News from Saint Luke's Episcopal Church

"For you did not receive a spirit of fear to fall back into slavery, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, 'Abba! Father!' it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God." Read more ...

Thank You

I would like to thank everyone at St. Luke's for their kind words and the many cards we received following the death of my father. Thanks also for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers during this time.

Denise Fox-Barber

Annual Meeting- Feb. 5th

Following the 10 AM service, join us to kickoff "Souper" Bowl Sunday with the Annual Meeting and a potluck "tailgate". Please bring a can of soup to donate to the food pantry and your favorite brunch food to share. Volunteers also needed for set up and clean up.

Office Staffing During February

Our Administrative Assistant, Martha Tansey, will be away the month of February. We have been working to have the Sunday service bulletins all printed ahead of time. The office will have part-time people covering most mornings to answer the phone and to generate written announcements to go in each Sunday bulletin. Should an administrative/business related matter seem to be going astray, please let me know directly ~ Grant

Christian Education News

Upcoming Christian Ed dates for February:

Feb. 5

Regular Classes -PreK-2nd, 7th-9th

Instructional Eucharist 3rd-6th

Feb. 11

Saturday Train Trip to Diocesan Family Day in Boston

Bring lunch, train fare provided, 9 - 4, permission slip required.

Feb. 12

Regular Classes

Confirmation Class

Feb. 19

No Classes- school vacation

4 - 8 pm Deanery event- Long Island Shelter meal with

homeless people in Quincy

Feb. 21

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

Lock-in for Lent: 7 pm Tues. - noon Weds.

Theme is "Exploring our Spiritual Gifts". Activities offered: practice being a thurifer with real incense, introduction to Jr. Altar guild, a Green scavenger hunt, movies with optional discussion, design a new youth room and chapel, Percussion Group rehearsal, close with Ash Wednesday worship at noon.

*Save the date for next lock-in: April 5 - 6 from

Maundy Thursday to Good Friday

Feb. 26

Regular Classes

Confirmation Class

1-3pm: B-Safe partner churches meet in Chestnut Hill to plan

summer 2012 programs.

Safe Church Training

Safe Church Training is now required for all adults who interact with children and youth.This training is designed to increase awareness regarding sexual misconduct and abuse of power, to outline steps toward preventing abuse, to offer ways to intervene when misconduct occurs and to equip anyone in a position of parish leadership with ways of healing and rebuilding the body of Christ.

The training is required of all clergy and diocesan employees. It is also intended for parents, wardens, vestry members, Lay Eucharistic Ministers, pastoral visitors, youth leaders, Confirmation sponsors, acolyte leaders, choir directors, church school teachers, volunteers working in a congregation on a regular basis and all employees of congregations.

Free online training using the curriculum "Safeguarding Our Children" is now available for use by congregations in this diocese. Because the program uses video clips, broadband Internet access is essential at: http://www.praesidiuminc.com/armatus/safeguarding_login.php

It is self paced and consists of four modules (about � hour each) that can be done one at a time as your schedule permits. Discussion sessions will be available after the online is completed.

Please register by sending your first and last name and your choice of a user ID to: Rev Joyce Scheyer, Youth and Family Minister, [email protected].

Calling All St. Luke's Youth - Grades 7 - 12

Join us for a Train Journey to Boston
Feb. 11, 2012, 9 am - 5 pm

*Fun activities on the Commuter Rail and Subway
*Free Teen program at our Episcopal Cathedral,10 am - 2 pm
*Low cost lunch together
*Safe adventure in the city
*Share in planning our next program on the train ride home

See the sign up sheet on the table in the narthex. Adult chaperones will be essential. Contact: Rev. Joyce Scheyer, Youth and Family Minister at St. Luke's, [email protected]

(Note: Youth in Gr. 6 and younger may attend the free"Family Day" child and adult programs at the Cathedral with their families from 10 - 2)

The Art of Romance - A Valentine Tea

The holidays are over, are you looking for something to do? Mark your calendars for February 12 for a special Valentine tea in Dutton Hall. Please join us for a presentation by Ron and Donna Lasko of Courtship Tea, the same couple who presented "Notable and Notorious Women" in March. If you'd like to help with the event, contact Erica Pollard at 781-799-8419, [email protected]

With their enchanting display that exhibits their antique & collectible Valentine cards, fans, calling cards and other symbols of courtship; the Laskos will reveal the origins of Valentine's Day and its more recent 2,000 year history while encompassing the art of romance from ancient times to today's Valentine Day celebrations.

Appalachian Service Project

This year St. Luke's teens Sara Finnegan, Chris Walker (2nd year), Brenda Keys (3rd year) and adults Maureen Keys (5th year) are going with the Scituate ASP group to repair homes for desperately needy families in Appalachia. Each teenager is responsible to raise money by selling "shares of stocks". Each share costs $25. For the $25 you will get a postcard from the teen while they are on the trip and you will be participating in making a family warmer, safer and drier. Stock Forms are on the table in the Narthex. The sale of stocks is going to wrap up quickly. It ENDS Sunday February 12th. ASP is a life altering experience for many who go on this trip. Please support our teens in this important Mission Work.

(FYI: We are not doing a Grand Ole Opry this year. We are having several smaller fundraisers.) If you have any questions please call Maureen Keys @781-545-1348 or email [email protected]

Concert of Light- Sunday, Feb. 12

A festival of Scituate's church choirs will perform at St. Mary of the Nativity in Scituate Harbor. All proceeds will to to support the Scituate Food Pantry.

February Ends With the Start of Lent

Shrove Tuesday dinner, February 21st, evening; served by the youth of parish, to support our World Vision child. Traditional pancakes and more dinner.

Ash Wednesday: Services at 7 a.m., noon, and 7 p.m. One sevice designed to especially incorporate children will be announced.

Community Dinner- Feb. 26- 5 PM

Please join us for a Winter Warm Up on Sunday evening, Feb. 2th. The menu is extra cozy and will include: Red Pepper & Tomato Soup, Warm Spinach Salad, Mouse's Mac n 'Cheese and Dessert! We need volunteers to make the Mac n' Cheese-( a favorite recipe provided), along with desserts. Please see the sign up sheets in the narthex.

Celebrating Our Past, Launching Our Future

St. Luke's 50th Anniversary Celebration

April 27-29, 2012

As our committee prepares to invite St. Luke's parishioners, friends, former members and others to our Anniversary Celebration, we need your help. Please contact us with:

People you'd like to invite,

Music you'd like to hear, and

Memories you'd like to share.

We need names, addresses, and, if possible, email addresses absolutely no later than February 2, 2012. Please send along your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions to:

Cheryl O'Grady: 508-209-3308 or [email protected]

Janet Michaud: 781-545-0553 or [email protected]

Alice Beal: 781-545-5206 or [email protected]

Thank you! And don't forget, please consider joining us to plan this very special milestone! Next meeting, Thursday, February 2, 2012, 3:00 pm, St. Luke's Church.

Volunteers Needed

Scituate Food Pantry: St. Luke's is scheduled to stock and staff the Food Pantry in the month of March.

Friends of the Table: We will need help to serve the meal in Brockton on March 31st.

Save the Date: June 24-30, 2012

Youth Leadership Academy, Diocese of MA
For rising 9th graders only at Camp Barbara Harris

Requires a 2 year commitment as youth leaders and a diocesan mission trip each spring. Funding will be available. Contact: Rev. Joyce Scheyer, Youth and Family Ministerat St. Luke's, [email protected]

Vestry Profile: Ed Karsch

Meet Ed Karsch, vestry treasurer, in this month's profile.