St. Luke's Episcopal Church and St. Joseph's Chapel

Welcome to St. Luke’s

admin — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:39:07 +0000

Our Journey at St. Luke’s

Welcome to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Belton, Texas!

We strive to be a welcoming and diverse community, offering a variety of worship, fellowship, education, and ministry opportunities. Therefore we invite you to join with us as we “seek and serve Christ in all persons.”

St. Luke’s welcomes all people where ever they are in their faith journey. We believe that we can best come to know God, our creator, through a relationship with his son, Jesus Christ. The clearest statements of what we believe is to be found in the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed. As a church, we emphasize the mystery of encountering God in worship. We believe all people are called to be ministers and to serve God, his Church and the community in which they live.
Please join us for worship and be a part of our Faith community. You are never a visitor. You are always our guest and we will welcome you with open arms.

Peace and Blessings,

Fr. Bob+

Frequent Questions

Are we a protestant Church?

Yes. The word protestant means “to witness for” and reminds us that our church witnesses for Jesus in the world around us. As an Episcopal Church we wish to work for greater unity among all Christians and churches. We believe that through a relationship with Jesus as our savior and redeemer that we come to salvation. We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, and contain all things necessary for salvation. We understand the meaning of the Bible by help of the Holy Spirit, who guides the Church in the true interpretation of the Scriptures.

Are we a Catholic Church?

Yes. The Church is catholic, because it proclaims the whole Faith to all people, to the end of time. The Church is apostolic, because it continues in the teaching and fellowship of the apostles and is sent to carry out Christ’s mission to all people.

Are we a Sacramental Church?

Yes. A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of inward and spiritual grace, given by Christ as sure and certain means by which we receive that grace. We accept as most important the sacraments of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist (also called Communion or The Lord’s Supper). In Baptism we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and are adopted into God’s family called the Church. In Eucharist, we receive the bread and wine of communion which we believe is the body and blood of Jesus — a way of knowing by faith that Jesus is truly with us and in union (communion) with us. The benefits we receive are the forgiveness of our sins, the strengthening of our union with Christ and one another, and the foretaste of the heavenly banquet which is our nourishment in eternal life.

What is the mission of the Church?

The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ. The Church pursues its mission as it prays an worships, proclaims the Gospel, and promotes justice, peace, and love. The Church carries out its mission through the ministry of all its members.

Our Journey Through Pentecost

admin — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:23:19 +0000

Our Journey

Week of October 24 – 30, 2011 Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost

From The Rector

Believe it or not the season of Pentecost is almost over. We have about a month before we begin our Advent journey. Where does the time go? Between now and November 27 we have All Hallows’ Eve, All Saint’s and All Soul’s celebration, the ever popular change back from Daylight Savings time, and Thanksgiving. By the way there is only about 64 more shopping days before Christmas.

Here’s a short parable for you to ponder!

In life we all need faith… so I tell you a story of faith. The man was crossing the desert. He was out of water. He spots a water pump near an abandoned shack. He inched his way up to the pump, mustered up enough strength to work the handle, but nothing happened. No water came. Then he noticed a jug near the handle with a note attached. The note read, “There is just enough water in this jug to prime the pump, but not if you drink some first. This well has never gone dry, even in the worst of droughts. Just pour the water from the jug into the pump then pump the handle quickly. After you have satisfied your thirst, refill this jug for the next thirsty person who comes along.”

What should the man dying of thirst have done? The contents of the note called for trust in the person who wrote it. If the dying man followed the instructions, he ran the risk of pouring all the water from the jug into a pump that might fail. He was being asked to put his trust in the message. He was being asked to respond to the message in faith. He was asked to accept without reservation the absolute truth of the message.

Fr. Bob+

This Week’s Scripture

Matthew 22:34-46

When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: “What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”’? If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

The Season of Pentecost

admin — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:14:49 +0000

Our Journey

July 03, 2011 The Third Sunday After Pentecost

From The Rector

The Season of Pentecost

I will be on vacation for the next couple of weeks to spend some time with my family and to refresh myself. We will be escaping the heat in the mountains of southwest Colorado. And I will doing some fly fishing on the San Juan and Piedra rivers.

While I am gone I would like you to reflect on our Gospel readings through the eyes of Matthew. The writer of Matthew focuses on the formation of character and community. It deals with ethical practices, “Do what you say.” Don’t be like the Pharisees who were saying the right things but they did not practice what they preached.

