The Evangelist
What is going on at St. Luke's this week.

Become a friend of St. Luke's on Facebook (St. Luke's Episcopal Church North Little Rock ) and follow us on our website at www.stlukeepiscopal.org

Don't forget to make your Seder Supper Reservations for April 4!
Call or email the office to reserve your space today. 

Click on Links Below for More Information

Father Carey to Hear Confessions 

   

 March Happenings in North Little Rock 

   

 

Printable Calendar for Lent  

 

 Walk Through a Episcopal Worship Service

 

What to Expect During a Worship Service 

 

VESTRY OF

ST. LUKE'S 

 

Jerry Hodge, Sr. Warden

 

 

Ed Seward, Jr. Warden

  Matt Muller, Treasurer 

 

Class of 2009

Debi Fricks

Gary Dunwoody

Dan Dennis

 

Class of 2010

 

Sherry Furr

Gay Hensley

Carmen Quinn

Jerry Hodge

 

Class of 2011

Jason Reynolds

Pat Loomis

James Terry

Ed Seward

 

Class of 2012  

Vera

 

Chenault

Valerie Smith

John Rhodes

Matt Muller

Tom Simmons 

 

 ---------- + ----------

 

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday thru Friday

9 to 5

Friday, closed for lunch 12-1

 

---------- + ---------- 

 

 


CAREY'S CONVERSATIONS

  

'The Fruit of the Spirit' says St. Paul, 'is Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Meekness, Self-control' - all the things the world most needs.

From Lent With Evelyn Underhill, p.82

 
   

Real love always heals fear and neutralizes egotism, and so, as love grows up in us, we shall worry about ourselves less and less, and admire and delight in God and His other children more and more, and this is the secret of Joy. We shall no longer strive for our own way, but commit ourselves, easily and simply, to God's way, acquiesce in His will and in so doing find our peace. And bit by bit there grows up in us a quiet but ardent spiritual life, tending to God, adoring God, resting in God. Peace and Joy are necessarily permanent characteristics of true spiritual life, the signs of God's abiding presence in the soul...'He shall have peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.' -Evelyn Underhill

 

Yours in Christ,

 

Carey+


 

 

---------- + ----------
 

 DEACON'S BENCH

 

Deacon Symbol 1 

  

Screwtape, Evil, Christ, Love, and Lent

Carey has also been talking for several weeks about recognizing Christ as well as recognizing any evil or sin within ourselves and outside of ourselves. Our job this Lent is to recognize Christ and also evil inside or outside ourselves, and honor the Christ and guard ourselves against and stop the evil.

How do we recognize evil? As you know, our Wednesday book group is studying CS Lewis' Screwtape Letters, which is Lewis' humorous way of looking at evil. The devil's high priest, Screwtape, writes letters to his nephew, Wormwood, about how to bring his "patient" to the dark side. This is some of what I have learned on Wednesdays. "The greatest evil is not done in the sordid 'dens of crime' that Dickens loved to paint or in concentration camps. It is conceived and takes place in clean, carpeted, well-lighted offices by quiet men and women who do not need to raise their voice." (x) Evil tells untruths or lies. It often mixes some truth with the lie to help you believe it. This is one of the crafty ways evil conceals itself. In religious terms this is called heresy.

Lewis describes humans as "amphibians" half spirit, half animal with peaks and valleys of spirituality. Screwtape tells his nephew, Wormwood, to make his patient think that he will stay forever in the trough and will never get out of it. Evil does not like joy. Evil loves to divide communities and look for the annoying characteristics in each person it meets. Evil does everything possible to keep us away from living in the Present, for the Present is where God meets us. Evil pushes us to dwell on our sins of the past and live in fear of the future. Wormwood counsels his nephew that it is sin that separates humans from God (The Enemy in the Devil's terms) and "it does not matter how small the sins, provided their cumulative effect is to edge humans away from the Light. The safest road to living a life of Hell is the gradual one, the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." (XII) There is so much more, but this is a taste of evil and many of you have seen it and know it better than I or CS Lewis.

Our tasks is to learn to look for the Christ in each other, look for the great love of God in each other, to see each other in a different light. When we see evil, recognize it; do not perpetuate it. Even Wormwood tells us that God is constantly wooing us, to be his sons and daughters, especially in our dry periods where our prayers may please him the best. The force of darkness is great, but it does not compare to the power and love of God... a love so great that God became human to show us His love and also how to love each other. "God so loved the world..."

