Volume 13 Issue 6 June 2016 St Luke s Episcopal Church Camillus, New York John the Baptist baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River according to the Gospel of Luke about 28-29 AD
JUNE 18 Published monthly by St. Luke s Episcopal Church in Camillus, NY The Rev. Kathryn S. Corley. Rector Sheila Lange...Editor Carolyn Muratore...Designer Cathy Martin...Secretary Contact 315.487.1771 slcsec2@verizon.net.. www.stlukescamillus.com.. News from the Wardens Parishioners have been quite active this spring at St. Luke's. There was a large turnout of volunteers for the annual Spring Clean-up. Flower beds were weeded, late fall leaves were raked. The Seeds of Faith Garden was prepped for planting with new fencing and expanded tilling. Planting has begun and it is looking good. Our Delta Sonic fundraiser is underway. $5 value coupons are available for five for $10. They are good for $5 off carwashes, detailing, and other nonstore services until June 18. After that, their value is $2 - you can't lose!! Upcoming summer activities include the church picnic on June 5, the drivethrough Chicken BBQ on June 18, and the Bake and Treasure Sale on July 16. Please volunteer to help or just come to share fellowship with your parish friends. The search committee is continuing to work diligently on our Parish Profile. The report from the Holy Cow parish wide survey is in - thanks to all who completed it. The search committee is on target to have our profile submitted to the Diocese by early June. Our rector opening will then be posted nationwide. Meanwhile, we are highly appreciative of the guidance, support and spiritual leadership which Mother Kathryn has been providing. Bambi Carkey Jeryl Wright PAGE 2
Life itself is grace. I ve often quoted Frederick Buechner in my sermons and at vestry meetings he IS one of my favorite authors. And when we began our Lenten conversations about the history of St. Luke s, I know I quoted from his book, The Sacred Journey, because it is so fitting as we think about the history of the church and our own histories. Buechner writes, Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace. I found our Lenten conversations full of joy and grace it s quite different for me to work in a parish young enough for the original founders (or their children) to tell the creation stories of the place! I tried to write down all that we talked about the lay folk who began gathering families and leading Morning Prayer, the priests who led, the buildings built and decorated, the Sunday School and Nursery programs, VBS, outreach projects and on and on. Over the next few months I d like to write about some of the stories you told me. I hope they ll encourage additional conversations and remembrances and remind us all that, as Buechner says, Life itself is grace. Pentecost Blessings, Kathy+ Another blessing from our history found - the Pentecostal vestment worn by Mother Kathy on Pentecost Sunday was sewn by St. Luke s former minister, Father Cooper. PAGE 3
HOLYCOW SURVEY The Search Committee closed the Holycow survey as of May 6, 2016. There will be an on-line interactive analysis of our survey results led by a Holycow consultant. This will take place, tentatively, on Thursday, May 19, 2016. In the meantime, the Search Committee members have been submitting updated descriptions of our ministries. These will be scanned into a single document to help create our profile. Pictures will be added and a final profile will be available on-line. We have begun compiling potential questions for the rector candidates. This will be an ongoing item of business for each Search Committee meeting. If you have any suggestions for questions, please write them out and submit them to any member of the Search Committee. The members are: Eileen Robertson, Milt Stevenson, Lori Erlenback, Diane Goldych, David Hoare, Carol Law, Sam Leitermann, Mary Lynch, Marie Tackman, Carrie Widrick and Jane Wiley. She Said Yes! Congratulations & Blessings to Sam Leitermann and Peta Long on their recent engagement. PAGE 4 Church Picnic Sunday, June 5 following the 10:30 service Church will provide hot dogs/hamburgers, rolls, condiments and beverage. Please bring a dish to pass, salad or dessert. A sign up sheet is on the bulletin board.
