2008 June Housecall

 

What is our vocation?  What is our call to mission?  At an overnight workshop and retreat at Claggett, the vestry and rector of St. Luke's had the opportunity to pray and reflect upon the question, "what is St. Luke's church called to be at this time in its history?"  We were reminded that calling and missions do not remain stagnant.  As reflected in the Monday, May 19th Forward Day By Day reading, they change.
 
As we reflected upon the wonderful past mission and ministry of the Thrift Shop, we began to realize that a change has occurred.  The need for this service to the community has lessened.  The passion to do this service has lessened. Not only were there not enough volunteers to maintain operations on a regular weekly basis, but there was no one with the passion and vitality to organize and maintain the operation.  And, it was noted that the joy of performing this service was no longer present.
 
Therefore we concluded that it was time to close this mission and use the energy, space, and time allocated to operation of the Thrift Shop to support different missions. 
 
We are thankful for the many years of Thrift Shop ministries in our community.  We are grateful for the Holy Spirit's inspiration and for the vitality the shop's creation provided within our congregation. 
 
In recognition of the wonderful work the volunteers of the Thrift Shop have done in the past, a special blessing and recognition service will take place after the 10 a.m. service on June 15th.  
 
The vestry's plan is for all merchandise to be placed on sale at our Annual Flea Market June 7th with the balance donated to the Salvation Army. 
 
The vestry and rector wish to thank all who have assisted in this wonderful mission and ministry.  May God bless the work that has been done in the past.  May God bless St. Luke's as we begin support of different missions.
 
John+

Last month I noted that we are on the threshold of an exciting new life at St. Luke's.   
 
On the following pages, you will see optimism and determination to seek or create opportunities for joy and vitality in the missions of St. Luke's.  You will see a new vestry member's response to the vestry weekend retreat/workshop at Claggett.  You will read about another vestry member's dream for the coming year.  You will see the opportunity to do good works in the form of preparing casseroles by the evolving Pastoral Committee.  And you will get to know better, a couple of our new members. 
 
Added to this month's newsletter, are the schedules for Greeters and Lay Ministers.  Those listings can also be found on our web-page for those who have internet access.  Incidentally, a new, more attractive and informative website is being developed at this time.
 
Adult education and special liturgies, such as we had during Advent and Lent, are being developed for the next twelve months.  In the fall we plan to begin with a session on Centering Prayer.  Later, we will have a program devoted to "sharing our stories" of our lives at St. Luke's.  An art appreciation presentation is expected to take place around "all soul's day." And, a program on hospitality is planned called "Entertaining Angels."
 
We, your vestry and I, believe that we are being led to new life at St. Luke's.  It may not be always easy.  Then again, it may not be hard when we are about God's work.  But, it will be challenging and exciting. 
 
John+
 

 

Our identity as Christians is founded on the faith that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to be born, to die, and to be resurrected so that we might have eternal life.  With Pentecost upon us, we have liturgically experienced the resurrection and are filled with the Holy Spirit.  This is good news.  This is joyful news.  This news is at the heart of our being.  It is the reason St. Luke's exists; it should drive every action we take.
 
Our first response to this news should be praise.  Praise is a natural consequence of overflowing joy.  We have all experienced in our lives how overwhelming joy can ignite spontaneous song, clapping, dancing, and smiling.  As Christians, such joyfulness is our right and our inheritance.  St. Luke's provides a place for this joy to burst forth into praise in community.
 
Our Church's greatest moments over the past year have been ones of joy and praise in community.  In addition to weekly worship, we have been blessed to have combined services with St. Philip's, public concerts, silent auctions for the food bank, and Lenten suppers.   We are called to do more of this in this new church year. 
 
St. Luke's is blessed in its liturgy, leadership, location, and its loving members. We have a unique identity and should embrace who we are.  We are fortunate to have many retired persons who bring a wealth of experience and spirituality to the community.  In addition to our seminary trained rector, we are privileged to have so many members trained in EFM, Cursillo, Godly Play, and Stephen Ministry.  And we can be proud to be a small church insofar as it enables us to be responsive and supportive to the needs of each member.
 
This will be a year of joyful resurrection.  We will make good use of the time and space that has been given to us by the thrift shop.  We will pursue joy in God and provide opportunities for praise and prayer to our members and to the community.  We will embrace new opportunities and allow the Holy Spirit to work through the changes that arise from being the living body of Christ.  We are a city on a hill.  From this hill, we can shout joyfully to God, sing the glory of His name, and make His praise glorious.
 
How shall we do this?  Agree with one another, live in peace, and greet one another with a holy kiss.  And, of course, trust and rejoice in the Lord.
 
Richard Smith
Vestry Member

Yvette Munnikhuysen 

 

 

Edward Robert Stofko to the Episcopal Church.  On April 13th at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Baltimore, Ed was "received" from another Christian denomination into the Episcopal Church by the Bishop.  You will see Ed actively working with the Food Bank on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as at the 10 am service on Sundays.  Ed is active in the support of staff and volunteer activities.  Welcome Ed to our community.
 
