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TRANSCRIPT
The In-Between Times
A Newsletter of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
June/July 2018
In This Issue
1 The Most Reverend Michael
Bruce Curry’s sermon at the
Royal Wedding
- Father Earl Mahan
2 Services, Birthdays,
Anniversaries, Financial
report
3
4
Bishop Michael Curry's Royal
Wedding Sermon: Full Text Of
'The Power Of Love'
Page 3 continued,
Preschool Graduation 2018
5 June/July Calendar 2018
6
7
Deacon Dayna, Vestry Meet-
ing Minutes, Scholarship
Foundation Recipients
Samaritan Ministries™,
events, Lifeline Screenings
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 444 Brightfield Trail
Manchester, MO 63021
636-227-1227
www.stlukesec.org
e-mail: [email protected]
From Our Priest-
“Someone once said that Jesus began the most revolutionary movement in all of human history. A movement grounded in the unconditional love of God for the world. And a movement mandating people to live that love. And in so doing, to change not only their lives, but the very life of the world itself.”
The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, or away on an extended vacation to some remote place where TV, radio, the internet, and cell phones don’t work, you’ve no doubt heard about the sermon. On Saturday, May 19th, at the royal wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Harry of Wales & Ms. Meghan Markle, a previously unknown to most of the world preacher by the name of Michael Curry preached a sermon to a worldwide viewing audi-ence of 2 billion people that did something sermons are not generally known for doing these days. People sat up and paid attention.
According to Google, Bishop Michael Curry was the 10th highest trending search in the United States, on Saturday. Let me say that again, The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church was the 10th most common search on Google this past Saturday! Let that sink in for a minute.
As I write this newsletter article, four days have passed since the royal nuptials. In that time, Bishop Curry has made the rounds on virtually all the media outlets – CNN, Fox, MSNBC, Today, Good Morning America, The View, and probably more (I’ve lost track.) – AND, perhaps the most telling sign that this moment of public relations bliss is for real – Bishop Curry was parodied on Saturday Night Live.
Episcopalians and Anglicans, along with the handful of other people who DID know who Bishop Curry was before the royal wedding, are positively giddy with excitement. Face-book and social media are enthralled with not only the bishop, but more importantly with the message of his sermon. It is not an exaggeration to say that a moment like this, in which the Episcopal Church is on the minds and the lips of so many people, may never again happen in our lifetime. So, my friends, what shall we do with a moment such as this?
What made the Bishop’s sermon so powerful was its message of the power of Love to change the world. We’ve included the full text of Bishop Curry’s sermon here in the newsletter. I’m sure many of you heard him preach, but I encourage you to go back and read his sermon as well. Listen to what he has to say and ask yourself what it is about this sermon that has caused such a response in the hearts and minds of so many people around the world.
I believe the Bishop’s sermon tapped into a hunger that people of many cultures and back-grounds have for a message that offers hope in the midst of despair, light in the midst of darkness, and joy in the midst of sadness. People long for truth and they know it when they hear it. People are tired of agendas, political or otherwise, that are blatantly unjust and self-serving, pandering to the basest of human motives and instincts. People have grown weary of violence and war, hatred and intolerance in all its forms. Yes, people have had enough.
Earlier, I posed the question, “What shall we do with a moment such as this?” In one sense, the answer to that question demands fresh thinking and new strategies, a bold will-ingness to reach out to the world with the message of God’s never failing love in ways we’ve never tried before. On the other hand, the answer to the question is to, likewise, keep on doing what we, the followers of Jesus, have always been called to do.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength… and love your neighbor. As our good bishop knows all too well, that message always has and always will have the power to change the world.
Peace,
Fr. C. Earl Mahan
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June 3– The Second Sunday after Pentecost
Altar Guild: Kathy Joslin, Cynthia Farrar
Lectors/EM: Dennis Farrar, Kathy Joslin, Deacon Dayna Usher: Jim Imrie
Readings: Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Psalm 81:1-10; 2 Corinthians 4:5-12; Mark 2:23-3:6
June 10 – The Third Sunday after Pentecost
Altar Guild: Kaye Weerts, Marcia Imrie Lectors/EM: Chris Sturgeon, Bruce Ward, Deacon Dayna Usher: Phil Davis Readings: Genesis 3:8-15; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35
June 17 – The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Altar Guild: Linda Bell, Wendy Wirkus
Lectors/EM: Wendy Wirkus, Dave Miller, Deacon Dayna
Usher: Julie Ray
Readings: Ezekiel 17:22-24; Psalm 92:1-4,11-14; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10,[11-13],14-17; Mark 4:26-34
June 24 – The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Altar Guild: Linda Bell, Wendy Wirkus Lectors/EM: Marion Lyons-Koch, Roger Koch, Deacon Dayna
Usher: Cynthia Farrar Readings: Job 38:1-11; Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41
June Birthdays 4 – Rola Sarkyssian 5 – Samuel Sturgeon
10 - Ruth Vaughn 14 – Barb Lommen
16 - Augustine Pettus 27 - Sophia & Isaiah Rose
June Anniversaries
4 - Tom & Julie Marshall 10 - Steve & Darah Imrie
July Birthdays 4 – Luke Warren 8 - Carol Guarino
9 - Paul Novak 16 - Stacy Androuais
19 - Jennifer Nolan 27 - Jeani Ward
28 - Dominic Androuais 29 - Dennis Rumley
July Anniversaries
1 - Veryl & John Alexander 5 - Sabi & Firyal Sarkyssian
June Circle of Concern Donations
The monthly food donations are taken to the Circle of Concern, a food pantry located in Valley Park. Needed are: Canned vegeta-
bles, Canned fruit, Boxed cereal, Dessert mixes.
Circle of Concern accepts Personal Hygiene items: Bars of soap, Toilet paper, Shampoo, Conditioner, Lotion, Feminine hygiene products, Diapers,
Pull-Ups, Adult diapers.
Please place your donations in the red plastic container in the narthex. Thank you.
Year to date Financials April 2018
Full reports will be available in the church office
Receipts Actual Budget
Pledges $6,265 $6,800
Plate Offerings $1,022 $1,050
Holy Day $1,283 $1,000
Preschool $1,200 $1,200
Building Use $1,020 $390
Other $566 _
Total Receipts $10,476 $10,300
Expenses Actual Budget
Salaries/
Housing $6,873 $7,068
Office $1,349 $660
Utilities $1,827 $1,245
Mortgage/Tax $39 -
Insurance - -
Program
Materials - -
Maintenance $7 $450
Outreach/
Preschool - -
Diocesan
Pledge - -
Total
Disbursements $15,352 $14,697
ARTS, CRAFTS, AND OTHER INTERESTS FOR FALL FESTIVAL
Do you, or do you know someone, who creates goods or has a hobby that should be showcased at a festival? We will be looking for show-casers for the Fall Festival in the coming months, and booth/display information is also forthcoming. If you know someone who might be interested, please see Julie Nguyen, Barb Rumley, Phil Davis, or Father Earl for more information.
3
And now in the name of our loving, liberating, and life-giving God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
From the Song of Solomon, in the Bible: Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is (as) strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it (out). Song of Songs 8:6-7
The late Dr. Martin Luther King once said, and I quote: “We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way.”
There’s power in love. Don’t underestimate it. Don’t even over-sentimentalize it. There’s power, power in love.
If you don’t believe me, think about a time when you first fell in love. The whole world seemed to center around you, and your be-loved.
Oh, there’s power, power in love. Not just in its romantic forms, but any form, any shape, of love. There’s a certain sense, in which when you are loved, and you know it, when someone cares for you and you know it, when you love and you show it, it actually feels right.
There’s something right about it. And there’s a reason for it.
The reason has to do with the source. We were made by a power of love. And our lives were meant, and are meant to be lived in that love. That’s why we are here.
Ultimately the source of love is God himself. The source of all of our lives. As an old medieval poem puts it: “Where true love is found, God himself is there.”
1st John in the New Testament says it this way. “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; Everyone who loves is born of God. Whoever does not love does not know God For God is love.” (1John 4:4-8)
There’s power in love. There’s power in love to help and heal when nothing else can.
There’s power in love to lift up and liberate when nothing else will.
There’s power in love to show us the way to live
“Set me as a seal on your heart A seal on your arm”, for love, it’s as strong as death.
But love is not only about a young couple. Now the power of love is demonstrated by the fact that we’re all here. Two young people fell in love, and we all showed up!
But it’s not just for and about a young couple who we rejoice with. It’s more than that.
Jesus of Nazareth on one occasion was asked by a lawyer to sum up the essence of the teachings of Moses. And he read back, and reached back into the Hebrew scriptures to Deuteronomy and Leviticus, and Jesus said: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength. This is the first, and great commandment. And the second is like it. Love your neighbor
as yourself.”
And then in Matthew’s version, he added, he said: “On these two, love of God and love of neighbor, hang all the law, all the prophets, everything that Moses wrote, everything in the holy prophets, every-thing in the Scriptures, everything that God has been trying to tell the world! Love God! Love your neighbors. And while you’re at it, love yourself.”
Someone once said that Jesus began the most revolutionary move-ment in all of human history.
A movement grounded in the unconditional love of God for the world. And a movement mandating people to live that love. And in so doing, to change not only their lives, but the very life of the world itself.
I’m talking about some power. Real power. Power to change the world.
And if you don’t believe me, well, there were some old slaves in America’s Antebellum South, who explained the dynamic power of love and why it has the power to transform. They explained it this way – they sang a spiritual, even in the midst of their captivity. It’s one that says: ‘There is a balm in Gilead’ a healing balm, something that can make things right –
“There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole, there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.”
And one of the stanzas actually explains why – they said: ‘If you cannot preach like Peter, and you cannot pray like Paul, you tell the love of Jesus, how he died to save us all.”’
Oh, that’s the balm in Gilead! This way of love, it is the way of life! They got it! He died to save us all!
He didn’t die for anything he could get out of it! Jesus did not get an honorary doctorate for dying! He didn’t...he wasn’t getting anything out of it! He gave up his life, he sacrificed his life for the good of oth-ers, for the good of the other, for the well-being of the world, for us.
That’s what love is. Love is not selfish and self-centered. Love can be sacrificial, and in so doing, becomes redemptive. And that way of unselfish, sacrificial, redemptive love, changes lives, and it can change this world.
If you don’t believe me, just stop and think, or imagine. Think, and imagine a world where love is the way.
