From Anne …
Pentecost blooms every year about this time, bringing a surge of energy into the church’s life. The descent of the Spirit as described in the Book of Acts is high drama – the mighty wind, the tongues of fire, the disciples stumbling around like drunkards.
The Spirit arrives in other ways, too, though – its presence can be known in quiet, small and even ordinary ways. We understand the Spirit as that power of God that moves within us and among us as a faith community, enabling us to be and do so much more than we could ever imagine possible – Easter power.
So Pentecost is moving here at St. Luke’s, ruffling the curtains and stirring the air. Pentecost is inherently unsettling. It does not so much reinforce as rearrange, and sometimes the rearrangements can throw us off balance for a while. During those times we live in the updraft and trust that God will eventually set us down gently in a safe place.
After Pentecost begins the season called Ordinary Time, which coincides with summer and fall in the northern hemisphere. Ordinary Time is a long lull between the great church festivals. It’s daily life in all its mundane glory. It’s life between the high points, and with God’s mercy and grace it can be abundantly rich.
During this upcoming season of Ordinary Time the church council will continue to follow through with the visioning process the congregation began in late March. There will be opportunities for the congregation to hear and respond to the council’s recommendations, so that we will be able to enter the coming year with a clear sense of vision and direction.
June Schedule of Events
1 Ascension Sunday
Holy Communion
Grate Patrol offering & meal making
Appreciation for Cynthia Price
2 Study group 7:30-8:30
Grate Patrol 7-9 pm
3 Evening Prayer 7:30-7:45 pm chapel
8 Pentecost Sunday, new members received 10 Study Group 7:30-8:30 pm
11 Evening Prayer 7:30-7:45 pm
12 Jazz in the Garden 6:30-8:30 pm
12-15 Annual Conference
15 Guest Preacher
Our turn with Shelter dinner 6:45 pm
17 Study group 7:30-8:30 pm
18 Evening Prayer 7:30-7:45 chapel
21 church council retreat all day
24 Tuesday evening group 7:30-8:30
25 Evening prayer 7:30-7:45 chapel
26 church council meeting 7-9 pm
29 Grate Patrol meal making after church
Appreciation for Cynthia June 1st
We will have an appreciation for Cynthia Price during coffee hour on June 1, and an opportunity to express our thanks for all that she has done for St. Luke’s while she has been with us. Cynthia is leaving her position as Church Administrator in order to return to Atlanta – we’ll miss her!
New Member Sunday on Pentecost
We will receive new members during church on Pentecost. June 8th. Becoming a member of St. Luke’s helps to strengthen your own relationship with the church; and it’s also a significant way to encourage the church community. If you are considering becoming a member of St. Luke’s, please talk with Anne about it.
Annual Conference June 12-15
Every year the Conferences of the United Methodist church meet for several days to hear reports, vote on legislation, set policy, worship, sing and fellowship together in the Wesleyan tradition. The Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference meets at the Renaissance Hotel, 999 9th St, NW (across from the new City Museum). Observers are cordially invited to attend.
2nd Annual Jazz Concert Series in the Garden at St. Luke’s
2nd Annual Jazz in the Garden Concert Series at St. Luke’s 2003 Summer Season began Friday, May 30th, with Sounds Good. 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.
Jazz Series T-shirts for sale
Be the first in your neighborhood to have the Jazz in the Garden t-shirt. Pick one up at the concert or see Curt after Church. We have a variety of sizes available.
Grate Patrol Offering on June 1st
Once a month we make and deliver 150 bag suppers for people living on the street. Please plan to stay after church on May 4th to help make the meals. Our next grate patrol night is Tuesday, may 6th. 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). May’s grate patrol offering was $165.00
Welcome to Our New Church Administrator
Welcome to Shalom Mulkey, who will begin as St. Luke’s Church Administrator on June 9th. Shalom comes to St. Luke’s from N Street Village, where she has held the positions of Business Manager and Executive Assistant. She also currently serves as Local Program Coordinator for Mennonite Voluntary Service. Shalom has a B.A. in Communication Studies from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California.
Glover Park Day June 7th
Glover Park Day is a fun-filled festive event, and St. Luke’s will again have a table so that we can meet neighbors and talk about the programs and ministries of the church. It will be held at Guy Mason Park. If you would like to help out at our table (any time between 10-4) please sign up on the bulletin board in the Wesley Room, or contact the church office. See you there!
