From Anne …
May is an active month in our congregational life, as we celebrate upcoming weddings and baptisms, receive new members, invite friends to worship with us, and prayerfully discern how we can more intentionally extend St. Luke’s hospitality to all.
All of these activities flow from one single source: the desire God has placed in our hearts to experience newness of life and to share that joy with others. Weddings and baptisms and New Member Sundays are joyous rituals, signs that point to God’s promise of abundant grace in our lives. On these occasions couples, parents and new members promise their intention to enter into a new relationship with each other, with the community of faith, and with God. The congregation promises to encourage and support them in their spiritual journey. We recognize and celebrate that we have begun a new step together, and that we will be companions on the way. Above all in such moments we promise God that we will help each other grow in faith so that together we will come to see God more clearly, follow God more nearly, and love God more dearly, as the old prayer reminds us.
Bring a Friend Sunday is both an old (even retro) concept and also something fresh: people visit a church not so much in response to advertising but because a friend has invited them to come. We are skeptical of advertising and jaded about promotion. But if someone I know and like and trust tells me about their congregation, I’ll listen. And if they invite me to come, I’m more likely to actually say yes to them.
We need to invite our friends, because unless St. Luke’s actively tells its story, other people make assumptions. People are always surprised when I tell them the age of the St. Luke’s congregation. They just assume that the members are all elderly. People are always surprised when I describe our diversity. They just assume we are homogeneous. By bringing a friend with you, you correct those assumptions in a very effective way. Come and see, one of Jesus’ friends said to someone else who wanted to know about Jesus. We can say the same thing: come and see.
When the task force on becoming a reconciling congregation met with the church council in April, one of the points raised was that the wider world assumes that St. Luke’s welcomes only heterosexual people. People in the wider world assume that St. Luke’s is unwelcoming toward people who are lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender because people in the wider world have heard something of the conflicts over acceptance of homosexual people within the United Methodist Church as a denomination. The denominational position is actually in process, but the wider world hears only the sound bites, and sound bites tend to distort a more complex reality. So as a congregation, we need to be specific and intentional about welcoming people of every sexual orientation. We may wish it were not necessary (and in a perfect world it wouldn’t be), and I struggle with the labeling of people that this move entails, since I am committed to the understanding that our primary identity is the one we share as children of God, and all our other identities are secondary to that. But other aspects of our identities, both inborn and the result of our life experiences, are God-given, too. And God is always at work accepting us just as we are, blessing us and redeeming us so that we may become more clearly a reflection of God’s image.
As a congregation, we need speak to the false assumptions of the wider world by intentionally saying that we do welcome all. It’s part of our evangelism, our outreach, our good news telling and good news sharing, to reach out to everyone who is seeking a community of faith, a place where we make promises to each other and to God, where we celebrate life’s new beginnings and most of all the new beginning of God’s amazing grace.
I pray that this month of May will be a time of blessing for St. Luke’s, as we listen carefully and lovingly to each other, and trust each other to hear our differences of perspective, as we struggle toward faithfulness together, as we extend hospitality to friends and to those we don’t yet know who may become our friends, as we celebrate weddings and baptisms and the rich fabric of life together, soul companions on the journey.
May Calendar
1 Grate Patrol offering & meal making
Wedding shower for Shalom & Nate
3 Grate Patrol delivery 6:45 pm
8 Second Sunday Concert at 2:00 pm
15 Congregational meeting after church
Church Council afterwards
Our turn with Shelter Dinner 6:45 pm
22 Hymn Sing
New member Sunday
Peace with Justice Sunday
26 Jazz in the Garden
26-30 Annual Conference
30 Memorial Day (church office closed)
Grate Patrol Offering May 1
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, May 3rd. 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).
April’s Grate Patrol offering was $82.00
News from St. Luke’s Shelter & Next Step Kitchen
First, a big “thank you” to members of St. Luke’s congregation who responded to the Shelter’s first annual report mailing with generous donations! St. Luke’s continues to model faith-informed commitment to supporting neighbors in need — a story which I am now privileged to spread. Another big “thank you” goes to congregants and staff for providing delicious food and gracious hospitality to Shelter residents on Sunday, April 17! Currently, the Shelter/Kitchen staff and leadership circle are busily engaging in program evaluation and are brainstorming ideas for broadening our community outreach. We look forward to keeping you posted and to inviting your participation in future Shelter and Kitchen efforts!
Cheers!
Kate McCann, Executive Director
Summer Music Camp is Coming!
Summer Music Camp will be held from July 11-15 here at St. Luke's. This year, space is limited to 25 children, ages 6-11, so don't hesitate to sign up now. The camp runs M-F from 9am-12noon each day. Each day consists of 30 minutes of story time with Dave Myers (in his second week!), followed by group rotations to music (with Deke and Joyce) and Arts/Crafts (with Amy/Shalom). On Friday at noon, the children will present a musical entitled The Puzzling Parables to parents and friends. This musical is really fun and even includes a "Prodigal Son Rap". Hope to see you there!
