Reverend's Reflections

Dear People of God at St. Luke's, 

"Where were you when you heard the news?" That question is the one that has started so many conversations this last week regarding the bombing in Boston. When I heard the news I was on my way back from a funeral in Warwick, RI for a parishioner's father. In the asking and the answering each of us enters into a larger, complicated story of life, faith, challenges, and answers. Each person I've spoken with puts the news into each individual's context. Read more 

Thank You

I want to thank all the acolytes, LEMs, ushers, altar guild members, choir members, and staff for the wonderful work that went into our Easter celebration. - - Grant

Congratulations Confirmands!

Christian Ed Calendar

May 5
Regular Classes

May 10-11
30 Hour E.P.I.C. Event

May 12
Mother's Day
Regular Classes

May 18
Long Island Shelter Youth Outreach

May 19 - Pentecost
Regular Classes
Communion Celebration

May 26
Memorial Day Weekend
No Classes

Scituate Food Pantry in May

May is St. Luke's month to volunteer at the Food Pantry.  There will be a sign up sheet in the narthex. We also need people to bring in food each Sunday in May. On May 26th, we would like extra food to stock the pantry for the summer. For information, call Joan Powers at 781-545-9650.

Please note that May 11th is the date for the mail service to pick up non-perishable food. You can leave the items at your mailbox in the morning or drop off at the Post Office.

30 Hr. Famine- May 10th & 11th, 6 pm - 6 pm

7th Annual Ladies Night- May 14 at  6:15 pm

Lightkeepers Cottage, Cohasset

Guest speaker is mystery writer, Rev. Judith Campbell
Tickets and books will be on sale beginning April 7th. Space is limited and this event has been sold out for the past 2 years. Buy your tickets early! $40 (includes meal and wine). Please email Darlene Foley ASAP to reserve a spot:  [email protected]

"An Unholy Mission" can be purchased for $12. Ebook also available through Kindle. For additional info, please visit: http://www.judithcampbell-holymysteries.com/

Friends of the Table

Thanks  to the following people who volunteered on March 30 at The Friends of The Table in Brockton: Nancy & Elianna Buckley, McKenna Dunn, Leah Doherty, Pat Jones, Grace Strong, Kyle Compton, Monice Grabowski, Maria Curtis, and Joan Powers. We will need volunteers on June 29th. For information call Joan Powers 781-545-9650.

ServSafe Training- May 18 at St. Luke's

ServSafe is the training given to certify people to work in food prep for public event. For us that would mean the cafe of our Harvest Fair as well as community dinners. We need at least two people from the parish certified, one of whom must be onsite during the food prep and serving per Health Department. A previous announcement and sign up showed some significant interest in this training.  

 

Here are the particulars for the training: 

May 18, a Saturday, from 9 to 3,  at St. Luke's, although other churches and institutions will participate with us.

Pre-registration needed so each participant can receive study materials in advance. At the conclusion of the course on that day a qualifying exam will be given. Cost is $130 per person, and certification is good for five years.

 

For St. Luke's members who will express willingness and availability to be scheduled for Harvest Fair (first Saturday in November) and Community Dinners (fourth Sunday of each month), and any other events that might arise, the church will subsidize the $130 fee for this training.

 

Please indicate your interest in attending by an email sent to both [email protected] and [email protected].

Labyrinth Study and Construction

Many of us find sitting still in quiet to pray a challenge-not how we're wired. An option is physical prayer, and use of a labyrinth to focus body and mind is centuries old in the Christian tradition.

 

My hope is to have a group of interested people gather to do some preliminary study on the history of labyrinths for use of focus in prayer, and then for us to make one on the grounds. Part of our study will be in the form of field trips; Miramar in Duxbury is a retreat center that has one version of a labyrinth from which we might model our own. If this captures your imagination and interest please let Grant know.

