The VOICE of St. Luke's - #20

The Way a Church is Supposed to Be

This past weekend, I went to North Carolina to preach the homily at the memorial service of a former priest mentor of mine.

The trip was emotional on many levels: I was going back to the parish in which I had grown up, the parish that sponsored me for ordination, but I was also seeing many people who had known me for the most formative years of my life. Not only that, but the memorial service was held on the anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood, and the bishop who officiated at the service was the former rector of the parish I had attended while I was in college.

The service was attended by many former parishioners who had moved away or had gone on to other parishes, so there was definitely an "old home week" atmosphere at the reception. What struck me in all of the warm exchanges and hugs hello to old friends, was that this was the parish that had been my model for what a church community should be like.

Ironically, the more well-known parish I had attended in college had left me cold with its impersonal formal style, and parishioners who barely greeted newer church goers. When I said to myself, "This isn't how a church is supposed to be," it was the inner voice that said, "Then do something about it" that would become the first kernel of a call to the priesthood.

One of the good things that has come out of people no longer attending church "because that's just what nice people do," is that people are more genuine, the sense of community in any parish is farther reaching, and a parish cannot survive if members don't work at extending a welcome to every visitor.

People have told me that St. Luke's has come a long way towards being more friendly and welcoming of all visitors. I'm glad that by the time I got here, it was more "the way a church is supposed to be," where the Gospel of Christ is proclaimed not just by the clergy, but in the actions of those in the pews as well.

Madre Liz

In This Issue

Front Page News!

Weekly Calendar

Prayer Requests

St. Luke's Annual Meeting

Thrift Shop Needs!

CHURCH SCHOOL

Adult Forum

YOUTH NEWS

JOURNEY of FAITH

Bishop Michael Curry speaks

Stewardship Program

Appreciation Event Postponed

Thumbs Up!

Thank you, God!

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Weekly Calendar

SAT, JAN 25

Thrift shop Closed due to weather

5 pm Holy Communion, Rite I, Chapel

Sunday - JAN 26
Annual Parish Meeting

No 8 am service;
no Church School or Forum

9 am Combined Worship service;
HE, Rite II - church

11:15 am Youth Choir

MON, JAN 27

7 pm MEN's Group meets for planning - in the parish house

TUES, JAN 28
9 am - 12 noon
Thrift Shop receiving

7 pmJourney of Faith - stage area

WED, JAN 29

7:30 am Men's Bible Study

7 pm Youth Group -
3rd floor parish house

THURS, JAN 30
8:30 am Women's Bible Study - stage

9 - 11 am 4th Street Cafe - undercroft

10 am - 2 pm Thrift Shop Open

12:05 pm Healing & Communion - Chapel

7 pm Choir

FRI, JAN 31

10 am - 2 pm Thrift Shop Open

SAT, FEB 1

10 am - 1 pm
Thrift Shop Open

1 pm Bishop Michael Curry speaks @ Diocesan Center, Tonawanda

5 pm Holy Eucharist, Rite 1 - chapel

SUNDAY, FEB 2

8 am -HE, Rite II - Chapel

9 am Church School & Adult Forum

Prayer Requests
Rob Singer; Emily Hill; Gladys Bolles; Suzanne Foley; Donna Phillippi; Jennifer Simpson; Kirk Cardone; Mary O'Connor; Linda Carlson; Ellen Peterson; Richard Meier; Dorothy Meier; Daniel; Mike; AJ; Mary; Cathy

Prayer of Self-Dedication, BCP 832
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to you; then use us, we pray, as you will, and always for your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

St. Luke's Annual Parish Meeting
Annual Church Meeting & Election of Vestry Members Sunday, Jan 26, 2014 Combined Worship Service at 9 am Candidates for Vestry: Ben Ludwig, Patrick Monaghan, John Panebianco (re-elect) Candidate for Warden:Paul Johnson (re-elect)

THRIFT SHOP in NEED of CHILDREN's CLOTHING
Our St. Luke's Thrift Shop is very low in children's clothing! Did your kids get new things at Christmas? Is it time to clean out their closets and dressers? Maybe! Consider donating items to the Thrift Shop to help stock the kids' department.

*CHURCH SCHOOL*
Goodness: putting others first Jan 26 FEB 2 Blue ages 3 - 5 All in the Bread of Heave Red grades 1 - 3 undercroft after Bible Adventure Purple grades 4 - 5 worship Re-Creation

ADULT FORUM
There will be NO ADULT FORUM on Sunday, January 26 as that is our Annual Meeting and we will have a combined service at 9:00 am. The following Sunday, Feb 2^nd the Forum will resume with a visit from Amanda Christy who is the Family Resource Coordinator of the GA Family Services Therapeutic Foster Care program. Amanda will be talking with us about this program.

