From Anne …
In preparation for a year of momentous change, the church council has begun to read a book by Thomas Long, Beyond the Worship Wars: Building Vital and Faithful Worship (Alban Institute, 2001) Long, professor of preaching at Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, searched out churches that had somehow discovered a “third way” beyond the conflict between "traditional" and "contemporary” worship styles. He found twenty such congregations across the U.S. These congregations were of many different types: urban and suburban, small and large, Protestant and Catholic, ethnically homogeneous and ethnically diverse. Although varied, these congregations had some characteristics in common. Long calls these congregations “vital and faithful churches” – “ ‘vital’ because they were active and growing … and ‘faithful’ because they managed to remain true to the great worship heritage of the church as they did so.”
At the risk of giving away the ending, here are the characteristics that mark a vital and faithful worship community. These congregations:
1. Make room, somewhere in worship, for the experience of mystery
2. Make planned and concerted efforts to show hospitality to the stranger
3. Have recovered and made visible the sense of drama inherent in Christian worship
4. Emphasize congregational music that is both excellent and eclectic in style and genre
5. Creatively adapt the space and environment of worship
6. Forge a strong connection between worship and local mission – a connection expressed in every aspect of the worship service
7. Maintain a relatively stable order of service and a significant repertoire of worship elements and responses that the congregation knows by heart
8. Move to a joyous festival experience toward the end of the worship service
9. Have strong pastors as worship leaders
This book is not really “just” about how a congregation worships: it’s about how a congregation lives together as a community of faith. It’s an exciting book to me because it affirms where we already are as a congregation and points the way for us as we journey further together. We’re already on the right path! We know this intuitively but it’s very encouraging to see it articulated.
I’m looking forward to this fall as the beginning of a year of great learning for all of us. John Wesley called it “sanctification,” as the community of faith moves confidently into the Gospel life together. All of this we are able to do simply by the power of the Holy Spirit moving among us, making us newly alive to the delight of God.
August Schedule of Events
3 Holy Communion & Grate Patrol Offering
Grate Patrol meal making during coffee hour
5 Grate Patrol 7-9 pm
10 Rev. Chet Kirk guest preacher
17 Rev. Mark Schaefer preaching
Our turn with Shelter dinner
28 Jazz in the Garden 6:30-8:30 pm
Church Council 7-9 pm
31 Grate Patrol meal making during coffee hour
Sonia and Kaou’s wedding
And coming up in September …
7 Glover Park Day rescheduled
14 New Member Sunday
congregational meeting during coffee hour
Pastor’s Vacation in August
Anne will be on vacation in Rehoboth Beach beginning Sunday afternoon August 3rd and returning the week of August 18th. For any pastoral emergencies please contact our church administrator, Shalom Mulkey, who will contact Anne.
Guest Preachers in August
On August 10th, The Rev. Chet Kirk will preach at St. Luke’s. Chet is a retired pastor in the Baltimore-Washington Conference, now serving on the staff of Oakdale-Emory UMC in Olney, MD. He was for many years senior pastor at St. Paul’s in Kensington.
On August 17th, The Rev. Mark Schaefer will preach. Mark is the United Methodist Chaplain at American University and a newly ordained Elder in the Baltimore-Washington Conference.
Deke Polifka is New Director of Music
Deke Polifka will begin on August 31st as St. Luke’s new Director of Music. A graduate of Catholic University, Deke is currently completing a Master’s of Music degree there. He has served as musician at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Alexandria and at his home church, Rouzie’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Beaverdam, Virginia. As an undergraduate at Catholic University, Deke was named CUA Instrumental Performer of the Year. He was also Captain of the Catholic University Varsity Tennis Team. Deke is married to Joyce Zedner, also a musician. Interviewed by the choir in mid-July, Deke won the hearts of all. Please keep him in prayer as he makes the transition to his new ministry with us.
Big Picture Coming this Fall
“I wish I knew the Bible better…” “I wish I understood the basics of the Christian faith.” If this sounds like you, take heart! You are not alone.
This fall there will be two opportunities for getting the big picture. One class, called Beginnings, is a 12-session introduction to Christian tradition and faith. The second class will be a 12- week overview of the Old Testament (to be followed in the spring with a 12- week overview of the New Testament). Stay tuned for more information.
