St. Luke s Newsletter

Transcription

1 St. Luke's Episcopal Church 700 Lincoln Ave (corner of 7th and Lincoln, Wamego s main street) stlwam@wamego.net P.O. Box 109 Wamego, KS To Know Christ and To Make Christ Known 2012 Parish Theme: Grow in Christ and know that the resources necessary to find answers are within each person. Our Vestry members are Steve Hunt (Senior Warden), Judy Hildreth (Junior Warden), Jamie Balderson, Pat Frey. Malcolm Smith, Anthony Geraci, Crissie Basham, Treasurer, Susan Burgess. Clerk, Cinnie Hill. St. Luke s Newsletter Rector s page The Call December 2012 The Call and the Job for the American Red Cross: Back in January of 2009 I was still working as the Director of Spiritual Care at Mercy Regional here in Manhattan, KS. Mercy and Via Christi were very supportive of me becoming a Board Certified Chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC). After two and a half years of certification process, I went to Orlando, FL for the annual APC conference at Lake Buena Vista (a.k.a., Walt Disney World Resort). I was ready for my oral defense of all my written materials. Everything went well and I was certified, while some would say I was always "certifiable" in other ways. In the meantime, while attending the conference I noticed that the American Red Cross was recruiting for new members to join their Spiritual Care Disaster Response Team. I thought that sounded interesting and signed up for the four day intensive training workshop. After the workshop was complete, I was issued a FEMA worker clearance and a DSHR member number. Now, almost four years after that initial induction into the Spiritual Care Team of the American Red Cross, I am responding to a call that came from team leader Tim Serban in Washington, D.C. At first I was not sure of how to respond, because of the many responsibilities I have at Meadowlark Hills. So, I mulled it over a bit and then decided not to respond to this call. Then, on Monday November 5 at our monthly Town Hall Meeting in the Community Room/Chapel, I heard Marianne's resolve to have an outreach response from the Little Apple to the Big Apple. I felt a deep and pregnant pause after she made this suggestion to our gathered assembly. I asked Lonnie and Annie and a few others if they felt the same thing or something similar and they did. Not more than two hours past after our town meeting and I received a second call from Tim Serban. He was recruiting for a second time. This time after I listened to him describe the outreach effort and the job responsibilities he needed to fill, I felt a flutter in my heart and that cued me to say maybe. I did not know how it would all work out as far as details are concerned, but I simply went on intuition and a feeling that this was the right response at the right time. So, Lonnie, Meagan, Dirk and I visited about it the next morning and everyone was in agreement, that if and when the opportunity arose, that I should respond on behalf of Meadowlark Hills and specifically the idea to reach out from the Little Apple to the Big Apple. Tim called back two days later and requested a third time and this time I said yes. Cont. pg. 2

2 Page 2 Now, I am ready to board an American Airlines flight from Dallas to New York City. While waiting to catch my plane here, the television monitor displays CNN Headline News coverage of a public address from President Barack Obama on Staten Island, New York - he is calling for more material and spiritual care in this hour of great need. Now, in this moment, I feel a connection to Marianne, Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community, Manhattan the Little Apple, New York the Big Apple, and the nation. I am honored to be of service to all of the above and most especially the Call. The Job The need continues. This was the largest storm ever to be recorded in the Atlantic and current reports are that in New York alone over 60,000 housing structures will never have power due to being completely destroyed. Leaving what is estimated to be over 150,000 families without a home or apartment. The devastation and urgency to support people still in their high-rise apartments who are now two weeks without power, plus the frail elders who remain in their apartments above the 20th floors who simply were unable to leave due to lack of power for their elevators. Currently, there are 20 Disaster Spiritual Care Leaders deployed to both New Jersey and New York since last week and the work has been incredible. This evening as I arrived at command central an additional 5 of us have arrived to relieve and/or expand the effort of the Spiritual Care Team here in New York City. Our initial brief focuses our efforts on providing support via condolence visits to families of those who have lost a loved one. However, the process was delayed due to Winter Storm Athena through Wednesday and Thursday of last week, so now these visits need to occur. Shelters and Bulk Distribution support continues in New York where many have no power, with estimates now of over 60,000 folks registered in the temporary shelter system. To place that on a scale that we may be able to appreciate, Bill Snyder Family Stadium holds near 55,000 folks. When I moved to the Little Apple in November of 2001, the population was 60,000. Father Matt + cobbler66547@gmail.com Treasurer s Report: The following summary reflects the results of the operating fund, income and expense for the month of October 2012, with a budget comparison. Current month Year-to-date Budget Income $ 5, $ 53, $64, Expense $ 5, $ 53, $64, Difference $ $ $ 0.00 Discretionary Fund Sundays in December: Rector s is Sunday, December 4 nd and Seminary Support to help Vivian Orndorff and any upcoming students is December 30th. Any loose money in the offertory goes to these two funds on those Sundays, so please help with these two funds. Thank you.