For Matthew, Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, from a Jewish God, sent to fulfill Jewish scripture. Jesus did not come to change Jewish law. People were to follow not only the letter of the law but also its very spirit.

This week Jesus tells us “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest.” Jesus is telling us we have two choices. First, you can decide to turn away from God and go on your own. If you reject God the burden will be heavy and you get what you get. The second choice is to love God and turn your burdens over to him. God knows you are imperfect and that makes no difference to him. God loves you anyway. When your burdens become great you will find rest from Jesus.

Over the next few weeks we will also begin hearing the parables. Take them one at a time. Parables deal with the acceptance or rejection of Jesus and how we live out our life once we have made that decision. Parables should stimulate thought and bring about discovery. We need to ask of ourselves how do we live as a community and how do we live in the world that we live in today? It is easy to believe in the resurrection but daily life offers a lot of stumbling blocks.

Practice what you say and community formation. Being recognizable among the nations. How well are we doing in the world we live in? How does the Church stand for something in the world s culture? These are all thoughts to be explored. Enjoy!

Fr. Bob+

This Week’s Scripture

Matthew 11:19-19, 25-30

¹⁹the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

²⁵At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; ²⁶yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. ²⁷All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ²⁸“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Summer Vacation

Happy Birthday United States of America!
Summer vacation season is in full swing. Please keep all who travel in your prayers. Travel to your destination and return to us safe and sound. We have lots of work to do to spread the Kingdom of God!

If you are going on an extended vacation please keep your pledges and giving up to date. We need everyone’s help.

Count Your Blessings

“All things come of thee O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee.”

I Chronicles 29:14b

In September our special focus will be on what is right in our lives and the abundances that we sometimes take for granted.

In our Middler year I and the other Bi-Vocational Priest seminarians were challenged with a project. For thirty days we were to take time each day to write down something that we are thankful for and to give thanks to God. We were to look for something new each day and could not repeat an item. At the end of the month in May we were to come back to class and reflect on what we found.

At first it was relatively easy to get away with the obvious things: food, family, friends, the people of St Luke’s and St. Joseph’s, school, waking up each day, the warm sun, and the list continued. As time progressed it was not difficult to find things to be grateful for but it did cause me to slow down and begin to actively look at the things that God provides me with each day. I began to reflect more and more on just how much abundance I have in my life. It was that moment of not only “waking up to smell the roses”, but also to recognize who the gardener was that provided the care and nourishment to the roses that I have been enjoying.

I have always enjoyed waking up to God as part of my daily prayer life. I like to greet each morning giving thanks for the warmth and newness of the day, the opportunity to serve Jesus Christ, and the many blessings that I have in my life. Our assignment challenged me to become more committed to find new things each day, new Blessings that were awaiting my discovery.

So why am I telling you this story? Starting Sunday September 4, 2011 I am going to challenge you to write down at least one thing each day that you are grateful for and wish to give thanks to God. You are to look for something new each day and do not repeat an entry. The sheet for recording your blessings will be in the bulletin and available for download on this page. You are encouraged to write more than one blessing each day.

Should you decide to commit to this challenge, you’ll find that God is a God of abundance. The little “Easter eggs” that God places for us to find are everywhere. They are just waiting for you and I to discover. On October 2nd, we will celebrate Abundance Sunday. Bring your blessings and we will lift them up to God in recognition of His love for us. After the service, the seminarian, verger and I will burn them and spread their ashes around the gardens at St. Luke’s and St. Joseph’s. We will offer time at a Wednesday Evening program in October to talk about what we have found by doing this challenge.

If you are not a member of our congregation but wish to participate please feel free to download the Count your Blessings form and mail it to:

Rector
Blessings
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
2103 North Beal Street
Belton, TX 76513

All things come of thee O Lord, and of thine own are we giving thee.

We Are on Facebook!

If you use Facebook, please visit our page at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and St. Joseph’s Episcopal Mission and click on the Like button. Watch our page for upcoming events and pictures of our happenings around St. Luke’s and St. Joseph’s.

Daughters of the King

The Daughters of the King (DOK) held their organizational meeting on Wednesday April 27th in St. Luke’s Parish Hall. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Daughters of the King please contact Tamara Clothier or Paula Miller.

