St. Luke's Episcopal Church ~ Scranton, PA

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This Week at St. Luke’s

THIS WEEK AT ST. LUKE’S
In-person and Live-streaming/zoom gatherings from St. Luke’s. 

On Saturday, May 22, 2021 we resumed in-person worship. We will continue to stream in-person services at St. Luke’s, as well as the Daily Office, as scheduled. Please join us on our Facebook page for streamed services.  **(Note: if you are NOT a Facebook member, when you click on the link it will ask you to sign in or create an account, which you can ignore and just scroll down the page a bit till you see the service.)

Click here for a copy of the Book of Common Prayer!

Click here for a copy of Enriching Our Worship 1. This contains supplemental liturgical materials (i.e. Canticles) we occasionally use for Morning and Evening Prayer.

Daily Office: Morning and Evening Prayer – Morning Prayer at 9 AM; Evening Prayer at 5PM are live-streamed on Sunday; Tuesday through Saturday morning. 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 – ST. JEROME

Click here for the 5PM service leaflet

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30– THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (VIGIL)

Lectionary readings for The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 21) 

Click here for the 5PM service leaflet 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1 – THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 

See above for lectionary readings

Click here for the 10AM service leaflet

  • 3PM – Season of Creation Holy Hike
  • 5PM – Evening Prayer – Evening Prayer will not be live-streamed 

MONDAY, OCTOBER 2 –  FERIA (No scheduled services today)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3 – JOHN RALEIGH MOTT

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4 – ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5 – FERIA

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6 – WILLIAM TYNDALE & MILES COVERDALE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 – BRIGITTA OF SWEDEN

Key Announcements 

► Our latest edition of the St. Luke’s Newsletter is hot off the press. Click here to see the OCTOBER 2023 edition.

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Message from Bishop Kevin about House of Bishops

Bishop Kevin talks from New Bethany’s Souper Day event with news from the most recent House of Bishops meeting, from the changing role of a Bishop to Parochial Report analysis to Disciplinary Processes for Bishops to to the importance of Safeguarding (or “Safe Church”), especially in the Diocese of Bethlehem.

To watch video: click here.

►HAWAIʻI FIRE RESPONSE

High winds from Hurricane Dora and drought conditions combined to accelerate the growth of brush fires that devastated the Lahaina community in Hawaiʻi. Episcopal Relief & Development is in contact with the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi in the wake of wildfires that have killed many people and displaced hundreds of families on Maui. They are calling on churches to help support the response. Please consider visiting episcopalrelief.org to make a donation today. Partner with Episcopal Relief & Development to provide support to people affected by the deadly fires in Hawaiʻi. Visit episcopalrelief.org today to make a contribution

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Holy Hikes Northeast Pennsylvania, a ministry of our parish, is planning a very special September 16, 2023 walk in support of all those who have been diagnosed with brain cancer, specifically Glioblastoma.

We are joining forces with Stachestrong, a 501(c)3 non-profit built on the core values of strength and togetherness. Organized in 2017, StacheStrong has raised over $3,000,000 for brain cancer research.

St. Luke’s has registered its own team (St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Scranton PA) to walk in a 5K at Vestal High School in Vestal, NY set for Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 3:00PM. You can support our team in three ways. You can participate in person; or join in virtually, or make a donation on behalf of our team.

Visit https://www.stachestrong.org and click on “Register for the 5K”.  From there you will have the option to join our team aptly named St. Luke’s Episcopal Church – Scranton PA. Please note that even if you are not able to attend in person, you can help to raise funds by signing up for a virtual 5k. All participants (virtual or in person) will receive a StacheStrong t-shirt and will have a fundraising page created to help you solicit donations, all proceeds of which will be credited to our team and used to expand brain cancer research.

In the weeks to come, more information will be available about ways to support this effort. But in the meantime, please register for our team at https://www.stachestrong.org as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please speak with Maria Zengion or email Sharon Sollami at sharonsollami@gmail.com

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► Are you Safe Church compliant? Maintaining required training and clearances is vital because it helps us to keep all of the people in our congregations safe. Both Episcopal Church canons and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania laws require everyone who has contact with children and those with any sort of leadership position in the church obtain background checks. Clergy persons, lay employees, vestry members, volunteers who works with children, Lay Eucharistic ministers, Altar Guild members, or keyholders in the church, must take steps in order to be in compliance with Pennsylvania law and the Episcopal Church Canons. These must be fulfilled in order to serve/be employed. The learning modules and Safe Church Training site have been recently updated. Learn more about what you need to do in order to be compliant and to keep your church safe. Contact Mother Barnes or Sharon Sollami with any questions or concerns about Safe Church compliancy.