Louis Valentine who volunteered to assist our new treasurer as financial analyst and officer.  While Louis does not directly handle church monies, he does assist our treasurer by preparing monthly financial reports and analysis for the vestry.  John+ 

 

John has been attending St. Luke's since December 2006 and is an active choir member.  Music drew John to St. Luke's through the Jubilate Chorus.  He grew up as an Episcopalian and for some years has been active in several other denominations.
 
John was born in 1927 in Sandusky, Ohio near Lake Erie.  His parents came from England as young children.  When he tried out for the high school football team as a "skinny runt of about 125 pounds," the coach was afraid for John and advised him to try out for swimming or track.  He did both.  John enlisted in the Navy at age 18 immediately after high school before he would be drafted.  He shipped out after one week to Great Lakes Base then on to California where he went right onto a ship returning from the Pacific Theater.  They took it through the Panama Canal and on to Long Island for decommissioning.  It was exciting for this 18-year-old to be on that trip with those returning from overseas military duty.
 
After the Navy, John returned to Sandusky for college on the GI bill, which he considered a "gift from the Almighty" as his father had died suddenly when John was a freshman in high school, and funds were limited.  His goal was to be an electrical engineer, but he was warned that there would be no jobs except for those at the top of the class as so many GIs were graduating.  He became a high school science teacher and coached football.  It was there that he met his late wife in drama work.
 
John left high school teaching and worked the graveyard shift at the Scott Paper Company with the promise that after one year he would go to Philadelphia and be a research chemist.  The first 15 years of his 31 with Scott were in the Research Division.  While there, he was in a TV commercial that played nationally on Masterpiece Theatre.  Some of his former students recognized him and phoned him.  John chose to leave the field of science as he discovered he liked work in Human Resources.  He liked performance appraisal and employee training.  Organizational training led to a Master's in Business Administration and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior.
 
In the 1970s recession, companies cut the job force by 50% so John chose early buy-out and set out on his own to teach at the University level.  He was a Dale Carnegie instructor for 20 years and had taught at a couple of universities while at Scott.  He has taught in the undergraduate programs at Villa Julie College and John Hopkins and for 12 years at Goucher College in the graduate program.
 
John has a son and daughter, both adopted as infants.  He has three grandchildren and two great-grandsons.  They all live near his cottage outside of Elkton, MD.  It is there he enjoys gardening and his paper-arts hobby as he makes paper with various fibers and uses creative techniques with the paper.  He is an avid swimmer and has been with Master Swimmers since 1988.  Now, he is the youngest kid on the block in the 80-84 year group.  His newest interest is CLOWNING.  John would like to use it as a ministry to old and young when he is ready.
 
Singing memories go back to childhood days of singing duets in church with his grandfather.  Other volunteer activities have included leadership with Scouts and the Big Brother Association and now as a member with the local Center for Transformation, a healing arts group.
 
John has long wanted to write a book building on his doctoral dissertation topic, "Later Life Career Transition."  His book, Energetic Coaching, Being and Doing with Spirit, was recently published.  Coaching, in this context, is working with individuals or small groups, such as an office staff, who have done well but reached a plateau and need someone to guide them through a stagnant period-helping them achieve a level of success with a strong passion for what they are doing.  It has to do with relationship issues, with oneself, with another, with a community.  Why am I here?  What do I truly want to have?  How can I hear and know my inner voice?  John introduces the spirituality aspect to coaching, a human spiritual quality though not necessarily a religious spirituality.
 
John's life goal is "to be of service to self and others with a sense of love, peace and happiness-being on a path of ascension to mastery in this lifetime."
 
THANK YOU, JOHN.  We are old and young, and you can bring us your clowning.  However, conversation time is any old time.
 
Helen Wheeler

 

TIPS from DIANNE--BEE STINGS

I received an e-mail today suggesting the use of a copper penny to reduce the pain and inflammation from bee stings.  I decided to research scientific evidence for that remedy. I did not find any supporting data.  However, I did think a reminder about bee stings might be in order this month.
 
In the United States, 3 or 4 more people die from bee stings than snake bites (about 100 each year).  Although the average adult could withstand 1,000 stings (a child/500) to be fatal, one sting can cause death for someone allergic to bee venom.  This person would experience an anaphylactic reaction-a life-threatening allergic reaction in which the blood pressure drops and the airway closes.
 
Ordinarily, if you get stung, you will experience hot pain at the site and up to two inches of swelling and redness. Remove the stinger at once (trying not to squeeze the area) by scraping the barbed stinger with your finger nail or another flat edged object (credit card).  Apply ice for 10-15 minutes then apply an antihistamine, analgesic or cortisone topical cream.  You may want to take an OTC anti-histamine like Benadryl.  However, if you have excessive swelling beyond the site of the attack (especially with stings to the face, neck and head), have difficulty breathing, or find yourself wheezing and feeling dizzy, CALL 911 immediately.
 
People who know they are allergic to bees should always carry a preloaded syringe of epinephrine, which blocks allergic reactions.  Some people undergo desensitization to help prevent future reactions.  Ask your primary physician or allergist about this treatment. 
 
Dianne Crews