Father in Heaven, Keep Before Us the Larger Goals

The Vestry's monthly meeting was Tuesday, June 19th.  This report is meant to convey to our readers the things that were in our hearts and minds during the meeting.

Thanks be to God that the roof on the Rectory can be replaced this summer.  This particular stewardship of our property was postponed last year and was budgeted for this current year.  Keep an eye on the sky for this work to be completed.

Further, on stewardship, we learned that our pledging income is lower YTD than in 2006; however, the Treasurer opines that if our income remains steady, we can come in $11,000 under budget.

Yvette Munnikhuysen volunteered to be our stewardship chair this year.  Yvette and her husband, Jay, our Senior Warden, attended a stewardship workshop at Claggett in June.  Jay reported that the workshop was outstanding.  We have grateful hearts knowing that we have in place a chairperson who is called to serve God in this place.

Sheila Mackertich has filled the Vestry vacancy created by the May resignation of Mary Frances Coleman.  

Food for those in need is distributed from St. Luke's every Tuesday and Thursday mornings between 10 am and Noon.  Volunteers are needed to literally hand the food to our brothers and sisters who come to this food bank.  This is a vital outreach in our community, and we are praying for additional involvement;    John Wesley Methodist Church, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, and the Eastport Methodist Church partner with us in this ministry.

Our collected food products are stored at the Eastport Methodist Church that has a larger facility.  "Lukers" who are called to this ministry "bag" the food at the Methodist Church across the street and carry the bags to St. Luke's for weekly distribution.  More hands are needed to help with this on Mondays and/or Tuesdays.  If you feel called to serve the Lord in this way, speak with any member of the Vestry or Deacon Charles.

Our original Property Research Committee, chaired by Chuck Suhr, has completed its mission.   A Negotiation Committee is being established by the Vestry with a charge to negotiate the best stewardship opportunity for our church.  This committee will make a recommendation to the Vestry.  Although the Vestry has the ultimate approval on negotiations, this committee will provide the congregation with contact information in hopes of receiving feedback through discussion as well as through the written surveys.  Friends and members of St. Luke's are urged to make known their needs and desires. 

Reminders. . . . .

Vestry meetings are open to all.

The Vestry meets at 7:30 p.m., at the church, the third Tuesday of each month.

Vestry members were chosen by vote by all of us.  They are Bill Jabine, Peter Gavigan, David Dent, Shannon Talbot, Dawn Morehead, Sheila Mackertich, Sue Riley, Jay Munnikhuysen, and Dianne Crews.  The officers who routinely attend our meetings are Helen Leitch, Registrar and David Forslind, Treasurer.  All are happy to hear your thoughts and to share information.  Catch any of us at church or call on us during the week. 

All of us call upon God to help us keep before us our larger goals.

Sue Riley, Vestry Member

All members of St. Luke's Church should soon be receiving by mail a copy of the church planning survey.  A letter of instruction will accompany the survey, which we expect to mail by Monday, June 25, 2007.  If you do not receive your copy, please contact Jay Munnikhuysen at 410-263-1984 and another copy will be mailed to you.  The Surveys should be mailed or dropped off at St. Luke's by July 15, 2007.

The annual Flea Market fundraiser was a great success again this year, thanks to the efforts of Jeanette Delgado and her loyal band of volunteers.  The fundraiser takes a lot of energy from many people to successfully put on each year.  Organization efforts start weeks in advance of the sale.  During the final week, volunteers help to gather and price donations that seem to almost magically arrive at the Church from members of the parish and others.  On the day of the sale, workers gather at 6 am to start setting up tables, tents, and carrying all of the sorted and priced items to their respective location, where more volunteers called "Cashiers" sell each item.  This year, a food tent (manned by Chef Mark Talbott) was established by Jeanette, as was a raffle table.  The crowd seemed to be down from past sales; nevertheless, we set a new income record, the proceeds from which go toward church outreach and operating expenses.  Thanks go to all of those who worked so hard to make this event a success.  

I am pleased to announce two musical events coming up soon at St. Luke's.  Mark your calendar for these events and plan to come early to get a good seat!

Sunday, July 8th, 4 pm, Festival of Hymns.  The choirs of St. Phillip's and Jubilate will join our choir for this musical presentation.  There will be music for choir, congregation and a piano-organ duet.

