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VOICE of St Luke's
February 17, 2013
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How Do I Join the Church?
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One of the questions I get asked by people who like what they find in the Episcopal Church is "how do I join?" I then proceed to give them several answers, and confuse them completely. The truth is that there are different types of membership in the Episcopal church, ranging in formality.
The first level, and most informal, is to be a member of a single parish. You can do this by being put on the mailing list, attending regularly, contributing financially through pledging a certain amount every month, or just putting money in the offering plate. For some people, this is as formal as they ever need to get. They have no interest in being on the parish board, which is called the Vestry, or to be a delegate to the annual Diocesan Convention.
Through your Baptism, you are already a member of the Body of Christ, the Christian church as a whole. No one is Baptized Episcopalian, or Lutheran or Catholic, so we recognize all Baptism as being membership at a basic level. St. Luke's also requires Baptism as a condition for receiving Holy Communion, although we do not ever ask anyone if they are Baptized before giving them Communion. But if you want to become an Episcopalian, you will want to take your membership to the next , most formal, level. Confirmation by a Bishop is a mature, adult re-affirmation of our Baptismal vows, which have often been made for us by our parents and godparents when we were younger. Confirmation gives us the opportunity to re-affirm these vows in a public setting, and be received into the pastoral hands of the Bishop, who is the overseer of the Diocese. If you have been confirmed in another denomination, such as Roman Catholic, Lutheran or Methodist, you are instead received into the Episcopal church, again with the Bishop's laying on of hands. The rite looks almost identical to confirmation, but slightly different words are used.
So what are your next steps if you would like to join the church informally or formally?
We encourage you to call the church office and get on the mailing list, if you aren't already. I would love to meet with you, just to get to know you. And take advantage of our Wednesday program in Lent to get to know others in the parish informally, as well as attend the program and worship. The program will help you understand the life of faith in the Episcopal church, and the worship will expose you to another form of worship found in the Episcopal prayer book.
After Lent, beginning at 7 p.m. on April 10th, we will be offering a program called "Journey of Faith" for all adults who are exploring joining the church, formally or informally. Topics will include the governing structure of the church, basic beliefs about scripture and theology, finding your way in the prayer book, and a tour of the church. Everyone who completes this program is invited to be confirmed or received into the Episcopal church at the Bishop's visit, 10 a.m. Sunday, June 2. We would love to have you join us!
~Madre Liz
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Welcome, Madre (Mother) Liz
Contact Liz by calling the church office, 483-6405, her extension is 12; her cell # is 262-744-9282; or by email at liz.simmons@stlukesjamestown.org
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WEEKLY
CALENDAR
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SATURDAY, Feb 1610 am - 1 pm Thrift Shop Open 5:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite I - Chapel SUNDAY, FEB 17 - 1st Lent 8 am HE, Rite II, Chapel
9 am Church School; Adult Forum;
Rite 13; J2A
10 am HE, Rite II -Church
11:30 am Youth Choir practice
12 noon SLY, Jr. - bowling
4:30 pm Flunking Sainthood
MON, FEB 18 Presidents' Day - Closed 7:00 pm Fictional Friends - "11/22/63" TUES, FEB 19 9:00 am Staff meeting 9 am - 12 noon
Thrift Shop Receiving open Wed, FEB 20 7:30 am Men's Bible Study 6:00 pm Compline for Lent - Chapel 6:30 pm Soup Supper 7:00 pm "One Source, Many Wells" program 7 - 9 Youth Group - parish house Thurs, Feb 21 8:30 am Women's Bible Study 9 - 11 am 4th Street Cafe 10 am - 2 pm Thrift Shop Open 12:05 pm Healing service - Chapel 7 pm Choir practice
Fri, FEB 22 10 am - 2 pm Thrift shop open 2-9 pm Massage Therapy SAT, FEB 23 9am - 2 pm Massage Therapy 10 am- 1pm Thrift Shop Open
5 pm Holy Communion, Rite I - Chapel
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St. Luke's Relay for Life
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 Get ready for "St. Luke's for Life" team as part of Relay for Life! If you are interested in knowing more and/or would like to help, speak to Susan Schrader. Meetings for this annual event are beginning and Sue could usethe help of a co-captain!
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Thrift Shop News
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St. Luke's Thrift Shopwill soon be turning their merchandise over from winter to spring, beginning with a Bag Sale in March to clear out unsold items. The Shop is cleaned before being re-stocked. Would you be able to help clean the Shop and/or unpack the Spring merchandise?
To know more about helping at the Thrift Shop on a one-time basis, contact Marilyn Olds at 985-5971, or Barb Kiddoo at 483-2440.
Check out the Thrift Shop for their weekly 1/2 price specials!
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Prayer List
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Bill O'Brien; Kathie Nicholson;
David Carlson; Cory Casler;
Joyce Green;Joslyn Marie Ross;
Jean Andrews;
Dave Emerling; Richard Meier; DeLoris Bunce; Ellen Peterson;
Jim;Laura; Sara; Elaine; Amy
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FLUNKING SAINTHOOD
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Flunking Sainthood book discussion will be held each Sunday in Lent at 4:30 pm on the stage area in the undercroft. Join in each week when convenient for you.
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ADULT FORMATION - 2013
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"How can we sing TOGETHER
the Lord's song?..."
Over the past few weeks, we have discussed "community" in the Adult Forum. What it is and what it might mean to us. We now transition into world religions. In Forum planning committee believes it is important that to learn about other religions in order to be able to listen and communicate better.
On Sunday, February 17, Jay Phillippi will begin this series by sharing an activity he did with the diocese earlier this year. How much do you think you know? - and how much do you really know about other religions? Come and find out!
