Back to “Sunday School” – Sunday School classes resumed on Sunday, September 10th at 9:30 A.M. St. Luke’s uses GODLY PLAY, a Montessori-based curriculum for early Christian education during Sunday school classes. The GODLY PLAY method helps children explore their faith through story, to enhance their spiritual experience with wonder and play. If you are interested in having your child/children enrolled in our Sunday School program, or have questions, please contact one of our Sunday School teachers: Rich Ammenhauser (570) 347-8681; or Carla Rogalewicz (570) 343-8989.
Responding to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma: The Women of St. Luke’s are making a donation to Episcopal Relief and Development’s Hurricane Relief Fund, and inviting the whole St. Luke’s community to add to their donation. A special collection that will taken on the two remaining Sunday’s in September (17th and 24th).
Your gift provides ERD’s partners on the ground with critical supplies, such as food and water for communities devastated by Hurricane Irma and other storms. You’ll also help empower communities to not only prepare for emergencies, but assist with the long-term efforts needed to rebuild and heal. For additional information, please see the insert included in this week’s service leaflet.
146th Convention of the Diocese of Bethlehem, September 29-30, 2017: This year’s Diocesan Convention will be hosted by the northern region of the Diocese of Bethlehem. The convention will be held at The Carbondale Grand Hotel & Conference Center, 25 S. Main Street, Carbondale, PA 18407, only a few blocks from Trinity Carbondale. Holy Eucharist will be at Trinity Episcopal Church, Carbondale on Friday, September 29th at 5pm. This year’s lay delegates from St. Luke’s are Jane Merolla and David Wegner. Please keep the Diocese in your prayers as we meet in Convention and as we continue to move forward in calling a new Bishop.
October Adult Formation – October 1st and 8th: Following the Sunday morning coffee hour, Adult Formation sessions will be offered in participation with this year’s Scranton Reads: One City, One Book. In this year’s choice, Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead, we’ll find Rev. John Ames, an older minister with a heart condition, writing to his young son about his life as a preacher in Gilead, Iowa. He writes about grace, vocation, his family history (his grandfather, also a Rev. Ames, rode with John Brown in Kansas before the Civil War, for instance, and his own father, another Rev. Ames, was a pacifist.) This book will lead us to explore important spiritual themes—anger, grace, love, and what matters as we face the end of life. Lackawanna Country library card holders can pick up a free copy of Gilead at the Albright Memorial Library as long as supplies last.
Rally for a Peaceful Planet, Saturday, October 7 at 12 PM – 1:30 PM: St Luke’s will host this community event to come together to show that NEPA stands on the side of love. We also gather to recognize the UN’s International Day of Non-Violence (Oct. 2nd). Participants and speakers will incude: Rev. Marcelle Dotson, Dr. Melinda Krokus, Rev. Earl Johnson, Richard DeBona, David and Vera Walline, Jessica Rothchild, Guerline L. Laurore, and musician Jude Mandarano. The Rally for a Peaceful Planet was organized by Tim Maloney, an American Muslim activist from NEPA. This event is sponsored by the Peace and Justice Center and Action Together Northeastern PA.
Friday, October 6, 2017: St. Luke’s Annual First Friday Blessing of the Animals: Doors open from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Pet Blessing will be at 7:00 P.M. All pets are welcome (leashed or in cages, please). The evening’s events will also include horse drawn carriage rides provided by Brookvalley Farm, and lots more!
Safety Net Volunteers needed: Monthly volunteers are needed on October 2nd and 6th to work a four-hour shift at the door. A sign-up sheet is located in Israel Lounge. If you are available and can assist in this way, or have any questions, please contact Robin O’Hearn at (570) 963-5407.
Estey Reed Organ: St. Luke’s has a long standing tradition of excellent music, and from our earliest days, our worship services have been enhanced with the beauty of organ music. While our Moller pipe organ is being rebuilt and enhanced, we are very fortunate to have the loan of an organ that will ensure that our worship tradition continues uninterrupted. The Estey Reed Organ in use at this time is on loan to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church through the generosity of the Masonic Temple and Scottish Rite Cathedral Association of Scranton and its affiliated lodges and members.
Organ Project Update – Our organ is currently at the Reuter Organ Company’s shop arrived in Lawrence, Kansas where it is being rebuilt. The following major milestones in the project continue to be (pending no unforeseen circumstances):
· Removal of organ components being brought back to plant – Tuesday, August 1.
· Delivery of organ to St Luke’s and beginning of install – on, or before Oct 16.
· Start of on-site tonal work – on, or before Nov 6. Organ ready for use by Nov 19.
We are grateful to Dr. Bender for his substantial gift to St. Luke’s. Please remember to mark your calendars and save the date – Friday, January 5, 2018 at 7pm, when Richard Elliot, Principal Organist of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will perform a dedication concert followed by and gala reception. –Mother Barnes
2017 Diocesan Episcopal Church Women (ECW) Project: Kajo Keji, our partner Diocese in South Sudan, has taken refuge in nearby Uganda because of the ongoing Civil War. Temporary schools are set up and supplies are urgently needed. To assure the schools function, our Diocesan goal is to raise $35,000. This will purchase books and necessary supplies. Checks (any amount) should be payable to the Diocese of Bethlehem and mailed to: Diocesan House, 333 Wyandotte Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015, Attention: Deacon Charlie Barebo. On the memo line, please write “DOKK”. Questions may be directed to Dorothy Shaw at 570-836-2049.
Office hours – Beginning Monday, June 19, the parish office will be open Tuesday – Friday from 8:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. As always, in the event of a pastoral emergency, Mother Barnes may be reached on her cell phone, (646) 533-1836.