Christian Education and Formation

►Children 

Sunday School: Sunday School resumed on September 10, 2023. St. Luke’s uses the GODLY PLAY, a Montessori-based curriculum with our younger children, ages five to ten years old. Sunday School is held at 9:30 AM every Sunday, except the first Sunday of the month. To register your child please contact Mother Barnes at mthrbarnes@gmail.com or Rick Ammenhauser at imgold67@aol.com

Family Eucharist is held on the first Sunday of the month. The children and youth play a direct role in the worship service by serving as ushers, acolytes and lectors. 

►Youth

This fall we will continue in the momentum of our Youth Confirmation Program and offer Journey to Adulthood (J2A) a youth ministry program of spiritual formation for 6th-12th grades. Fully revised and updated, it is centered on inclusive, relational ministry and uses Bible study, prayer, rites of passage, and outreach ministries. Creative, developmentally appropriate lessons are arranged within three categories of Self, Society, and Spirituality. For the benefit of our youth who have just been confirmed, we will use the 4Ward cohort of J2A which is an inclusive, engaging, relational youth ministry program in a two-year cohort for ages 15-18, concluding with the 4Ward ceremony. Stayed tuned for more information!

►Adult

Wednesday Bible & Book Study – Each week, following the 12:10 Healing Eucharist the Wednesday Bible/Book Study group meets at 1:15 PM. 

Beginning in September, the midweek Bible study will begin The Path: A Journey Through the Bible. The Path is the story of the Bible excerpted from the New Revised Standard Version so that it is clear and easy to read. Follow the path of God’s love all the way from the beginning to the end from creation and John’s revelation. With informative trail signs to help one see how each piece of the narrative fits together, The Path is an experience unlike any other: an amazing 360 degree overview of the vast, sweeping story of God’s love for ordinary people.

The Path is available through Forward Movement (https://www.forwardmovement.org/) or Amazon; pdfs will be distributed for the weekly class.

►Centering Prayer Group:  Each Thursday evening at 5:30PM an ongoing weekly Centering Prayer group meets. 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. No prior experience is necessary. For more information, contact Mother Barnes at mthrbarnes@gmail.com or call the parish office.

►Adult

Wednesday Bible & Book Study – Each week, following the 12:10 Healing Eucharist the Wednesday Bible/Book Study group meets at 1:15 PM.  Beginning in September, the midweek Bible study will begin The Path: A Journey Through the Bible. The Path is the story of the Bible excerpted from the New Revised Standard Version so that it is clear and easy to read. Follow the path of God’s love all the way from the beginning to the end from creation and John’s revelation. With informative trail signs to help one see how each piece of the narrative fits together, The Path is an overview of the vast, sweeping story of God’s love for ordinary people.  The Path is available through Forward Movement (https://www.forwardmovement.org/); pdfs will be distributed for the weekly class.

 

Centering Prayer Group:  Each Thursday evening at 5:30PM an ongoing weekly Centering Prayer group meets. Centering Prayer is a contemplative form of prayer geared toward the cultivation of interior silence or “centering.” For more information, contact Mother Barnes at mthrbarnes@gmail.com.

 

Daughters of the King – Fall Retreat Day

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►Intergenerational

Special Holy Hike for the Season of Creation – On Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 3pm there will be a special Holy Hike in celebration of the Season of Creation. We will meet at the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Trailhead on Elm Street and walk towards Taylor. This section of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, is home to “Ohn Te Oak” (“Where they fish”), which was once a Native American fishing village and Haudenosaunee diplomacy trail from the Wyoming Valley through the Lackawanna Valley and north to Syracuse. This corridor is now a popular section of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail that pays homage to the indigenous peoples who long ago recognized the site’s natural beauty and potential as a travel route.