Joanna


   

---------- + ----------  

 
organ 5

FROM THE ORGAN BENCH

I commend to you a wonderful opportunity this Friday. Marilyn Kaiser, who is a great organist, will be in recital this Friday evening at 8:00 pm at Christ Church in Little Rock. She is an amazing player and it is always a thrill to hear her play that instrument. The next morning Ms. Kaiser is giving a workshop on "Music for Small Churches". This seminar will be held at St. Luke's and is sponsored by our diocese and bishop. There will be approximately 40 people in attendance and we need your help. If you could please bake or buy some cookies for us to serve on Saturday morning to welcome the visiting organists/directors of music; it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Dawn Reynolds as to when to bring them to the church. Thank you in advance for your help.

This week's Gospel lesson is from John 3:14-21. In this reading, Jesus told Nicodemus, "For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him shall not die but have everlasting life." This is also the text of the Offertory Anthem at the 10:30 am liturgy. The music was written by John Stainer and is one of the most recognizable pieces in our choirs' repertoire.

God bless!

Michael


 

 

 

---------- + ----------
 

Medieval Tapestry in Victoria and Albert Museum, London.   

Father Carey will hear your confession by appointment

 

As you know, every Sunday a general confession of sin is read aloud together and absolution is granted. As a general rule this works in dealing with our feeling of guilt but there are times when saying our public confessions during a church service just doesn't seem to relieve the guilt. It is at times like these that private confession may be more appropriate. St. James wrote about this: "Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective." James 5.16 You may schedule an appointment with Fr. Carey by calling the church office.


 

 

---------- + ----------

 

PRAYER LIST

  

Carolyn Ford, Jim Howell, Katherine Herring, Rhonda Herring, Annette Gerace, Martinka Family, Cory Moses, Laura Dues, Pete Caro, Lawson Anderson, Anne Gontermann, Sheila Crim, Tim Woods, Mike Roh, Vince Roh, Bobbi West, Jamie Poole, Kate Toepfer, Valerie Baker, Nicholas, Martha Stroope, Mary Jo Ring, Kathy Rose, Thalia, Parker, Kathy, Lisa Williams, George Cline, Jim Ellwanger, Hannah Brown, the Acord Family, the Gontermann Family, Bill Spradlin, Mary Paal, Forest Pollard, Susan Ware, Pat Loomis, Ricky Parks, Shirley Miles, the Clawson Family, Stephan Mays, Clarence Davis, the Virgil Wiedner Family, Jayson Phillips, and David Porterfield, the Gentry Family, Connie and Kevin Delsinger, Kay M and Bob, and the Langlais Family.    

 

 

Special Concerns:  All of the men and women of our Armed Forces, especially Jake, Justin, Bret, Joshua, Mark, Tim, Matt, Doug and Lance.

---------- + ----------

 

CHURCH HAPPENINGS 

 


A THANK YOU FROM   

MARY ANN HODGE      

 

Dearest DOK members, ECW, men of St. Andrew, men's group, choir, community groups, Respite, Altar Guild, and members of St. Luke's.  Last Thursday, we celebrated the life of Denny Langlais.  We celebrated the time we shared with Denny,  the good, the bad and ugly as they say.   We could not have done that without all of you:  the phone calls, those that wrote emails, visitation, the vigil, the spoken words of comfort, prayers, hugs, preparing meals, serving meals, and the dreaded clean up. We did this together for Denny. He was many things to each of us, sometimes he made us laugh, he helped with projects, visited the home bound, made breakfast, set up tables, helped Respite, and of course cleanup. That was Denny. I want to thank each and everyone for helping the past four days. Without your help, we could not have celebrated Denny's life on Thursday and what he gave each of us. In my mind he was always the last man helping cleanup, putting up stuff or just turning out the lights at St. Luke's because we were his church family. Thank you all for your help, support, work, food, hugs, and kisses and just being who you are.   

 

With a grateful heart,  

Mary Ann

 

 ---------- + ----------

EASTER MEMORIALS AND THANKSGIVINGS    

 

Lilies will be placed in the church on Easter Day in memory or in honor of loved ones. To contribute, please fill out a form available in the Sunday Bulletins, in the Narthex, and the Church Office, or you may contact the church office and give your information to the Parish Administrator directly. Donations are $15 each, and please be sure to mark your payment "Easter Flowers." Deadline of contributions is Monday, April 2 in order of the names to appear in the Easter bulletin. 

