| Transitions
Deaths
Jeanne Wainwright Presley, May 6, 2009; mother of John Hobson Presley Jr. and grand-mother of Ben, Tim, Ellen, and John Hopson Presley III.
Charles A. Schilleci, May 12, 2009; brother of J.B. (Catherine Ann) Schilleci and uncle of Joseph and Phillip Schilleci.
Rest eternal grant to them O Lord, and let light perpetual shine
upon them.
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Sunday Lectionary Readings
May 24
Seventh Sunday
of Easter
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Psalm 1
1 John 5:9-13
John 17:6-19
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Parish-Wide Event!
Wednesday, June 3
5:30 pm Graham Hall
All are invited to the parish-wide Boomerang Express Event for food and fellowship!
Look at all the fun the children have been experiencing throughout the week in Vacation Bible School!
There is no cost for dinner,
but donations will be accepted.
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Dr. Harry Moody
To Speak On Positive Aging
Thursday, May 28
Saint Luke's is honored to host Dr. Harry R. Moody, director of Academic Affairs for AARP in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, May 28. Dr. Moody, an engaging and entertaining speaker, will discuss "Stages on Life's Way: A Vision of Positive Aging" from one of his most recent books. This wonderful opportunity to hear an expert in the field of aging is open to all senior adults, health care professionals, clergy, caregivers, and children of aging parents. Plan to attend, bring a friend, and share this information with others. The program begins at 11:00 am in Graham Hall. Lunch, by reservation will be served for $5.00. Please contact Jeanna (jspeegle@saint-lukes.com) or 802-6218) for reservation and/or more information.
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Swim Goggles For Sawyerville
Saint Luke's has been asked to help out with the Sawyervile Supply Drive. We have agreed to collect 150 various size swim goggles! There will be a collection box in the commons beginning this Sunday, May 17. We will collect goggles until Sunday, June 14. Please help us continue in our mission efforts by contributing to this great cause! If you have any questions or would like to know more about Sawyerville Day Camp, please email Lindsay Joe or call 802-6206.
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Birmingham Hospitality Network
Will You Help Host?
We will Saint Luke's will host Birmingham Hospitality Network families here at the church from Sunday, June 28 until Saturday, July 4. We need volunteers! We have a sign-up board in Claypool Commons where you can volunteer to spend the night, help set-up rooms, prepare a meal, serve a meal, do laundry, transport cots, or break-down rooms. Please consider giving some of your time to this vital ministry.
Birmingham Hospitality Network (BHN) is a group of churches that provide safe and loving overnight shelter for homeless families, many of whom are first-time homeless.
To learn more about this Saint Luke's
Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,
you did it to me. Matthew 25:40
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Summer Adult
Education Offerings
Sunday Morning Lectionary Study
9:15 am to 10:15 am · Room 224
This class will meet every Sunday throughout the summer without any breaks. Empty nesters and adults who do not have children in need of supervision are invited to explore the riches of each Sunday's Bible readings with Father Steve DeGweck.
Monday Educational Offering
God's Fierce Love: Living Like the Lilies of the Field
Two Meeting Times Offered:
10:00 am and 5:30 pm · Room 232
A short film and easy-going discussion will strengthen your trust in the unfailing love of God. Rob Bell's films offer powerful encouragement and start good conversations. Diane Weatherford and Warren Cain teach the morning class, and Patty Gilbert teaches the course in the evening. All are welcome. This class will meet on four Mondays: June 8, 15, 22, and 29.
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Vacation Bible School 2009
June 1 - 4
We Are Looking Forward to a Fun Week!
Be in prayer for VBS, the students and the volunteers, June 1 - 4. We can still use volunteers even if you can only help a few days or a few hours. Just let us know! Plan to join us for the parish-wide Boomerang Express Event on Wednesday, June 3 at 5:30 pm in Graham Hall for food and fun as we look at all the fun the children have been experiencing throughout the week! There is no cost for dinner but donations will be accepted.
Throughout the week we collect an offering to give to Woodlawn Ministries to help fight hunger. We also will collect food for PreSchool Partners snack items. The food items being collected include poptarts, cereal bars, juice boxes, individual bags of chips, and individual fruit cups. There will be a location to collect these items as well as a spot for offering money to be collected as well. Help us as we assist these wonderful ministries.
Email Emily or call 802-6211 if you would like to volunteer.