Wear Your Evangelism: Members of St. Luke’s Fundraising Team will soon be taking orders for shirts and hats that feature two embroidered logos; one that incorporates the traditional winged ox with our motto, “In the heart of things“; and the other with the Episcopal shield with our parish name and location. The polos and baseball caps are available in more than a dozen colors and multiple sizes, including youth sizes. We are not limited in the ways to show our logos; we are also considering offering reusable bags, water bottles, knit hats, screen printed t-shirts, and sweatshirts as interest grows. Is our goal to raise money for the general fund? Yes. As important though is our desire to make St. Luke’s folks easily recognizable to new comers at parish events, or as we serve in the community. Our logos are striking and will invite those who see them to ask about our parish and its ministries giving us all the opportunity to invite people to worship or to learn more about who we are and what we believe. Pricing information and order forms will be available soon. Check out the display in Kreitler Hall of available items. If you have questions, or would like to place an order, please see Mother Barnes, Mickey Baccoli, Rick Ammenhauser, Tom Zurla, and Sharon Sollami. 

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►Warren Memorial Garden Committee Members of the Garden Committee will be gathering in the Warren Memorial Garden on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 10:00AM. Please plan on lending a hand as they continue their work to maintain the beauty of our garden.

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Fall Stewardship Campaign – Rooted in Abundance
St. Luke’s will formally launch its fall Stewardship Campaign on September 17th. In recent weeks,
we have learned more about the campaign in our service leaflets. “Our generosity is informed
by the simple theological truth that God has blessed us infinitely with all of the gifts of
Creation. Our lives, our labor, our love is devoted to the mission of the Church when we take
stock and realize that our lives and our response to God’s generosity are Rooted in Abundance.
Mother Barnes, Senior Warden Mickey Baccoli, Vestry Clerk Kathy Selemba, Treasurer Tom
Zurla, and Sharon Sollami serve on the stewardship team.

 

Community Outreach and Social Justice

It is with great pleasure that we share with you the news that Cypress House at St. Luke’s has been awarded a $25 000 grant from the Wyncote Foundation.

Cypress House has also received two other 50K grants in the past 12 months, one from the Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, and one from the United Thank Offering (UTO) of the Episcopal Church.

On Saturday, August 26, the Cypress House Board, along with Vestry members of St. Luke’s met for a day long Visioning Day.  We look forward to commencing remodeling of our church kitchen shortly and launching our re-entry bakery ministry. Please continue to hold us in your prayers as we work together to build the Beloved Community and make this dream a reality.

Please consider a donation to Cypress House by visiting www.cypresshouse.org

Cypress House at St. Luke’s Awarded a United Thank Offering Grant

It is with great pleasure that we share with you the news that Cypress House at St. Luke’s has been awarded a 50K grant from the United Thank Offering (UTO) of the Episcopal Church.

This year’s UTO grant focused on areas of ministry that serve those who society has left out and left behind. Specifically, this year’s UTO grant focus is on innovative mission and ministry projects addressing all aspects of the worldwide incarceration crisis, specifically preventative programs and intervention, prisoner support outreach, prison reform work, or post-prison re-entry.

Cypress House at St. Luke’s will open a bakery, modeled after Homeboy Industries of LA, and offer employment to previously incarcerated individuals, with a special concern to hire individuals who identify as black, Latino/a, indigenous, or of another marginalized identity. Apprentices will learn marketable skills in the baking industry via a baking methods/skills development curriculum.

We are grateful to have received this generous support for our initiative from the UTO. Please consider a donation to Cypress House, or to the United Thank Offering by visiting www.unitedthankoffering.com

Click here to read more about all of this year’s grant recipients.

►Food Pantry – Volunteers Needed
St. Luke’s will hold its client’s choice style food pantry on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 from 1:00 – 3:00PM. Volunteers are needed to register guests, to assist guests as they shop, and to break down tables when the pantry closes at 3:00PM. For more information on how to volunteer or if you or someone you know is in need, please email Sharon Sollami at sharonsollami@gmail.com or Amanda Wrazien at manders018@gmail.com

► DOK Service Project
St. Luke’s St. Elizabeth of Hungary Chapter of the Daughters of the King will begin collecting items for the
Women’s Resource Center this September. The Women’s Resource Center provides services including emergency shelter and safe housing for those affected by domestic violence in Lackawanna and  Susquehanna Counties. A collection box will be available at the back of the nave. Donations of the following items would greatly assist those in need:

  • Full-size personal hygiene items (deodorant, soap, shampoo, lotion)
  • Combs, brushes, nail clippers, etc.
  • Twin and queen bedding in good condition (blankets, sheets, pillowcases)
  • Towels and washcloths
  • Laundry detergent
  • Size 6-7 toddler’s diapers (no infant diapers please)
  • Suitcases
  • Fabric tote bags
  • Non-perishable food items (canned meats, vegetables, peanut butter, noodles, pasta, spaghetti sauce, etc.)

