From Anne …
It’s wonderful news for St. Luke’s that The Rev. David Myers has been appointed as the next pastor. Later in this month’s newsletter Leslye Wooley, our Staff Parish Relations Committee Chair, introduces David more fully.
The appointments process is one of those moments in the life of the church when our denominational identity becomes apparent in striking ways. Unlike other Protestant denominations, the United Methodist church, through the bishop of each conference, appoints pastors to the congregations within the conference. Congregations don’t “call” their pastors, and pastors don’t interview or apply in any way for their position. When pastors are ordained in the United Methodist church one of the vows we take is to itineracy – that is, that we will go where we are sent. And United Methodist congregations receive the pastor who the bishop sends to them. This episcopal system is one of the strengths and beauties of United Methodism, in part because it undergirds the connectionalism that is so much at the heart of who we are as a denomination.
There’s another component of the appointments process that the congregation needs to be aware of. After I’ve left at the end of June I won’t be coming back to St. Luke’s to worship or attend gatherings of any sort, and I won’t be available for weddings, funerals, or baptisms. This is the denominational policy for pastors and I’m personally committed to it. It may sound harsh, but really, it’s a good thing: it enables the new pastor to provide leadership in a way that holds integrity for both the pastor and the congregation without any meddling or undermining – even if inadvertent and well-intentioned -- from the former pastor. So I hope that you won’t ask me to participate in any way after the end of June, because I’ll have to say no.
But the beauty of this time we have together is pretty amazing when you think about it. We don’t have to spend it worrying about who will be appointed to St. Luke’s because we already know that a terrific person has been appointed here. I would love to be able to spend this remaining time with you in gratitude for the blessing of our time together.
This entire appointment process is based in the confidence that God is at work: opening doors, renovating and restoring and leading us into new life. We understand that this is true in our own lives; and it’s no less true in the life of the congregation. As we move together toward Easter we can give thanks for the resurrecting work of God offering new life in ways we have not yet anticipated.
March Calendar
1 Grate Patrol delivery, 6:45 p.m.
6 Grate Patrol offering
7 St. Luke’s Shelter Board meets 6:30 pm
13 Second Sunday Concert at 2:00 pm
20 Palm Sunday
Church Council meets 12:45
Our turn with Shelter Dinner 6:45 pm 24 Holy Thursday supper at 6:30, worship at 7:30
25 Good Friday worship at 7:30 pm
27 Easter worship 11:00 am
Community Easter egg hunt after church
Holy Week Notes
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday on March 20, when we remember the joy of welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem and acclaiming him as king. We will shout “hosanna!” and wave the palm branches, but on that day we also begin our walk with Jesus to the cross. With all its scripture (more scripture than any other worship service) and its stark shift from joy to sorrow, Palm Sunday is easily the most dramatic service of the church year.
On Holy Thursday (also called Maundy Thursday), March 24, we remember the last supper Jesus ate with his friends. We’ll have supper that night in the Wesley Room at 6:30. The Holy Thursday scripture readings focus on Jesus’ commandment that we love one another and seek to serve one another. And so after our meal, we’ll move into the sanctuary for a service that includes Holy Communion and foot washing, beginning at 7:30.
On Good Friday, our service of worship also begins at 7:30 pm. The Good Friday service is a service of Holy Communion and of prayer for the entire world, as Christ prayed for the world in the hour of his death.
On Holy Saturday, we will prepare the sanctuary for Easter. We’ll meet in the sanctuary at 10:00 am. and complete our preparations by noon.
Holy Week is the most intense time in the church year. I hope you’ll come be a part of as much as you can this year as we prepare our hearts for Easter joy.
Grate Patrol Offering March 6th
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, February 1st. 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).
Easter Lily Orders Begin February 27
If you would like to order Easter lilies for the Easter service, please call the church office, 202-333-4949. Order forms will be available February 27, March 6 and March 13. The price of a lily is $10. You may place a lily or lilies on the altar in honor or in memory of loved ones. Please indicate on your order form if you would like your lily to be delivered to a homebound member of the congregation after the Easter service.
Hypothermia Shelter at St. Luke’s
The hypothermia shelter, which opened its doors before Christmas, continues to offer a warm place to stay for men when the temperatures drop below freezing. The hypothermia shelter officially closes for the season at the end of March. The shelter at St. Luke’s is managed by Catholic Charities, who provide a counselor and beds for our cold weather guests.
Welcome, New Members!