Imagine our homes and families where love is the way. Imagine neighborhoods and communities where love is the way.
Imagine our governments and nations where love is the way.
Imagine business and commerce where love is the way.
Imagine this tired old world where love is the way. When love is the way, unselfish, sacrificial, redemptive.
When love is the way, then no child would go to bed hungry in this world ever again.
(continued on page 4)
“The Power of Love”— A Sermon by the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry for The Marriage of HRH Prince Henry of Wales & Ms. Meghan Markle, Saturday, May 19, 2018
4
(continued from page 3)
When love is the way, we will let justice roll down like a mighty stream and righteousness like an ever-flowing brook.
When love is the way, poverty would become history. When love is the way, the earth will be a sanctuary.
When love is the way, we will lay down our swords and shields down by the riverside to study war no more.
When love is the way, there’s plenty good room. Plenty good room - for all of God’s children.
And when love is the way, we actually treat each other, well...like we’re actually family.
When love is the way, we know that God is the source of us all, and we are brothers and sisters. Children of God.
My brothers and sisters, that’s a new heaven, a new earth, a new world, a new human family.
And let me tell you something, old Solomon was right in the Old Tes-tament, that’s fire.
Teilhard de Chardin – and with this, I will sit down, we gotta get you all married. French Jesuit Teilhard de Chardin was arguably one of the great minds, great spirits of the 20th century. A Jesuit, Roman Catholic priest, a scientist, a scholar, a mystic. In some of his writ-ings he said, from his scientific background, as well as his theological one. Some of his writings he said, as others have, that the discovery, or invention, or harnessing of fire was one of the great scientific and technological discoveries in all of human history.
Fire to a great extent made human civilization possible. Fire made it possible to cook food, and to provide sanitary ways of eating, which reduced the spread of disease in its time.
Fire made it possible to heat and warm environments and thereby made human migration around the world a possibility, even into cold-er climates.
Fire made it possible – there was no Bronze Age without fire, no Iron Age without fire, no Industrial Revolution without fire.
The advances of science and technology are greatly dependent on the human ability and capacity to take fire and use it for human good.
Anybody get here in a car today? An automobile? Nod your heads if you did, I’m guessing, I know there were some carriages. For those of us who came in cars, fire, and the controlled, harnessed fire - made that possible.
I know that the Bible says, and I believe it, that Jesus walked on the water, but I have to tell you, I didn’t walk across the Atlantic Ocean to get here!
Controlled fire in that plane got me here, Fire makes it possible for us to text and Tweet and email and Instagram and Facebook and socially be dysfunctional with each other!
Fire makes all of that possible, And de Chardin said fire was one of the greatest discoveries in all of human history.
And he then went on to say that if humanity ever harnesses the energy of fire again, if humanity ever captures the energy of love, it will be the second time in history that we have discovered fire.
Dr. King was right: we must discover love - the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world.
My brother, my sister, God love you, God bless you, and may God hold us all, in those Almighty hands of love.
Preschoolers Graduation 2018!
Congratulations to the 15 kids who graduated from St. Luke’s Preschool and are headed off to Kindergarten!
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Sunday June 3 The Second Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship 5pm Faith Christian Church India
8 pm AA
Thursday, June 7
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, June 8
8pm AA
Sunday, June 10 The Third Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship Parish Picnic
8 pm AA
Thursday, June 14
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, June 15
8pm AA
Sunday, June 17 The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Happy Father’s Day 10 am Worship 11:30 am Third Sundays Unplugged. Light snacks and a good time of fellowship and conversation are guaranteed. The event is free. Please see Julie Sturgeon or Father Earl for any questions. 5pm Faith Christian Church India
8 pm AA
Monday, June 18
7pm Vestry Meeting / Newsletter articles due
Wednesday, June 20
9am—3 pm Lifeline Screening at St. Luke’s
Thursday, June 21
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, June 22
8pm AA
Sunday, June 24 The Fifth Sunday After Pentecost 10 am Worship
8 pm AA
Thursday, June 28
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Sunday July 1 The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship 5pm Faith Christian Church India
8 pm AA
Wednesday July 4 - Office closed for holiday
Thursday, July 5
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, July 6
8pm AA
Sunday July 8 The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship
8 pm AA
Thursday, July 12
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, July 13
8pm AA
Sunday July 15 The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship After service Third Sundays Unplugged
8 pm AA
Monday, July 16
7pm Vestry Meeting / Newsletter articles due
Thursday, July 19
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, July 20
8pm AA
Sunday July 22 The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship
8 pm AA
Thursday, July 26
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, July 27
8pm AA
Sunday July 29 The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship
8 pm AA
Monday, July 30
7pm Worship Committee Meeting
JUNE/JULY 2018
6
From Deacon Dayna- Memorial Day weekend is upon us signaling that Summer is on the way. At our house the tulips have bloomed and both the rose bushes and the “knock out roses” are glorious in color. Every-thing is becoming green, and in all the splendor, I see God. My mother once said to me during a hospitalization, “When I see those baby pink roses, I see God.” And when she died, I chose baby pink roses to grace the altar. Our loving God, the creator, is everywhere. And so is love. Last Saturday morning, I had a “girls only” Royal Wedding watch party. Those present were my daughter, Angela, my daughter-in-law, Amy, my granddaughters, Molly and Clara, and one of Molly’s friends, Kennan. Al went over to Joe’s house for a sleepover with Joe and Day. Angela, Amy and I awakened at 3 o’clock a.m. to watch the entire coverage of the Royal Wedding festivities. We had Windsor Royal Wedding tea and drank it out of porcelain cups sporting the images of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It was fascinating to watch in its entirety, highlighted by our Presiding Bishop, Michael B. Curry, giving the sermon. I’m fairly certain that many of you heard or read the Presiding Bishop’s sermon. His sermon had the most tweets of any part of the Royal Wedding – something like 40,000 per hour. I’ve heard the BBC commentators raved about the sermon. Numerous
articles made their way to social media. And on Tuesday of this week, Michael Curry made appearances on The Today Show and The View. He was amazing. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s sermon spoke about the power of love. One of the scriptures chosen by the bride and groom was from the Song of Solomon. “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.” And from the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Michael Curry quoted, “We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world, for love is the only way.” As I perused the sermon, I found the following words of Presid-ing Bishop so powerful. And I quote: “Ultimately, the source of love is God himself: the source of all our lives.” There’s an old medieval poem that says: “Where true love is found, God himself is there.” “The New Testament says it this way: “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God, and those who love are born of God and know God. Those who do not love, do not know God. Why? For God is love.”
- Deacon Dayna
The Vestry met on Monday, May 21st. Following are highlights from the minutes: April minutes were approved
Treasurer’s Report · March Total Receipts were $10,476, $176 above the plan
· March Disbursements were $15,352, $655 above the budget · March cash balance of $2,652
Saint Luke’s Day School Report – Sarah Warren · Enrollment for 2018-2019 school year is 32, with tuition at
$13,030 Junior Warden’s Report
· A/C replacement bid received from Chesterfield Service
Priest-In-Charge Report
· Summer office hours adjusting to Monday, Tuesday, THURSDAY 9 AM - 2 PM effective immediately
The Vestry adjourned at 8:30 PM. The next Vestry meeting will
be Monday, June 18, 2018 at 7:00 PM. A record of the detailed minutes are available for all to review in the office. Please see Father Earl or any Vestry member with questions
or concerns.
Dear Rev. C. Earl Mahan and St. Luke's Family,
In Joy, there is community and stewardship. It is an honor to celebrate outstanding graduating seniors to receive the WILLIAM B. PETTUS II SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION for 2018. All four recipients represent scholarship and practice stewardship in their
community.
WILLIAM B. PETTUS II SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION RECIPIENTS
Clarence Earl Baker, Jr. Valley Park High School Valley Park, MIssouri
John Lawrence Coleman Fort Zumwalt West High O'Fallon, Missouri
Gabrielle Marion Hieken Parkway South High Manchester, Missouri
Anastasia J. Novak Parkway South High Manchester, Missouri
Our gratitude to Dave Milller our joyful treasurer and Julie Sturgeon our joyful outreach liason in sharing their spiritual gifts and stewardship. May our joying together radiate God's blessings in building community with JOY!
Keep the JOY, Ben and Augustine
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SAMARITAN MINISTRIES
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2
A couple of years ago, we learned that our healthcare provider at the time was no longer participating in the MO health insurance marketplace. Frustrated by the limited options and our experience with the market, a friend introduced us to Samaritan Ministries, a healthcare sharing ministry. The idea sounded appealing but also scary. Do we participate and rely on this solely as our healthcare solution? Or do we supplement for traditional health insurance? We took a leap of faith — a BIG leap of faith — and opted to trust that the Lord will provide. Late 2017, the time came for us to call upon our brothers and sisters of Samaritan Ministries for assistance. The blessings came in. We were able to cover our
medical expenses with help from five other members. It has been a wonderful, fulfilling and joyful healthcare experience thus far, which is more than what we can say for traditional insurance. We actually look forward to paying our monthly share, and seeing who we're able to assist. Skeptical at first, we are now believers in the healthcare sharing ministry as a model for healthcare. We want to share this gift with St. Luke's. Informational material is available on the table in the Narthex, or can be found at www.samaritanministries.org. We would also be delighted to share more information about our own personal experience. Peace, Julie and Chris Sturgeon
Parish Picnic - Sunday, June 10 After Service. Please sign-up.
Plan to attend this fun time of food and fellowship! Those attending, please bring drinks & a dish to share. Hamburgers &
hot dogs will be provided.
LifeLine Screening® will be in your neighborhood soon - Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at St Luke's Episcopal Church. Get your special Community Circle pricing!
Three ways to register: Call toll-free: 1-866-229-0469 Online: www. Iifelinescreening.com/communitycircle Text: the word circle to 797979
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St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 444 Brightfield Trail
Manchester, MO 63021
The Rev. & Mrs. Sabi K Sarkissyian
524 Fox Run Estates Ct.
Ballwin, MO 63021
Back to School Supplies Drive - July 29 - August 19th
The Community Concerns Committee will be collecting school supplies for children who cannot afford to purchase them.
School supplies such as markers, glue, notebooks, binders, rulers, paper, pens, colored pencils, backpacks or whatever you can purchase, may be left in the narthex in the red tub. Your contributions
will be greatly appreciated by the kids!