The Daughters of the King greatly appreciate your participation in this ongoing service to our community.

► Senior Space Thank You:  On Sunday, September 24, following the 10:00AM Mass, St. Luke’s resumed Senior Space, a long-standing ministry of our parish in which our downtown neighbors are invited to join us for a luncheon, conversation, entertainment, and fellowship. We had a wonderful turn out and many favorable responses from our guest. All enjoyed a delicious pasta and meatball dinner with salad and dessert. Thank you to all who served, provided food and donated door prizes, your kindness touched the hearts of all.

 

►Friends Helping Friends – St. Luke’s is again participating in Boscov’s “Friends Helping Friends” fundraiser. You can purchase a 25% off shopping pass to be used in store on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at all Boscov’s stores; the $5.00 purchase price goes directly to St. Luke’s general fund. The passes make a nice surprise gift for mom, daughter, grandma, aunt, or any special shopper in your life. With your purchase you’ll be entered to win a $100 Boscov’s gift card, too. The passes are available from any vestry member or in the church office. If you have any questions, or would like to help in selling the passes, contact Rick Ammenhauser at (570) 347-8681.

 

Upcoming Concerts at St. Luke’s

 

October 7, 2023, 8PM – Lyric Consort: An American Journey 

Works will include music of Billings, Thompson, Barber, and more. Tickets $10 General Admission. Reception to follow.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
October 22, 2023
Staycation: A Recital of Two Song Cycles
Soprano Madison Zahorsky takes us through an exploration of
20th century English song cycles – Ralph Van Williams’ “Songs
of Travel” and Samuel Barber’s “Hermit Songs” – that look at
the human conditions of travel and hermitude and how these
concepts are represented musically.
madisonzahorsky.com
 
 
Our full 2023-24 concert series brochure is now available. Click here to see the full array of exciting concerts we’ll be hosting.
 

SAVE THE DAY!

St. Luke’s Annual First Friday Blessing of the Animals, October 6, 2023: 

Doors open from 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm.

Pet Blessing will be at 6:30 P.M. All pets are welcome (leashed or in cages, please).

In addition to the blessing service, St. Cats and Dogs will be our special guests and will have cats available for adoption. Briar Ledge Jewelry will also be a guest vendor.

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Past events and services

►The Psychology of Christian Nationalism: Why People Are Drawn In and How to Talk Across the Divide by Pamela Cooper-White. On three Thursdays in September (Sept. 7, 14, and 28) St. Luke’s will conduct a study of Dr. Cooper-White’s brilliant and courageous book. One chapter of the three chapter book will be covered each evening:

  • Sept 7 – Unholy Alliances: Christian Nationalism, White Supremacy, and the Pursuit of Power
  • Sept 14 – Why Are People Drawn In by Extremist Beliefs? Conscious Needs and Unconscious Lures
  • Sept. 28 – How to Talk Across the Divide: Creating Human Ties across (Extreme) Difference

 

September 22, 2023, 7PM – Northeastern Pennsylvania Chamber Music Society (NEPACMS)

Works will include Johann Kalliwoda: Duet for violin and viola, No. 1, Op. 208, Sergei Rachmaninoff: Trio élégiaque No. 1 in G minor, and Antonín Dvořák: Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major Op. 81.  Ticket prices of $20/adults and $15/seniors and students.
 

►  AFFIRMATIVE ACTION STATEMENT

July 6, 2023

The recent Supreme Court decision eliminating the use of race in college admissions poses a threat to the ongoing work of racial justice, and equity.