Our Journey Through Pentecost

admin — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 21:37:33 +0000

Our Journey

June 12, 2011 Pentecost Sunday

From The Rector

Pentecost Sunday

John 7:37-39 Two short verses but oh what meaning. Jesus said, “If you are thirsty come to me.” “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” Jesus gave us the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and empowered us to take the life giving waters out into the world so all may share in God’s love. Anyone want to join me for a swim? Happy Birthday Church!

Fr. Bob+

This Week’s Scripture

John 7:37-39

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Summer Vacation Time

Summer vacations are here. As we begin the summer travel season keep those who travel in your prayers. We want everyone to enjoy their time off but we also want everyone to return return safely to their church home.

It is exceptionally hot and dry this year so be careful when grilling outdoors. The animals have very little to sustain them and it appears the drought will only worsen. A wildfire will destroy what little food they have. Consider putting water out for the birds and other animals.

Have a safe and wonderful trip whether it be to the backyard or to the far reaches of the earth. We will love to here about all the adventures when you return! If you are staying in town there are good movies coming out over the summer. Stay cool and relax. Stay-cations are a lot of fun and Central Texas has a lot to offer.

O God, who art not far from each one of us: be near to all who travel by land, sea, or air; lighten their way with the grace of thy presence, preserve them in all dangers and in all temptations, direct their paths in tranquility, and bring them in health and safety to their journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Evangelist E-Newsletter

Our E-Newsletter, “The Evangelist” will contain timely information on events and happenings around St. Luke’s and St. Joseph’s. To receive the E-Newsletter, please send an email to the Church office at stlukes@stlnj.com and request to be put on our E-Newsletter list. The newsletter will only be sent to those who request it and we do this so we do not impose our newsletter on anyone who may not want to receive it.

The E-Newsletter will be published as information, pictures, articles, and other content arrives from our congregation, and church and diocese events and activities. Please send your articles and other information in electronic form to stlukes@stlnj.com. Paper copies and faxes are strongly discouraged and may not make it into the E-Newsletter in a timely fashion.

We Are on Facebook!

Daughters of the King

Count Your Blessings Coming Soon!

Beginning September 01, 2011 we will focus on our many Blessings. You will be given a form, “For God’s Eyes Only”, with blank spaces to record observations of your daily Blessings. Each day for 30 days you are to record a Blessing or two as they are revealed to you. You can never repeat a Blessing. You are to find at least one new one each day. Then in October everyone will be given the opportunity to place the sheets with their Blessings on the altar at the Offertory. More information will be provided in August.

Our Journey – Easter 6A

admin — Fri, 27 May 2011 19:49:20 +0000

Our Journey

May 29, 2011 Easter Season

From The Rector

The Season of Easter

In this weeks readings from the Acts of the Apostles Paul shows us a very effective way of taking the Good News out into the world. I like to think of it as Adaptive Evangelism.

All of us are Disciples of Christ and we must witness to the world. Like Paul, our witness must be respectful of the view of others but we cannot water down our own Christian beliefs. Adaptive Evangelism is a way for us to affirm our Baptismal Covenant in new and creative ways by providing thoughtful and decisive witness.

We should not approach our job as Evangelists with the assumption that we already know the minds and hearts of others. We must listen deeply, pay attention to the details of what people are saying, provide spiritual hospitality, and to identify theological and evangelical possibilities that will help others come to the one truth.

Our job is to find a way to enter the world of another in order to speak our truth honestly, respectfully, and effectively. We can only enter that world if we look for the openings through which we can connect.

Fr. Bob+

This Week’s Scripture

Acts 17:22-31

Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

Memorial Day

This weekend we set aside time to remember all who have served our country and those who currently serve. We especially remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to help ensure our personal freedoms and way of life found in so few places around the world. Please tell all who have served and all who are still serving in our Armed Forces thank you for a job well done.

Please pray with me for those who have fallen and those who are currently serving:

Lord God, Heavenly Father we give thanks for the country you have given us. We are eternally grateful for all the blessings which you have bestowed upon us. We remember today those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in their duty to country. So many have given themselves to resist the evil of their day to help make this world a safer and better place. We ask that you watch over all who are currently serving especially those deployed to the troubled regions of the world. Be their comfort and refuge during danger. Keep them safe from enemy and accident. Bring them home safely to their families and loved ones. These things we ask in your name. Amen

The Evangelist E-Newsletter

We Are on Facebook!

