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St. Luke's Episcopal Church
1101 Bay Ridge Avenue
Annapolis, MD 21403
www.stlukeseastport.org
410-268-5419
e-mail: stlukes_2@netzero.com
The Rt. Rev. John L Rabb, Bishop-In-Charge
Parish Staff
The Rev. John T. Smith, Rector
The Rev. Charles E. Wilkerson, Deacon
Karen K. del Real, Secretary
Services
8:00 am Sunday: Holy Eucharist, Rite I
9:45 am Sunday: Children's School
10:00 am Sunday: Holy Eucharist, Rite II
1st Sunday of the Month:
10 am Family Service
3rd Sunday of the Month:
Holy Eucharist, Rite II with Healing Rite
Senior Warden
Jay Munnikhuysen
Junior Warden
Mark Talbott
Treasurer
David Forslind
Assistant Treasurers
James Victor, Margaret Eder, Jeanette Delgado
Registrar
Helen Leitch
Ministry Contacts
Altar Guild: Jackie Walden (443-482-9665)
Communications: David Dent (410-956-8839)
Education: The Rev. Charles Wilkerson (410-721-2073)
Gardening & Grounds: Jackie Walden (443-482-9665)
Lay Ministries, Acolytes, Lay Readers: The Rev. Charles Wilkerson (410-721-2073)
Lighthouse Lunches: Mary Beth Dent (410-267-9394)
Memorial Garden: Helen Leitch (410-263-2783)
Nursing Home: Helen Leitch (410-263-2783)
Thrift Shop: Dawn Moorhead (410-268-2445)
Usher/Greeter: Jay Munnikhuysen (410-263-1984)
Office Open:
Tue - Fri: 9 am - Noon
Food Bank:
Tue & Thurs: 10 am - Noon
Thrift Shop:
Friday,10 am-3 pm
Saturday, 10 am - Noon |
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Spaghetti Dinner
With Chuck's Special Sauce
Tuesday, October 2nd
4:30-7 pm
Adults $ 7.00
Children under 12, $3.50
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Blessing of the Animals
Our Second Annual Blessing of the Animals will be held on Sunday, October 7th at 3 pm (rain date October 14th). We are looking for volunteers to set up and to bring baked goods for our bake table, proceeds of which will benefit the SPCA.
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October
Anniversaries
5 Jack and Helen Wheeler
13 Chuck and Phyllis Suhr
October Birthdays
6 Tom Leitch
11 Mary Meade
14 Henry Clay Robbins
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Lessons for October's Wednesday Night Bible Study
October 3rdReadings:
Lamentations 1:1-6
Psalm 137
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Luke 17:5-10
October 10th Readings:
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
Psalm 66:1-11
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Luke 17:11-19
October 17th Readings:
Jeremiah 31:27-34
Psalm 119:97-104
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
Luke 18:1-8
October 24th Readings:
Joel 2:23-32
Psalm 65
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Luke 18:9-14
October 31st Readings:
Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4
Psalm 119: 137-144
2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12
Luke 19:1-10
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Reflections by Bishop Rabb on the House of Bishops meeting in New Orleans may be seen on the Diocesan website www.ang-md.org |
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Bishop's Representative to Visit
Canon Mary Glaspool will make her official visit as the Bishop's representative on Sunday, October 14th. She will visit with the congregation after the 10 am Service at the Coffee Hour and enjoy lunch with the Vestry. Please come and visit with our Bishop's representative.
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St. James' Parish Fall Festival
Lothian, MD
October 6, 2007
2-6 pm
Country Ham and Oyster Dinner
Homemade Pies for Dessert
Adults $18
Bake Sale, Country Store, Craft Table,
Plant Sale (pansies, mums, etc.)
Children's Activities (moon bounce, carnival games)
Face Painting and Hot Dog Stand
and Much More!
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Prayer List
Margaret Eder; Iona Ogilive (Margaret Eder's sister); Peter Kushubar; Dr. Reginald J. Stambaugh (Valerie Robbins' father); Aiyanna; Philip Greig; Noel Rioux; Muriel Mondk; Judy Schwimmer; Nicole Lewis; Ned Hall; Stas Giermek; Dale Stringer; Phil Rosinski; Tommie Scott; Deacon Charles; and Bill Stratton.
Faithfully departed: Joey Stone; Joanne McIntosh (Dianne Crews' sister); and the Rev. Chris Lee.
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Having the summer to reflect on my ministry and the ministry at St. Luke's, certain facts stood out concerning our growth. Certain solutions evolved to address our future together.
When I arrived five years ago, we had an average Sunday attendance of 59. That grew until two years ago to 71. Last year, our average attendance dropped to 69. It appears to be declining still.