 

 ---------- + ----------

BAPTISMS     

 

We will offer the sacrament of baptism on Easter Eve, April 7.  If you wish to be baptized or have a child you would like baptized at that time, please contact the church office to arrange a time for baptismal instruction.

---------- + ----------

EASTER EGG HUNT      

 

If you are interested in donating money or candy for the Easter Egg Hunt, please contact Wanda Dunwoody or Suzzette Patterson. 

---------- + ----------

COFFEE TIME AFTER SERVICES    

 

St. Luke's will begin to hold Coffee Time following both the services. Volunteers are needed to charge the area and to bring sweets. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Deacon Joanna at [email protected]

 

 ---------- + ----------

ECW EASTER EGGS ARE READY TO BE ORDERED    

 

St. Luke's ECW is once again creating their delicious Easter Eggs. Order forms are available in the link provided below, in the Narthex or in the Church Office. Forms are due in by March 25th. 

Easter Egg Order Form 2012 

 

 ---------- + ----------

VESTRY RETREAT    

 

The Vestry Retreat will be held on March 16 and 17 at Camp Mitchell. Cost is $20 and should be paid to St. Luke's. Please contact the office if there are any questions or concerns.

 ---------- + ----------

MAUNDY THURSDAY

      

Please bring your plants on Palm Sunday for Garden of Repose on Maundy Thursday. Plants should be labeled as to who owns them and placed in the Chapel. Please call the office if you have any questions: 753.4281.

 

 ---------- + ----------

BROTHERHOOD OF ST. ANDREW   

 

The Brotherhood of St. Andrew has scheduled a Retreat/Camp Mitchell work day for 30-31 March. Lodging w/kitchen will be provided for Friday night. Everyone is invited. Friday evening will include food and fellowship. Saturday will be a work day at the camp to include cleaning and clearing the walking trails, flower beds, gardens, and any other work the camp has to be done. There should be something for everyone.   Individuals are invited to participate in both Friday night and Saturday, or either one. Work will begin around 9:00 Saturday morning, following breakfast and will end around 2:00, Saturday noon meal will be provided by Camp Mitchell. If you have not attended a Camp Mitchell work day, you have missed out on a wonderful experience.   For more information, check the Camp Mitchell Retreat/Work Day information poster in the Narthex.

 

Please RSVP to Dickey Mayland, 835-6411 (Cell: 920-5842), [email protected] 

 

 ---------- + ----------

AN EVENING ON THE CARIBBEAN    

 

No need to pack your bags and book an expensive trip. We are bringing a splash of the carefree Caribbean to St. Luke's on April 29th. Join us at 5:30 pm to kick off our new Fifth Sunday Series at the Church.  

 

Love the beat and sound of the rhythms from the Caribbean? Calypso will be on the music menu with the sounds provided by the Steel Drum Band from the Episcopal Collegiate School. Accompanying the music is the dinner menu with authentic style Caribbean favorites. Tempting and tasty dishes will trick your taste buds into thinking you are on one of the islands. Mark your calendars for April 29th and invite your family and friends to join you. Details will follow in future announcements.  

 

 ---------- + ----------

ECW CENTRAL CONVOCATION 

 

St. Patricks Day Brunch for Central Convocation Episcopal Church Women

 Saturday, March 17th at 9:30am

 St Michael's Episcopal Church

 Mimosas, Brunch food

Introductions

 

ECW Board member and Comedian,

Dawn Mulkern

performing "Ladies Laugh at Life"

 Party Favors, Door Prizes and more

 

Cost $5.00

 

Please RSVP to [email protected]

by March 10th

 Thank you and look forward to seeing you.

 

 ---------- + ----------

UPCOMING ECW EVENTS  

 

Saturday, March 31, 2012 - We invite all women to help clean the classroom ECW has been using for storage. 9:30am to noon. If you have any questions, please call Wanda Dunwoody at 412.3998.

 

 

---------- + ----------

CHILDREN'S CHAPEL AND CHOIR

     

Beth Maze, with the help of some parents and teachers will lead the children during the gospel hymn to the parish Hall for Children's chapel and practice for a Children's choir for Easter Sunday. This will be for Children of all ages. Children will return at the peace. We will need some volunteers to help Beth on a rotational basis. Contact  Joanna 4258525, [email protected]  if you can help Beth with this ministry.