The recent Supreme Court decision eliminating the use of race in college admissions poses a threat to the ongoing work of racial justice, and equity.  It delays the process of repairing the breach caused by present and historic bias and discrimination.  The Court’s decision takes place in the context of continued racialized violence and the heightened impact of white nationalism on public policy. The decision is the long-anticipated result of the weakening of initiatives and programs taking affirmative actions to promote equal access, treatment and opportunity in education and employment that began after the Bakke case.  This court’s decision distorts the history and purpose of the Equal Protection Clause and substitutes a troubling color-blind analysis that overturns established affirmative action jurisprudence. 

The Opinion of the Court written by Chief Justice John Roberts eliminates the use of race in college admissions.  It concludes the affirmative use of race as a consideration in admissions violates the Equal Protection of the Fourteenth Amendment.  The court decided not to apply its reasoning and decision to military academies.  

The Episcopal Urban Caucus disagrees with the Court’s decision and calls on The Episcopal Church to collaborate with other justice partners to more aggressively promote racial justice, equity and repair of the breaches caused by systemic racism.  

We point to the dissenting opinion of Justice Kentanji Jackson to make meaning of the context of the Court’s decision.  Justice Jackson persuasively writes about the “Gulf sized race-based gaps with respect to the health, wealth and well-being of American citizens.”   She asserts,

“The point is this: Given our history, the origin of persistent race-linked gaps should be no mystery.  It has never been a deficiency of Black Americans’ desire or ability to, in Frederick Douglass’s words, “stand on [their] own legs.”  Rather, it was always simply what Justice Harlan recognized 140 years ago- the persistent and pernicious denial of “what had been done in every State of the Union for the white race.” History speaks.  In some form, it can be heard forever.  The race-based gaps that first developed centuries ago are echoes from the past that still exist today.  By all accounts they are still stark.” 

 We affirm that the gap remains and continues to require affirmative steps to repair and remediate the breach.  One need only look to the record in California and Michigan, where referenda were used to eliminate affirmative action, that the decision will substantially widen the gap.  

As we grapple with the breadth of the court’s decision and the implications for our common life, let us reflect on the call to action imbedded in the closing words of Justice Jackson’s dissent: 

 “The Court has come to rest on the bottom-line conclusion that racial diversity in higher education is only worth potentially preserving insofar as it might be needed to prepare Black Americans and other underrepresented minorities for success in the bunker, not the boardroom (a particularly awkward place to land, in light of the history the majority opts to ignore).  It would be deeply unfortunate if the Equal Protection Clause actually demanded this perverse, ahistorical, and counterproductive outcome.  To impose this result in that Clause’s name when it requires no such thing, and to thereby obstruct our collective progress toward the full realization of the Clause’s promise, is truly a tragedy for us all.” 

The Episcopal Urban Caucus calls on the people, congregations, dioceses, and institutions affiliated with The Episcopal Church to work inside the church, in the public square and communities to counter the impact of this decision.   We condemn the Supreme Courts promotion of an oppressive and false notion of color blindness to justify its decision. Our work to eliminate racism necessitates the effective use of race consciousness. We must build on our book studies and convenings to advance transformative action in the public square.  It is the only way to ensure a racialized hierarchy of human value is not further concretized following this case.  Becoming the Beloved Community requires a quickening and deepening of our work of converting hearts and minds while co-laboring to develop public policy that promotes justice, equity, and flourishing of all.   

SINCERELY THE EUC BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

The Rev. Gayle Fisher Stewart
Nell Braxton Gibson
The Rev. Sheldon N. N. Hamblin
The Rev. Glenna Huber
Elisabeth Jacobs
The Rev. Charles Lane
Diane B. Pollard
Byron Rushing
The Rev. Maria Tjelveit
Velva Wright
The Rev Charles A. Wynder, Jr

►Episcopal Migration Ministries: The Rainbow Initiative

The Rainbow Initiative is Episcopal Migration Ministries’ response to General Convention 2022 Resolution D045 “On Supporting LGBTIQ+ Refugees and Asylum Seekers”, which directed the Episcopal Church to promote support for people who have fled their countries because of persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and/or sex characteristics. The Resolution also directs Episcopal Migration Ministries to focus attention on people subject to such persecution, and to offer information on how they could be better supported.