Ou Annual Parish Picnic

Our first annual Parish Picnic was held at the ranch of Sara and Joe Lewis. We began with an outdoor Sunday Eucharist at 11:00 am followed by a picnic lunch. We had about 48 people attending and it was a beautiful day. Thanks to our hosts Joe and Sara Lewis for a wonderful setting. Joe cooked up a ton of brisket, pork and chicken. I really don’t think anything was left and believe me there was a lot of great things to eat. We will do this again next year for sure.

Daughters of the King

Our Journey – Easter Season

admin — Fri, 13 May 2011 17:59:29 +0000

Our Journey

May 15, 2011 Easter Season

From The Rector

The Season of Easter

Just like members of the first Christian Church we gather together regularly to support one another, to encourage one another, and to learn from one another. We are transformed from sheep who follow to shepherds who take the Word out into the world.

Each time we go out into the world we take the same gate that we came through to get here and set it up for others so they can see that Christ has something to offer them. We do that by modelling our lives as Christ lived his; by loving one another, by sharing communal meals, and by learning God’s word.

As shepherds we bring the sheep to Christ. Christ alone decides who gets in an who gets turned back. We as shepherds bring the encouragement, the love, and the message that eternal life can be found when one passes through these gates.

Our message is simple: “The Shepherd’s pen is big enough for all. Christ has sent me out here to let you know, “Come on in!’”

Fr. Bob+

This Week’s Scripture

John 10:1-10

“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Looking Ahead

One of the fun things about being part of a growing small congregation is all the new people. Our Parish Mission, St. Joseph’s, has grown from about 6 or 8 on a Sunday morning to 30 to 40 on a Sunday morning. It has been an incredible story for the “Little Chapel” in Salado. We had 80 people attending service on Easter morning and most stayed for Sunday Brunch after the 11:00am service. There were kids collecting Easter eggs and the weather was perfect. Our youth group colored the real eggs, filled the plastic ones and then set them out for the younger kids to find. We will get pictures posted real soon. If you are new to the area please join us at either St. Luke’s in Belton or St. Joseph’s in Salado. We welcome all people and look forward to meeting you.

The Evangelist E-Newsletter

Our E-Newsletter, “The Evangelist” contains timely information on events and happenings around St. Luke’s and St. Joseph’s. To receive the E-Newsletter, please send an email to the Church office at stlukes@stlnj.com and request to be put on our E-Newsletter list. The newsletter will only be sent to those who request it and we do this so we do not impose our newsletter on anyone who may not want to receive it.

We Are on Facebook!

First Annual Parish Picnic

Our first annual Parish Picnic will be Sunday May 15, 2011 at the ranch of Sara and Joe Lewis. We will begin with an outdoor Sunday Eucharist at 11:00 am followed by a picnic lunch. The congregation is asked to bring side dishes and desserts. The church will provide the meat, water, and iced tea. Everyone should bring a lawn chair and more information will be provided as we get closer to the event.

Daughters of the King

Our Journey – Easter Season

admin — Wed, 04 May 2011 22:06:13 +0000

Our Journey

May 04, 2011 Easter Season

From The Rector

The Season of Easter

I am behind for this week. That’s not a Proverb it is a fact. Just like our Gospel reading this week you might have to walk along with me to catch up on things. We might talk about things going on in our lives or a favorite movie. Such was the case with the disciples. They certainly had plenty of things to talk about. Their conversation must have centered around the events of the past few days, about that had happened to Jesus, his arrival into Jerusalem, his trial, crucifixion, and the women at the empty tomb.

Then an odd thing happens. A stranger joins them and their conversation turns to scripture. The disciples are familiar with the scriptures but it is the stranger who connects them together. His words point to a loving God and his infinite passion for us. They eventually arrive at the disciple’s house and Jesus is invited to stay with them for a few days.

At dinner Jesus “took the bread, broke it, and gave it to them.” It was only then the disciples recognized the stranger as Jesus and he had been in their midst during their walk. Now they were sharing a sacred meal with him.

In our own way that is what we do with each other on Sunday mornings. We walk with each other as we catch up on our life events. We hear scripture, pray for the world, and then ask for forgiveness. All of our hopes and our joys, our anger and confusion, and our weaknesses are placed on the table along with our oblations of wine and bread. We come to share the body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, just as we are, entirely human and with all our frailties.