Parents...It Is Not Too Late To Return Your Volunteer Forms
Please return your volunteer forms for the 2009-2010 school year to the Children's Ministry Office (Room 220A) or by mail as soon as possible. We thank you in advance for your willingness to help!
Save the Date
For These Summer Events...
Zoo Trip
Rising 1st-3rd graders
Tuesday, June 23rd
Splash Beach Trip
Rising 4th -6th graders
Thursday, June 25th
Bingo & Ice Cream
Wednesday, July 15th
For ALL ages, children & adults!
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Adult Education
Sneak Preview for Fall!
Our first three Sundays this fall, we will hear a report from the Rev. Richmond Webster on the Continuum of Discipleship at Saint Luke's with special emphasis on the first leg of our Christian journey: Meeting Jesus. In keeping with this theme, on Wednesday nights we'll gather for an engaging and thought-provoking introduction to Jesus Christ through the films of Rob Bell. Many who enjoyed these films in Sunday school say they look forward to watching them again, and there are several we haven't seen yet. On Sunday mornings, in the fall, look for a class on parenting, new and improved based on last fall's experience, and, of course, a class on the lectionary readings. Does this whet your appetite? Look for more information on more fall offerings in the weeks to come!
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Stewardship For Creation
God's beautiful world, God's beautiful world
I love God's beautiful world
He made it for you, He made it for me
I love God's beautiful world
The old children's song from Sunday School still speaks to us today. Stewardship for creation not only reminds us of our responsibility in the sustainability of this fragile earth, it also urges us to appreciate the beauty that God has given to our care.
Our years of drought forced me to make a difficult decision about my yard. I decided I would not plant anything nor try to save anything that could not survive on the "gray water" from my house. (Thank you, God, for Lantana!) This spring, during our heavy rains, I was surprised to see the bare spaces being filled with Mayapples, Indian Pink, Bloodroot, Oxalis, and of course Monkey grass, Jessamine, and POISON IVY. I didn't plant most of these. They must have been attached to gifts of Lenten Roses, Daylilies, and ferns given to me by friends. It made me appreciate not only friend's gifts, but also The Creator's gifts.
There is so much beauty in nature just a short distance from Birmingham: the Bankhead, Oak Mountain, and Ruffner Mountain. I was eating a picnic lunch by the waterfall at Turkey Creek recently, and I wondered how many people in our area are aware of opportunities to appreciate this pristine spot. We need to be sure our children and grandchildren have the opportunity to witness and appreciate God's creation.
O God of all outdoors and every living thing,
Help us to make Thy way our way,
Give us a reverence for all Your creation
That we may be good stewards of Your many blessings and will treat them as assets to be passed on to future generations, enhanced and not impaired. Amen *
--Edith Hunt
*Source: Walter F. Coxe Blessing
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Thank you for your support, Saint Luke's!
Not too long ago, Paul Harvey died and what a loss! He was such a great newscaster and storyteller. He always knew how to lull you into his reports, always pausing at just the right time, leaving the listener rapt with anticipation. My favorite reports of his were his segments known as "the rest of the story." Mr. Harvey would describe a news report that, in and of itself, was interesting enough, but then he would take it a step further and tell the listener "the rest of the story." He was always fascinating!
I feel like we have a similar concept here at PreSchool Partners. The facts about our program are interesting and well conceived. Every year we serve 132 people, sixty-six children and sixty-six parents, from the neighborhoods of Norwood and Whatley School zones. Our mission is to equip families of at-risk preschool children with the skills necessary to achieve school readiness. We prepare the children for school by teaching them letter, number, shape, and color recognition. We also teach them how to write their names, as well as general classroom behavior and social skills. We provide the children with computer training and enrichment classes that include art, music, and dance classes. Preparation for kindergarten for the parents includes getting their child to school on time, learning to communicate effectively with teachers, and setting aside time each day to work with their child. Our parents also attend classes on budgeting, nutrition, stress and anger management, and family literacy.
And, really, in and of itself, that's enough to be a really good story. But then, there's "the rest of the story." While PreSchool Partners truly does prepare both the children and their parents for kindergarten and success in school, there is so much more that we are doing. We are also helping improve their daily lives. For instance, we are helping the mother who is in an abusive relationship to connect with the appropriate resources to remove herself and her children from that environment. We are helping parents find the agencies that will provide free eyeglasses for their child when they can't afford them. We are assisting parents in obtaining health insurance for their children if they don't already have it. Also, we assist our families in obtaining free tax preparation. We help parents find counseling services for discipline problems they are having with their children. We even help our parents locate jobs by finding the right resources for them to connect with.