Welcome to Shawn Cooke, Min-Jung Kim and Yong-Ha Lee, and Shalom Mulkey, who joined St. Luke’s on February 20th. Welcome, too, to Min-Jung’s aunt Yangsook Kim, and to Min-Jung and Yong-Ha’s sons, Kunwoo, Woojoo and James.
Mere Christianity Study continues through Lent
The book brings together Lewis’s legendary broadcast talks of the war years, talks in which he set out simply to “explain and defend the belief that has been common to nearly all Christians at all times.” Rejecting the boundaries that divide Christianity’s many denominations, C.S.Lewis provides an unequaled opportunity for believers and unbelievers alike to hear a powerful, rational case for the Christian faith.
This Lenten study is every Tuesday at 7:30, in Anne’s office (please enter by the office door, in the back of the church.) The study will conclude on March 22nd.
Needed – Easter Lily Deliverers
Please sign up in the Wesley Room to deliver Easter lilies to our home-bound members after church on Easter Sunday, March 27. You will receive a card with the person’s name, address and phone number to whom the lily needs to be delivered. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet or renew friendship with St. Luke’s members who are unable to attend worship because of their health. You can also sign up by emailing Ben Byrd, office@saintlukesmethodist.org
One Great Hour of Sharing March 13
One Great Hour of Sharing is one of the six designated special offerings taken each year by United Methodist congregations throughout the denomination. One Great Hour of Sharing funds the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), which provides services and supplies in response to war, famine, and natural disasters both in the US and around the world. UMCOR continues to be deeply involved in the tsunami relief effort. UMCOR is an excellent means for channeling funds to places where immediate need abounds. For more information, go to www.umc.org/benevol/
St. Luke's next pastor has been appointed!
As of July 1, 2005, Pastor Dave Myers of the New England Conference will serve as pastor of St. Luke's.
On February 16, 2005, District Superintendent Reverend David Argo called a meeting of the SPRC Committee and Church Council in order to introduce us to Pastor Myers and his wife, Deb. The Myers are from outside the Boston area and Pastor Myers has served in small churches around Boston for almost 30 years. He is currently serving at Ballard Vale United Church in Andover, MA (www.bvuc.org).
Employment opportunities for Deb bring them to the Washington area. She works in the insurance industry and was offered a job in this area. As they stated to us at that meeting, throughout their marriage, the family always moved for Dave's jobs, so this time they decided to move to support Deb's. They have two adult children who will remain in the Boston area.
If you have any questions about the new pastor, please speak with members of the SPRC Committee or the Council. For more news on the appointment process and Pastor Myers' bio, you can visit the Baltimore-Washington Conference website.
On behalf of the Council and SPRC Committee, we know that saying goodbye to Anne will be incredibly hard, but we also think that Pastor Meyers will be a good fit for St. Luke's.
--Thanks-Leslye Wooley
Looking for Something to do this Summer? Try Summer Camp.
Now is the time to register for the summer camps offered through the Baltimore Washington Conference. The conference offers a complete program of general and specialty camps for youth, grades 2-12, family camps, camperships, intergenerational camps and day camps.
Each site and each week of camp is unique, but all have similar features. Discovery Camps and Adventure Camps provide a wide variety of activities such as swimming, athletics, Bible Study, worship, hikes, outdoor cooking, boating or rafting, nature study, and more. Canoeing and sailing camps spend time in instruction and plenty of time on the water. Specialty Camps meet a variety of interests including soccer, fishing, biking, creative arts, music and more. Every program will take advantage of the surrounding environment, develop an inclusive Christian community, and search the scriptures for life-changing revelations.
For more information, please pick up a brochure in the Wesley Room or check out the conference website, http://www.bwconf.org/camping/summer.html
In Search of a Good Name
Are you feeling creative? The guest house program committee is gathering ideas for a great descriptive name for our new ministry and we need your help. If you have a suggestion please submit it to Shalom Mulkey by March 31st with a short explanation of the name. Remember no suggestion is a bad suggestion and we’re depending on your input to help find the perfect name for the program.
The guest house committee is always looking for interested people to join them in the planning of this new ministry. If you would like more information about the program or would like to hear ideas of how you can be involved, please contact Shalom Mulkey at the church office, shalom@saintlukesmethodist.org.