 

---------- + ----------

ECW SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TIME FOR J.O.Y  

 

St. Luke's ECW announces two scholarships available for Time for J.O.Y.

The next Time for J.O.Y. retreat will be April 27-29, 2012, at Camp Mitchell on Petit Jean Mountain, Morrilton, Arkansas.

Time for J.O.Y. is a ministry for and with women 19 to 40-something.

Time for J.O.Y. is a weekend retreat designed for young women living stressful lives, be they single, married, divorced, working in the home or outside the home. The purpose of the retreat is to provide experiences which affirm and encourage young women on their spiritual journey. Through the introduction of simple soul-tending skills, the retreatant is reconnected with her spirituality.

The retreat is sponsored and staffed by the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of Arkansas (ECW). The staff of volunteers provide the workshops, the music, the speaker, the gifts, the fellowship, and many spiritual opportunities for the young women, to help them connect with their own spiritual paths. Qualified women offer spiritual direction, and a priest presides at Holy Eucharist.

If you are interested, please submit your name by March 20, 2012, to Wanda Dunwoody, Martha Mayland or Annie Shuster.    

 

 ---------- + ----------

 

EXTENDING YOUR LENTEN DEVOTIONALS  

 

What will you be giving up for Lent? Could it be candy, desserts, alcohol or beer? Although some might say giving these up might be considered a form of fasting or nourishment to our bodies, it doesn't satisfy the devotional nourishment and commitment we should make to God. In addition, Sunday's Eucharist shouldn't be the only day we give reverence to God. There are several other services and forms of worship in the Book of Common Prayer that we should be familiar with and use. One of those services is Daily Evening Prayer.

When I first came to St Luke's I, along with all the Lay Readers at the time, participated in offering Evening Prayer every weekday night during Lent. This helped to enrich our spiritual journey during that church season. By leading Evening Prayer Services also extended and shared this devotional to those who would also like to enrich their commitment to God during this time.

We have several activities going on during Lent, so I thought it to be appropriate that we add Evening Prayer along with those activities as another way of giving reverence to God. Therefore, I asked Father Carey if we could again add this service during Lent for all to participate in if they wished. As a result I will be leading Evening Prayer and invite all to come each Friday night at 5:30 PM during the Lenten Season.

In addition, we will also offer "Stations of the Cross" directly after Evening Prayer. Evening Prayer takes about 30 minutes. I invite you to come to either or both. What better way to give up something during Lent than a short period of your time on Friday nights!

Also remember, we have Morning and Evening Prayer Services at other times during the week on a regular basis if your schedule conflicts with Friday nights:

  • Monday's and Friday's Morning Prayer at 7:00 AM.
  • Wednesday's and Thursday's Morning Prayer at 8:30 AM.
  • Evening Prayer on Monday at 5:30 PM.

Lastly, there are other ways we can pray when one or more are gathered together daily during Lent and beyond:

  • "Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families" on Page 136 of the Book of Common Payer.
  • "Prayers and Thanksgivings" on Pages 810 - 841 of the Book of Common Prayer.
  • "What is Prayer?" Our prayers should be made up of this outline on page 856 of the Book of Common Prayer.
  • For daily reading of the Bible one may want to refer to the readings outlined in the Daily Office Year Two starting on page 953 of the Book of Common Prayer.
  • Link to Daily Offices http://www.missionstclare.com/english/   

Prayers be with you during this Lenten Season,

Mark Holst

 

 

 ---------- + ----------

 

LENT HAPPENINGS  


Lord, you have searched me out and known me;

you know my sitting down and my rising up;

you discern my thoughts from afar.

Psalm 139

Lenten Season 2012

Ash Wednesday, February 22 to Easter Sunday, April 8.

 

Special Dates in Lent

April 1: 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Palm Sunday Services

April 4: 6:00 p.m. Traditional Seder Family Supper for adults & children. Call church office by March 28 for your reservation

 

Weekday Lenten Services

Morning Prayer -7:00 a.m. Monday & Friday

                  8:30 a.m. Wed. & Thursday

Evening Prayer -5:30 p.m. Monday & Friday

Centering Prayer - 9:30 a.m. Monday

Healing Eucharist - 12:00 p.m. Wednesday

Stations of the Cross- 5:30 on Wed. and following  

the Evening Prayer service on Friday 

 

Wednesday Mornings in Lent

Wednesday Book Group - 10:00 a.m.Deacon Joanna's home The Screwtape Letters and The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis will be discussed.