RAINBOW INITIATIVE GOALS
  • Work with Episcopal congregations to bring visibility and aid to LGBTQ+ forced migrants, with a focus on activities in June 2023 including Pride marches and services, and World Refugee Day (June 20th). Through this work, we hope to foster new partnerships involving Episcopal congregations, forced migrants, voluntary resettlement agencies such as EMM, community groups, etc. 
  • Review and revise EMM materials and procedures in order to ensure that they are fully inclusive of LGBTQ+ forced migrants. 
HIGHLIGHTED RESOURCES
  • Rainbow Initiative brochure/flyer: PDF | Print-ready PDF with crop marks & bleed
  • La Iniciativa Arco Iris folleto en español: PDF | PDF que está lista para imprimir con marcas de corte
  • EMM Webinar: The Rainbow Initiative: An introduction to LGBTQ+ forced migrants​ & what The Episcopal Church can do with and for them​. Webinar resources: On demand video | PPT Slides (English) | PPT Slides en español
  • McGuirk, Siobhan, Max Niedzwiecki, Temitope Oke & Anastasia Volkova. (2015). Stronger Together, a Guide to Supporting LGBT Asylum Seekers. LGBT Freedom and Asylum Network.
    This 2015 guide provides comprehensive information about how communities can best serve LGBTQ+ asylum seekers in the United States. It includes sections focused on an introduction to the field, program essentials, types of services, working with clients throughout the asylum process, ethical considerations, institutional models, and fundraising, as well as a directory of helpful organizations.
  • Niedzwiecki, Max. (2023). We Shall Overcome: A Case Study of the LGBT Asylum Task Force, a Parish Ministry. In Goździak, E.M., Main, I. (eds), Debating Religion and Forced Migration Entanglements. Politics of Citizenship and Migration. Palgrave Macmillan Cham.
    This chapter outlines the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ forced migrants, with a special focus on the role of religion in motivating persecution as well as assistance and resilience. It also provides a case study of the LGBT Asylum Task Force in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Task Force is a ministry of Hadwen Park Congregational Church, UCC, and is the only program in the U.S. dedicated to providing wrap-around services, including housing, to LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. 
 

Evangelism Study: Beginning on Sunday, August 6 at 11:45am, we will have a four week study of “What is Evangelism?” by Patricia Lyons.  The study will be held on Sundays following the 10AM Eucharist coffee hour. We will reflect on Lyon’s contagious Episcopal vision for sharing the Christian faith as a way to go deeper in our own relation with God. Together we will explore this little book’s strong and uplifting argument that the Episcopal Church’s theology, sacramental ministry, and commitment to social justice have an essential role to play in mainline Christianity and in the public square.

No Way Home Screening

The Amistad Law Project, Straight Ahead, St. Luke’s, and Cypress House at St. Luke’s are please to join forces to offer a screening of No Way Home. The documentary traces the story of Lorraine Haw, known as Mrs. Dee Dee, as she grapples with the trauma of living on both sides of the epidemic of gun violence in Philadelphia. Earlier in life, Mrs. Dee Dee’s younger brother was shot to death in his apartment complex after an argument over a gold necklace turned fatal. Years later, still reeling from the tragic death of her brother, she was devastated to see her son sentenced to mandatory life without parole in prison. A leader in the movement to end mass incarceration in Pennsylvania, Mrs. Dee Dee’s story reflects the experiences of thousands of people in Pennsylvania who simultaneously sit on both sides of the gun violence epidemic: having lost loved ones to gun violence and also having lost loved ones to the carceral system.  Join us on Tuesday, August 8th 6:30 PM here at St. Luke’s Church. The screening of No Way Home will be followed by a panel and town hall discussion on life without parole and the need for second chances in Pennsylvania prisons. 

It’s All About Love:  A Festival for the Jesus Movement

Across the church and around the world, we are hungry for revival and renewal. Join us for “It’s All About Love,” a church wide festival of worship, learning, community, and action for the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement, to be held Sunday, July 9 through Wednesday, July 12, at the Baltimore Convention Center. “It’s All About Love” features three Jesus Movement festival “tents” – Evangelism, Creation Care, and Racial Reconciliation. Featured speakers, preachers, and artists to include Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, President of the House of Deputies Julia Ayala Harris, Brian McClaren, Rev. Mariama White-Hammon, Dr. Kwok Pui-lan, Sarah Augustine, Lilly Lewin, Live Hymnal & Friends, and more!

