Evangelist
December 2, 2015
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Wednesdays in Advent begins TONIGHT at 5:30

Please join us for prayer, dinner, and teaching during the season of Advent. Evening prayer starts at 5.30 in Gontermann Chapel, followed by dinner in the parish hall at 6.00pm. We will then have a teaching from 6.30-7.00pm called "Experiencing Our Anglican Heritage." Through sights and sounds we will look at the impact the Anglican Church has had on our Christian experience. We will see some of the places that St. Luke's pilgrims will see this summer and hear how they have influenced our understanding and practice of the Christian faith. This begins on Wednesday, December 2 and ends after Wednesday, December 16.
Carey's Conversations

"Watch, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning, lest he come suddenly and find you asleep."
Mark 13.35-36

In the gospel reading for the first Sunday of Advent we read Jesus' words "Be alert." In the above reading from Morning Prayer again we find Jesus telling us to "Watch." These seem to be good words of action for us to take to heart in this season of Advent and in the anxious days we are living in as a society.

I hope you will not forget that your church is a refuge in the storms of life. The word nave is Latin and it is where we get the English word navy. Our nave like many church's naves are in the shape of an upside down ship which is by design.

Some of the offerings during this special season of watching for Christ's appearing: Morning Prayer is said in Gonterman Chapel at 7.00am Mondays and Fridays. Evening prayer will be offered at 5.30pm in the chapel on Wednesdays as a part of Wednesdays In Advent. After Evening Prayer a delicious meal made by parishioners will be served, followed by a short teaching on Exploring Our Anglican Heritage. Devotional materials are available in the narthex to aid in your meditations. Outreach opportunities are available through the Giving Tree, St. Francis House, and the Christmas Store with our neighbors at Park Hill Christian Church. An Alternative Giving Fair will be held on Sunday the 6th to showcase these opportunities and more! The choir will offer a Service of Advent Lessons and Carols on Sunday the 13th (see Jason's article about this). The season of Advent will culminate in two celebrations of our Savior's birth on the 24th with a Christmas Pageant at 5.30pm, Wassail in the Hall at 10.00pm followed by a Midnight Mass of Carols, and will feature Stanford's Choral Communion Service starting at 10.30pm.

As the days grow colder, darker, and shorter, we are blessed to have a place of warmth, and light to come and share Christ's love.

Yours in Christ,
Carey+
From the Senior Warden 
 
As the season of Advent starts I want to warmly invite everyone to participate in as many activities as possible at St. Luke's, starting with  Wednesday  evenings in Advent, and of course the great catered meal on Sunday! We hopefully will also have many visitors so we need remember to be gracious and welcoming to all, and remember the opportunities we have to help others that are available to everyone in our narthex.  I would like to challenge everyone to invite someone to  church in order to share in the spirit of this beautiful season. Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

Suzzette Patterson
Advent Event for St. Nikolas Day

THIS Sunday December 6 after 10:30 service in the Parish Hall. 

What
St. Luke's will again be hosting a luncheon for St. Nikolas on his Feast Day, December 6, after the 10:30 service in the Parish Hall. We will be honoring St. Nikolas (who has agreed to return just to St. Luke) with a catered luncheon for families and guests and an alternative giving fair. There will be Advent material for families and individuals and a St. Nikolas table of activities for children.
Suggested Donation: The lunch is $10 per person ages 10 and up, $5 for ages 2-10; Family tickets for $20!! RSVP here!

Who will be there:
  • Rice depot with all their products
  • Heifer International giving opportunities 
  • St. Francis House Christmas giving
  • Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) giving tree 
  • African ministries jewelry
  • Rick and Helen from Camp Mitchell with CM products 
  • Broken China Pendants for Central Arkansas Women's Shelter
  • Youth selling St. Luke's Water bottles, Lanyards, and St. Luke's tote bags with new logo 
  • Joanna's three new books, Taste and See, and two books of sermons, Interpreting the World to the Church, volumes 1 and 2, as well as Christmas and Peaceful harp CD's with all proceeds going to Camp Mitchell.
  • ECW table with crafts and food; pies breads, jams, jelly mix, wreaths, scarves, ornaments, St. Luke's own personal stand up desk calendar, tee shirts, cookbooks, and more with money going for Camp Scholarships
  • Local Artist's table with Cici Davidson already taking orders for St. Nikolas and St. Lucy hand painted china plates $80 (see below). Message Cici on Facebook or email cicidavidson@me.com for orders to be picked up on December 6 

