From Anne …
As I told the congregation early in December, I’ll be leaving St. Luke’s at the end of June. I’m looking forward to this next phase of my life with Greg as we begin to live full time in the small village of Milton, Delaware. Some in the congregation have looked askance at our decision. They have questioned the wisdom of our choosing a small town that peaked in the mid-nineteenth century, situated in a county known for nothing much except the chicken industry and (over on the edge) the bay and beach. But there’s a certain consistent pattern here: for one thing, we are both very drawn to restoration work of all sorts. Greg loves working with his hands, and I’ve encouraged him to go with his love. He is getting a great sense of satisfaction now, bringing old houses back to life. It’s something he has always loved to do, and now he’s able to let it be a focus in his life. (He’s also continuing to develop his clergy coaching and you can look on his web site, www.gregbrownonline.com to see more of that.) I had thought I might ask to transfer into the Peninsula-Delaware Conference and seek an appointment there, but I’ve been offered an opportunity to help the moribund Historical Society through its renovation of currently dysfunctional museum space and into a new phase of program development. I’m drawn to this opportunity for several reasons: the historical society’s museum has the potential to become a rich community resource, helping people of all ages and every background appreciate the town’s roots and particular identity. In this age when so much of our culture is mass produced, I want to help offer an
alternative. My love of history, like Greg’s love of renovation, has been a part of me since childhood. For both of us, it feels like the right time to integrate these loves more fully.
As Sylvia pointed out to me, I’m very fortunate to be able to make this decision. I do feel blessed that we are able to conceive of and live into a new phase in our life together … not retirement, exactly, but something different. (Which the experts say the baby boomers will be doing with great frequency, so I guess there’s nothing really unusual about our path.)
I have loved every congregation I’ve been appointed to since 1987, but St. Luke’s has been a particular joy. We’ve accomplished so much together over these past almost five years; but in a way it’s not so much what we’ve accomplished as it is the particularly loving quality of this congregation that is so powerful. This congregation is accepting and caring in a way I find hard to describe. Most congregations have at least a whiff of pretense about them; I’ve never felt that in St. Luke’s. Instead, I find people of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds coming together to create a new community, the kind Jesus called us all into so long ago and calls us into still, a place centered in our common worship, a community of reaching out to our neighbor in need, a place where the rule of love is the guiding force, and where together we seek God’s justice, and where we encourage and challenge each other to practice our faith so that it makes a difference in our own lives and in the life of the world. St. Luke’s is all this (and more) to me, and I will miss you all very much.
In the United Methodist system, the Bishop and cabinet will be meeting over the next several months to appoint pastors to congregations beginning July 1, 2005. If you have come from almost any other denomination except the Catholics, this will be a new process for you, since most denominations practice a call system, in which the congregation must advertise, interview, and select its new pastor. For United Methodists, the process begins with the District Superintendent and our Staff Parish Relations Committee, who will work together to develop a church profile helpful to the Bishop in making this appointment. Later in the spring, the appointment will be made and the District Superintendent will bring the new pastor to a meeting with the Staff Parish Relations Committee. If all goes well in that meeting (and it usually does), the new pastor will be announced to the congregation.
Our Staff Parish Relations Committee is Inne Kim (chair), Penny Andrews, Mary Day, Marian Potter, and Leslye Wooley. So this process is in very competent and wise hands.
We have six months to enjoy together, and I hope we will experience it all as a precious time and a blessing, an opportunity to reflect on where we’ve been and give thanks for the future which is so securely in God’s care.
January Calendar
2 Grate Patrol offering and meal making
Epiphany observed
4 Grate Patrol delivery, 6:45 p.m.
9 Baptism of the Lord (Renewal of Baptism)
16 Beth Stroud – guest preacher
Our turn with Shelter Dinner 6:45 pm
17 Church office closed for Martin Luther King, Jr., Birthday
22 Church Council retreat 10-2
24 Shelter Board meets
…and coming up in February
9 Ash Wednesday
Grate Patrol Offering January 2nd
Our monthly Grate Patrol Offering supports the purchase of groceries and supplies to make 150 bag suppers for people living on the street.
Our next Grate Patrol night is Tuesday, January 4th. Sign up in the Wesley Room or email the church to be part of that night’s Grate Patrol team (6:45-9 pm; meet at the church).
December’s Grate Patrol offering was $211.00
Zimbabwe Calendars for Sale
St. Luke’s has joined with Farai Chigumbura’s congregation in Zimbabwe, St. Dorcas United Methodist Church, to provide support for seven children being cared for by that congregatioin who have lost their parents to AIDS. Thanks to Terri Stiffler and her friend Bryn, the children’s artwork has been used as a basis for a truly beautiful 2005 calendar, still on sale for $20.00 each. As the calendars cost only about $8 to produce (thanks to Bryn’s donating her graphic art time, and Terri’s employer The Environmental Defense Fund giving her a huge break on use of their professional photocopier, and thanks to all of Terri’s time to photocopy), everything above the cost will go to St. Dorcas in Zimbabwe. This enchanting calendar would make a lovely Epiphany gift!
