June 2, 2025

Since the below appeared in the March Edition of Parish Matters, we have celebrated Easter and Ascension.  Upcoming are Pentecost with the sending of the Holy Spirit, and then Trinity Sunday.  It certainly feels like a time of renewal with the Resurrection of Christ and around us the gradual coming of the warmer weather.  

At the church we have all sorts of things happening.  The work has started on the replacement of our front doors which, after 50 or 60 years of use, are beyond repair.  If you look at them closely, you can actually see through them in spots!  Other ideas are percolating with regards to visiting, the prayer garden, and space and time in the church for "being".  The summer tours of St. Luke's are in the planning stages.  

In July Dr. Heather Taves will be playing ALL of Beethovan's Sonatas over the course of 8 concerts at St. Luke's.  July 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 & 27.  All starting at 3pm.  See stlukesconcerts.com for more details.

The smaller churches are planning for their Anniversary/Old home services.  These will be:

10 am - August 10th at Christ Church in Karsdale - Holy Eucharist (no service at St. Luke's that day)

3 pm - August 10th at St. Mark's in Perotte - Baptism and Eucharist

10 am - September 14 at St. John's in Moschelle - Holy Eucharist (no service at St. Luke's that day)

2:30 pm - September 14 at All Saint's Gibson's Lake - Holy Eucharist.

A MESSAGE FROM Rev. JULIA – March 2025

Hello All,

LENT is upon us.  This is a season of preparation for Easter with the death and joyous resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

So, how are we to prepare? 

As a child I had these folders and for each day of Lent we were to put a coin (at first just a nickel) in the daily slot in the folder and then hand them in at the end of Lent.  That was not so hard as my parents upped my allowance to make sure I had enough nickels.  Not so fun was they made sure there was no chocolate in the house!  Somehow that was all in the hope of making me realize my sins and be a better person.

In these times as we prepare for Easter by looking at how we have sinned, there are the obvious things that we look back and wish we had acted differently.  At this stage I feel we need to be closely connected with our faith and really believe that we are indeed made in God's image and are children of God.  Perhaps the worst sin is to not stand tall and act as one made in God's image.  What more could God want than for us than to live up to our potential!

One of the world Christian leaders is reported to have said the below...I think this year with all that is happening in the world it is good advice:

Fast from hurting words and say kind words.

Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.

Fast from anger and be filled with patience.

Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.

Fast from worries and trust in God.

Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.

Fast from pressures and be prayerful.

Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy.

Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.

Fast from grudges and be reconciled.

Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.

May you have a blessed Lent and joyous Easter to follow.