The In-Between Times
A Newsletter of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
June/July 2018
In This Issue
1 The Most Reverend Michael
Bruce Curry’s sermon at the
Royal Wedding
- Father Earl Mahan
2 Services, Birthdays,
Anniversaries, Financial
report
3
4
Bishop Michael Curry's Royal
Wedding Sermon: Full Text Of
'The Power Of Love'
Page 3 continued,
Preschool Graduation 2018
5 June/July Calendar 2018
6
7
Deacon Dayna, Vestry Meet-
ing Minutes, Scholarship
Foundation Recipients
Samaritan Ministries™,
events, Lifeline Screenings
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 444 Brightfield Trail
Manchester, MO 63021
636-227-1227
www.stlukesec.org
e-mail: [email protected]
From Our Priest-
“Someone once said that Jesus began the most revolutionary movement in all of human history. A movement grounded in the unconditional love of God for the world. And a movement mandating people to live that love. And in so doing, to change not only their lives, but the very life of the world itself.”
The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, or away on an extended vacation to some remote place where TV, radio, the internet, and cell phones don’t work, you’ve no doubt heard about the sermon. On Saturday, May 19th, at the royal wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Harry of Wales & Ms. Meghan Markle, a previously unknown to most of the world preacher by the name of Michael Curry preached a sermon to a worldwide viewing audi-ence of 2 billion people that did something sermons are not generally known for doing these days. People sat up and paid attention.
According to Google, Bishop Michael Curry was the 10th highest trending search in the United States, on Saturday. Let me say that again, The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church was the 10th most common search on Google this past Saturday! Let that sink in for a minute.
As I write this newsletter article, four days have passed since the royal nuptials. In that time, Bishop Curry has made the rounds on virtually all the media outlets – CNN, Fox, MSNBC, Today, Good Morning America, The View, and probably more (I’ve lost track.) – AND, perhaps the most telling sign that this moment of public relations bliss is for real – Bishop Curry was parodied on Saturday Night Live.
Episcopalians and Anglicans, along with the handful of other people who DID know who Bishop Curry was before the royal wedding, are positively giddy with excitement. Face-book and social media are enthralled with not only the bishop, but more importantly with the message of his sermon. It is not an exaggeration to say that a moment like this, in which the Episcopal Church is on the minds and the lips of so many people, may never again happen in our lifetime. So, my friends, what shall we do with a moment such as this?
What made the Bishop’s sermon so powerful was its message of the power of Love to change the world. We’ve included the full text of Bishop Curry’s sermon here in the newsletter. I’m sure many of you heard him preach, but I encourage you to go back and read his sermon as well. Listen to what he has to say and ask yourself what it is about this sermon that has caused such a response in the hearts and minds of so many people around the world.
I believe the Bishop’s sermon tapped into a hunger that people of many cultures and back-grounds have for a message that offers hope in the midst of despair, light in the midst of darkness, and joy in the midst of sadness. People long for truth and they know it when they hear it. People are tired of agendas, political or otherwise, that are blatantly unjust and self-serving, pandering to the basest of human motives and instincts. People have grown weary of violence and war, hatred and intolerance in all its forms. Yes, people have had enough.
Earlier, I posed the question, “What shall we do with a moment such as this?” In one sense, the answer to that question demands fresh thinking and new strategies, a bold will-ingness to reach out to the world with the message of God’s never failing love in ways we’ve never tried before. On the other hand, the answer to the question is to, likewise, keep on doing what we, the followers of Jesus, have always been called to do.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength… and love your neighbor. As our good bishop knows all too well, that message always has and always will have the power to change the world.
Peace,
Fr. C. Earl Mahan
2
June 3– The Second Sunday after Pentecost
Altar Guild: Kathy Joslin, Cynthia Farrar
Lectors/EM: Dennis Farrar, Kathy Joslin, Deacon Dayna Usher: Jim Imrie
Readings: Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Psalm 81:1-10; 2 Corinthians 4:5-12; Mark 2:23-3:6
June 10 – The Third Sunday after Pentecost
Altar Guild: Kaye Weerts, Marcia Imrie Lectors/EM: Chris Sturgeon, Bruce Ward, Deacon Dayna Usher: Phil Davis Readings: Genesis 3:8-15; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35
June 17 – The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Altar Guild: Linda Bell, Wendy Wirkus
Lectors/EM: Wendy Wirkus, Dave Miller, Deacon Dayna
Usher: Julie Ray
Readings: Ezekiel 17:22-24; Psalm 92:1-4,11-14; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10,[11-13],14-17; Mark 4:26-34
June 24 – The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Altar Guild: Linda Bell, Wendy Wirkus Lectors/EM: Marion Lyons-Koch, Roger Koch, Deacon Dayna
Usher: Cynthia Farrar Readings: Job 38:1-11; Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41
June Birthdays 4 – Rola Sarkyssian 5 – Samuel Sturgeon
10 - Ruth Vaughn 14 – Barb Lommen
16 - Augustine Pettus 27 - Sophia & Isaiah Rose
June Anniversaries
4 - Tom & Julie Marshall 10 - Steve & Darah Imrie
July Birthdays 4 – Luke Warren 8 - Carol Guarino
9 - Paul Novak 16 - Stacy Androuais
19 - Jennifer Nolan 27 - Jeani Ward
28 - Dominic Androuais 29 - Dennis Rumley
July Anniversaries
1 - Veryl & John Alexander 5 - Sabi & Firyal Sarkyssian
June Circle of Concern Donations
The monthly food donations are taken to the Circle of Concern, a food pantry located in Valley Park. Needed are: Canned vegeta-
bles, Canned fruit, Boxed cereal, Dessert mixes.
Circle of Concern accepts Personal Hygiene items: Bars of soap, Toilet paper, Shampoo, Conditioner, Lotion, Feminine hygiene products, Diapers,
Pull-Ups, Adult diapers.
Please place your donations in the red plastic container in the narthex. Thank you.
Year to date Financials April 2018
Full reports will be available in the church office
Receipts Actual Budget
Pledges $6,265 $6,800
Plate Offerings $1,022 $1,050
Holy Day $1,283 $1,000
Preschool $1,200 $1,200
Building Use $1,020 $390
Other $566 _
Total Receipts $10,476 $10,300
Expenses Actual Budget
Salaries/
Housing $6,873 $7,068
Office $1,349 $660
Utilities $1,827 $1,245
Mortgage/Tax $39 -
Insurance - -
Program
Materials - -
Maintenance $7 $450
Outreach/
Preschool - -
Diocesan
Pledge - -
Total
Disbursements $15,352 $14,697
ARTS, CRAFTS, AND OTHER INTERESTS FOR FALL FESTIVAL
Do you, or do you know someone, who creates goods or has a hobby that should be showcased at a festival? We will be looking for show-casers for the Fall Festival in the coming months, and booth/display information is also forthcoming. If you know someone who might be interested, please see Julie Nguyen, Barb Rumley, Phil Davis, or Father Earl for more information.
3
And now in the name of our loving, liberating, and life-giving God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
From the Song of Solomon, in the Bible: Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is (as) strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it (out). Song of Songs 8:6-7
The late Dr. Martin Luther King once said, and I quote: “We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way.”
There’s power in love. Don’t underestimate it. Don’t even over-sentimentalize it. There’s power, power in love.
If you don’t believe me, think about a time when you first fell in love. The whole world seemed to center around you, and your be-loved.
Oh, there’s power, power in love. Not just in its romantic forms, but any form, any shape, of love. There’s a certain sense, in which when you are loved, and you know it, when someone cares for you and you know it, when you love and you show it, it actually feels right.
There’s something right about it. And there’s a reason for it.
The reason has to do with the source. We were made by a power of love. And our lives were meant, and are meant to be lived in that love. That’s why we are here.
Ultimately the source of love is God himself. The source of all of our lives. As an old medieval poem puts it: “Where true love is found, God himself is there.”
1st John in the New Testament says it this way. “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; Everyone who loves is born of God. Whoever does not love does not know God For God is love.” (1John 4:4-8)
There’s power in love. There’s power in love to help and heal when nothing else can.
There’s power in love to lift up and liberate when nothing else will.
There’s power in love to show us the way to live
“Set me as a seal on your heart A seal on your arm”, for love, it’s as strong as death.
But love is not only about a young couple. Now the power of love is demonstrated by the fact that we’re all here. Two young people fell in love, and we all showed up!
But it’s not just for and about a young couple who we rejoice with. It’s more than that.
Jesus of Nazareth on one occasion was asked by a lawyer to sum up the essence of the teachings of Moses. And he read back, and reached back into the Hebrew scriptures to Deuteronomy and Leviticus, and Jesus said: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength. This is the first, and great commandment. And the second is like it. Love your neighbor
as yourself.”
And then in Matthew’s version, he added, he said: “On these two, love of God and love of neighbor, hang all the law, all the prophets, everything that Moses wrote, everything in the holy prophets, every-thing in the Scriptures, everything that God has been trying to tell the world! Love God! Love your neighbors. And while you’re at it, love yourself.”
Someone once said that Jesus began the most revolutionary move-ment in all of human history.
A movement grounded in the unconditional love of God for the world. And a movement mandating people to live that love. And in so doing, to change not only their lives, but the very life of the world itself.
I’m talking about some power. Real power. Power to change the world.
And if you don’t believe me, well, there were some old slaves in America’s Antebellum South, who explained the dynamic power of love and why it has the power to transform. They explained it this way – they sang a spiritual, even in the midst of their captivity. It’s one that says: ‘There is a balm in Gilead’ a healing balm, something that can make things right –
“There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole, there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.”
And one of the stanzas actually explains why – they said: ‘If you cannot preach like Peter, and you cannot pray like Paul, you tell the love of Jesus, how he died to save us all.”’
Oh, that’s the balm in Gilead! This way of love, it is the way of life! They got it! He died to save us all!
He didn’t die for anything he could get out of it! Jesus did not get an honorary doctorate for dying! He didn’t...he wasn’t getting anything out of it! He gave up his life, he sacrificed his life for the good of oth-ers, for the good of the other, for the well-being of the world, for us.
That’s what love is. Love is not selfish and self-centered. Love can be sacrificial, and in so doing, becomes redemptive. And that way of unselfish, sacrificial, redemptive love, changes lives, and it can change this world.
If you don’t believe me, just stop and think, or imagine. Think, and imagine a world where love is the way.