Join me in my walk. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us along our way and challenge us into taking new directions. Along the way we will break the bread of life to feed us and strengthen us.

Fr. Bob+

This Week’s Scripture

Luke 24:13-35

The Walk to Emmaus

13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles^* from Jerusalem, ¹⁴and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, ¹⁶but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad.^* ¹⁸Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’ ¹⁹He asked them, ‘What things?’ They replied, ‘The things about Jesus of Nazareth,^* who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. ²¹But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.^* Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. ²²Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, ²³and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. ²⁴Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.’ ²⁵Then he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! ²⁶Was it not necessary that the Messiah^* should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ ²⁷Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. ²⁹But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. ³¹Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. ³²They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us^* while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ ³³That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. ³⁴They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ ³⁵Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Looking Ahead

The Evangelist E-Newsletter

We Are on Facebook!

First Annual Parish Picnic

Daughters of the King

Our Journey – April 24, 2011

admin — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:17:28 +0000

Our Journey

April 24, 2011 Easter Sunday

From The Rector

The Season of Easter

I asked the question on our Facebook page, “What does Maundy mean?” Maundy derives its meaning from the Vulgate mandatum novum which can be translated to mean new commandment. Jesus said to the disciples, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another.”

If we want to understand the type of love Jesus was talking about then we need to look at Jesus’ life. That means our love for one another must focus on actions and not simply that “loving feeling.”

This Sunday is Resurrection Sunday. We live by faith in the Son of God, knowing that he loved us so much that he gave himself up for us. We are a new people born from his image and now capable of loving with his love. Christ lives within us and we are called into an action-love. Ignoring this new commandment is not an option. Keeping this commandment is our identifying mark of discipleship…. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (NRSV John 13:35)

Fr. Bob+

This Week’s Scripture

John 20:1-18

20Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. ²So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” ³Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. ⁴The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, ⁷and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. ⁸Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; ⁹for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰Then the disciples returned to their homes.

¹¹But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; ¹²and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. ¹³They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” ¹⁴When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). ¹⁷Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” ¹⁸Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Easter Sunday Schedule

Easter Sunday 9:00am Easter Sunday Liturgy, HE Rite 2 – St. Luke
April 24 11:00am Easter Sunday Liturgy, HE Rite 2 – St. Joseph

Flowering of the Cross at both services. Please bring flowers.

The Evangelist E-Newsletter

We Are on Facebook!

First Annual Parish Picnic

Daughters of the King

The Daughters of the King (DOK) will meet at 6:30 pm on Wednesday April 27th in St. Luke’s Parish Hall. Anyone who is interested in becoming a member of the Daughters of the King should attend this meeting. Jerry Ann Robinson, the Diocesan DOK President, will be the keynote speaker. Please mark your calendars.

Our Journey – April 17, 2011

admin — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 23:05:17 +0000

Our Journey

April 17, 2011 Palm Sunday

From The Rector

A Lenten Journey

One of my mentors loved to write poetry. On this occasion of Holy Week I give you a poem written by Fr. “Cotton” Timmins.

The Last Supper….

Love

And betrayal,
Bread and Wine,
Body and Blood,
And silver.
The sell-out.

I come to the Table.
I dip my hands in the dish.
I eat with,
Partake of,
My Lord,
And I betray Him!

Oh, not like Judas,
Not physically,
Not personally,
But in other ways:
When my confessions of faith
And my actions
Don’t coincide;

When I don’t live
The faith I proclaim.
I, too, ask,
“Is it I, Lord?”
And he replies,
“You have said so.”

Lord, forgive my betrayals,
My denials of You
And Your power to save me;
Grant me the Grace of Your
Sacraments
And in your power to repent,
In Jesus’ Name,
And for His sake.

Amen

Fr. Bob+

This Week’s Scripture

Matthew 27: 1-54

27When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. ²They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor. ³When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. ⁴He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” ⁵Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. ⁶But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.” ⁷After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners. ⁸For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. ⁹Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, ¹⁰and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

¹¹Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” ¹²But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. ¹³Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” ¹⁴But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. ¹⁵Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. ¹⁶At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. ¹⁷So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” ¹⁸For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. ¹⁹While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” ²⁰Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. ²¹The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” ²²Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” ²³Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” ²⁴So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” ²⁵Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

²⁶So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. ²⁷Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. ²⁸They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, ²⁹and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ³⁰They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. ³¹After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. ³²As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross.