In the Profile of the Diocese of Maryland* (pg. 5), St. Luke's is not the only church shrinking in size. Other churches are cutting budgets or asking the diocese to help. Some are beginning a serious program of evangelizing. But, as stated in the profile of Maryland churches, what is necessary is that "Churches are looking for vision, identity, and an authentically Episcopal voice to proclaim the Gospel to the world around them."
That profile (pg16) also states that "As a church we are challenged to articulate who we are, what we believe, where authority resides and to live with a high level of ambiguity in all our answers."
By coincidence, the May/June Vestry Paper article "By the Numbers" noted that "we can see that while the Episcopal Church's overall membership is trending downward, there are certain practices and understandings we can adopt for further growth. More important than any particular theological bent, is, in fact, a sense of mission for the parish. Growing congregations are clear about why they exist and what they should be doing."
I believe this is the key to St. Luke's future: to be clear about why we exist and what we should be doing.
I outlined what is known as a "Vision Action Plan" which not only indicates specifically the ministry to which I believe God is calling us but also outlined the means and resources, financially and otherwise, sufficient to accomplish that ministry.
This I have shared with your vestry. Your vestry in turn proposed certain actions they believe we need to do to prosper together as rector vestry and congregation.
These suggested plans, along with the analysis of the church survey conducted over the summer will be discussed at length at a vestry retreat scheduled for within the month.
We, the vestry and I, hope to present to the congregation in the near future, our work toward vision, identity, and an authentically Episcopal voice to proclaim the Gospel to the world around us.
We look forward to sharing with you the results of our efforts and look forward to working with you to do those things we believe God is calling us to do.
John+ |
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Highlights from the September Vestry Meeting
Fr. John opened the Vestry meeting with prayer and invited discussion that followed.
The telephone tree is being updated and progress is being made on a new church directory as a result of friends and members completing informational papers that include how they prefer to be contacted. Thanks to Peter Crews and to Mark Talbott for helping with photos for the directory. Dianne Crews is the Vestry member coordinating these communication tools.
Bill Jabine presented his rough draft of a brochure on St. Luke's for visitors and new members. Bill's draft will have graphics added by Mark Talbott and the rough of the text with graphics will be ready for review by October.
The Treasurer's Report was read and accepted. (A summary of finances appears elsewhere in this month's House Call.)
Fr. John formally announced that he has hired Karen Del Real as our office secretary.
The vestry decided on a new church sign for the front yard until a permanent one is selected. Sheila Mackertich is finalizing the order.
Bill Jabine is our delegate to convention for 2008. Our procedure is to have an alternate in place now and for the alternate delegate to replace Bill for 2009. We need a volunteer for alternate delegate.
The proposed stewardship campaign plan developed by chair, Yvette Munnikhuysen, was presented to the vestry by Dianne Crews in Yvette's absence. The proposed plan will run through the final quarter of 2007 and was greeted with enthusiasm by the vestry.
The food bank remains a major focus for the vestry. Shannon Talbott is investigating options for participation. Shannon assures us that the demands for food are continually increasing.
Dianne Crews closed our meeting with our prayer for discernment.
In attendance: Fr. John, Helen Leitch, Registrar, Peter Gavian, Bill Jabine, Shannon Talbott, Sue Riley, Dianne Crews, and David Dent.
Sue Riley
Vestry Member |
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Review of Finances
A review of the Treasurer's Report revealed that total ordinary income is $12,000 under budget through August (prorated by days). A broader perspective shows this shortfall offset by other unrestricted income (unexpected major gift of $19,000 earlier this year) and lower than budgeted operating expenses.
Pledge payments continue their trend under budget. Income for 8 months through August is $12,000 below budget to date. August alone is 5.8% of the year's budget (last August was 8.2% of the year's total actual income). Cash has been transferred from T. Rowe Price unrestricted reserves to cover disbursements through August.
Thrift Shop gifts remain under a prorated $8,700 budget by almost $2,000. Early September receipts include another $1,000, but the Thrift Shop bank account needs to be closed to transfer the balance of over $1,500 to the church.
Restricted fund balances in total show no significant change from the end of July ($22,000). The Vestry should be sensitive, however, to the reducing Building Fund balance (from $28,000 at the beginning of the year). Just over $1,000 has been contributed to this fund through August. Disbursements for fees in connection to a land sale and new sanctuary totaling almost $17,000 have reduced the Building Fund to $13,000. (The Building Fund is restricted in use solely to plan and build a new sanctuary for St. Luke's - expenses include research, analysis, planning and eventual construction.)