 
 

St. Luke's Festival of the Senses presents ARmusica, December 15, 2015

The St. Luke's Festival of the Senses concert series presents ARmusica in concert on Tuesday, December 15, 2015, 7:00pm at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 4106 JFK Blvd., North Little Rock, Arkansas.  Julie Cheek, piano, Drew Irvin, violin, and soprano Maria Fasciano will present a festive program of Christmas favorites including Adam's O Holy Night and carols and songs for audience sing-along.  In addition to Holiday repertoire, Drew Irvin will present Baroque violin masterworks by Bach, Corelli, and Vivaldi, and Julie Cheek will play Debussy.   A Meet-The-Artists reception will follow the program in the parish hall.  Admission is free. For more information regarding this concert or The Festival of the Senses series, please contact the church office (501) 753-4281. 
 

VESTRY NOMINATIONS

Are you interested in helping to lead St. Luke's as we grow and develop? Do you know other members who would make good leaders? In January, we will be electing 4 new vestry members, each for a 3-year term, and we are now accepting nominations. The twelve members of the vestry are charged with the care of the property and business of the church. Working with the rector, they exercise leadership in the development of the congregation. There will be a basket in the Narthex for nominations, or you can contact Caroline in the church office with your nominations. Requirements are: having been confirmed, at least 16 years of age, a giver of record, and have been a member of St. Luke's for at least 6 months. There are 11 monthly meetings, generally on the third Tuesday of the month, and one vestry retreat. Please make sure you are able to attend these scheduled events.  Before nominating anyone to be on vestry, please make sure you have cleared this with that person first! 

CHILDREN'S CHAPEL AND COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We are beginning to schedule for the 2016 Children's Chapel and Coffee Hour Volunteer Ministries. If you are interested in being put into this rotation, please contact Wanda Dunwoody or the Church Office.
Ushers Needed

Are you interested in helping greet our parishioners and visitors? Ushers are needed for both services. If you want to join this ministry or simply learn more about it, please contact Dan Dennis or the church office.
Deacon's Bench

 
Practicing Advent

Advent can be one of the most meaningful seasons of the Christian year for us and our families. Every one of Christ's teachings was out of sync with his culture. Our new presiding bishop in his first sermon at the National Cathedral on November 1 reminded us that the early Christians in Acts were called "those people who have come to turn the world upside down." Advent personifies this.  Advent is out of sync with our culture that is going crazy mad with busyness and consumerism. Advent is a time that the church sets aside to stop, to spend more quiet, more reflective, more family time, more quality one on one time with friends, reflecting on those in need, forgiving those who have hurt us and asking forgiveness for those we have harmed. That is what "giving" is all about, for-giving.  Advent is a time to reconnect to the Christ within ourselves and look for the Christ in our neighbor.
These are opportunities to practice 

Advent at St. Luke's:
Attend the Advent Event this Sunday, December 6 after the 10:30 service where we will celebrate the Feast Day of St. Nikolas, share a catered meal together and have an opportunity for alternative giving.