3 Senior Warden Thoughts for December: Page 3 I am not a multi-tasker. Handling more than one major issue at a time tends to stress me out. I am usually successful with the items that I tackle, but we take them on one day at a time. When the item has been completed and put to bed we ll take on the next one. This is especially true for me during the holiday season. Recently we absorbed all the rhetoric and made it through a national election. Then the next thing on the list was Thanksgiving plans for my side of the family. Of course we hosted the diner again at my house. Now for the next few weeks come dealing with some Church and Vestry responsibilities, and then it will be on to taking care of Christmas shopping and all those related visitation plans. Then comes New Years Eve, family birthdays in January, and on to Valentine s Day, and so on and so on. I also ask for your prayers for the Vestry in dealing with our current financial status and the upcoming budget. I anticipate some hard decisions having to be made for We wish everyone in our St. Luke s family the best of the holiday season. If you can make it to our Christmas Eve services please do so. I ve attended several at other Wamego churches but I ve always thought our service at St. Luke s was the most sincere. And as Tiny Tim said in the Christmas Carol and God bless us everyone. -Steve Vestry: The minutes and treasurer s reports were approved. The undercroft basement door needs a new lock. When the Halloween Café occurs next October, it was suggested that a second night for the Haunted House be added so kids can go trick or treating in their neighborhoods. Stewardship Sunday is the 18 th with a potluck luncheon. Meatballs and Ham will be served. Canon Craig Loya will be present at the next Vestry meeting on December 9 th. Junior Warden Corner: I have received our packet for the family St. Luke s is adopting this Christmas. There are 2 adults, and 4 children ages11, 7, 5, and 4. I will have their specific needs and general information on a table in the Guild Hall. Please pick one up and do what you can. We will gather in the Guild Hall Tues. Dec. 11 at 7pm to wrap the presents Judy Hildreth

4 St Luke s Prayer list: Page 4 PLEASE PRAY FOR: David, Doreen, Jean, Cinnie, Susan D., Vivian, Martha and family, Ian, John. Jeff, Liane, Robert, Ron, Kelly, Pray for Scott and his troops for safe travels as they will be home soon. Pray for our military personnel: Mike and Scott. Guild: The Halloween Café was a success with 130 people attending. Thank you to everyone who helped or donated food. Cookies by the Pound is December 1 st. The First Baptist ladies will help this year. We have seven vendors so far and hope to have more. We will ask Jean Birk to purchase two poinsettias for Christmas Eve. Judy Hildreth will be the chairperson of the Christmas Bureau family we adopt. Their needs will be sent in a separate and placed in Guild Hall. The wrapping party will be Tuesday, December 11 th in Guild Hall. Outreach Opportunities: Join Community Health Ministry for frozen yogurt on Friday, November 30th at Orange Leaf in Manhattan. From 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Orange Leaf will donate 10% of the proceeds from their sales to Community Health Ministry. Just tell the cashier you are here to support our organization. Come out & enjoy some great frozen yogurt, show your support for Community Health Ministry at the same time. Shopping online to help Community Health Ministry: To find the shopping page is simple. Go to their website, and mouse over the tab "Contribute" then click the Shop and Contribute tab. Once on the page, click the banner for "Shop and Contribute" and you will have entered CMH s shopping page. Remember to right-click on page to bookmark/add to your favorites, so you can easily find the page and shop again. Next step, begin shopping. It is that easy! No promo codes needed. BIRTHDAYS IN DECEMBER: ANNIVERSARIES Dec. 1-Sebastian Balderson Dec. 19 Cinnie Hill Dec. 27 Doug & Joyce Elcock Dec. 2-Scott Weber Dec. 23-Tristan Weber Dec. 9-Anna Lee Roediger Dec. 23-Tayke Weber Dec. 31-Pat Orndorff

5 Humor IS Alive: Kids in Church Sayings. Page 5 One particular four-year-old prayed, and forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.' DECEMBER SCHEDULE: Saturday, December 1: Cookies by the Pound Annual Event Sunday, December 9: 9 a.m. Vestry meeting; Sunday, December 11: 7 p.m. Adopted Christmas Family Gift Wrapping Party Monday, December 24: 7 p.m. Carols and Organ Music 7:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Service Tuesday, December 25, 2012: service time to be announced. Upcoming Community Events: Christmas Bureau: Applications will be available from November 7 th to December 7 th. December 8 th is the distribution from 8-10 a.m. at the Methodist Church. Applications can be picked up at the churches, public library, city office building, etc. St. Luke s Weekly Schedule: Sunday: Services are at 8 a.m. Rite I and 10:30 a.m. Rite II Coffee hour is between the two services beginning at 9:30 a.m. Mondays: 6:30 a.m. McDonald's Back Room Spiritual Book Meeting Tuesdays: 9:00 a.m. Quilting and Crafts 10 a.m a.m. Bible Study Wednesdays: 6-7:30 p.m. Potluck Supper and Garden for fellowship Thursdays: 7:30 p.m. Cursillo Reunion Group 8:30 p.m. Al-Anon meeting