You can order a calendar by phone or email from the church, and we will mail it to your desired destination for a total cost of $25.00 per calendar, and even enclose a note. Now how easy is that?
We also have some lovely handcrafts from Zimbabwe for sale, also in support of the good work of Farai’s home congregation.
Grate Patrol Cold Weather Needs
It’s that time of year again – cold temperatures, wind chill, snow and ice, can mean only one thing: HYPOTHERMIA SEASON for the homeless.
Help protect the lives of The Salvation Army Grate Patrol’s homeless clients by donating new or very gently used cold weather clothing such as: hats, gloves, scarves, socks & thermal underwear (particularly in larger sizes). We will distribute cold weather gear on Grate Patrol throughout hypothermia season. Please contact Leslye Wooley Leslye_Wooley@uss.salvationarmy.org at
202-250-7706 or for more information on what your group can do to help protect the homeless this winter.
Leave donations in the cradle in the Wesley Room.
Hypothermia Shelter in Place at St. Luke’s
Responding to a request from Friendship Place for hypothermia shelter in Ward 3, St. Luke’s offered to open its doors to up to ten men on nights when the temperature drops below freezing. The hypothermia shelter is managed by Catholic Charities, who provide a counselor and beds for our cold weather guests. The hypothermia shelter is housed in the Next Step Kitchen classroom (which is returned to classroom space in time for each morning class). Many thanks to Susan Keenan for recognizing this as an opportunity to be in ministry to those in need, and to the Church Council for its enthusiastic and unanimous support.
New Pew Bibles in January
Thanks to the generosity of Preston Willingham, the son of Golda DePaolis, St. Luke’s will soon have twenty five new pew Bibles dedicated in memory of Golda. Preston’s kindness also opens up an opportunity for others to donate a pew Bible in honor or in memory of someone. We will have a bookplate in each pew Bible indicating in whose name they have been given. Each pew Bible costs ten dollars. If you would like to donate a Bible during January, please fill out the form provided in the bulletin this month and drop it in the collection plate, along with a check. Our goal is fifty new pew Bibles.
Beth Stroud To Preach on January 16th
On December 5th, Sandi Stroud spoke to us during joys and concerns about having attended the ecclesiastical trial of her cousin Beth Stroud the week before. If you've followed this story in the newspapers you know that Beth, currently serving as Associate Pastor at First United Methodist Church of Germantown, outside Philadelphia, was tried and lost her ordination status as a United Methodist clergyperson because she is openly lesbian.
Beth has accepted our invitation to preach at St. Luke’s on January 16th. She’s also looking forward to leading a discussion in adult education that morning. Our personal connection with Beth is an opportunity for us to explore how we as a congregation can work more intentionally toward becoming more inclusive, as well as how we can address the larger United Methodist Church in a positive way. For more on Beth, you can go to her website, www.bethstroud.info
St. Luke’s Pledges for 2005
We have had a strong response to our pledge campaign for 2005. At this point we have 28 pledges totaling $42,500.00 for this new year. If you have not yet made a pledge for 2005 and would like to do so, please call or email Rayna Luke at the church office.
Do we have your birthday? If you have moved recently or changed your email address, does the church office have the correct information? If your answer is “no” or you are unsure, please contact Benjamin Byrd, office@saintlukesmethodist.org and confirm that the office has the correct information. We work really hard to keep our database up and need your help to continue to do so.
Also, please remember you can still choose to participate in the electronic contributions program, just fill out and return the authorization form to the church office. Forms are located in the Wesley Room. If you would like to participate in the symbolic act of placing your offering in the collection plate on Sundays, we have special cards you may use that note that your pledge is received electronically. For those who are not using the electronic contributions program we have monthly pledge envelopes available. Please contact the church office if you would like a set of cards or envelopes.
--Shalom Mulkey
Program Corner
The Service of Lessons and Carols was a shining picture of our new children’s ministry program. It was wonderful to see the children show leadership in the service: singing with the choir, reading the scripture, and participating in the offertory. Under the direction of Amy Catania the children will continue to develop new ways to be involved with the life of the church and we look forward to their deepening participation in the worship service and church community.
The Guest House, another new ministry of St. Luke’s, is in the planning phase. Please come here our ideas for this exciting new program after church on January 9th. If you questions or would like to be involved with the guest house and/or our children’s ministry, please contact Shalom Mulkey, shalom@saintlukesmethodist.org.
Music Notes
In December, the St. Luke's choir worked diligently to present Advent anthems for a special Lessons and Carols service on the 19th. We had a wonderful time preparing and rendering this music which reinforced the prophetic Advent scriptures. The children joined us for some of the carols and served as liturgists for the service. Thanks to both the choir and the children for their hard work and participation in this event!