Ramblings from the Heart of the Junior Warden
 
Here we are at the Season of Advent again!  Like the Andy Williams song goes, "It's the Most Wonderful Season of All!"  It truly is my favorite time of the year.  I love seeing all the happy faces, the excitement in the children's eyes and, yes, Christmas lights and decorations! Short of hearing my granddaughter's voice the happiest words I can hear is someone saying "Merry Christmas!"  I have to confess that I am one of those who cannot wait to erect my Christmas Tree and hang the holly and ribbons and bows around my door!  I wish the season could last throughout the year but as the new year approaches we tend to forget why Advent and Christmas are so important to us.  Maybe it's because immediately after Christmas and New Year it's, oh no, TAX SEASON!  Alas, all good things must come to an end but I want to take this time to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  So, while we can let's focus on celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Without Him nothing could be possible.  This happy and wonderful time of the year would be just another day if days even existed at all.  This year let's all at least try to keep the season alive all year long.  Let's try to make all year long the season for giving; the season for hope and the season of love and the season for understanding and inclusion.  I can't count the times I've overheard parishioners say, "I wish some of the newer members would get involved" or "wouldn't it be nice if some of the younger people in church would pitch in and get more involved?" or even "maybe it's time to pass the torch".  Believe it or not we DO have newer members and younger members who are more than willing and excited to get involved but we have to do our parts. 

ATTENTION ALL LADIES OF ST. LUKE'S

PLEASE BRING YOUR CRAFTS AND FOODS FOR THE ECW TABLE AT ADVENT EVENT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6
Please bring your handmade crafts and wonderful eatable delicacies to the ECW table in the parish hall before or between services on Sunday.  Or if you need to drop off your goodies by Friday contact Caroline at the church office and she will open the Parish Hall for you. Thank you for supporting St. Luke's ECW. 
Young Adult Christmas Party This Thursday

The young adults will be gathering for fun, food, and fellowship on Friday, December 4th at the home of Chad and Marla Edwards, 284 Plainview Circle, NLR, from 6.30-8,30. Please bring a finger food and join the fun! Children are welcome!
Pledge Update

As of Tuesday afternoon, we have received 91 operating pledge cards for a total of $252,274 and 42 MAP pledge cards for a total of $28,040.  A big thank you to all who have sent in your promised pledges.  St. Luke's depends on your continued support! There are additional pledge cards available in the Narthex. You can send your pledge in to the office via email by clicking here. 
CALLING ALL BOYS AND GIRLS

We are quickly approaching Christmas and that means our Annual Christmas Eve Pageant! We are in need of additional Angels and Shepherds and Friendly Beasts! If you are interested in helping make this pageant the best one yet, be sure to come to children's formation at 9:15 where parts will be discussed and practiced. The pageant will take place during the 5:30 Christmas Eve service.
Brotherhood of St. Andrew

Due to Wednesdays in Advent, The Brotherhood of St. Andrew will meet at 6:00 p.m., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10TH, in the LIBRARY. We will continue The GREAT COURSE'S DVD Series - The Old Testament. Please join us. For more information contact:
Dickey Mayland, 835-6411
ddmayland@sbcglobal.net
 

Christmas Poinsettias and Wreaths

If you would like to donate to the Christmas Poinsettias and Wreaths, please CLICK HERE to fill out the form. You can donate through PayPal  or put a check in the Sunday plate or through the mail. All names and donations must be in by December 20th in order to be the Christmas Eve bulletins. If you have any questions, please contact Caroline in the church office. 
Lectors Needed at the 8 am service. 

If you are interested in being a lector at the 8 am service, please contact Caroline in the Church Office. 
Mission Trip to Guatemala

Compassion always involves a risk... but it gladdens and heals both receiver and giver.  Are you a medical professional or lay person that God has been nudging to take that risk of loving compassion to distant lands?  This year's GUATEMALA MEDICAL MISSION TEAM needs volunteers to join us.  The dates of our trip are April 9-17, 2016.  Please pray about coming and let us know as soon as possible if you are interested.  For more information, you may contact the Rev. Dr. Susan Lyon, Deacon at St. Mark's (960-5515), or St. Mark's office (225-4203), or Dr. Doug Stroud (drstroud@arkansassinusrelief.com).  
Pilgrimage to England Update