--Shalom Mulkey
Music Notes
The Second Sunday Concert Series will be starting up again on March 13th at 2pm. Lincoln Cobbins, pianist, will be performing works of Debussy and Liszt. He is a graduate student in piano at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore and a fellow Methodist. Mark your calendar with the Second Sunday concerts for this season:
Second Sunday Concerts-Spring 2005
March 13th-2pm Lincoln Cobbins, pianist, performing Debussy and Liszt
April 10th-2pm David Erwin, organ Deke Polifka, piano Organ/Piano Duo
Works of Utterback, Saint-Saens and Franck
May 8th-2pm Featured Concert The Thomas Circle Singers
James Kreger, Artistic Director
*JOIN THE CHOIR!!!* Our choir is really starting to take off! This is a group of amazing individuals who come together to produce wonderful music for our 11 a.m. worship service on Sundays. We always learn something and have fun doing so. Contact me at deke@saintlukesmethodist.org or simply show up for rehearsal at 9:30 on Sunday!
Thanks to St. Luke’s 2005 leadership!
Church Council: Adam Briddell, Mary Day, Allen Hengst, Sonia Kassambara, Inne Kim, Marian Potter, Richard Pyle, Clint Riley, Jenn Runyon, Darryl Smith, Kelly Vogel
Staff Parish Relations Committee: Leslye Wooley, Penny Andrews, Mary Day, Inne Kim, Marian Potter
Finance Committee: Clint Riley, Allen Hengst, Richard Pyle, Jen Runyon
Good Samaritan Committee: Mary Day,Dorothy Pearson, Leslye Wooley
Trustees & Renovation: Sandi Stroud, Penny Andrews, Karen Cox, Bob Kolasky, June Kress, Dennis Soiberman, Derrick Wagner
Guest House Committee: Mary Day, Allen Hengst, Charles Howe, Sonia Kassambara, Derrick Wagner
Lay Member to Annual Conference: Adam Briddell
Coordinators:
Shelter Dinners: Cory Scott and Nikki Parker
Liturgists: Allen Hengst
Jazz Concerts: Curt Canada
Grate Patrol Shoppers: Adam Briddell, Julie James, Janelle & Joel Rynes, Leslye Wooley & Derek Willis
Greeter/coffee hour coordinator: Nancy Smyrnas
Partner reps:
Georgetown Ministry Center: Dorothy Preston
Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place: Joel Rynes
St. Luke’s Shelter Board: Jen Runyon, Shalom Mulkey & Derek Willis
Web: Derek Willis
Letters
To St Luke’s,
Firstly I would like to thank you for accepting me in this congregation. I appreciate all you are doing for me and in particular helping St Dorcas, Zimbabwe. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated. May God continue to bless and guide you in Jesus’ name.
--Farai Chigumbura
Scripture for March
6 John 9: 1-41
13 Ezekiel 37: 1-14, John 11: 1-45
20 Philippians 2: 5-11, Matthew 26:14-27:66 24 Exodus 12: 1-4, 11-14, John 13: 1-17, 31b-35 25 Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Psalm 22, John 18:1-19:42 27 Acts 10:34-43, Col. 3:1-4, John 20:1-18
Coffee Hour Hosts for March
6 Nancy Smyrnas & Allen Hengst
13
20
27 Inne Kim
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, Nancy Smyrnas will help you. Just give her a call ahead of time at 202-365-0084 (evenings/Saturdays).
March Birthdays
2 Sophia Rynes
3 DJ Sworobuk
6 David Craig
6 Betty Pyle
7 Jamie Sworobuk
7 Erminda Wood
8 George Othere
10 Christopher McKinney
10 Chris Thompson
11 Molly McCracken
11 Janelle Rynes
18 Kerry Crosby
29 Mary Craig
Joys and concerns
For St. Luke’s future pastor, Dave Myers, and for his wife Debbie, in this time of transition
For Curt, recovering from heart catheterization
For the continued healing of Amy and Deke’s grandmother after cancer surgery
For Shawn after a minor car accident
For our new members, Shawn Cooke, Min-Jun Kim and Yong-Ha Lee, and Shalom Mulkey, and for Min-Jung’s aunt Yangsook Kim, and for Kunwoo, Woojoo, and James
Continued prayers for Betty Lawrence, now at Knollwood
Continued prayers for Penny during chemotherapy
For Vince’s sister’s fiancé, returning safely from Iraq
For new faces and for our diversity
For the people of Iraq realizing the hope of a free society, and for those who have died and been wounded in the war
For Nedi and his family
For Naomi’s family in Ethiopia, and for the people of Ethiopia during a time of celebration and remembrance
For Andrew’s niece Sarah recovering from successful ear surgery
For Joyce’s parents adjusting to their new home
For friends and co-workers in health crises, and for family members in joyful circumstances
For Shawn’s friend Kim, in Niger
For the family and friends of Helen Rogers
For Shalom’s mother Candy, with pneumonia
For Deke’s grandmother, recovering from surgery
For peace
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.
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.