ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS
2020 Holy Week Schedule of Services
PALM SUNDAY VIGIL – April 4, Liturgy of the Palms and Holy Eucharist with reading of the Passion at 5:00 p.m.
PALM SUNDAY – April 5, Liturgy of the Palms and Sung Holy Eucharist with reading of the Passion – 10:00 a.m.
MAUNDY THURSDAY – April 9, Sung Holy Eucharist at 7:00 p.m. followed by Night Watch ’til Midnight.
GOOD FRIDAY – April 10, Good Friday Service, 12 Noon – 3 p.m.; Stations of the Cross -7 p.m.
EASTER VIGIL – April 11, The Great Vigil of Easter – 8:00 p.m.
EASTER DAY – April 12, The Day of the Resurrection with Sung Holy Eucharist – 10:00 a.m. followed by a parish Easter Brunch and Easter Egg Hunt for children
______________________________________________________________________________
LENT AT ST. LUKE’S:
During our time of suspended operations:
We will live stream Morning Prayer on Facebook at 9AM. To join in, go to the St. Luke’s Facebook page where you should be able to pick up the live feed, or if you are on your computer, go to your News Feed, click Watch on the left. Click Live below Watch, and you will be able to see a list of what is playing live. If you’re searching for a specific video or topic, you can click Search at the top of your screen, then filter to narrow your results. Be sure to have your prayer book or just listen in!
Parish “Buddy System” – Per the recommendation of the Bishop and other Church leaders we will be utilizing a buddy system for all connected with St. Luke’s. Eight team leaders have been selected who will reach out regularly to the people on their list. Each team leader will have a list of approximately 8-10 families. Contact information will be held in the strictest confidence. Should anyone have any issues or concerns during this time of isolation and suspended operations, please contact Mother Barnes. Mother Barnes will also be available, as always, for anyone who needs pastoral care and counseling.
LENTEN ADULT EDUCATION Sundays in Lent – Life Transformed: The Way of Love in Lent.
The “Life Transformed: The Way of Love in Lent” will continue during our time of suspended operation. We will attempt to do this via Skype. A meeting will be scheduled for 1PM on Sundays and a link will be shared to participants. If you wish to join in, please see the link on the church Facebook page prior to the meeting.
The journey through Lent into Easter is a journey with Jesus. We are baptized into his life, selfgiving, and death; then, we rise in hope to life transformed. This Lent, all are invited to walk with Jesus in his Way of Love and into the experience of transformed life. Together, we will reflect anew on the loving actions of God as recounted in the Easter Vigil readings. Together, we will walk through the depths of salvation history into the fullness of redemption. This set of seven Adult Forums ties the Easter Vigil readings to the seven practices of the Way of Love. Drawing on the ancient practice of setting aside Lent as a period of study and preparation for living as a Christian disciple (known as the catechumenate), the forums encourage participants to reflect on salvation history; walk toward the empty tomb; and embrace the transforming reality of love, life, and liberation. As we stand with the three women at the empty tomb, we hear his call to go and live that transformed reality.
As people of God, ours is an ongoing journey. After the 40 days of Lent, participants are invited into a 50-day Eastertide “Test Kitchen.” During this time, people everywhere will actively “GO” with Jesus from the tomb to bless the world – and then share and inspire each other with accounts of how they are living the Way of Love.
Centering Prayer Group: CANCELED UNTIL APRIL 7.
Each Tuesday evening at 5:30PM an ongoing weekly Centering Prayer group meets at St. Luke’s. Centering Prayer is a contemplative form of prayer geared toward the cultivation of interior silence or “centering.” This form of prayer invites one to enter into a deeper relationship with God by being open and receptive to the presence and action of God in our lives and to the Spirit that dwells within us. Weekly sessions will include prayer, a contemplative walk. No prior experience is necessary. For more information, please contact Mother Barnes at mthrbarnes@gmail.com or call the parish office.
______________________________________________________________________________
Fundraiser for St. Luke’s: Bus Trip – Philadelphia Phillies vs. Washington Nationals, Saturday, May 30, 2020. Game time 7PM at Citizens Bank Park. Bus departs St. Luke’s at 2PM; arrives 5PM, gate opens at 5:30 (return bus leaves ½ following game.). $100 per person, includes bus, game ticket, hoagie lunch, water, soda. Deposit: $50, due at the time of reservation, balance due April 10, 2020. For more information contact Rich Selemba at 570-843-6213 (h) or 570-507-2741(c).
______________________________________________________________________________
In a Pastoral Emergency, please contact—The Reverend Rebecca A. Barnes, Priest-in-Charge at 646-533-1836 or via e-mail at mthrbarnes@gmail.com. If you or a family member are in the hospital, health care facility, or are home bound and would like to have a visit from a member of our Pastoral Care Committee, please contact the parish office. Due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, commonly known as HIPAA, the hospitals no longer automatically provide churches with the names of admitted parishioners. St. Luke’s church complies with all HIPAA requirements and cannot provide personal information for sick or injured members without
Please note: As a result of the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, visitations to nursing facilities and hospitals have been restricted. Pastoral visits in these facilities will resume as soon as restrictions have been lifted.
_________________________________________________________________________
Fundraiser for St. Luke’s: Bus Trip – Philadelphia Phillies vs. Washington Nationals, Saturday, May 30, 2020. Game time 7PM at Citizens Bank Park. Bus departs St. Luke’s at 2PM; arrives 5PM, gate opens at 5:30 (return bus leaves ½ following game.). $100 per person, includes bus, game ticket, hoagie lunch, water, soda. Deposit: $50, due at the time of reservation, balance due April 10, 2020. For more information contact Rich Selemba at 570-843-6213 (h) or 570-507-2741(c).