"It is not the sum of prayers we pray that counts.  It is the way our prayer life changes our own hearts and lives...that determines its quality."       --Joan Chittister

Recently, fourteen members of St. Luke's participated in an overnight retreat led by Sister Carolyn Gorny-Kopkowski at Mt. St. Benedict Monastery in Erie, PA.  This monastery is the home community of Joan Chittister, a frequent lecturer at Chautauqua and many other places.  The retreat introduced us to her new book, The Monastery of the Heart: An Invitation to a Meaningful Life and to a new outreach movement that the monastery has started called "Monasteries of the Heart," which seeks to share the richness of Benedictine Spirituality with a new generation in new ways.  Monasteries of the heart are springing up online and in small groups around the country-ways for ordinary Christians to support each other in the journey of faith.

This is very exciting to me because I believe that Benedictine Spirituality lies at the heart of our Episcopal/Anglican tradition, our approach to God and the world, and is embedded in our Book of Common Prayer.  As you may know, St. Luke's is engaged in a year-long focus on spiritual growth and this recent retreat was the first of five retreats scheduled in the coming months, most of which will be held right here.  I am intrigued by the possibility that God may be calling us to something very exciting and I have asked the group that attended the retreat to think and pray about whether St. Luke's might sponsor a Monastery of the heart here. 

So I invite you to join in this discernment, this listening, with us.  Check out the website  http://monasteriesoftheheart.org/.  You can read the first three chapters of Sister's Joan's book there for free or order a copy.  See if this touches something in your heart and soul, some yearning for a deeper more meaningful relationship with God, a deeper, more meaningful life.  And read the VOICE and our church website for developments and for information about other upcoming retreats.

                                                                                      --Fr. Eric

The Creation Story: Made in God's Image,

With tremendous enthusiasm our church school classes for kids in pre-school through 6th grade began last Sunday the 18th at 9 a.m. The theme of the year for grades Pre-K through grade 4 is "Great Beginnings." We return to the very beginning with the Creation Story found in Genesis chapter. 1, looking at God's love for the world and his declaration that it's all good.

Kids entering grades 5 & 6, are now known as "The Acting Apostles," and have chosen the "saint" they wish to represent in their first one-act presentation coming up in about 6 weeks. They will be researching their saint, and preparing costumes, props and a song.

For all students, "star-studded" good behavior in class earns a special ticket from your teacher and you pick a prize from the Prize Box after church; see Mother Susan! Invite family friends to join you at church this fall! Let's get spiritually growing!