 

Wednesday Evenings in Lent

March 14, 21 and 28

5:30 p.m. Stations of the Cross

6:00 p.m. Light supper with Lenten Adult Study on Prayer and Your Personality

March 14 Augustinian Prayer - Fr. Carey

March 21 Benedictine & Franciscan Prayer - Dn. Joanna

March 28 Thomistic Prayer - Fr. Carey

 

Lenten Studies

Sundays Mornings in Lent

Adult Formation Classes: March 18, 25 & April 1, in the Parish Hall.

The 5 Languages of Love presented by Father Carey. "People experience love most strongly through one of five love languages"

 

In the Adult Classroom

Archeology of the Bible : Professor Jodi Magness on "What Archeology Reveals about the Holy Land".

 

Children's Classes  

Sundays in Lent, Level 2 and 3 Catechesis children will be studying meditations about reconciliation

 

Wednesday nights

Children will be studying about the Seder meal they will be eating with their family on Wednesday of Holy Week, April 4  

 

 

Holy Week

Palm Sunday - April 1 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 p.m. services

Wednesday Seder Family Supper -April 4 6:00 p.m. for adults & children - Call church office by March 28 for your reservation

Maundy Thursday - April 5 7:00 p.m. service with Foot Washing and Garden of Repose followed by Vigil

Good Friday - April 6 12 noon & 7:00 p.m. services

Saturday Easter Vigil -April 7 8:00 p.m. service with Baptism

 

Easter

Easter Vigil - Saturday, April 7 8:00 p.m. with Baptism

Easter Day - Sunday, April 8:00 a.m. & 10:30a. m. with flowering of the cross and offering of mite boxes

Between Services there will be an Easter Brunch and Easter Egg Hunt. (no formation classes today.)

 

Lenten Materials

Available at St. Luke's starting Sunday, February 19

 

"From Fear To Love" By Henri Nouwen

Lenten Reflections on the Parable of the Prodigal Son

 

Lenten Devotional 2012

This Devotional will inspire readers to reflect on their own lives and their relationships with a hurting world.

 

Texting through Lent

A calendar/poster for teens and young adults to follow the days of lent individually or with their family including spiritual reflections for each day. Text more, biblical texting that is!

 

Lenten calendar/Poster for children

Each is full of prayers, thought starters, and suggestions for Bible reading.

  

Lenten Supper Schedule    

March 14 -        Thursday Night Community Group

March 21 -        Altar Guild

March 28 -        Choir

---------- + ----------

 

COMMUNITY OUTREACH  

 

St. Luke's Lenten Outreach

Episcopal Relief and Development:

Mite Boxes, Bookmarks and Prayer Cards are available on St. Luke's book table. These offer support and prayers for those facing hunger and poverty worldwide.

 

---------- + ---------- 

CHRISTIAN FORMATION 

 

NOTE: Level 3 Atrium will be closed next Sunday, March 4, as the children will be attending WinterStar.

 

Classes are Sunday mornings at 9:15 am.

2012-2013 Christian Education Classes

 

3 year olds:        Brouke Reynolds, Guide

                            Paula Benson, Assistant

Catechesis I:       Beth Maze, Guide

(4-6 year olds)    Paula Volpe, Guide

                            Martha Cross, Assistant

Catechesis II:      Ginna Simmons, Guide

(7-9 year olds)    Ellen Moses, Assistant

Catechesis III:     Kimber Barber-Fendley, Guide

(10-12 year olds) Laura Woford, Assistant

Teenager:           Wanda Dunwoody, Co-teacher

(13-18 year olds) Suzzette Patterson, Co-teacher

 

 

---------- + ----------


Nursery Care is provided for all activities on Sunday mornings.

---------- + ----------

 

EVENTS  

 


EPISCOPAL CURSILLO LEADERS WORKSHOP 
Cursillo of Arkansas is holding a workshop for anyone who wants to be a Cursillo leader. Goals of the workshop are:
  • Deepen commitment to Christ
  • Clarify the purpose and method of Cursillo
  • Help grow new Cursillo leaders
  • Plan to do what we do better  
For more information on the workshop, click on this link: Episcopal Cursillo Leaders Workshop

 

 

 ---------- + ----------