Notice of Annual Meeting & Vestry Election – Sunday, January 26, 2020 10AM.
The Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 26, 2020, starting with the 10:00 a.m. Eucharist. Following the Annual Meeting there will be a festive Coffee-hour in Kreitler Hall. Please note: there will be only one joined service this weekend; there will be no Saturday 5:00 PM Eucharist.
At the Annual meeting, Vestry, parish officers, and organizations/committee reports will be presented, along with the 2020 budget. Three new vestry members will be elected at this time; two lay delegates for Diocesan Convention will be elected.
At the 2016 Diocesan Convention, new Canons where approved that provide for uniform by-laws for all parishes of the Diocese. The guidelines for Annual Parish Meetings stipulate that in every Parish, the Annual Parish Meeting shall be held in January at a time and place designated by the Vestry. Lay Members in good standing of the Parish who are physically present, who are at least 18 years of age, who are regular attendants at the services of the parish, and who are regular contributors for the six months preceding the meeting to the support of the Parish, shall be entitled to vote at all Parish Meetings. A quorum for the transaction of business in the Annual Parish Meeting shall consist of 25% of the persons entitled to vote if they were present or 25 persons entitled to vote, whichever is less. The qualifications of persons to serve on the Vestry shall be the same as the qualifications to vote at the Annual Parish Meeting as set out above. Each Annual Parish Meeting shall elect persons to serve on the Vestry replacing those members whose term in office has ended. Additional nominations may be made from the floor of the Annual Parish Meeting.
Should you have any questions or concerns about the Annual Meeting, please speak with Mother Barnes, Priest-in-Charge, or Mickey Baccoli, Senior Warden. A copy of the Diocesan Canons is posted in Israel Lounge. Additional copies will be available at the meeting.
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Centering Prayer Group: Each week an ongoing weekly Centering Prayer group meets at St. Luke’s. Centering prayer meets on Tuesdays at 5:30 pm.
Centering Prayer is a receptive method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship. Centering Prayer emphasizes prayer as a personal relationship with God and as a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Christ. Weekly sessions will include prayer, a contemplative walk, and study writings from the Christian Contemplative tradition.
Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop – An Introductory workshop is being offered throughout the season of Epiphany beginning with a workshop on Saturday, January 11, 2020 from 10 am-3:30 pm.. Follow-up sessions designed for ongoing learning and group spiritual support will be held at the regularly scheduled Tuesday evening Centering Prayer group gatherings on January 14, 22 (Wed), 28, February 4, 11, and 18. The workshop will be presented by The Rev’d Rebecca Barnes who is a commissioned presenter with Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. For more information, please contact Mother Barnes at mthrbarnes@gmail.com or call the parish office.
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Upcoming Concerts at St. Luke’s
A European Christmas – Arcadia Chorale
Saturday Evening, December 7, 2019, 7:30 pm, St Luke’s Episcopal Church, Scranton
Tickets: Adults $15.00; Seniors $12, Students Free. Tickets are available at www.arcadiachorale.org
The Chorale’s Christmas program celebrates carols from Europe focusing on the optimism, beauty, and joy of the season. We will also highlight Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols with harp and a sing-along of traditional Christmas favorites.
ALLELUIA! – A Lyric Consort Christmas
Friday Evening, December 13, 2019 at 8:00 pm, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Scranton
Tickets: Adults $10.00; Students Free
“Alleluia!” Shouted with joy and whispered in awe, the word frames our annual program of Carols and Art Music. Music of Whitacre, Arnesen, Howells, Sweelinck, Grieg, Gjeilo, and more, followed by a festive Wassail reception.
Office hours – The parish office is open Tuesday – Friday from 8:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. In the event of a pastoral emergency, Mother Barnes may be reached on her pastoral cell phone, (646) 533-1836.