Sunday, August 5th, 4 pm, Organ Concert.  I am honored to announce that Justus Parrotta, former student of Donald Sutherland at the Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University will perform on our new organ.  Prior to Peabody, Mr. Parrotta was a student of Dr. Dale Krider, Organist and Choirmaster at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, College Park, MD.  This concert is sure to have music that you will enjoy!  The Music Department suggests a donation of $10 per person for this event.  Donations are not mandatory.  A reception will follow this event in the Parish Hall.

Adam S. Graham, Director of Music and Organist

Sunday, June 24th marked the last day of Godly Play and Intermediate Class in the St. Luke's Youth Christian Formation Program for the academic year. For the past two weeks, the combined classes have been involved in work understanding the great mystery of the Eucharistic Celebration.   The adult leaders and children then celebrated with a picnic accompanied by games on the lawn of the church. The parish family was invited to join in the celebration. 

St. Luke's owes a tremendous gratitude to the dedicated adult leaders of our two youth programs.  These adults spend considerable time in preparation each week, which includes study, reflection and prayer on their part, as well as passionate commitment to the young people of our parish.  Certainly, St. Luke's can be proud of our programs. Please take time to speak to the teachers and to the children about what they have been doing all this year in classes. 

Many, many, thanks, to David Dent, Katharine and Andy Dowell, Mary Beth Dent, Valerie and Hutch Robbins, Barbara Smith, Chris Leitch and Jennifer Wang.  Thanks, too, to Deacon Charles who is our advisor.  Thank you to Helen Wheeler whose experience has been offered as well.

During July, a program of different design will be made available in the undercroft for children during the 10:00 a.m. service time.  Valerie Robbins and Helen Wheeler are working together on this project.    In August, we hope children will attend church with their parents whenever possible.  Our teachers need a bit of a break and time to regroup.

We have been in touch with Dan Randazzo, the Youth Minister at St. Anne's, in regard to including our middle high young people in some joint activities with the St. Anne's youth in the fall.  More about that in the fall!

July 29

8 am--Deacon Charles (Communion from the Reserved Sacrament)

10 am--The Rev. Kenneth Polglase (Celebrant), Deacon Charles (Preacher)

* Deacon Charles will be conducting services at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church in Hancock, Maryland.  He will be out of town from July 12 through July 16.  In case of a pastoral emergency, the Sr. Warden or the Secretary will contact The Rev. Stewart Lucas.

July 1           

LEMs:                Mary Beth Dent and Andy Dowell

Lector:               Dianne Crews

Intercessor:      David Dent

July 8     

LEMs:                Dawn Moorehead and Sue Riley

Lector:               Patricia Forslind

Intercessor:      Alice Hall

July 15          

LEMs:                Yvette and Jay Munnikhuysen

Lector:               Hutch Robbins

Intercessor:      MaryAnn Kushubar

July 22          

LEMs:                Sue Riley and Andy Dowell

Lector:               Martha Odell

Intercessor:      Richard Smith

July 29          

LEMs:                Mary Beth Dent and Hutch Robbins

Lector:               Alice Hall

Intercessor:      Mark Talbott

Jesus of Nazareth:  From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration, Pope Benedict XVI

This excellent book, which is receiving a great deal of publicity, is ecumenically Christian, and reads like a spiritual mystery story.  Although the Pope is formidable scholar, this is a very personal book, and is never preachy or self-consciously academic.  The foundation that under girds the book is the Jesus of the Gospels.  Pope Benedict tells us in the foreword . . ."I trust the Gospels."

In this book, the Pope is a spiritual pilgrim searching for answers to the questions that all Christians have.  As the Pope portrays Him, Jesus is the heavenly man, in contrast to Adam, the earthly man.  Jesus is the suffering servant who sees service as the true form of rule.  He is the sinless one who bears the burden of all humanity's sins, and He is the embodiment of the Father's love for us, consubstantial with the Father.  Jesus preferred the term "Son of Man" for Himself.  "In the Son of man, man is revealed as he truly ought to be," the Pope writes.  I highly recommend the Pope's book, which is well-written, compelling and full of biblical allusions from the Old Testament that help us better understand the Jesus of Nazareth we worship.  The book would be an excellent choice for a church discussion group.

Reviewed by Peggy Eastman