Imagine our homes and families where love is the way. Imagine neighborhoods and communities where love is the way.
Imagine our governments and nations where love is the way.
Imagine business and commerce where love is the way.
Imagine this tired old world where love is the way. When love is the way, unselfish, sacrificial, redemptive.
When love is the way, then no child would go to bed hungry in this world ever again.
(continued on page 4)
“The Power of Love”— A Sermon by the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry for The Marriage of HRH Prince Henry of Wales & Ms. Meghan Markle, Saturday, May 19, 2018
4
(continued from page 3)
When love is the way, we will let justice roll down like a mighty stream and righteousness like an ever-flowing brook.
When love is the way, poverty would become history. When love is the way, the earth will be a sanctuary.
When love is the way, we will lay down our swords and shields down by the riverside to study war no more.
When love is the way, there’s plenty good room. Plenty good room - for all of God’s children.
And when love is the way, we actually treat each other, well...like we’re actually family.
When love is the way, we know that God is the source of us all, and we are brothers and sisters. Children of God.
My brothers and sisters, that’s a new heaven, a new earth, a new world, a new human family.
And let me tell you something, old Solomon was right in the Old Tes-tament, that’s fire.
Teilhard de Chardin – and with this, I will sit down, we gotta get you all married. French Jesuit Teilhard de Chardin was arguably one of the great minds, great spirits of the 20th century. A Jesuit, Roman Catholic priest, a scientist, a scholar, a mystic. In some of his writ-ings he said, from his scientific background, as well as his theological one. Some of his writings he said, as others have, that the discovery, or invention, or harnessing of fire was one of the great scientific and technological discoveries in all of human history.
Fire to a great extent made human civilization possible. Fire made it possible to cook food, and to provide sanitary ways of eating, which reduced the spread of disease in its time.
Fire made it possible to heat and warm environments and thereby made human migration around the world a possibility, even into cold-er climates.
Fire made it possible – there was no Bronze Age without fire, no Iron Age without fire, no Industrial Revolution without fire.
The advances of science and technology are greatly dependent on the human ability and capacity to take fire and use it for human good.
Anybody get here in a car today? An automobile? Nod your heads if you did, I’m guessing, I know there were some carriages. For those of us who came in cars, fire, and the controlled, harnessed fire - made that possible.
I know that the Bible says, and I believe it, that Jesus walked on the water, but I have to tell you, I didn’t walk across the Atlantic Ocean to get here!
Controlled fire in that plane got me here, Fire makes it possible for us to text and Tweet and email and Instagram and Facebook and socially be dysfunctional with each other!
Fire makes all of that possible, And de Chardin said fire was one of the greatest discoveries in all of human history.
And he then went on to say that if humanity ever harnesses the energy of fire again, if humanity ever captures the energy of love, it will be the second time in history that we have discovered fire.
Dr. King was right: we must discover love - the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world.
My brother, my sister, God love you, God bless you, and may God hold us all, in those Almighty hands of love.
Preschoolers Graduation 2018!
Congratulations to the 15 kids who graduated from St. Luke’s Preschool and are headed off to Kindergarten!
5
Sunday June 3 The Second Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship 5pm Faith Christian Church India
8 pm AA
Thursday, June 7
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, June 8
8pm AA
Sunday, June 10 The Third Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship Parish Picnic
8 pm AA
Thursday, June 14
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, June 15
8pm AA
Sunday, June 17 The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Happy Father’s Day 10 am Worship 11:30 am Third Sundays Unplugged. Light snacks and a good time of fellowship and conversation are guaranteed. The event is free. Please see Julie Sturgeon or Father Earl for any questions. 5pm Faith Christian Church India
8 pm AA
Monday, June 18
7pm Vestry Meeting / Newsletter articles due
Wednesday, June 20
9am—3 pm Lifeline Screening at St. Luke’s
Thursday, June 21
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, June 22
8pm AA
Sunday, June 24 The Fifth Sunday After Pentecost 10 am Worship
8 pm AA
Thursday, June 28
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Sunday July 1 The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship 5pm Faith Christian Church India
8 pm AA
Wednesday July 4 - Office closed for holiday
Thursday, July 5
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, July 6
8pm AA
Sunday July 8 The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship
8 pm AA
Thursday, July 12
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, July 13
8pm AA
Sunday July 15 The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship After service Third Sundays Unplugged
8 pm AA
Monday, July 16
7pm Vestry Meeting / Newsletter articles due
Thursday, July 19
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, July 20
8pm AA
Sunday July 22 The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship
8 pm AA
Thursday, July 26
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, July 27
8pm AA
Sunday July 29 The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship
8 pm AA
Monday, July 30
7pm Worship Committee Meeting
JUNE/JULY 2018
6
From Deacon Dayna- Memorial Day weekend is upon us signaling that Summer is on the way. At our house the tulips have bloomed and both the rose bushes and the “knock out roses” are glorious in color. Every-thing is becoming green, and in all the splendor, I see God. My mother once said to me during a hospitalization, “When I see those baby pink roses, I see God.” And when she died, I chose baby pink roses to grace the altar. Our loving God, the creator, is everywhere. And so is love. Last Saturday morning, I had a “girls only” Royal Wedding watch party. Those present were my daughter, Angela, my daughter-in-law, Amy, my granddaughters, Molly and Clara, and one of Molly’s friends, Kennan. Al went over to Joe’s house for a sleepover with Joe and Day. Angela, Amy and I awakened at 3 o’clock a.m. to watch the entire coverage of the Royal Wedding festivities. We had Windsor Royal Wedding tea and drank it out of porcelain cups sporting the images of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It was fascinating to watch in its entirety, highlighted by our Presiding Bishop, Michael B. Curry, giving the sermon. I’m fairly certain that many of you heard or read the Presiding Bishop’s sermon. His sermon had the most tweets of any part of the Royal Wedding – something like 40,000 per hour. I’ve heard the BBC commentators raved about the sermon. Numerous
articles made their way to social media. And on Tuesday of this week, Michael Curry made appearances on The Today Show and The View. He was amazing. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s sermon spoke about the power of love. One of the scriptures chosen by the bride and groom was from the Song of Solomon. “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.” And from the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Michael Curry quoted, “We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world, for love is the only way.” As I perused the sermon, I found the following words of Presid-ing Bishop so powerful. And I quote: “Ultimately, the source of love is God himself: the source of all our lives.” There’s an old medieval poem that says: “Where true love is found, God himself is there.” “The New Testament says it this way: “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God, and those who love are born of God and know God. Those who do not love, do not know God. Why? For God is love.”
- Deacon Dayna
The Vestry met on Monday, May 21st. Following are highlights from the minutes: April minutes were approved
Treasurer’s Report · March Total Receipts were $10,476, $176 above the plan
· March Disbursements were $15,352, $655 above the budget · March cash balance of $2,652
Saint Luke’s Day School Report – Sarah Warren · Enrollment for 2018-2019 school year is 32, with tuition at
$13,030 Junior Warden’s Report
· A/C replacement bid received from Chesterfield Service
Priest-In-Charge Report
· Summer office hours adjusting to Monday, Tuesday, THURSDAY 9 AM - 2 PM effective immediately
The Vestry adjourned at 8:30 PM. The next Vestry meeting will
be Monday, June 18, 2018 at 7:00 PM. A record of the detailed minutes are available for all to review in the office. Please see Father Earl or any Vestry member with questions
or concerns.
Dear Rev. C. Earl Mahan and St. Luke's Family,
In Joy, there is community and stewardship. It is an honor to celebrate outstanding graduating seniors to receive the WILLIAM B. PETTUS II SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION for 2018. All four recipients represent scholarship and practice stewardship in their
community.
WILLIAM B. PETTUS II SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION RECIPIENTS
Clarence Earl Baker, Jr. Valley Park High School Valley Park, MIssouri
John Lawrence Coleman Fort Zumwalt West High O'Fallon, Missouri
Gabrielle Marion Hieken Parkway South High Manchester, Missouri
Anastasia J. Novak Parkway South High Manchester, Missouri
Our gratitude to Dave Milller our joyful treasurer and Julie Sturgeon our joyful outreach liason in sharing their spiritual gifts and stewardship. May our joying together radiate God's blessings in building community with JOY!
Keep the JOY, Ben and Augustine
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SAMARITAN MINISTRIES
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2
A couple of years ago, we learned that our healthcare provider at the time was no longer participating in the MO health insurance marketplace. Frustrated by the limited options and our experience with the market, a friend introduced us to Samaritan Ministries, a healthcare sharing ministry. The idea sounded appealing but also scary. Do we participate and rely on this solely as our healthcare solution? Or do we supplement for traditional health insurance? We took a leap of faith — a BIG leap of faith — and opted to trust that the Lord will provide. Late 2017, the time came for us to call upon our brothers and sisters of Samaritan Ministries for assistance. The blessings came in. We were able to cover our
medical expenses with help from five other members. It has been a wonderful, fulfilling and joyful healthcare experience thus far, which is more than what we can say for traditional insurance. We actually look forward to paying our monthly share, and seeing who we're able to assist. Skeptical at first, we are now believers in the healthcare sharing ministry as a model for healthcare. We want to share this gift with St. Luke's. Informational material is available on the table in the Narthex, or can be found at www.samaritanministries.org. We would also be delighted to share more information about our own personal experience. Peace, Julie and Chris Sturgeon
Parish Picnic - Sunday, June 10 After Service. Please sign-up.
Plan to attend this fun time of food and fellowship! Those attending, please bring drinks & a dish to share. Hamburgers &
hot dogs will be provided.
LifeLine Screening® will be in your neighborhood soon - Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at St Luke's Episcopal Church. Get your special Community Circle pricing!
Three ways to register: Call toll-free: 1-866-229-0469 Online: www. Iifelinescreening.com/communitycircle Text: the word circle to 797979
8
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 444 Brightfield Trail
Manchester, MO 63021
The Rev. & Mrs. Sabi K Sarkissyian
524 Fox Run Estates Ct.
Ballwin, MO 63021
Back to School Supplies Drive - July 29 - August 19th
The Community Concerns Committee will be collecting school supplies for children who cannot afford to purchase them.
School supplies such as markers, glue, notebooks, binders, rulers, paper, pens, colored pencils, backpacks or whatever you can purchase, may be left in the narthex in the red tub. Your contributions
will be greatly appreciated by the kids!