Our families at PreSchool Partners are no different from any other family. Every parent wants what is best for their child, but sometimes people need help finding out how to get the help they need. At PreSchool Partners, we strive to educate and empower all of our families so that they are not only prepared for kindergarten, but better prepared for life in general. Many quality preschool programs educate and prepare children for school; we prepare families for life together. This is what makes us unique, successful, and relevant to the needs of our community. That's the rest of our story!
--Lella Carl
Director, PreSchool Partners
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Summer Camp Is
Not Just For Kids...
Check Out
The Camp McDowell
Folk School!
Have you heard the news? Parents of summer campers can be campers this summer too! Kid campers will enjoy vintage McDowell accommodations while adult students at the Folk School will stay in the air-conditioned comfort of the Camp McDowell lodges. The Alabama Folk School is even offering discounts to parents or grandparents of summer campers. Take $100 off our June 22-27 session, or $75 off our August 1-5 session. The Folk School is already a bargain retreat, and the discounts make it even more affordable. Whether your child is in camp or not, you deserve time this summer to have a personal retreat or a retreat with friends. Learn about traditional and hand-crafted arts including: oval Shaker boxes; Old-time and bluegrass music on banjo, fiddle, mandolin, dulcimer, autoharp, bass, and guitar; Appalachian Dance; French hand-sewing; pottery; mosaics; woodcarving; glass beads; photography; and more! Click here for more information and to print a registration form. For more information or to register by phone, please call Danielle Dunbar (563-9990).
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Project HOPE
Where There is Always Hope
There are many young people who, unfortunately, do not have the comfort of a home and family to go to every day. There are children and youth who are trying to survive on the streets after leaving their homes because of abuse, family conflict, or have been abandoned or been kicked out of their homes. A young person living on the streets is an occurrence that happens every day in Birmingham and other cities across the country.
To find a way to help these young people, Family Connection began Project HOPE in 1992. Our purpose is to assist youth in leaving the streets by providing access to shelter and supportive services. These services help prevent a reoccurrence of homelessness and reduce the likelihood of sexual abuse, exploitation, or physical assault. Project HOPE consists of a Day Shelter and Street Outreach Program in the city of Birmingham. Family Connection's program was the first of its kind in the State of Alabama and continues to be the only program serving Birmingham today.
Project HOPE has a trained staff of counselors and social workers who connect with these young people, some as young as twelve years old, and develop a plan to get them off the streets. Every youth we encounter is different and every plan is developed to help their individualized needs. Our Street Outreach Team works to build a relationship with the youth to encourage them to come to the Day Shelter and continue to come to follow-through on their plans. The Day Shelter staff assists young people in finding jobs, housing, contacting their families and work to resolve conflicts, arranging transportation for the youth back to their home, enrolling and transporting youth to GED classes, or referring youth to other agencies.
Project HOPE is extremely blessed to receive support from Saint Luke's to ensure that these young people have a safe place to come to rest, shower, receive a warm meal and clothing and be connected to caring people who will get them the help they need to leave the streets permanently. There are many opportunities to volunteer with Project HOPE. We can use your help to prepare hygiene and survival aid kits that are distributed by our Street Outreach Team; beautify the yard of the Day Shelter; assist with cleaning and organizing the clothing and food pantries and other areas of the Day Shelter; or conduct a food, bottled water, personal care item, paper product or laundry detergent drive.
Please contact Project HOPE at 205-252-HOPE to learn how you can get involved today. Also, visit our website at www.familyconnection-inc.org.
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Now you can stay connected to Saint Luke's in NEW ways! Saint Luke's is now on Facebook and Twitter!
Our Facebook page is "Saint Luke's Episcopal Church" and it is open to any Facebook user. Facebook is FREE -- to join, click here.
 Our Twitter profile is "saintlukesbham" and is available to any Twitter user.Twitter is FREE -- to join, click here.
For more information, click here for the Saint Luke's website. |
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Do You Want To
View Your Paper Dialogue
Online?
CLICK HERE, scroll down, and select the date of the issue you want to read!
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