Grate Patrol Offering on August 3
Once a month we make and deliver 150 bag suppers for people living on the street. Please plan to stay after church on August 3 to help make the meals. Our next Grate Patrol night is Tuesday, August 5. Sign up in the Wesley Room or email the church to be part of that night’s Grate Patrol team (7-9 pm; meet at the church). July’s Grate Patrol offering was $164.00.
Shelter Dinner Opportunity on August 17
A group of church members and friends provides dinner for the Shelter residents on the third Sunday of every month. If you’d like to be a part of this enjoyable and rewarding experience, contact Shalom Mulkey at shalom@saintlukesmethodist.org.
Directory Update
We’re in the midst of updating the church directory. Please check the draft copy in the Wesley Room to make sure your information is correct. Please make all corrections and/or additions by August 10th. The new directory will be available for pick-up beginning, August 31st. St. Luke’s Directory includes friends as well as members, so if you’ve been attending and would like to be listed, please let us know.
Congregational Meeting September 14th
There will be a congregational meeting after church on Sunday, September 14th to hear and discuss the church council’s recommendations for new directions based on the congregational visioning workshop held in March.
New members to be received September 14th
During worship on September 14th, new members will be received into the congregation. On the Sunday before, September 7th, there will be an orientation after coffee hour for those who plan to become members. If you are thinking of becoming a member, please let Anne know.
JCC Pre-School Leaving St. Luke’s
Because of their concerns about the effect of upcoming construction next door, the JCC Pre-School has decided to end their lease on the second floor space. The school will close this location as of the end of August.
August Birthdays
3 Joyce Wagner
5 L.B. Gunn
8 Andrea Banyasz
19 Shirley Henderson
22 Nick Wagner
24 Redmond Barber
26 Sylvia Zulu
27 Greg Brown
AIDS Walk 2003
It is that time of the year again! The 17th Annual AIDS Walk—Washington 2003 and St. Luke’s is a returning team. This is a 5K fundraising walkathon that takes place every year organized by the Whitman-Walker Clinic of Washington DC. The walk takes place on Saturday, October 4, 2003 at 10 am, Freedom Plaza.
I would like to thank last year’s team members for the great work and for managing to raise that amount of money as a small team. I am hoping that this year the team will be twice as big as last year’s. However, we had a great fun day of walking, it actually didn’t feel like a 5k walk because it was a large group of people within smaller groups enjoying the beautiful sunny and breezy day as well as beauty of downtown DC (Lincoln memorial, National Monument and the Smithsonian). It really gave me the chance to even know more about my fellow team members. It’s a very great feeling to know that you are not just walking but you are walking to save someone’s life.
Please help make a difference by being a St. Luke’s team member this year. If not a member then you may help out by donating to someone who will be walking. Look out for the sign up sheet in the Wesley room. For more information, you can contact me, Rosalyn Zulu, at rosazulu@yahoo.com or visit www.aidswalkwashington.org.
News From Our Church Family…
Greg and I are looking forward to spending vacation in Rehoboth Beach this month, where Greg always has a project going on the beach house, and I'm looking forward to working in the garden, riding my old red coaster bike, and reading novels on the porch. We hope our kids will show up at various times, too. –Anne
I'd just like to tell everyone that I miss them, and I'll be back just as soon as school starts. I look forward to catching up with everyone and hearing about their summers. Please tell the children that I miss them and I love them. I hope they're having fun and learning a lot with Miss Heather. –Cherise Williams
2nd Annual Jazz Concert Series in the Garden at St. Luke’s
The 2nd Annual Jazz in the Garden Concert Series at St. Luke's 2003 Summer Season continues Thursday, August 28, with The Jazzy Jade. Bring a picnic dinner and blanket to sit on (no alcohol, please; children and dogs welcome). Free and open to all. All concerts start at 6:30 pm. Cancelled in the event of rain.
Combined Federal Campaign Includes St. Luke’s Shelter/Next Step Kitchen
Federal employees take note – St. Luke’s Shelter/Next Step Kitchen has been accepted by the Combined Federal Campaign! Our number is 7940. Please tell your co-workers about St. Luke’s Shelter/Next Step Kitchen and encourage them to make it a part of their annual payroll deduction for charitable contributions. If your workplace is sponsoring an informational fair during the Campaign, please try to have St. Luke’s Shelter/Next Step Kitchen included in fair. Call or email Next Step Kitchen’s new Director, Susan Keenan, at 202/337-4275 and susan@nextstepkitchen.org to find out what you can do to spread the word.