Sue Riley |
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Monday Prayer Vigils at St. Luke's
All Episcopalians are asked to join with the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq to pray intentionally and communally on Mondays for peace in Iraq and around the world, for an end to violence, and for God's help in finding ways to deal with dissent and differences. Our Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, Mennonite, and Pentecostal brothers and sisters will be praying Tuesdays through Saturdays.
At St. Luke's, we will be open for individual and communal Prayers for Peace on Mondays at 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. beginning October 8th. Whether you can remain during the entire time or whether you can only stay for a few minutes, you are encouraged to take some time out from your Mondays to pray for peace. There will be ample time set aside for both private and communal prayers.
Feel free to invite neighbors and friends to join us in Prayers for Peace in Iraq on Mondays at 12:15 p.m.
Deacon Charles+
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Christian Formation for Children and Youth
Christian Formation for Children and Youth at St. Luke's began September 23 at 9:45 a.m. for the current school year! St. Luke's continues with two classes: Godly Play for children ages 3 years to middle school and Intermediate for the Middle and High School aged youth. Godly Play continues to be taught by Valerie Robbins, Katharine Dowell, and Mary Beth Dent with Jennifer Wang as "door keeper." David Dent is instructor for the Intermediate class.
Intermediate Class hopes to be involved in some inter-parochial activities with St. Anne's and St. James' young people. On the horizon is a "Lock-In" set for October 27th. This will be for both Middle and Senior High youth.
Barbara Smith has taken on the ministry of the "Busy Bags," which may be used by children who prefer to remain with parents. She will keep the bags supplied with seasonal materials.
Mary Beth Dent attended a half day workshop for Sunday School Directors at the Diocesan Center early in September and came back with a great deal of material to share.
On October 5th there will be a Commissioning Service for the Christian Formation staff. The first Sunday of each month will be a Family Service where children are encouraged to attend services with their parents. Sermon time will be led by the Story Tellers (a.k.a. teachers) using Godly Play materials and interactive ponderings. We hope also to have some youth participation for readings and offerings and maybe even some special music. Stay tuned!!
Mary Beth Dent |
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Greater Annapolis Interfaith Network
The Greater Annapolis Interfaith Network (GAIN) is sponsoring a Festival of Faith Communities and Good Works at the Boys and Girls Club of Annapolis, on Sunday, October 28 from 2pm to 5pm. Over 25 communities of faith and non-profit service organizations have already signed on to be present, and we are looking forward to more! There will be continuous entertainment and good food. It will be a totally free celebration for the whole family to enjoy. Please come and join in the festivities!
GAIN began several years ago as Churches Without Boundaries, an inter-faith organization founded to work for equity and justice for all in the Greater Annapolis community. Church leaders from Asbury United Methodist, St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran, and St. Mary's Roman Catholic Churches came together in an attempt to increase effectiveness in addressing the many challenges facing our community through inter-faith cooperation and communication. Today, 18 diverse faith-based communities make up this organization. St. Luke's has had a representative participating for a number of years. Currently, Dianne Crews has been actively involved. The name was changed to GAIN in recognition of its expansion to include religious communities that do not refer to their places of worship as churches. The focus of GAIN has been to facilitate inter-faith awareness and cooperation in order to increase the effectiveness of the vital role religious groups play in the community, with a focus on root causes of inequities. Areas identified as key challenges include affordable housing, drug prevention and treatment, education, health care, and youth recreation.
As an inclusive group, GAIN welcomes all faith group members and citizen advocates to participate in a collaborative dialogue and advocacy ministry to improve the quality of life for all in our community, and to bring about just opportunities for all children of God. As we seek to do justice in the Annapolis region, we are called to proclaim the Good News in a variety of languages and foster a deeper respect for the origins of others. The goal of the October Festival is to create networking and partnerships to increase the impact of each faith community's activities, by bringing together members of the Annapolis-area faith communities, other community organizations and the general public.
Dianne Crews
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Lay Ministry Schedule for October 2007
October 7
LEMs: Jay and Yvette Munnikuysen
Lector: David Scott
Intercessor: Richard Smith
October 14
LEMs: Barbara Smith, Sue Riley
Lector: Patricia Forslind
Intercessor: Alice Hall
October 21
LEMs: Hutch Robbins, Andy Dowell
Lector: Mary Ann Kushubar
Intercessor: Mark Talbott
October 28
LEMs: Dawn Moorehead, Barbara Smith
Lector: Dianne Crews
Intercessor: Mary Ann Kushubar
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October 2007 Calendar
The monthly calendars will be available soon online at our website, www.stlukeseastport.org, or paper copies are always available at the office.
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NEXT ISSUE
The deadline for articles or announcements for the November House Call is Monday, October 22nd. Your submission may be left at the office or e-mailed to Karen del Real at karen.delreal@verizon.net. | |
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