Also on Dec. 19th-members of St. Luke's and the surrounding community of Glover Park teamed up for Community Christmas Caroling around the neighborhood. Highlights included singing Happy Birthday to Martha Wagner at the Carillon House, Shalom's stunning apple cider and chats with new friends from American University. We even received some unexpected coverage in the Washington Times Metro section.
It's hard to believe that 2005 is here already! This coming season will bring new challenges and familiar traditions for the music program here at St. Luke's. We have Second Sunday Series concerts on the second Sundays in March, April and May. The choir will be rehearsing anthems for Lent and Easter and learning a Bach cantata for Music Sunday on June 26th. Joyce, Amy and I are already working on the music for the Summer Music Camp which was so much fun last year! Do you want to be a part of the music program in 2005? Join the choir, help organize the music library, volunteer to help with the camp or come to the concerts. It doesn't take a lot of time to make a huge difference. Contact me at deke@saintlukesmethodist.org.
Musically,
--Deke Polifka, Director of Music Ministry
"When you care enough to send to very best"
How many of us lead hectic lives? How many of us have good intentions? How many of us are moved by the joys and concerns of others in our congregation but are not sure what they should do? If you answered "yes" to any or all of these questions, you should be happy to learn that there will be several greeting cards ready for you to personalize in the Wesley Room.
The goal of having cards in the Wesley Room is to allow us to let one another know of our support, sympathy, and good wishes and save time and coordination involved in shopping and other logistics. This is not an effort to change your current practices. By all means, please continue sending cards, e-greetings and the like to others. Hopefully, this will strengthen the ties we have with one another in a more timely, coordinated fashion.
-Sonia O. Kassambara
Shelter Dinner Opportunity January 16th
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 Nikki Parker or Cory Scott at scott@urbanretail.com and nicoleparker555@hotmail.com
*January Birthdays
14th Theo Bilski
20th Barbara Canada
24th Julia Wagner
26th Richard Pyle
31st Michael P. Kelley
Joys and Concerns…
For Jen Runyon and her family on the death of her uncle.
Rosalyn Zulu shared the joy of her acceptance into the University College of The University of Maryland
Charles Howe shared the joy of another year with his St. Luke’s family, and his appreciation of the ministries of Deke and Anne
Derek Willis shared the joy of his mother Annette in worship, and of sharing a birthday with Martha Wagner and Joel Rynes
Molly McCracken shared the joy of her marriage to Vince Meehan
Derrick Wagner shared the joy of so many children now a part of St. Luke’s, and their leadership role in the service
For Clint’s family friend Kim, and his family
Hannah shared the joy of the birth of her cousin Benjamin
Sonia shared the joy of her friend Camelia passing the Foreign Service Exam
For members of Kaou’s family having employment difficulties
Penny shared her sense of peace and blessing in the midst of a health crisis
For Sonia’s cousin Derrick graduating from college
For Nedi and his family
The joy of Curt’s recent visit home to West Virginia
For Shalom’s grandmother’s continuing recovery from hip surgery, and the joy of Shalom’s recent visit to the monastery of Taize, France
For Nikki’s sister Natalie in her job search, and for her grandmother Phyllis with stomach cancer
For Penny’s friend Linda in a difficult time
For Deke and Amy’s grandmother as she recovers from surgery for lung cancer
Don shared the joy of being with his aging mother in Oklahoma during Thanksgiving, and the concern for all children dealing at a distance with aging parents
For Sandi Stroud’s cousin Beth, a United Methodist pastor in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, who was tried in an ecclesiastical court and lost her ordination status because she is openly lesbian; and for The United Methodist Church, that it may become truly a place of open hearts, open minds and open doors
For Dorothy Preston’s friend with advanced stage breast cancer
For Andrea’s father Bela who underwent heart by-pass surgery this week
For peace
For Matthew Scruggs, son of Joyce and Derrick Wagner, being redeployed to Iraq in January, and for the end of the war
For the Pyle’s young friend Eric
For Earl Williams’ cousin Eric, in Iraq
For our military in Iraq and for the people of Iraq, and for our leaders that they may lead with wisdom
For the children and staff of Wings of Hope Orphanage, in Haiti.
For Prince of Peace Methodist Church in Holguin, Cuba
For the community of St. Luke’s Shelter.
For those living with HIV/AIDS
For our members who are unable to attend because of their health: Emma Cox, Jeanne Goss, Lucille Dade, and Margaret Roberts.
Scripture Texts for January
2 Isaiah 60:1-6, Matthew 2:1-12
9 Isaiah 42: 1-9, Matthew 3: 13-17
16 Isaiah 49: 1-7, John 1: 29-42
23 Matthew 4: 12-23
29 Matthew 5: 1-12
Put yourself on the map. We now have a map on the wall in the Wesley Room so that we can see where everyone is from and also the places we all keep in our hearts. Please add your places during coffee hour today.
Missed Church on Sunday?
You can still keep up with the latest prayer concerns and church events by checking the church web site, www.saintlukesmethodist.org. The Weekly Messenger appears there each week to help you stay in touch with your church family. And thanks to Derek Willis the site is always up to date and easy to navigate.