The In-Between Times
A Newsletter of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
June/July 2018
In This Issue
1 The Most Reverend Michael
Bruce Curry’s sermon at the
Royal Wedding
- Father Earl Mahan
2 Services, Birthdays,
Anniversaries, Financial
report
3
4
Bishop Michael Curry's Royal
Wedding Sermon: Full Text Of
'The Power Of Love'
Page 3 continued,
Preschool Graduation 2018
5 June/July Calendar 2018
6
7
Deacon Dayna, Vestry Meet-
ing Minutes, Scholarship
Foundation Recipients
Samaritan Ministries™,
events, Lifeline Screenings
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 444 Brightfield Trail
Manchester, MO 63021
636-227-1227
www.stlukesec.org
e-mail: [email protected]
From Our Priest-
“Someone once said that Jesus began the most revolutionary movement in all of human history. A movement grounded in the unconditional love of God for the world. And a movement mandating people to live that love. And in so doing, to change not only their lives, but the very life of the world itself.”
The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, or away on an extended vacation to some remote place where TV, radio, the internet, and cell phones don’t work, you’ve no doubt heard about the sermon. On Saturday, May 19th, at the royal wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Harry of Wales & Ms. Meghan Markle, a previously unknown to most of the world preacher by the name of Michael Curry preached a sermon to a worldwide viewing audi-ence of 2 billion people that did something sermons are not generally known for doing these days. People sat up and paid attention.
According to Google, Bishop Michael Curry was the 10th highest trending search in the United States, on Saturday. Let me say that again, The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church was the 10th most common search on Google this past Saturday! Let that sink in for a minute.
As I write this newsletter article, four days have passed since the royal nuptials. In that time, Bishop Curry has made the rounds on virtually all the media outlets – CNN, Fox, MSNBC, Today, Good Morning America, The View, and probably more (I’ve lost track.) – AND, perhaps the most telling sign that this moment of public relations bliss is for real – Bishop Curry was parodied on Saturday Night Live.
Episcopalians and Anglicans, along with the handful of other people who DID know who Bishop Curry was before the royal wedding, are positively giddy with excitement. Face-book and social media are enthralled with not only the bishop, but more importantly with the message of his sermon. It is not an exaggeration to say that a moment like this, in which the Episcopal Church is on the minds and the lips of so many people, may never again happen in our lifetime. So, my friends, what shall we do with a moment such as this?
What made the Bishop’s sermon so powerful was its message of the power of Love to change the world. We’ve included the full text of Bishop Curry’s sermon here in the newsletter. I’m sure many of you heard him preach, but I encourage you to go back and read his sermon as well. Listen to what he has to say and ask yourself what it is about this sermon that has caused such a response in the hearts and minds of so many people around the world.
I believe the Bishop’s sermon tapped into a hunger that people of many cultures and back-grounds have for a message that offers hope in the midst of despair, light in the midst of darkness, and joy in the midst of sadness. People long for truth and they know it when they hear it. People are tired of agendas, political or otherwise, that are blatantly unjust and self-serving, pandering to the basest of human motives and instincts. People have grown weary of violence and war, hatred and intolerance in all its forms. Yes, people have had enough.
Earlier, I posed the question, “What shall we do with a moment such as this?” In one sense, the answer to that question demands fresh thinking and new strategies, a bold will-ingness to reach out to the world with the message of God’s never failing love in ways we’ve never tried before. On the other hand, the answer to the question is to, likewise, keep on doing what we, the followers of Jesus, have always been called to do.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength… and love your neighbor. As our good bishop knows all too well, that message always has and always will have the power to change the world.
Peace,
Fr. C. Earl Mahan
2
June 3– The Second Sunday after Pentecost
Altar Guild: Kathy Joslin, Cynthia Farrar
Lectors/EM: Dennis Farrar, Kathy Joslin, Deacon Dayna Usher: Jim Imrie
Readings: Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Psalm 81:1-10; 2 Corinthians 4:5-12; Mark 2:23-3:6
June 10 – The Third Sunday after Pentecost
Altar Guild: Kaye Weerts, Marcia Imrie Lectors/EM: Chris Sturgeon, Bruce Ward, Deacon Dayna Usher: Phil Davis Readings: Genesis 3:8-15; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35
June 17 – The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Altar Guild: Linda Bell, Wendy Wirkus
Lectors/EM: Wendy Wirkus, Dave Miller, Deacon Dayna
Usher: Julie Ray
Readings: Ezekiel 17:22-24; Psalm 92:1-4,11-14; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10,[11-13],14-17; Mark 4:26-34
June 24 – The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Altar Guild: Linda Bell, Wendy Wirkus Lectors/EM: Marion Lyons-Koch, Roger Koch, Deacon Dayna
Usher: Cynthia Farrar Readings: Job 38:1-11; Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41
June Birthdays 4 – Rola Sarkyssian 5 – Samuel Sturgeon
10 - Ruth Vaughn 14 – Barb Lommen
16 - Augustine Pettus 27 - Sophia & Isaiah Rose
June Anniversaries
4 - Tom & Julie Marshall 10 - Steve & Darah Imrie
July Birthdays 4 – Luke Warren 8 - Carol Guarino
9 - Paul Novak 16 - Stacy Androuais
19 - Jennifer Nolan 27 - Jeani Ward
28 - Dominic Androuais 29 - Dennis Rumley
July Anniversaries
1 - Veryl & John Alexander 5 - Sabi & Firyal Sarkyssian
June Circle of Concern Donations
The monthly food donations are taken to the Circle of Concern, a food pantry located in Valley Park. Needed are: Canned vegeta-
bles, Canned fruit, Boxed cereal, Dessert mixes.
Circle of Concern accepts Personal Hygiene items: Bars of soap, Toilet paper, Shampoo, Conditioner, Lotion, Feminine hygiene products, Diapers,
Pull-Ups, Adult diapers.
Please place your donations in the red plastic container in the narthex. Thank you.
Year to date Financials April 2018
Full reports will be available in the church office
Receipts Actual Budget
Pledges $6,265 $6,800
Plate Offerings $1,022 $1,050
Holy Day $1,283 $1,000
Preschool $1,200 $1,200
Building Use $1,020 $390
Other $566 _
Total Receipts $10,476 $10,300
Expenses Actual Budget
Salaries/
Housing $6,873 $7,068
Office $1,349 $660
Utilities $1,827 $1,245
Mortgage/Tax $39 -
Insurance - -
Program
Materials - -
Maintenance $7 $450
Outreach/
Preschool - -
Diocesan
Pledge - -
Total
Disbursements $15,352 $14,697
ARTS, CRAFTS, AND OTHER INTERESTS FOR FALL FESTIVAL
Do you, or do you know someone, who creates goods or has a hobby that should be showcased at a festival? We will be looking for show-casers for the Fall Festival in the coming months, and booth/display information is also forthcoming. If you know someone who might be interested, please see Julie Nguyen, Barb Rumley, Phil Davis, or Father Earl for more information.
3
And now in the name of our loving, liberating, and life-giving God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
From the Song of Solomon, in the Bible: Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is (as) strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it (out). Song of Songs 8:6-7
The late Dr. Martin Luther King once said, and I quote: “We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way.”
There’s power in love. Don’t underestimate it. Don’t even over-sentimentalize it. There’s power, power in love.
If you don’t believe me, think about a time when you first fell in love. The whole world seemed to center around you, and your be-loved.
Oh, there’s power, power in love. Not just in its romantic forms, but any form, any shape, of love. There’s a certain sense, in which when you are loved, and you know it, when someone cares for you and you know it, when you love and you show it, it actually feels right.
There’s something right about it. And there’s a reason for it.
The reason has to do with the source. We were made by a power of love. And our lives were meant, and are meant to be lived in that love. That’s why we are here.
Ultimately the source of love is God himself. The source of all of our lives. As an old medieval poem puts it: “Where true love is found, God himself is there.”
1st John in the New Testament says it this way. “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; Everyone who loves is born of God. Whoever does not love does not know God For God is love.” (1John 4:4-8)
There’s power in love. There’s power in love to help and heal when nothing else can.
There’s power in love to lift up and liberate when nothing else will.
There’s power in love to show us the way to live
“Set me as a seal on your heart A seal on your arm”, for love, it’s as strong as death.
But love is not only about a young couple. Now the power of love is demonstrated by the fact that we’re all here. Two young people fell in love, and we all showed up!
But it’s not just for and about a young couple who we rejoice with. It’s more than that.
Jesus of Nazareth on one occasion was asked by a lawyer to sum up the essence of the teachings of Moses. And he read back, and reached back into the Hebrew scriptures to Deuteronomy and Leviticus, and Jesus said: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength. This is the first, and great commandment. And the second is like it. Love your neighbor
as yourself.”
And then in Matthew’s version, he added, he said: “On these two, love of God and love of neighbor, hang all the law, all the prophets, everything that Moses wrote, everything in the holy prophets, every-thing in the Scriptures, everything that God has been trying to tell the world! Love God! Love your neighbors. And while you’re at it, love yourself.”
Someone once said that Jesus began the most revolutionary move-ment in all of human history.
A movement grounded in the unconditional love of God for the world. And a movement mandating people to live that love. And in so doing, to change not only their lives, but the very life of the world itself.
I’m talking about some power. Real power. Power to change the world.
And if you don’t believe me, well, there were some old slaves in America’s Antebellum South, who explained the dynamic power of love and why it has the power to transform. They explained it this way – they sang a spiritual, even in the midst of their captivity. It’s one that says: ‘There is a balm in Gilead’ a healing balm, something that can make things right –
“There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole, there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.”
And one of the stanzas actually explains why – they said: ‘If you cannot preach like Peter, and you cannot pray like Paul, you tell the love of Jesus, how he died to save us all.”’
Oh, that’s the balm in Gilead! This way of love, it is the way of life! They got it! He died to save us all!
He didn’t die for anything he could get out of it! Jesus did not get an honorary doctorate for dying! He didn’t...he wasn’t getting anything out of it! He gave up his life, he sacrificed his life for the good of oth-ers, for the good of the other, for the well-being of the world, for us.
That’s what love is. Love is not selfish and self-centered. Love can be sacrificial, and in so doing, becomes redemptive. And that way of unselfish, sacrificial, redemptive love, changes lives, and it can change this world.
If you don’t believe me, just stop and think, or imagine. Think, and imagine a world where love is the way.