Mission Trip
Volunteers in Mission Sign Up Sheet in Wesley Room. St. Luke’s will be sending a Volunteers in Mission team of 12 people to Cuba for two weeks in August, 2004. We are pleased to announce that our team leader will be Greg Forrester, who is Volunteers in Mission Coordinator for the Northeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church and who was so helpful for us when we went to Haiti in 2001. Because of the delicate nature of the relationship between Cuba and the US, VIM projects in Cuba have several unique requirements, among which is that the team leader be someone who has previously led a trip to Cuba. Greg will be coming to DC in the fall to meet with our team. Please remember to sign up or let Sylvia Zulu know of your interest in this trip, as it will fill up fast.
Yoga Classes take a breather in August
Yoga will resume on Mondays and Wednesdays in September. Contact Beth (bethsworobuk@aol.com) for more information.
Letters …
Dear Friends,
We have settled in and are still loving our new home. Arthur has adjusted very well ---- far easier than we expected --- and continues to be in good physical health.
Alas, I have not been able to fulfill my earlier intentions to get to Sunday services at Saint Lukes at least once a month. By the end of the week the thought of driving into town (one hour for me) is a little overwhelming. I have been attending services at the Interfaith Chapel here at Leisure World instead. Although I enjoy the services very much I still miss you all. Of course I miss Anne's inspiring sermons and all the other wonderful things about Saint Lukes.
Blessings and peace to you all,
Shirley Henderson
Dear Anne,
Thank you for the birthday card and note. Please extend my thanks to my church family there for the many remembrances, too. The church family here held a celebration during the coffee hour social and it was a joyful time. We had a “Cosco” cake and the punch from June Smiles recipe, so we felt close to my church family in D.C., too.
It’s nice being close to family who enjoy coming to Lorraine’s for gatherings and celebrations. They were there for the church party, too.
The temperatures are in the 100+ degrees and we had two days of humidity that made us wonder if we were back in D.C., thanks to “Claudia”.
With love and blessings,
Gladys
Joys and Concerns
For Paige Trevor’s Grandma who is having a difficult time since her Grandpa died.
Jen shared the joy of a successful surgery and recovery for her mother, Shirley.
Dorothy Pearson shared the joy of being able to come to worship today and the miracle of her sister Eliza’s recovery, and asked for continued prayers
Beth asked that we surround Lisa and Jon with prayers as they return home to Denmark
Kim asked for prayers for her dad, Richard, who is in Mali working with the Peace Corps Volunteers there on the occasion of the suicide of a PCV, and prayers for the volunteers, and the family and friends of the volunteer who died
Charles asked for continued prayers for the troops in Iraq and their safe return
For Marian Potter’s mother, Mary Van Putten, and for Marian
For Frances Fort, at Sibley Hospital
For Inne’s mother, Jung Sook
For Gladys Manuel on her 99th birthday
For visitors and guests
Penny Andrews shared her joy at returning to St. Luke’s, and asked for prayers for her friend Linda
Sonia asked for continued prayer for her fiancé Kaou as he moves through the interviewing process that will allow him to arrive in the US in time for their wedding on August 31st; and she invited all of us to their wedding.
For Nikki Parker’s grandmother Phyllis
Dorothy Preston offered thanks for God’s continual blessing, and shared her prayer for strength and guidance
Nancy offered the joy of having had Barbara Canada’s mother Stasha Bronoslawska, with us as she prepares to return home to Poland.
Joy to welcome Laura and Matthew back after their wedding and honeymoon
Prayers for Africa, especially Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Mauritania
For Paula and Paul, awaiting the birth of their first child in August
For the 2003 Church Council: Penny Andrews, Curt Canada, Karen Cox, Allen Hengst, Julie James, Dorothy Pearson, Sonia Peters, Kim Pyle, Richard Pyle, Kate Ransom-Silliman, Leslye Wooley and Sylvia Zulu.
Situations of danger and violence throughout the world
For the street people in downtown DC who gather to receive Grate Patrol meals each night.
For the community of St. Luke’s Shelter.
For Wings of Hope Orphanage in Haiti
For those living with HIV/AIDS
For our members who are unable to attend because of their health: Margaret Roberts, Jeanne Goss, Vernon Thomas, and Lucille Dade.