³³And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), ³⁴they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. ³⁵And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; ³⁶then they sat down there and kept watch over him. ³⁷Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” ³⁸Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁹Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads ⁴⁰and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” ⁴¹In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, ⁴²“He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. ⁴³He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’” ⁴⁴The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way. ⁴⁵From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. ⁴⁶And about three o”clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ⁴⁷When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” ⁴⁸At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. ⁴⁹But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”

⁵⁰Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. ⁵¹At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. ⁵²The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. ⁵³After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. ⁵⁴Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

Holy Week Schedule

Holy Week Schedule

Palm Sunday 9:00am Palm Sunday Liturgy, HE Rite 2 – St. Luke
April 17 11:00am Palm Sunday Liturgy, HE Rite 2 – St. Joseph

Monday 6:30pm Evening Prayer – St. Luke
April 18

Tuesday 6:30pm Evening Prayer – St. Luke
April 19

Wednesday 7:00pm Service of the Shadows – St. Joseph
April 20

Thursday 6:30pm Maundy Thursday Liturgy, HE Rite 2
April 21 with stripping of the altar – St. Luke

Friday 6:30 pm Good Friday Service followed by Stations of
April 22 the Cross – St. Joseph

Easter Sunday 9:00am Easter Sunday Liturgy, HE Rite 2 – St. Luke
April 24 11:00am Easter Sunday Liturgy, HE Rite 2 – St. Joseph

Flowering of the Cross at both services. Please bring flowers.

What Happened to the Paper Newsletter?

Our old paper based newsletter became to costly to print and mail out to everyone so the Evangelist has been discontinued in paper form. As part of our new look and feel we are developing an E-Newsletter named “The Evangelist” which will contain timely information on events and happenings around St. Luke’s and St. Joseph’s. To receive the E-Newsletter, please send an email to the Church office at stlukes@stlnj.com and request to be put on our E-Newsletter list. The newsletter will only be sent to those who request it and we do this so we do not impose our newsletter on anyone who may not want to receive it.

The E-Newsletter will be published as information, pictures, articles, and other content arrives from our congregation, and church and diocese events and activities. Please sending your articles and other information in electronic form to stlukes@stlnj.com. Paper copies and faxes are strongly discouraged and may not make it into the E-Newsletter in a timely fashion.

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Our Journey – April 6, 2011

admin — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 20:54:00 +0000

Our Journey

April 6, 2011 Lent 5

From The Rector

A Lenten Journey

At first glance our readings today seems to be about death. If we take a closer look however, you will find God being present in our lives, even in our darkest hours. We also find reassurance in our readings that if we persevere in our faith through the difficult times we will reap the rewards of eternal life. God desires a relationship with us.

The story of the raising of Lazarus is the story of Christ’s work as a life giver. Jesus did not say to Martha, “I will be the resurrection and I will give life.” Jesus said “I am the Resurrection, and the Life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” Jesus is not only the agent of final resurrection, he promises us eternal life now. We are able to share our lives with God both now and forever!

Fr. Bob+

This Week’s Scripture

John 11:1-45

11Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 3So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, 6after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. 10But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.” 11After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” 12The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” 13Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. 14Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

17When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, 19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. 21Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” 23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.” 28When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. 30Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. 34He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35Jesus began to weep. 36So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” 38Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” 40Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” 43When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

45Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

Our New Web Site

We are redesigning our web site so that it contains dynamic content that will be updated on a regular basis. It will allow us more flexibility and have a friendly interface for all who visit our web site. Things will continually change as we zero in on our final design.

What Happened to the Paper Newsletter?

Our old paper based newsletter became to costly to print and mail out to everyone so the Evangelist was discontinued last March. As part of our new look and feel we are developing an E-Newsletter named “The Evangelist” which will contain timely information on events and happenings around St. Luke’s and St. Joseph’s. To receive the E-Newsletter, please send an email to the Church office at stlukes@stlnj.com and request to be put on our E-Newsletter list. The newsletter will only be sent to those who request it and we do this so we do not impose our newsletter on anyone who may not want to receive it.

The E-Newsletter will be published as information, pictures, articles, and other content arrives from our congregation, and church and diocese events and activities. Please sending your articles and other information in electronic form to stlukes@stlnj.com. Paper copies and faxes are strongly discouraged and may not make it into the E-Newsletter in a timely fashion.

We Are on Facebook!

First Annual Parish Picnic

Daughters of the King