On Sunday, February 24, the first presenter/discussion leader, Rabbi Allen Podet, of Temple Hesed Abraham, Jamestown, will be talk about Judaism at the Adult Forum.
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CHURCH SCHOOL NEWS
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Prayer - When to pray?
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you."
Feb 17th - Red Group - Re-Creation
Blue Group - Bible Adventure
Purple Group - Grades 4-5
"The Mighty God Whispers" Book Group
Remember, breakfast is available to all church school kids from 8:50-9:10 am.
Come start your day with us!
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Wednesday Night
Lenten Soup Suppers begin - Feb 20th
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 Feb 20th is spoken for by
the Vestry
Feb 27th is reserved for the
Altar Guild
but we still need your help, so please sign up to host/coordinate one of the soup suppers. We have worked out a relationship with the Labyrinth to buy soup from them so you do not have to make soup - but you certainly may, if you want!
You and your group, or a few friends, are needed to set-up, serve and clean-up; obtain fresh carrots & celery and bread.
There is a sign-up sheet in the Undercroft along with the "guidelines" for a supper. If you have any questions, please talk with Barbara Bumsted.
We will have a basket out for donations and those hosting/coordinating the supper do not have to bear the cost.
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Wednesday Night Lenten Program - 2013
"One Source...Many Wells"
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Everything is easier when done as a group, including self-examination. This Lent, join with others as we look at how our concept of God and the way we worship compares with others here at St. Luke's. During the Wednesdays in Lent, the Rev. Liz Simmons will lead a discussion on "What is Your Spiritual Type?" using the book by Corinne Ware "Discover Your Spiritual Type," as well as other resources to look at how your personality and views of God may make certain types of prayer and other spiritual practices a better fit for you.
On 5 Wednesday evenings beginning Feb. 20th we'll begin at 6:00 with worship in the Chapel, followed by a soup supper at 6:30 and the program at 7:15. Any questions, please talk with Barbara Bumsted or Madre Liz. Join in; this is an important time in our life as a church family.
The Youth Group will continue to meet as usual
from 7 - 9 pm.
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Ushers looking for new recruits!
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The Usher Corps is looking for a few new recruits. We welcome anyone who would like a chance to meet our parish family and help the worship service run smoothly. One week a month is all the commitment there is. This ministry welcomes women, men, young and older. Our mission is to welcome people into our friendly, warm church and look after the needs of our fellow parishioners. Following the worship service, ushers also deliver the altar flowers to those in the hospital or who are unable to attend the service. Find Rich Pinciaro and offer your gift of hospitality and welcoming to begin ushering.
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Soup & Chili Fundraiser Cook-Off
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February 24th supports St. Luke's Youth
EVERYONE is invited to make a pot of their best recipe for soup and/or chili and bring it in to compete! We'll judge the entries immediately following the 10am service; which means we'll enjoy a great lunch together!
Pay $3 for a bowl, and $1 dollar per ladle-full of soup or chili. The soup and chili with the most $$ at the end WINS!!
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Rector Search Update
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The Rector Search Committee is hard at work on creating our Parish Profile. Many people have asked how they can be of help in the search process and the Search Committee is asking the congregation for help in three areas at this time:
Your voices - A major part of the Parish Profile discusses how the congregation sees itself. Over the next month or so, we will be asking for your thoughts many times and in many ways. We will be at group meetings, we will be at Forums, we will be at Lenten Soup suppers, we will send out questionnaires and more. Please plan to participate in all these discussion sessions and surveys as fully as you can.
Your faces - Because Parish Profiles today are online rather than print, they can contain many photos. These photos become a very important way of showing who we are. We ask that you please support this effort, and also that you try to ignore the photographers as much as possible. We want photos that show us just as we are, different people who love worshipping God together.
Your prayers - Never underestimate the power of prayer. This is the most important of our requests. Please pray for our search process, please pray for wisdom and discernment for our search committee, and please start praying now for our future rector, whomever or wherever he or she may be.
Karen Collins,
Search Committee Chair
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WingedOx Players
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We are very excited to announce the next production by the WingedOx Players of St. Luke's:
Freud's Last Session.
Imagine if Sigmund Freud met with C.S. Lewis and they had a discussion about life, sex (of course) and religion. This play will make you think and laugh. Matt Smith plays Freud, and Miguel Covarrubias plays C.S. Lewis.
Show times are Saturday March 16th at 7pm,
and Sunday the 17th at 12 noon in the undercroft. We'd like to plan a simple supper for Saturday night and a light brunch on Sunday with a discussion to follow the play.
Tickets will be $10 and include dinner or brunch.
WingedOx Players group serves as an outreach ministry and proceeds from the shows are donated to local charities. Thanks to the generosity of so many people, we were able to donate $300 to four different local charities during our last production of God's Favorite.
We hope that you will prayerfully consider using your gifts with the WingedOx Players. Please contact, Deacon Pierce @ 969-7412, dpackfan@stny.rr.com with any questions and offers of assistance! God Bless!
C.S. Lewis', The Lion, Witch and Wardrobe, will be presented in the fall, rather than this spring.
Auditions for this production will be announced
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The Rt. Rev. R. William Franklin, Bishop of Western New York
The Rev. Elizabeth Simmons, Interim Rector
The Rev. Deacon Cathleen Smith
Miguel Covarrubias, Youth Minister
Kim Johnstone Mann, Secretary/Administrator
Barbara Bumsted, Director of Adult Formation
Andrew Schmidt, Director of Music
Paul Johnson and Donna Phillippi, Wardens.
Office: 410 North Main St., Jamestown NY 14701
Phone (716) 483-6405 * Fax (716)483-6406
Learn more about us on our website:
http://www.stlukesjamestown.org
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