Imagine our homes and families where love is the way. Imagine neighborhoods and communities where love is the way.
Imagine our governments and nations where love is the way.
Imagine business and commerce where love is the way.
Imagine this tired old world where love is the way. When love is the way, unselfish, sacrificial, redemptive.
When love is the way, then no child would go to bed hungry in this world ever again.
(continued on page 4)
“The Power of Love”— A Sermon by the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry for The Marriage of HRH Prince Henry of Wales & Ms. Meghan Markle, Saturday, May 19, 2018
4
(continued from page 3)
When love is the way, we will let justice roll down like a mighty stream and righteousness like an ever-flowing brook.
When love is the way, poverty would become history. When love is the way, the earth will be a sanctuary.
When love is the way, we will lay down our swords and shields down by the riverside to study war no more.
When love is the way, there’s plenty good room. Plenty good room - for all of God’s children.
And when love is the way, we actually treat each other, well...like we’re actually family.
When love is the way, we know that God is the source of us all, and we are brothers and sisters. Children of God.
My brothers and sisters, that’s a new heaven, a new earth, a new world, a new human family.
And let me tell you something, old Solomon was right in the Old Tes-tament, that’s fire.
Teilhard de Chardin – and with this, I will sit down, we gotta get you all married. French Jesuit Teilhard de Chardin was arguably one of the great minds, great spirits of the 20th century. A Jesuit, Roman Catholic priest, a scientist, a scholar, a mystic. In some of his writ-ings he said, from his scientific background, as well as his theological one. Some of his writings he said, as others have, that the discovery, or invention, or harnessing of fire was one of the great scientific and technological discoveries in all of human history.
Fire to a great extent made human civilization possible. Fire made it possible to cook food, and to provide sanitary ways of eating, which reduced the spread of disease in its time.
Fire made it possible to heat and warm environments and thereby made human migration around the world a possibility, even into cold-er climates.
Fire made it possible – there was no Bronze Age without fire, no Iron Age without fire, no Industrial Revolution without fire.
The advances of science and technology are greatly dependent on the human ability and capacity to take fire and use it for human good.
Anybody get here in a car today? An automobile? Nod your heads if you did, I’m guessing, I know there were some carriages. For those of us who came in cars, fire, and the controlled, harnessed fire - made that possible.
I know that the Bible says, and I believe it, that Jesus walked on the water, but I have to tell you, I didn’t walk across the Atlantic Ocean to get here!
Controlled fire in that plane got me here, Fire makes it possible for us to text and Tweet and email and Instagram and Facebook and socially be dysfunctional with each other!
Fire makes all of that possible, And de Chardin said fire was one of the greatest discoveries in all of human history.
And he then went on to say that if humanity ever harnesses the energy of fire again, if humanity ever captures the energy of love, it will be the second time in history that we have discovered fire.
Dr. King was right: we must discover love - the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world.
My brother, my sister, God love you, God bless you, and may God hold us all, in those Almighty hands of love.
Preschoolers Graduation 2018!
Congratulations to the 15 kids who graduated from St. Luke’s Preschool and are headed off to Kindergarten!
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Sunday June 3 The Second Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship 5pm Faith Christian Church India
8 pm AA
Thursday, June 7
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, June 8
8pm AA
Sunday, June 10 The Third Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship Parish Picnic
8 pm AA
Thursday, June 14
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, June 15
8pm AA
Sunday, June 17 The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Happy Father’s Day 10 am Worship 11:30 am Third Sundays Unplugged. Light snacks and a good time of fellowship and conversation are guaranteed. The event is free. Please see Julie Sturgeon or Father Earl for any questions. 5pm Faith Christian Church India
8 pm AA
Monday, June 18
7pm Vestry Meeting / Newsletter articles due
Wednesday, June 20
9am—3 pm Lifeline Screening at St. Luke’s
Thursday, June 21
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, June 22
8pm AA
Sunday, June 24 The Fifth Sunday After Pentecost 10 am Worship
8 pm AA
Thursday, June 28
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Sunday July 1 The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship 5pm Faith Christian Church India
8 pm AA
Wednesday July 4 - Office closed for holiday
Thursday, July 5
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, July 6
8pm AA
Sunday July 8 The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship
8 pm AA
Thursday, July 12
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, July 13
8pm AA
Sunday July 15 The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship After service Third Sundays Unplugged
8 pm AA
Monday, July 16
7pm Vestry Meeting / Newsletter articles due
Thursday, July 19
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, July 20
8pm AA
Sunday July 22 The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship
8 pm AA
Thursday, July 26
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, July 27
8pm AA
Sunday July 29 The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship
8 pm AA
Monday, July 30
7pm Worship Committee Meeting
JUNE/JULY 2018
6
From Deacon Dayna- Memorial Day weekend is upon us signaling that Summer is on the way. At our house the tulips have bloomed and both the rose bushes and the “knock out roses” are glorious in color. Every-thing is becoming green, and in all the splendor, I see God. My mother once said to me during a hospitalization, “When I see those baby pink roses, I see God.” And when she died, I chose baby pink roses to grace the altar. Our loving God, the creator, is everywhere. And so is love. Last Saturday morning, I had a “girls only” Royal Wedding watch party. Those present were my daughter, Angela, my daughter-in-law, Amy, my granddaughters, Molly and Clara, and one of Molly’s friends, Kennan. Al went over to Joe’s house for a sleepover with Joe and Day. Angela, Amy and I awakened at 3 o’clock a.m. to watch the entire coverage of the Royal Wedding festivities. We had Windsor Royal Wedding tea and drank it out of porcelain cups sporting the images of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It was fascinating to watch in its entirety, highlighted by our Presiding Bishop, Michael B. Curry, giving the sermon. I’m fairly certain that many of you heard or read the Presiding Bishop’s sermon. His sermon had the most tweets of any part of the Royal Wedding – something like 40,000 per hour. I’ve heard the BBC commentators raved about the sermon. Numerous
articles made their way to social media. And on Tuesday of this week, Michael Curry made appearances on The Today Show and The View. He was amazing. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s sermon spoke about the power of love. One of the scriptures chosen by the bride and groom was from the Song of Solomon. “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.” And from the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Michael Curry quoted, “We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world, for love is the only way.” As I perused the sermon, I found the following words of Presid-ing Bishop so powerful. And I quote: “Ultimately, the source of love is God himself: the source of all our lives.” There’s an old medieval poem that says: “Where true love is found, God himself is there.” “The New Testament says it this way: “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God, and those who love are born of God and know God. Those who do not love, do not know God. Why? For God is love.”
- Deacon Dayna
The Vestry met on Monday, May 21st. Following are highlights from the minutes: April minutes were approved
Treasurer’s Report · March Total Receipts were $10,476, $176 above the plan
· March Disbursements were $15,352, $655 above the budget · March cash balance of $2,652
Saint Luke’s Day School Report – Sarah Warren · Enrollment for 2018-2019 school year is 32, with tuition at
$13,030 Junior Warden’s Report
· A/C replacement bid received from Chesterfield Service
Priest-In-Charge Report
· Summer office hours adjusting to Monday, Tuesday, THURSDAY 9 AM - 2 PM effective immediately
The Vestry adjourned at 8:30 PM. The next Vestry meeting will
be Monday, June 18, 2018 at 7:00 PM. A record of the detailed minutes are available for all to review in the office. Please see Father Earl or any Vestry member with questions
or concerns.
Dear Rev. C. Earl Mahan and St. Luke's Family,
In Joy, there is community and stewardship. It is an honor to celebrate outstanding graduating seniors to receive the WILLIAM B. PETTUS II SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION for 2018. All four recipients represent scholarship and practice stewardship in their
community.
WILLIAM B. PETTUS II SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION RECIPIENTS
Clarence Earl Baker, Jr. Valley Park High School Valley Park, MIssouri
John Lawrence Coleman Fort Zumwalt West High O'Fallon, Missouri
Gabrielle Marion Hieken Parkway South High Manchester, Missouri
Anastasia J. Novak Parkway South High Manchester, Missouri
Our gratitude to Dave Milller our joyful treasurer and Julie Sturgeon our joyful outreach liason in sharing their spiritual gifts and stewardship. May our joying together radiate God's blessings in building community with JOY!
Keep the JOY, Ben and Augustine
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SAMARITAN MINISTRIES
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2
A couple of years ago, we learned that our healthcare provider at the time was no longer participating in the MO health insurance marketplace. Frustrated by the limited options and our experience with the market, a friend introduced us to Samaritan Ministries, a healthcare sharing ministry. The idea sounded appealing but also scary. Do we participate and rely on this solely as our healthcare solution? Or do we supplement for traditional health insurance? We took a leap of faith — a BIG leap of faith — and opted to trust that the Lord will provide. Late 2017, the time came for us to call upon our brothers and sisters of Samaritan Ministries for assistance. The blessings came in. We were able to cover our
medical expenses with help from five other members. It has been a wonderful, fulfilling and joyful healthcare experience thus far, which is more than what we can say for traditional insurance. We actually look forward to paying our monthly share, and seeing who we're able to assist. Skeptical at first, we are now believers in the healthcare sharing ministry as a model for healthcare. We want to share this gift with St. Luke's. Informational material is available on the table in the Narthex, or can be found at www.samaritanministries.org. We would also be delighted to share more information about our own personal experience. Peace, Julie and Chris Sturgeon
Parish Picnic - Sunday, June 10 After Service. Please sign-up.
Plan to attend this fun time of food and fellowship! Those attending, please bring drinks & a dish to share. Hamburgers &
hot dogs will be provided.
LifeLine Screening® will be in your neighborhood soon - Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at St Luke's Episcopal Church. Get your special Community Circle pricing!
Three ways to register: Call toll-free: 1-866-229-0469 Online: www. Iifelinescreening.com/communitycircle Text: the word circle to 797979
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St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 444 Brightfield Trail
Manchester, MO 63021
The Rev. & Mrs. Sabi K Sarkissyian
524 Fox Run Estates Ct.
Ballwin, MO 63021
Back to School Supplies Drive - July 29 - August 19th
The Community Concerns Committee will be collecting school supplies for children who cannot afford to purchase them.
School supplies such as markers, glue, notebooks, binders, rulers, paper, pens, colored pencils, backpacks or whatever you can purchase, may be left in the narthex in the red tub. Your contributions
will be greatly appreciated by the kids!