Heather Thomas to teach Summer Sunday School
Heather Thomas, a rising third year undergraduate at Georgetown and a friend of Cherise Williams, will teach our children’s Sunday School class June 8-July 27. Heather is spending the summer in an intensive introduction to the Business program at Georgetown (called Gateway to Business). During the school year, Heather sings in the Georgetown Gospel Choir and is majoring in psychology and art. Her hometown is Muncie, Indiana. When Anne asked Heather if there was anything she would like the congregation to know about her, she replied, “That I’m trying to do the best I can for God.” Welcome, Heather!
Remembering John Wesley
The Dadian Gallery at Wesley Theological Seminary, 4500 Mass Ave., NW, Washington, D.C., will open an exhibition titled, “Remembering John Wesley: An Exhibition Celebrating the 300th Anniversary of his Birth,” on Monday, June 2, running through Friday, July 25. A gallery talk by curator Kenneth E. Rowe, professor of Church History, will be held Tuesday, July 1, at 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.wesleysem.edu/CAR.
Peace With Justice Offering June 15th
Peace with Justice is one of the six designated special offerings taken each year by United Methodist congregations throughout the denomination. Peace with Justice funds programs world wide that work to end domestic violence and abuse. For more information, go to www.umc.org/benevol/
Evening Prayer Every Wednesday
Evening Prayer is a brief service of scripture, silence, and prayer, held each Wednesday in the chapel at 7:30 pm. Please enter through the chapel doors that open into the garden.
June Birthdays
June 1 June Kress
June 3 Emma Cox
June 10 Karen Cox
June 10 Jeanne Goss
June 23 Craig Silliman
Happy birthday to all!
Volunteers in Mission (VIM) Update
Thank you for taking the time to complete the VIM questionnaire. Your feedback is critical in helping us identify mission opportunities and projects that are best suited to St Luke’s members and friends.
Based on the feedback so far received, it appears that most people are interested in international missions and most would be available to travel mid to late summer. As far as skills go, many respondents indicated an interest in working with children, with several others highlighting their computer skills. A few people indicated that they would be willing to assist with fund-raising efforts in support of a St Luke’s mission, even if they are unable to travel themselves.
With these factors in mind, I identified some projects that could meet our skills and timing needs. The projects are in the following countries: Nicaragua, Chile, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and the Republic of Georgia. I will be contacting the respective project managers and other sources to obtain more information about the projects and related mission expenses. I will be in touch (through email) with those of you who indicated an interest in receiving further information, in order to keep you updated. A general update will be provided to the congregation mid-June, by which time we should have selected a project and firmed up travel dates.
For more information about VIM, please visit http://gbgm-umc.org/vim/. Also, I would be happy to chat with you about VIM at St Luke’s.
Thank you.
Sylvia Zulu
News from our church family …
I’d like to share the great joy of hearing from my friends Isabel and John that their baby Charlie is now a healthy 10-pound baby. He was born 3 1/2 months premature, weighing only 1 1/2 lbs, and had stayed 6 months in the hospital. He is now at home and very healthy!
Inne Kim
I’m back home in Norfolk, VA for the summer. I’m interning at the local newspaper here, the Virginian-Pilot. So far, it’s going pretty good. I miss the whole St. Luke’s family. Please tell the children that I miss them and love them. Another joy that I don’t think I’ve shared with the church yet is that at the end of the semester I was elected as Gospel Choir president for next school year, and that everyone is invited to attend our concerts when the school year begins again. I send all my love and will keep you in my prayers. Please say a prayer for me too that I would grow stronger in the Lord over this summer.
Peace and Blessings,
Cherise
We celebrated our first wedding anniversary on May 25!
Leslye Wooley and Derek Willis
I have Matt’s “overseas” address and wanted to share it. I know he would be very happy to get letters from his church family. Thanks in advance! Here’s his address:
SPC Scruggs Matthew S.
A-CO FSC, 1-22 Inf Bn
Unit 92597
APO AE 09323, 2597
Joyce Wagner
Thought I would share this joy. Every Memorial Day weekend, I get together with my college roommates.We are spread out on the East Coast from Boston to Charleston, SC. This year we are having a shower to celebrate Liz’s upcoming marriage in August.
Jen Runyon
To the St. Luke’s Church Family;
Your caring and prayers and gifts were deeply appreciated.