6 Page 6 Diocesan News Anti-racism workshops scheduled Two workshops designed to help people explore issues of racism in society and themselves have been scheduled by the diocese on Saturday, Dec. 1 and Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bethany Place Conference Center in Topeka. By action of General Convention, this training is required for everyone in leadership positions throughout the Episcopal Church, all clergy, those employed by the church, and those elected or appointed to any church office. To sign up, send your name, congregation and contact information to Michele Moss at mmoss@episcopal-ks.org or call (800) Youth news Youth calendar now available: Want to see when youth events will be taking place in the coming school year? It s all on the online calendar at Salt & Light: Teen workshop is rescheduled and expanded A workshop for teenagers sponsored by St. Michael and All Angels, Mission, has been rescheduled to Saturday, Jan. 12, and it now is open to college freshmen as well as high school juniors and seniors. Salt and Light: a discernment retreat for teens is designed to help young people explore their future path within the context of a life of faith. The event takes place at the church, 6630 Nall Ave. in Mission, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost to attend is $10 and includes meals. Advance registration is required. A registration form and more information is available at ADVENTure! Dec. 8-9 at Grace Cathedral in Topeka. This is a new youth event this year. It is an overnight event focusing on the season of Advent. Activities and speakers will be centered on this season of preparation for the coming of Christ. Registrations can be found at Questions? Contact Michael Funston at mfunston@episcopal-ks.org. Registrations are due Monday, Nov. 26. Miqra Jan , 2013, at Grace Cathedral and St. David s in Topeka. For youth in grades MIQRA (meek-rah) is a weekend retreat that focuses on the Bible and allows teens to discover what s in it, why we should care and how to read it. Registrations are available now online at Kansas School for Ministry announces class schedule The schedule of Kansas School for Ministry classes, with instructors, for the coming academic year has been announced. Dec. 8-9: Diakonia (the Ven. Charles Pearce) and Presbyterate (the Rev. Kelley Lackey) Jan : Missional Ecclesiology (the Rev. Craig Loya) Feb. 9-10: Congregational Development and Evangelism (Dr. David Thompson) and Contemporary Ethics (Dr. Don Compier) March 9-10: Church History Survey (the Rev. Cathy Cox) and Polity and Canons (Mr. Larry Bingham) April 13-14: British Christianity (the Very Rev. Bill Wolff) May 11-12: History of the Episcopal Church (the Very Rev. Bill Wolff) Karen Schlabach named new Youth Missioner In an announcement on Nov. 27, Bishop Dean Wolfe introduced Karen Schlabach as the new Youth missioner for the diocese. She will begin her ministry in mid-january. The full announcement is online at Diocesan policy on blessing same-sex relationships is announced Bishop Wolfe has issued a policy that permits priests in the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas to bless same-sex relationships, beginning in Advent, in accordance with actions of this summer s General Convention. The policy is available on the diocesan website at A PDF of the authorized liturgical rite is available from that page, or it can be accessed directly at IWillBlessYouandYouWillBeaBlessingEXTRACT.pdf

7 To Know Christ and Make Christ Known St. Luke's Episcopal Church 700 Lincoln Ave (corner of 7th and Lincoln, Wamego s main street) stlwam@wamego.net org The goals are MDG s at www. e4gr.org 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. 2. Achieve universal primary education. 3. Promote gender equality and empower women. 4. Reduce child mortality. 5. Improve maternal health Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. 7. Ensure environmental stability. 8. Develop a global partnership for development. Dec. DUTIES Dec. 2 Dec.9 Dec. 16 Dec. 23 Dec. 24 Dec. 30 Altar Guild Joyce Elcock, Cinnie Hill Ellie Baker, Martha Miller Laura Hannan Myrline Winkler Susan Burgess, Pat Frey Joyce Elcock, Cinnie Hill Ellie Baker, Martha Miller Lay Reader Chalice Bearer Judy Hildreth Doug Elcock Myrline Winkler Ed Dillinger Malcolm Smith Larry Hannan Susan Burgess Joyce Elcock Ed Dillinger Malcolm Smith Larry Hannan Myrline Winkler Usher Larry Hannan Martha Miller Doug Elcock Larry Hannan Doug Elcock Coffee Host Hannans Winklers Martha Miller Kally McConkey Parish Reception Greeter Doug Elcock Erica Cobb Martha Miller Doug Elcock Larry Hannan Martha Miller Cobbs Erica Cobb