The In-Between Times
A Newsletter of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
June/July 2018
In This Issue
1 The Most Reverend Michael
Bruce Curry’s sermon at the
Royal Wedding
- Father Earl Mahan
2 Services, Birthdays,
Anniversaries, Financial
report
3
4
Bishop Michael Curry's Royal
Wedding Sermon: Full Text Of
'The Power Of Love'
Page 3 continued,
Preschool Graduation 2018
5 June/July Calendar 2018
6
7
Deacon Dayna, Vestry Meet-
ing Minutes, Scholarship
Foundation Recipients
Samaritan Ministries™,
events, Lifeline Screenings
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 444 Brightfield Trail
Manchester, MO 63021
636-227-1227
www.stlukesec.org
e-mail: [email protected]
From Our Priest-
“Someone once said that Jesus began the most revolutionary movement in all of human history. A movement grounded in the unconditional love of God for the world. And a movement mandating people to live that love. And in so doing, to change not only their lives, but the very life of the world itself.”
The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, or away on an extended vacation to some remote place where TV, radio, the internet, and cell phones don’t work, you’ve no doubt heard about the sermon. On Saturday, May 19th, at the royal wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Harry of Wales & Ms. Meghan Markle, a previously unknown to most of the world preacher by the name of Michael Curry preached a sermon to a worldwide viewing audi-ence of 2 billion people that did something sermons are not generally known for doing these days. People sat up and paid attention.
According to Google, Bishop Michael Curry was the 10th highest trending search in the United States, on Saturday. Let me say that again, The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church was the 10th most common search on Google this past Saturday! Let that sink in for a minute.
As I write this newsletter article, four days have passed since the royal nuptials. In that time, Bishop Curry has made the rounds on virtually all the media outlets – CNN, Fox, MSNBC, Today, Good Morning America, The View, and probably more (I’ve lost track.) – AND, perhaps the most telling sign that this moment of public relations bliss is for real – Bishop Curry was parodied on Saturday Night Live.
Episcopalians and Anglicans, along with the handful of other people who DID know who Bishop Curry was before the royal wedding, are positively giddy with excitement. Face-book and social media are enthralled with not only the bishop, but more importantly with the message of his sermon. It is not an exaggeration to say that a moment like this, in which the Episcopal Church is on the minds and the lips of so many people, may never again happen in our lifetime. So, my friends, what shall we do with a moment such as this?
What made the Bishop’s sermon so powerful was its message of the power of Love to change the world. We’ve included the full text of Bishop Curry’s sermon here in the newsletter. I’m sure many of you heard him preach, but I encourage you to go back and read his sermon as well. Listen to what he has to say and ask yourself what it is about this sermon that has caused such a response in the hearts and minds of so many people around the world.
I believe the Bishop’s sermon tapped into a hunger that people of many cultures and back-grounds have for a message that offers hope in the midst of despair, light in the midst of darkness, and joy in the midst of sadness. People long for truth and they know it when they hear it. People are tired of agendas, political or otherwise, that are blatantly unjust and self-serving, pandering to the basest of human motives and instincts. People have grown weary of violence and war, hatred and intolerance in all its forms. Yes, people have had enough.
Earlier, I posed the question, “What shall we do with a moment such as this?” In one sense, the answer to that question demands fresh thinking and new strategies, a bold will-ingness to reach out to the world with the message of God’s never failing love in ways we’ve never tried before. On the other hand, the answer to the question is to, likewise, keep on doing what we, the followers of Jesus, have always been called to do.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength… and love your neighbor. As our good bishop knows all too well, that message always has and always will have the power to change the world.
Peace,
Fr. C. Earl Mahan
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June 3– The Second Sunday after Pentecost
Altar Guild: Kathy Joslin, Cynthia Farrar
Lectors/EM: Dennis Farrar, Kathy Joslin, Deacon Dayna Usher: Jim Imrie
Readings: Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Psalm 81:1-10; 2 Corinthians 4:5-12; Mark 2:23-3:6
June 10 – The Third Sunday after Pentecost
Altar Guild: Kaye Weerts, Marcia Imrie Lectors/EM: Chris Sturgeon, Bruce Ward, Deacon Dayna Usher: Phil Davis Readings: Genesis 3:8-15; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35
June 17 – The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Altar Guild: Linda Bell, Wendy Wirkus
Lectors/EM: Wendy Wirkus, Dave Miller, Deacon Dayna
Usher: Julie Ray
Readings: Ezekiel 17:22-24; Psalm 92:1-4,11-14; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10,[11-13],14-17; Mark 4:26-34
June 24 – The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Altar Guild: Linda Bell, Wendy Wirkus Lectors/EM: Marion Lyons-Koch, Roger Koch, Deacon Dayna
Usher: Cynthia Farrar Readings: Job 38:1-11; Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41
June Birthdays 4 – Rola Sarkyssian 5 – Samuel Sturgeon
10 - Ruth Vaughn 14 – Barb Lommen
16 - Augustine Pettus 27 - Sophia & Isaiah Rose
June Anniversaries
4 - Tom & Julie Marshall 10 - Steve & Darah Imrie
July Birthdays 4 – Luke Warren 8 - Carol Guarino
9 - Paul Novak 16 - Stacy Androuais
19 - Jennifer Nolan 27 - Jeani Ward
28 - Dominic Androuais 29 - Dennis Rumley
July Anniversaries
1 - Veryl & John Alexander 5 - Sabi & Firyal Sarkyssian
June Circle of Concern Donations
The monthly food donations are taken to the Circle of Concern, a food pantry located in Valley Park. Needed are: Canned vegeta-
bles, Canned fruit, Boxed cereal, Dessert mixes.
Circle of Concern accepts Personal Hygiene items: Bars of soap, Toilet paper, Shampoo, Conditioner, Lotion, Feminine hygiene products, Diapers,
Pull-Ups, Adult diapers.
Please place your donations in the red plastic container in the narthex. Thank you.
Year to date Financials April 2018
Full reports will be available in the church office
Receipts Actual Budget
Pledges $6,265 $6,800
Plate Offerings $1,022 $1,050
Holy Day $1,283 $1,000
Preschool $1,200 $1,200
Building Use $1,020 $390
Other $566 _
Total Receipts $10,476 $10,300
Expenses Actual Budget
Salaries/
Housing $6,873 $7,068
Office $1,349 $660
Utilities $1,827 $1,245
Mortgage/Tax $39 -
Insurance - -
Program
Materials - -
Maintenance $7 $450
Outreach/
Preschool - -
Diocesan
Pledge - -
Total
Disbursements $15,352 $14,697
ARTS, CRAFTS, AND OTHER INTERESTS FOR FALL FESTIVAL
Do you, or do you know someone, who creates goods or has a hobby that should be showcased at a festival? We will be looking for show-casers for the Fall Festival in the coming months, and booth/display information is also forthcoming. If you know someone who might be interested, please see Julie Nguyen, Barb Rumley, Phil Davis, or Father Earl for more information.
3
And now in the name of our loving, liberating, and life-giving God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
From the Song of Solomon, in the Bible: Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is (as) strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it (out). Song of Songs 8:6-7
The late Dr. Martin Luther King once said, and I quote: “We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way.”
There’s power in love. Don’t underestimate it. Don’t even over-sentimentalize it. There’s power, power in love.
If you don’t believe me, think about a time when you first fell in love. The whole world seemed to center around you, and your be-loved.
Oh, there’s power, power in love. Not just in its romantic forms, but any form, any shape, of love. There’s a certain sense, in which when you are loved, and you know it, when someone cares for you and you know it, when you love and you show it, it actually feels right.
There’s something right about it. And there’s a reason for it.
The reason has to do with the source. We were made by a power of love. And our lives were meant, and are meant to be lived in that love. That’s why we are here.
Ultimately the source of love is God himself. The source of all of our lives. As an old medieval poem puts it: “Where true love is found, God himself is there.”
1st John in the New Testament says it this way. “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; Everyone who loves is born of God. Whoever does not love does not know God For God is love.” (1John 4:4-8)
There’s power in love. There’s power in love to help and heal when nothing else can.
There’s power in love to lift up and liberate when nothing else will.
There’s power in love to show us the way to live
“Set me as a seal on your heart A seal on your arm”, for love, it’s as strong as death.
But love is not only about a young couple. Now the power of love is demonstrated by the fact that we’re all here. Two young people fell in love, and we all showed up!
But it’s not just for and about a young couple who we rejoice with. It’s more than that.
Jesus of Nazareth on one occasion was asked by a lawyer to sum up the essence of the teachings of Moses. And he read back, and reached back into the Hebrew scriptures to Deuteronomy and Leviticus, and Jesus said: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength. This is the first, and great commandment. And the second is like it. Love your neighbor
as yourself.”
And then in Matthew’s version, he added, he said: “On these two, love of God and love of neighbor, hang all the law, all the prophets, everything that Moses wrote, everything in the holy prophets, every-thing in the Scriptures, everything that God has been trying to tell the world! Love God! Love your neighbors. And while you’re at it, love yourself.”
Someone once said that Jesus began the most revolutionary move-ment in all of human history.
A movement grounded in the unconditional love of God for the world. And a movement mandating people to live that love. And in so doing, to change not only their lives, but the very life of the world itself.
I’m talking about some power. Real power. Power to change the world.
And if you don’t believe me, well, there were some old slaves in America’s Antebellum South, who explained the dynamic power of love and why it has the power to transform. They explained it this way – they sang a spiritual, even in the midst of their captivity. It’s one that says: ‘There is a balm in Gilead’ a healing balm, something that can make things right –
“There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole, there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.”
And one of the stanzas actually explains why – they said: ‘If you cannot preach like Peter, and you cannot pray like Paul, you tell the love of Jesus, how he died to save us all.”’
Oh, that’s the balm in Gilead! This way of love, it is the way of life! They got it! He died to save us all!
He didn’t die for anything he could get out of it! Jesus did not get an honorary doctorate for dying! He didn’t...he wasn’t getting anything out of it! He gave up his life, he sacrificed his life for the good of oth-ers, for the good of the other, for the well-being of the world, for us.
That’s what love is. Love is not selfish and self-centered. Love can be sacrificial, and in so doing, becomes redemptive. And that way of unselfish, sacrificial, redemptive love, changes lives, and it can change this world.
If you don’t believe me, just stop and think, or imagine. Think, and imagine a world where love is the way.