Redmon and Norma Barber
To St. Luke’s Church Family:
I want to thank everyone for making my short stay here in Washington a pleasurable and fulfilling experience. I have really enjoyed working with all of you. The compassion and spirit of this congregation is very contagious. I only wish that I could stay longer. I know that St. Luke’s is destined to accomplish great things in the future! I would love to get news from the Church Family. My address in Atlanta is
611 Peachtree Battle Ave.
Atlanta, Ga 30327
E-mail: pernormark@mindspring.com
Many thanks,
Cynthia Price
Prayer s for our community of faith and for the world…
The joy of Michael Ruzicki having been with us these past eight months
The joy of Kirsty Zulu’s graduation from Montgomery College on May 23rd
Dorothy Pearson gave thanks for being able to worship at St. Luke’s today, and asked for continued prayers for her sister Eliza Wharton, now at Manor Care in Chevy Chase
The joy of Sandi Stroud’s sister Kim visiting
Derek Willis and Leslye Wooley are celebrating their first wedding anniversary, and the joy of their friends visiting
For Beth’s friends Alicia and David, marrying today
For those who have died in war
For the victims of the earthquake
For Missy and Riley, as they prepare for their wedding in Charleston next week
For the family and friends of Bernice Washburn, who died on May 18th
Joyce shared the joy of her parents visiting as well as Matt’s phone call from Kuwait
For Kojo’s Aunt Dora in the hospital
The joy of Julie’s Nigerian colleagues visiting
For Paula and Paul, awaiting the birth of their first child
Dorothy Preston shared her joy in the day and the abundance of God’s love and being here in church
For Earl’s cousin Stephen, stationed in Kuwait
For Lucille Dade, recovering from surgery
For Dorothy Pearson’s sister Eliza and for Dorothy.
For those who are working to prevent and protect the world against SARS, remembering that there are areas of the world and vulnerable populations that can be easily devastated by SARS.
For wisdom for the world’s leaders, that peace may prevail, and for the people of Iraq.
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 nation of Zambia and the people of Southern Africa in a difficult time
For the children of Afghanistan
For Muslims in this Country.
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, Donnie Lyon, Jeanne Goss, and Vernon Thomas.
Sunday Scripture Readings for June
June 1 Ascension Sunday
Acts 1:1-11, Luke 24:44-53
June 8 Pentecost Sunday
Acts 2: 1-21, Psalm 104: 24-34, 35b
Romans 8:22-27,
John 15: 26-27, 16:4b-15
June 15 Trinity Sunday
John 3: 1-17
June 22 1 Samuel 17:32-49
June 29 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
Trinity Sunday brings to an end the major cycles of the Church Year (Advent-Christmas-Epiphany and Lent-Easter-Pentecost). Now comes the long growing season, called Ordinary Time, or Kingdomtide, or simply the season after Pentecost. The Gospel emphasis in this part of the year is on the preaching, teaching and healing ministry of Jesus. The Old Testament turns to the great narratives of the Hebrew scriptures. This summer it’s David’s story.
Shelter Dinner Opportunity June 15th
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 Julie James at juliejamesemail@yahoo.com.
*Yoga Classes Every Monday and Wednesday *
A practice of breath and posture that helps body and soul. Beth Sworobuk leads yoga Mondays and Wednesdays in the sanctuary balcony, 9:30-11:00 am. Classes are half-price for church members and friends.
Coffee Hour Hosts for June
June 1
June 8Penny Andrews
June 15Carmen Rottenberg
June 22The Zulu’s and Likando
June 29
Thanks to all who have signed up to host coffee hour this month. The sign-up sheet is posted in the Wesley Room, or you can just contact the church office if you’d like to host next month. If you’ve never hosted and want guidance, contact Joyce Wagner at joyce.f.wagner@att.net or 703-836-8064.
*Directory Updates *
No updates for the month of June
The 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.
Missed Church On Sunday?
St. Luke’s web site has a wonderful new look! Check it out at www.saintlukesmethodist.org. Thanks to Derek Willis for making this happen! You can still keep up with the latest prayer concerns and church events by checking the church web site, The Weekly Messenger appears there each week to help you stay in touch with your church family.
Next Step Kitchen News
St. Luke’s Shelter/Next Step Kitchen has taken the leap of faith and begun the selection process for the Executive Director. Selection committee members are: Christiane Juster (Shelter Steering Committee), Craig Silliman (Shelter Steering Committee and church member), Leslye Wooley (church council member), June Kress (Shelter Coordinator and Next Step Kitchen Program Advisory Committee), Liz Seigel (Executive Director of Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place and Next Step Kitchen Program Advisory Committee) and Anne Yarbrough (Shelter Steering Committee and Next Step Kitchen Program Advisory Committee). After receiving more than two dozen applications, the committee has interviewed the strongest candidates and will conduct a second round of interviews for a smaller pool. The committee hopes to announce the new Executive Director in a few weeks.
Property Sale Update
The Office of Planning hearing on the rezoning for the property is scheduled for June 30th at 6:30 pm.