Volunteers Needed to Help with Music Camp
Do you have a free morning the week of July 11-15 to help out with our 2nd annual music camp? We need volunteers to help prepare snacks, lead games, and provide support for our group activities. For more information please contact Shalom Mulkey at the church office, shalom@saintlukesmethodist.org
SECOND SUNDAY CONCERT-MAY 8th (MOTHER'S DAY) 2 p.m.
featuring The Thomas Circle Singers
About The Thomas Circle Singers
For 29 years, TCS concerts have raised funds and awareness for organizations serving the homeless and hungry, children and families at risk, the sick, and victims of violence in Washington, D.C. They are the only local choral organization to donate all subscription concert ticket proceeds to nonprofit organizations every year. TCS has raised over $100,000 for local causes in the last six years alone. TCS was named Washingtonian of the Year 2000 by Washingtonian Magazine.
What a great way to show your mother a good time!!!!!
Wedding Shower May 1st
Shalom Mulkey and Nate Solloway are marrying in San Diego on May 21st. Though we won’t be with them in person when they exchange their wedding vows, we want to shower them with our love and good wishes beforehand. So please plan to attend coffee hour on May 1st, as we honor Shalom and Nate.
Tuesday Night Study Group
The Tuesday night study group, inspired by the election of a new pope, will be spending the next few weeks reading and discussing articles we find to share on the Catholic Church today, with the hope that we can compare our own United Methodist experience and tradition with the Catholic. If you want to participate, we’ll be sharing internet links each week, so please email the church office to be on the group list. We meet 7:30-8:30 in Anne’s office (enter by the church office door in the back of the church).
Church Conversation -- Proposed Reconciling Statement
May 15, 2005
On May 15, St. Luke's will hold a church-wide conversation to consider formal adoption of a Reconciling Statement similar to that adopted by hundreds of other United Methodist Congregations across the United States. This statement would publicly reaffirm St. Luke's continuing welcome into our congregation persons who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. This statement would be a reflection of our welcome and inclusion of all of God's children and our continuing goal of expressing God's love and desire for justice in our world.
Pentecost Sunday May 15th
In Judaic tradition, Pentecost falls fifty days after Passover and celebrates the giving of the law to Moses on Mt. Sinai. The disciples were gathered in Jerusalem for the Pentecost festival, fifty days after Easter, when they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Christian tradition celebrates Pentecost (or Whitsunday) as the birth of the Church.
Our Turn with Shelter Dinner May 15th
Once a month a group of members and friends prepares and shares dinner with the residents of St. Luke’s Shelter. For more information, contact the shelter dinner coordinator, Cory Scott, scottc@urbanretail.com
Peace With Justice Sunday May 22nd
The fourth of six special denomination-wide offerings taken by the United Methodist Church, the Peace With Justice offering helps the children of God everywhere live lovingly and peacefully. Half of the offering supports peace with justice ministries globally through the General Board of Church and Society, and half assists annual conference-related work. For more information, see www.UMCGiving.org.
Hymn Sing on May 22nd
There will be a Hymn Sing during worship on May 22nd. What’s a hymn sing? It’s an opportunity to sing that hymn that has particular meaning for you, or to introduce the congregation to a hymn we don’t all know yet. During Hymn Sings we sing each other’s songs of faith, and so expand our appreciation for each other and for our diverse worship traditions. Come ready not only to choose a hymn for all of us to sing, but also to tell why it’s important to you.
New Member Sunday May 22nd
On May 22nd we will receive new members into the life of the congregation during the worship service. If you have been thinking of becoming a member of St. Luke’s, please talk to Anne.
Guest House Update
In April the program committee went on a great tour of The Pilgrimage, an educational and service learning center and hostel located at Church of the Pilgrims in Dupont Circle. The visit generated a lot of ideas and excitement for our own program and provided a clearer picture of the work ahead in preparing for our program’s opening, which is scheduled for early 2006.
The guest house almost has a name! The committee has received some great suggestions and will soon be making its recommendation to the church council. If you would like to submit your idea to the committee, please send it to Shalom Mulkey before May 8th.
--Shalom Mulkey
Jazz in the Garden at St. Lukes
This 4th annual outdoor concert series kicks-off with the Yvette Rivers Trio on May 26th. Join us at 6:30 pm for the first of our eight great summer jazz performances. Get there early because there's limited space. Admission is free. So start packing that picnic basket, call your friends, bring a blanket and lawn chairs.
Narthex Decorating Task Force Sought
The narthex is the first space most of our visitors enter when they come to St. Luke’s for the first time. The church council would like to make it a more welcoming space, and seeks a few people to form a narthex decorating task force. If you think this would be fun, please contact Sonia Kassambara or Shalom Mulkey.