Imagine our homes and families where love is the way. Imagine neighborhoods and communities where love is the way.
Imagine our governments and nations where love is the way.
Imagine business and commerce where love is the way.
Imagine this tired old world where love is the way. When love is the way, unselfish, sacrificial, redemptive.
When love is the way, then no child would go to bed hungry in this world ever again.
(continued on page 4)
“The Power of Love”— A Sermon by the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry for The Marriage of HRH Prince Henry of Wales & Ms. Meghan Markle, Saturday, May 19, 2018
4
(continued from page 3)
When love is the way, we will let justice roll down like a mighty stream and righteousness like an ever-flowing brook.
When love is the way, poverty would become history. When love is the way, the earth will be a sanctuary.
When love is the way, we will lay down our swords and shields down by the riverside to study war no more.
When love is the way, there’s plenty good room. Plenty good room - for all of God’s children.
And when love is the way, we actually treat each other, well...like we’re actually family.
When love is the way, we know that God is the source of us all, and we are brothers and sisters. Children of God.
My brothers and sisters, that’s a new heaven, a new earth, a new world, a new human family.
And let me tell you something, old Solomon was right in the Old Tes-tament, that’s fire.
Teilhard de Chardin – and with this, I will sit down, we gotta get you all married. French Jesuit Teilhard de Chardin was arguably one of the great minds, great spirits of the 20th century. A Jesuit, Roman Catholic priest, a scientist, a scholar, a mystic. In some of his writ-ings he said, from his scientific background, as well as his theological one. Some of his writings he said, as others have, that the discovery, or invention, or harnessing of fire was one of the great scientific and technological discoveries in all of human history.
Fire to a great extent made human civilization possible. Fire made it possible to cook food, and to provide sanitary ways of eating, which reduced the spread of disease in its time.
Fire made it possible to heat and warm environments and thereby made human migration around the world a possibility, even into cold-er climates.
Fire made it possible – there was no Bronze Age without fire, no Iron Age without fire, no Industrial Revolution without fire.
The advances of science and technology are greatly dependent on the human ability and capacity to take fire and use it for human good.
Anybody get here in a car today? An automobile? Nod your heads if you did, I’m guessing, I know there were some carriages. For those of us who came in cars, fire, and the controlled, harnessed fire - made that possible.
I know that the Bible says, and I believe it, that Jesus walked on the water, but I have to tell you, I didn’t walk across the Atlantic Ocean to get here!
Controlled fire in that plane got me here, Fire makes it possible for us to text and Tweet and email and Instagram and Facebook and socially be dysfunctional with each other!
Fire makes all of that possible, And de Chardin said fire was one of the greatest discoveries in all of human history.
And he then went on to say that if humanity ever harnesses the energy of fire again, if humanity ever captures the energy of love, it will be the second time in history that we have discovered fire.
Dr. King was right: we must discover love - the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world.
My brother, my sister, God love you, God bless you, and may God hold us all, in those Almighty hands of love.
Preschoolers Graduation 2018!
Congratulations to the 15 kids who graduated from St. Luke’s Preschool and are headed off to Kindergarten!
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Sunday June 3 The Second Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship 5pm Faith Christian Church India
8 pm AA
Thursday, June 7
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, June 8
8pm AA
Sunday, June 10 The Third Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship Parish Picnic
8 pm AA
Thursday, June 14
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, June 15
8pm AA
Sunday, June 17 The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Happy Father’s Day 10 am Worship 11:30 am Third Sundays Unplugged. Light snacks and a good time of fellowship and conversation are guaranteed. The event is free. Please see Julie Sturgeon or Father Earl for any questions. 5pm Faith Christian Church India
8 pm AA
Monday, June 18
7pm Vestry Meeting / Newsletter articles due
Wednesday, June 20
9am—3 pm Lifeline Screening at St. Luke’s
Thursday, June 21
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, June 22
8pm AA
Sunday, June 24 The Fifth Sunday After Pentecost 10 am Worship
8 pm AA
Thursday, June 28
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Sunday July 1 The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship 5pm Faith Christian Church India
8 pm AA
Wednesday July 4 - Office closed for holiday
Thursday, July 5
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, July 6
8pm AA
Sunday July 8 The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship
8 pm AA
Thursday, July 12
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, July 13
8pm AA
Sunday July 15 The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship After service Third Sundays Unplugged
8 pm AA
Monday, July 16
7pm Vestry Meeting / Newsletter articles due
Thursday, July 19
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, July 20
8pm AA
Sunday July 22 The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship
8 pm AA
Thursday, July 26
6 pm Praise Ensemble
Friday, July 27
8pm AA
Sunday July 29 The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost 10 am Worship
8 pm AA
Monday, July 30
7pm Worship Committee Meeting
JUNE/JULY 2018
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From Deacon Dayna- Memorial Day weekend is upon us signaling that Summer is on the way. At our house the tulips have bloomed and both the rose bushes and the “knock out roses” are glorious in color. Every-thing is becoming green, and in all the splendor, I see God. My mother once said to me during a hospitalization, “When I see those baby pink roses, I see God.” And when she died, I chose baby pink roses to grace the altar. Our loving God, the creator, is everywhere. And so is love. Last Saturday morning, I had a “girls only” Royal Wedding watch party. Those present were my daughter, Angela, my daughter-in-law, Amy, my granddaughters, Molly and Clara, and one of Molly’s friends, Kennan. Al went over to Joe’s house for a sleepover with Joe and Day. Angela, Amy and I awakened at 3 o’clock a.m. to watch the entire coverage of the Royal Wedding festivities. We had Windsor Royal Wedding tea and drank it out of porcelain cups sporting the images of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It was fascinating to watch in its entirety, highlighted by our Presiding Bishop, Michael B. Curry, giving the sermon. I’m fairly certain that many of you heard or read the Presiding Bishop’s sermon. His sermon had the most tweets of any part of the Royal Wedding – something like 40,000 per hour. I’ve heard the BBC commentators raved about the sermon. Numerous
articles made their way to social media. And on Tuesday of this week, Michael Curry made appearances on The Today Show and The View. He was amazing. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s sermon spoke about the power of love. One of the scriptures chosen by the bride and groom was from the Song of Solomon. “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.” And from the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Michael Curry quoted, “We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world, for love is the only way.” As I perused the sermon, I found the following words of Presid-ing Bishop so powerful. And I quote: “Ultimately, the source of love is God himself: the source of all our lives.” There’s an old medieval poem that says: “Where true love is found, God himself is there.” “The New Testament says it this way: “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God, and those who love are born of God and know God. Those who do not love, do not know God. Why? For God is love.”
- Deacon Dayna
The Vestry met on Monday, May 21st. Following are highlights from the minutes: April minutes were approved
Treasurer’s Report · March Total Receipts were $10,476, $176 above the plan
· March Disbursements were $15,352, $655 above the budget · March cash balance of $2,652
Saint Luke’s Day School Report – Sarah Warren · Enrollment for 2018-2019 school year is 32, with tuition at
$13,030 Junior Warden’s Report
· A/C replacement bid received from Chesterfield Service
Priest-In-Charge Report
· Summer office hours adjusting to Monday, Tuesday, THURSDAY 9 AM - 2 PM effective immediately
The Vestry adjourned at 8:30 PM. The next Vestry meeting will
be Monday, June 18, 2018 at 7:00 PM. A record of the detailed minutes are available for all to review in the office. Please see Father Earl or any Vestry member with questions
or concerns.
Dear Rev. C. Earl Mahan and St. Luke's Family,
In Joy, there is community and stewardship. It is an honor to celebrate outstanding graduating seniors to receive the WILLIAM B. PETTUS II SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION for 2018. All four recipients represent scholarship and practice stewardship in their
community.
WILLIAM B. PETTUS II SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION RECIPIENTS
Clarence Earl Baker, Jr. Valley Park High School Valley Park, MIssouri
John Lawrence Coleman Fort Zumwalt West High O'Fallon, Missouri
Gabrielle Marion Hieken Parkway South High Manchester, Missouri
Anastasia J. Novak Parkway South High Manchester, Missouri
Our gratitude to Dave Milller our joyful treasurer and Julie Sturgeon our joyful outreach liason in sharing their spiritual gifts and stewardship. May our joying together radiate God's blessings in building community with JOY!
Keep the JOY, Ben and Augustine
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SAMARITAN MINISTRIES
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2
A couple of years ago, we learned that our healthcare provider at the time was no longer participating in the MO health insurance marketplace. Frustrated by the limited options and our experience with the market, a friend introduced us to Samaritan Ministries, a healthcare sharing ministry. The idea sounded appealing but also scary. Do we participate and rely on this solely as our healthcare solution? Or do we supplement for traditional health insurance? We took a leap of faith — a BIG leap of faith — and opted to trust that the Lord will provide. Late 2017, the time came for us to call upon our brothers and sisters of Samaritan Ministries for assistance. The blessings came in. We were able to cover our
medical expenses with help from five other members. It has been a wonderful, fulfilling and joyful healthcare experience thus far, which is more than what we can say for traditional insurance. We actually look forward to paying our monthly share, and seeing who we're able to assist. Skeptical at first, we are now believers in the healthcare sharing ministry as a model for healthcare. We want to share this gift with St. Luke's. Informational material is available on the table in the Narthex, or can be found at www.samaritanministries.org. We would also be delighted to share more information about our own personal experience. Peace, Julie and Chris Sturgeon
Parish Picnic - Sunday, June 10 After Service. Please sign-up.
Plan to attend this fun time of food and fellowship! Those attending, please bring drinks & a dish to share. Hamburgers &
hot dogs will be provided.
LifeLine Screening® will be in your neighborhood soon - Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at St Luke's Episcopal Church. Get your special Community Circle pricing!
Three ways to register: Call toll-free: 1-866-229-0469 Online: www. Iifelinescreening.com/communitycircle Text: the word circle to 797979
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St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 444 Brightfield Trail
Manchester, MO 63021
The Rev. & Mrs. Sabi K Sarkissyian
524 Fox Run Estates Ct.
Ballwin, MO 63021
Back to School Supplies Drive - July 29 - August 19th
The Community Concerns Committee will be collecting school supplies for children who cannot afford to purchase them.
School supplies such as markers, glue, notebooks, binders, rulers, paper, pens, colored pencils, backpacks or whatever you can purchase, may be left in the narthex in the red tub. Your contributions
will be greatly appreciated by the kids!