The dates are  June 13th - 23rd Cost that includes airfare, land transport, lodging, and two meals per day: $4,779.00 Itinerary: Arrive Manchester, to York (York Minster and Whitby Abbey), Coventry Cathedral, Shakespeare's birthplace Stratford-upon-Avon, Trinity Church, Peterborough, Cambridge including evensong at King's College (where some of the first Lessons and Carols Services took place), Chelmsford Cathedral, London: Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace's Changing of the Guard, Westminster Abbey, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Archbishop of Canterbury's residence - Lambeth Palace, Windsor Castle and the town of Windsor, St. George's Chapel (where the Queen worships), Canterbury Cathedral (our Mother Church) and St. Augustine's Abbey and St. Martin's Church (in continuous use since the 6th century).  We need to start getting firm commitments as deposit payments will need to be made with the final installment being in March 2016. We must have 17 pilgrims for the trip to make. Please join us for this once in a lifetime trip to the land of our Anglican Heritage!
Outreach Opportunities 

HOMELESS SHELTER DONATIONS:  A small BLUE top bin is available in the narthex for you to place donations of detergent, warm socks, hand warmers, razors, band aids, small packs of aspirin and toiletries (e.g., toothpaste, shampoo, soap, hand cream, hand sanitizer, etc.) for area homeless shelters.  For more information on this project, contact Tommie Williams or Betty Seymour. 
 
PARK HILL CHRISTIAN CHURCH's "Christmas Store" serves needy families in the North Little Rock.  Donations of new or gently used toys and clothing can be placed in the BLUE BARREL in the narthex until Sunday, December 13.  VOLUNTEERS from St. Luke's are needed around 9 am Thursday, December 17, to set up the Christmas Store.  If you would like to volunteer for this or have questions on this, please contact Jeannie Fry at fryesque@centurytel.net

GENTLY USED COATS FOR the MEN & WOMEN VETS served by St. Francis House will continue to be collected in the narthex in the basket labeled "St. Francis House Donations".  Contact Tommie Williams if you would like to make a donation or drop it in the BIG basket in the narthex.
 
A GIVING TREE can be found in the narthex through December 20 and it will serve two purposes: (1) tags are available for you to remove from the tree to make cash donations through St. Luke's to the Episcopal Relief and Development's GIFTS OF LIFE, and/or (2) you may leave donations of Mittens, Hats and Hand Warmers on the tree. The cash gifts made will be combined to make one large donation from St. Luke's to ERD's GIFTS OF LIFE program. Contact Jeannie Fry if you have questions on this project.  
Office Hours
Monday - Friday, 8 to 4 
Closed: Saturday and Sunday 
Office Phone: 501-753-4281 
Office Fax: 501-753-4322 
Email: stlukesnlr@gmail.com  
The office is located behind the church at 4106 John F. Kennedy Blvd., North Little Rock, AR 
Prayer List
Anne Gontermann, Allen Baxter II, Jeff Spradlin, Hudson Woods, Paula, Helen Snipan, Caleb Jablonowski, Angela Corlett, Kate Toepher, Ryan Dillon Parker, Bill Moses, Gene DeLisa, Nina Goins, Edward Anderson, Cheryl Hall, Paula Kalina, Bryant Family, Ann, Cherie, Zill Coleman, Sydnie Reedy, Jake Harrell, Aaron Dutton, Bradley Stinnett, Charles Ray Kennedy, Barbara Coker, Chris Morehart, Lexi Probst, Kay Reiter, Leslie Westbrook, Louise Ahrens, Megan Elizabeth Hall, Carole Grant, Debi and Phil Palladan, Susan Haner, Betty Miller, Linda Hawkins, Chris Mikesell, Louis Jenkins, Carle Carrell, Row McLaughlin, Ty, Kyley, Myla Hood, Jean Belknap, Sarah Martin, Anthony Riggins, Pam Cox, Corey McBain, Tim Woods, Cash Clancy, Mary Rose, Gloria Holst, Pam Cox, Tammy Martin, Mailyn, Sue, Tracy, Curt, Tricia, Bill Shepherd, Caryl Hicks, Bobby and Gary Mackenzie, Marilyn Gay, Alice Ann Briley, Grace Whitlock, Christine Startz

 
Special Concerns: For all the men and women of our Armed Forces, especially Justin, Joshua, Bret, Tim, Matt, Doug, Brian Mahoney, Brian Mennes, Frank Tate, Alex Schimelpfening, David Liem, Justin, John Landis, Lucas Kunce, David Jackson

 

 
On-Going Events and Programs