YOUTH NEWS

A reception to honor St Luke's Youth Minister, Miguel Covarrubias, and say farewell to Miguel and Cathy will be held on Sunday, Feb 2, 2014 following the 10 am service. Join in as we celebrate Miguel's and Cathy's time with us these past 3 years! As a way of saying "Thank You" please consider contributing a financial gift to be presented as a "purse" to Miguel. Miguel and Cathy are moving on to Colorado Springs on a new venture with a new Youth Program, and will leave Jamestown on Feb. 7^th.

(Miguel & Cathy have FOR SALE - Cathy's car, a 2003 Olds Alero, for $2,000. Speak to them if you have an interest in a vehicle. They also have a high top table w/chairs; and an expresso machine!

WEDNESDAY, Feb 5^th, 7 - 9 pm Youth Group at St Luke's

Come and join the young people as they bid Adi�s to Miguel. This is Miguel's last night of youth group with our St. Luke's Young people. Come say "Vaya con Dios". We'll be having a Mexican Celebration, so bring your favorite Mexican themed snack to share .... how many bags of Doritos is that??

JOURNEY OF FAITH
Join in the Journey of Faith Adult Confirmation class here at St. Luke's, with the next meeting on Jan 28th. This class is an opportunity to learn about the faith of the Episcopal Church and who we are at St. Luke's. For more information contact the church office, 483-6405, or talk with Madre Liz Simmons

Buffalo native, Bishop Michael Curry,
to speak Feb 1st

Plan to hear Bishop Michael Curry speak in our Diocese on Saturday, Feb 1^st at the Diocesan Center!

Raised in Buffalo at St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Bishop Michael Curry, author of the book Crazy Christians, is one of our church's most sought after speakers. He'll make you laugh. He'll make you cry. Most of all, he'll make you proud of being an Episcopalian. If you've never heard Bishop Michael Curry, don't miss this chance. Bishop Curry will speak at 1 pm on Saturday, February 1 at the Diocesan Center. A Celebration Worship will also be held on Friday evening, January 31^st, 5 pm at St. Philip's, 18 Sussex Ave, Buffalo, with Bishop Bill as celebrant, and Bishop Michael as preacher. This event is free, but seating is limited, so reserve your place today at

http://episcopalwny.org/educational-opportunities/discover-sundays or call the Diocesan Center at 881-0660.

Stewardship Conference - Feb 15th

Learn how changing your stewardship patterns can benefit your parish! Gain creative ideas that can infuse new life into stewardship campaigns. Begin to plan ahead for success! Join in as the Rev. Laurel Johnston, executive director of The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) leads this day-long conference on Saturday, February 15, 2014, at the Diocesan Ministry Center. The per parish registration fee is just $50, including lunch for your entire committee and TENS expenses.

Learn more and register your congregation's team online via:

http://episcopalwny.org/educational-opportunities/stewardship-conference-2014

To attend this conference, contact the church office, 483-6405, and express your interest in learning more about stewardship.

Appreciation Event for Jay Phillippi postponed due to weather reports

Appreciation Event Postponed

The Appreciation Event for Jay Phillippi that was to have taken place tomorrow has been postponed due to concerns about the weather and what driving conditions could be tomorrow.

The event will now take place from 4 to 6 pm on Sunday, February 16, at the Diocesan Ministry Center in Tonawanda.

Please contact anyone you know who was planning to attend tomorrow to alert them to this postponement.

Thumbs Up and a big THANK YOU to ...
Penny Spence has volunteered to be the IT person for the staff and office of St. Luke's. Penny recently received her degree in IT management. Thanks, Penny.

Thank you, God!
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: we give you thanks for your gracious guidance of our St. Luke's Search Committee, and their faithful diligence in choosing a rector for this parish. We pray that Luke Fodor and each one of us will care for one another and have open hearts in preparing for our ministries to come; through Jesus Christ ourLord. Amen.

The Rt. Rev. R. William Franklin, Bishop of Western New York

The Rev. Elizabeth Simmons, Interim Rector

The Rev. Cathleen Smith, Deacon

Miguel Covarrubias, Youth Minister

Kim Johnstone Mann, Secretary/Administrator

Barbara Bumsted, Director of Adult Formation

Andrew Schmidt, Organist & Choirmaster

Paul Johnson and Linda Dawson, 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