First Project from Capital Campaign

I know many of us don't like change, but sometimes it really can be for the best. From the money you all have given already to the five-year Capital Campaign we will be renovating the narthex (lobby), both entrances, and the bathrooms. The front entrance will see an enclosure of the open space, for a weather break (energy efficiency and utility cost savings), coat racks, bathrooms with increased use capacity and water saving fixtures, a face lift for the narthex (carpeting, paint, lighting perhaps) and a leveling of the back entrance floor along with coat rack. All in all this will be the first step in making our building as welcoming as the people who gather each Sunday. Look for future displays of plans. Some of these steps will take place before we end our program year (early June).

Save the Date- June 2nd!

Last day of church school classes, recognitions (teachers, graduating seniors, etc.) and ALL CHURCH PICNIC.

We guarantee a fun time for all - including games and grilling. Friends are welcome.

Rain or shine.  

AIDS Walk- June 2 at 10 am

Many thanks to the 5 Walkers and many donors from St. Luke's who helped our PFLAG AIDS WalkTeam raise $8,445!!  

We invite you to participate again this year as a walker, a volunteer or a donor.To join our team takes just a few minutes on line.  First click on my link http://www.aac.org/goto/InezF2013 to bring you directly to my page.  There click on "Join Inez's team" or contact JoAnn Evans at [email protected]   

(781-545-5893) or Inez Folsom (Team Captain) at [email protected]  (978-922-8999.)

To donate on-line click on   www.aac.org/goto/PFLAG

There you can choose to donate to any team member or to the team. Ormake a check to:  AIDS Walk Boston  (mail to Inez Folsom, 17 Conant St. #39F, Beverly MA 01915) or give it to any Team Participant - a list will be posted along with more details.

Thank you for your consideration.

Gift Basket Reminder

As we clean out closets, visit yard sales and shop the clearance aisles, please keep the needs of the Gift Basket Table on your mind. We depleted our supply of baskets this past fall and will need all sizes and types. If storage is a problem for you, bring them to church and we will safely tuck them away. Items that are ALWAYS needed include- linen and paper napkins; candles; coffee cups; tea pots and cups;  baking items; pretty dessert plates; theme dishes- ie pasta, Asian, ice cream, holiday,etc; wine glasses; note cards and stationery; new books, CDs and DVDs; pet items; children's things; soaps and "spa" items; gardening items; car care items;  hand towels and tea towels. You can probably think of more!

Our offerings at the Fair are amazing, and, we are always surprised by the unique basket concepts that are created. Please keep the baskets in mind and start gathering now!

Due to my scheduling issues last year, we moved forward the two weeks that the baskets are prepared. This had a marvelous result! Everyone had more time to help ( not being the two weeks prior to the fair!) and the horrid feeling of being "under the gun!" did not happen! We hope to use the same schedule this year. Having materials "at the ready" will help to get the job done easily!

Please contact Cheryl O'Grady with any questions or storage needs at 508-209-3308 or e-mail [email protected] .  As always, a huge thank you to everyone for supporting this project.

Collection for Art

The paintings, both contemporary and traditional, by Alexander Gassel have graced the back wall of our church since Palm Sunday. A group of parishioners have begun collecting money to buy three of the smaller, traditional pieces-icons of Jesus on the cross, Mary with infant Jesus, and St. George slaying the dragon. The cross is being given in memory of Susanne Donahue. Further contributions are needed for the other two pieces. If you wish to help, please make a check out in whatever amount to St. Luke's and put in the memo line "for purchase of art."

An Update on Pledges for Program Year

Each fall we ask members of St. Luke's to support the mission of the parish by pledging for the coming year. I have some really good news to share, now that the first quarter of the year has been reached.

 

For 2013 we have 19 new households pledging a cumulative total of $15,320.

 

We also have 30 households who have increased their pledges by a cumulative total of $11,262.

 

Such good news does not come uncomplicated though. As in all past years since I've been here we began the fiscal year with a deficit projected: that we would spend more money than we would bring in. Each year we've ended with no deficit-or rather, take that back-for 2012 we had a deficit of $38.

 

We would still like to hear from 19 households who have pledged in the past year but not yet heard for 2013. 

 

If you are a new household at St. Luke's we invite you to support the ministry and mission of our parish. Pledge forms are in the narthex, on the table near the door. You can also call the church office, 545-9482, or email the office, or speak to Grant or a vestry member.