next decade.
The church’s General Convention will elect the next presiding bishop in the summer of 2024.
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Election Day Preparation & Prayers
Tuesday, November 8, 7:00 - 11:00 p.m. Central time
Episcopal Church Facebook page
As polls begin to close on Nov. 8 for the U.S. midterm elections, all are invited to join an Election Day Prayers gathering online hosted by The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations.
At the top of each hour, special guests from around the church will offer 10-15 minutes of reflection and prayer. Participants are encouraged to engage in prayerful conversation in the comments. The gathering will also feature simple video feeds from parishes throughout the U.S.
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Organ Music Honoring the Saints and Remembering the Departed Souls
Dr. John A. Schultz, organist,
Mike Cizek, trombonist,
and Elizabeth Hillebrand, soprano,
will perform the music of Bach, Durufle, Miller, Neswick, Pinkham, and Shearing.
Freewill offering gratefully accepted.
Sunday, November 6, 2022, at 4:00 pm
Calvary Episcopal Church
111 3rd Avenue SW, Rochester, Minnesota
www.calvary-rochester.org
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Bible Study: Luke
Join us Wednesdays at 10:30 as we read and discuss Luke's gospel. It's always a wide-ranging and interesting conversation. Hope to see you there!
Meeting ID: 827 6194 5638
Passcode: 1884
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Book Group
Rochester: An Urban Biography by Virginia Wright-Peterson( non- fiction)
Tuesday, November 22nd, 6:30 pm
Discussion through Zoom.
Enjoy the book; then join us for a discussion led by Shanna Altrichter with Virginia Wright-Peterson.
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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