An Annual Conference May 26-30
As a connectional church, we are one congregation among some seven hundred who comprise the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference. Each of the Annual Conferences in the United Methodist Church meets once a year for worship, fellowship, and discussion and voting on new direction in the life of the Annual Conference. (Every four years, elected representatives from each Annual Conference gather in a General Conference for the same purposes.) Annual Conference this year will be held in Baltimore. Adam Briddell is St. Luke’s lay member to Annual Conference, and will report to the congregation during worship on June 5th.
Our financial audit is complete and the process was relatively painless. For the second year in a row the church has engaged the firm of Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman, CPA to complete a full audit of the church’s financials. We will have their full report by the end of the month, but their initial findings sound positive. Many thanks to Rayna Luke, our bookkeeper, for all of her hard work in accurately recording and reporting our finances.
--Shalom Mulkey
Coffee Hour Hosts needed for May
1 The Wagner Family
8
15
22
29 Janelle Rynes
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 Nancy Smrynas at 202-965-0084
Church Family News
Dear Family and Friends,
Hello everyone!
I wanted to let you know that training for my marathon is going great! We ran 16 miles this weekend, and I am looking forward to "just" running 12 this Saturday! I wanted to let you know that it's not too late to contribute to the cause.
EVERY little bit helps - be it a 5 or 500 dollar donation. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a really great organization. And for you financially
savvy types - the donation is tax deductible. It is easy to make a contribution:
1. You can send me a check payable to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (details below).
2. You can visit my personal fundraising page and make an online contribution via debit or credit card. The online donation process is pretty easy to manage, and can be accessed at:
http://www.active.com/donate/tntnca04/tntncaABridde
If you would prefer to send a check, please make the check payable to "The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society", and send it to:
Your contribution is going to provide really meaningful services. An estimated 110,960 people in the United States were diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma in 2004. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has funded several areas of research that have resulted in new approaches to the treatment of leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma including: the development of new drugs, immunotherapy, vaccines, reversal of multidrug resistance, and gene therapy. Also, the Society has developed more than 400 Family Support Groups at 63 chapters throughout the country. These groups provide information and support, and encourage greater communication among patients, families, friends and healthcare professionals. You are really helping to make a difference!
Hope this note finds you all doing well. Say "hi" when you get a chance - always wonderful to hear back.
Best!
Adam
--
I am both humbled and honored to share with you this announcement of my graduation with the Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary. Your prayerful support has been instrumental in this process…. While not expecting your presence, I do ask that you join me in offering prayers of gratitude and petitions for guidance in celebration of my graduation!
John Rottenberg
(John did his doctor of ministry project here at St. Luke’s last year.)
--
Scripture for May
1 John 14: 15-21
8 Ascension Sunday Luke 24: 44-53
15 Pentecost Sunday:
Psalm 104, Acts 2:1-21, John 7: 37-39
22 Peace with Justice Sunday Genesis 1:1-2:4a
29 Genesis 6: 11-22; 7:24; 8:14-19
May Birthdays
1 Kojo Otchere
14 Earl Williams
16 Kirsty Zulu
19 Sonia Peters
22 Betty Craig
27 Paula Akompong
Joys and Concerns…
For Susan Calloway, former staff member at Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place, with cancer
For Penny’s sister-in-law in London
For Nedi’s family
The joy of friends visiting from Saudi Arabia
Curt brings greetings from Betty Lawrence at Knollwood
For Gary, husband of Sonia’s co-worker
The joy of Sonia’s mother’s promotion
For Shalom and Nate as they prepare for their wedding
The joy that Leslye’s brother Wade was named Teacher of the Year by his school
Continued prayer for Martha
For the people of Sri Lanka
The joy of Molly ‘s parents in church
The joy of Shawn’s parents’ thirtieth anniversary
The Wagner’s joy of visiting with Matthew, that he isn’t being deployed to Iraq for now, and the continued recovery of Joyce’s mother
For Kirsty and John Klobucar, who celebrated their wedding on April 2nd
For Kim’s grandfather Howard and for his wife Edna
For Andrea’s father
The joy of Inne’s return
For Penny who has completed chemotherapy
The joy of Julie’s new job
The joy of a new job for Charles
For our congregation as we explore the process of becoming a reconciling congregation
For St. Luke’s future pastor, Dave Myers, and for his wife Deb, in this time of transition
Continued prayers for Betty Lawrence at Knollwood
For peace
For the Pyle’s young friend Eric
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.
Are you on our Birthday List?
To add your birthday please contact the church office.
Messenger Deadline
The deadline for submissions to the Monthly Messenger is Friday, May 13th. We need to hear from you! Let us know what's going on in your life ... how's the job going, vacations or trips, children's activities, major (or minor) changes in your life, joys or sorrows that you'd like to share with others?
The newsletter can be another real way for us to strengthen our sense of community by sharing what's going on in our lives. So don't be shy!
You can e-mail, fax or call me.
Benjamin Byrd
Administrative Asst.
St. Luke's United Methodist Church
3655 Calvert Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 333-4949
office@saintlukesmethodist.org