Treasures & Sale July 16 O u t r e a c h N e w s Before you know it, the outreach Treasures and Bake sale will be here. The date is Saturday, July 16. We are inviting vendors to set up outside for free. Their presence lets the community know that there is an event happening. Let your family, friends and neighbors know that we are accepting donations for treasures beginning on June 19. The last day for donations is Tuesday, July 12. Baked goods will be accepted from July14-16. A signup sheet for bakers and helpers will be up on June 19. Please help make this year's fundraiser a big success. FINANCE NEWS The Finance Committee recently met on Monday, April 23rd. In attendance were Bob Shafer, Steve Widrick, Jerry Wright, Fred Muratore and Sherry Brescia, Treasurer. Excused was Rich Conley. Sherry presented the year to date financials and it was noted that we are very close to budget with most revenues and expenses so far in 2016. Certain revenues and expenses (such as rental income and utilities) tend to fluctuate throughout the year and even out over the long-term. No concerns were noted. We were notified that our investment advisor (Kevin Sullivan) recently left Solvay Bank. The bank will assign us a new advisor and once they do, we will meet with the new representative to discuss what they anticipate for the performance of our investment portfolio this year. Sherry is running the Empire State Marathon on October 9th and we agreed this may be a fundraising opportunity for the parish. Parishioners may be able to make pledges (flat amount or per mile) matched by Sherry s company (up to a designated maximum to be determined), then a donation will be made to a charity chosen by the Vestry. More details will follow. Bob Shafer and Sherry Brescia attended the Finance 101 and Beyond event presented by the CNY Episcopal Diocese at St. Matthew s Church in Liverpool on Saturday May 14th. The presentations were very enlightening and the financial/compensation information and tools that were discussed will be helpful to us as we proceed toward acquiring a new rector and securing an outside CPA audit of the parish books for 2015. PAGE 5
SUMMER VACATION FOOD DRIVE In the latter part of June when school gets out for the summer the kids celebrate, but for the parents who struggle to put food on the table there is constant worry. During the school year children receive breakfast and lunch at school. The Outreach Committee proposes a special six-week food collection to help stock the food pantry at St Charles to sustain struggling families over the summer. The collection will begin on June 5 and end on July 10. Please join us in this initiative and make this summer food collection a HUGE success. Thank you for caring and sharing. June 5 Cookies, Crackers and Snack Food June12 June 19 June 26 July 3 Peanut Butter & Jelly and Canned Fruit Tuna Fish & Boxed Macaroni & Cheese Powdered Drink Mixes and Cereal Spaghetti Sauce & Pasta July 10 Canned Vegetables and Apple Sauce The Seeds of Faith Garden has been remodeled! A big shout out to Jerry, Bob, Rich and Jack for pulling out the decaying wood beds, replacing the broken fencing and tilling and fertilizing the area. THANK YOU!!! Even though we had a nice crop last year the wood in the beds were rotting out, bees and ants were nesting and the woodchuck loved our beans last year! We have planted greens beans, zucchini, green peppers, summer squash and tomatoes. Kyle, Debbie K. and Cheryl spent a wonderful Saturday morning together. All of the plants were donated. The vegetables will be delivered to Meals on Wheels kitchen over the summer where they will be served to our local community residents. Let the growing begin! The Outreach Committee PAGE 6
THANKS & PRAYERS june Happy Father s Day June 19 We Ask Your Thoughts & Prayers for Christine, Peter, Elizabeth, Mike Greene, Ann, Mary, Ryan Bille, and Annabell and Hannah Baker (Note: Call the church office to add anyone to our Sunday prayer list. However, the name will stay on for only one month. You must call each month to have the name put back on the list.) Also Members of the Armed Forces: Note: We will continue to pray for our loved ones serving in the military, but only for those who are deployed in harm's way. Please call the church office to submit a name.) Happy Birthday 5 Edward Kaish Heather Woodworth 7 Shirley Chrisfield 18 Nora Kelley 22 Charles Vitagliano 24 Gerry Wright 27 Emma Catalano 30 Phyllis Schwartz Happy Anniversary 8 Bill & Lena Bishop 30 Rich & Alison Conley Altar Flowers Altar flowers can be given in memory of a loved one or in thanksgiving for a special occasion. We have June 5, July 3, 10, 24 and 31 open for altar flowers. Please call the church office 487-1771 to reserve a Sunday. On Sunday, May 1 a birthday celebration luncheon was enjoyed by the Caldwell family and the St. Luke s congregation in honor of Father Caldwell s 90th birthday. Great time and food was had by all. PAGE 7
MARK YOUR AUGUST CALENDAR FOR TOWPATH DAY August 13, 10-4:00 Theme: Stepping Back in Time on the Erie Canal Free admission and parking, shuttle cart transportation from DOT. Rotary 5 K Mule Skinner Race at 9 A.M. Fun for the whole family! We will transform the Museum area into a Village Green. Artisans will surround the perimeter and center stage will include a Maypole and entertainment by the Morris Dancers, Gospel Singers and a visit by Suffragettes. "Kids stuff" will feature Make and Take, Home Depot crafts and old fashioned games. Packet boat and wagon rides will bring you along the canal. Visit the Mules. Enjoy the craft venues and demonstrations.great food and music by Diamond Someday and the Soda Ash 6. Above all, please help Bob Shafer turn ice cream at the St. Luke's booth. For more information,call Liz at 391-7020. NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO 7 CAMILLUS, NY St. Luke s Episcopal Church 5402 West Genesee Street PO Box 91 Camillus, NY 13031 A vibrant community bringing all to God s healing embrace.