Join us online for:

  •  July 9 (evangelism), July 10 (creation care) and July 11 (racial reconciliation)
  • Morning plenaries at 9-10:15 a.m. ET on July 10 (racial reconciliation), July 11 (creation care) and 9:00-10:00 a.m. ET (evangelism)
  • and for Closing Eucharist at 10:30am-12pm ET on July 12.

https://www.episcopalchurch.org/its-all-about-love/

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Episcopal Youth Event – EYE (pronounced E-Y-E) is a gathering of youth ages 15-19 from around the world who assemble on a college campus to learn, laugh, and worship together. 2023’s theme is: Regreso A Casa: A New Age of Faith. This bilingual theme emphasizes a kind of “homecoming”. EYE for 2023 will take place from July 3 – 8 at the University of Maryland.  EYE is the second largest event the Episcopal Church does, and since this event is held only once every three years, for many #EYE23 will be their only chance to attend.  With close to 1,500 people in attendance (including youth, their adult mentors, clergy, and bishops from around the church), EYE programs focus on helping develop leadership skills, spiritual practices, and early stages of vocational discernment. Time is spent in worship, large group presentations, small group discussions, workshops on a variety of topics (Participants select the workshops they wish to attend.), and time to hang-out and meet Episcopalians from around the world. Registration is now closed. Please pray for our youth who will be attending.

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►NEPA Gives 2023 – Thank you to all who donated to Cypress House at St. Luke’s during the NEPA Gives campaign. This was our fourth year, and we had our best year ever. Together we raised $7,100! Many thanks to the St. Luke’s community who supported this initiative of our parish. We look forward to sharing more news soon on our parish kitchen renovation and the anticipated launch of the Cypress House Bakery!

Thank you all for your ongoing support of Cypress House at St. Luke’s!  

 

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The Rt. Rev. Frank Tracy Griswold III, who served as the 25th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church from 1998-2006, died Sunday, March 5, 2023, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 85.

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry offered the following statement:

“Please join me in prayer for Bishop Griswold’s family and for all of us who give thanks for a remarkable and faithful servant of God who served among us as the 25th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church. May the soul of Bishop Griswold, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercies of God, rest in peace and rise in glory.”

TOMORROW: Watch the livestream of the funeral Mass for the Rt. Rev. Frank T. Griswold III on March 18, 11 a.m. ET.
A Rite of Christian Burial service for the Rt. Rev. Frank Tracy Griswold III, 25th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church, will take place Saturday at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 5421 Germantown Ave., in Philadelphia.
Livestream here:
 

Bishop Griswold’s family provided the following obituary:

The Rt. Rev. Frank Tracy Griswold III died Sunday, March 5, 2023, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A renowned preacher known for his warmth and wit, Griswold served as the 25th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church, leading the Protestant denomination from 1998 to 2006. Griswold also co-chaired the Roman Catholic-Anglican Commission from 1998 to 2003 and made significant contributions to the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and to its practical use in the liturgical life of the church. Griswold’s private spiritual practice was deeply informed by the early mothers and fathers of the church, and he championed Eastern traditions of the open-hearted and healing power of God’s love. 

Born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, in 1937, Griswold earned a Bachelor of Arts at Harvard College and a Master of Arts from Oriel College at the University of Oxford. He was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1963. He married his beloved wife, Phoebe Wetzel, in 1965, and they raised two daughters in Philadelphia and Chicago, where Griswold was elected as Episcopal bishop in 1987. Griswold practiced a wide ministry of teaching, writing, lecturing, and leading retreats, nationally and internationally. After completing his term as presiding bishop, he served as a visiting professor at seminaries and universities in South Korea, Cuba, and Japan, as well as at the Episcopal Divinity School, the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Virginia Theological Seminary and Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. He also served as bishop visitor to the Society of St. John the Evangelist. His books include “Going Home” (Cowley Publications Cloister Book), “Praying our Days: A guide and companion” (Church Publishing Group),“Tracking Down the Holy Ghost: reflections on love and longing” (Church Publishing Group), and, co-authored with the Rev. Mark McIntosh, “Seeds and Faith” and “Harvest of Hope” (Eerdmans).

He is survived by his widow, Phoebe, his two daughters, Hannah and Eliza, and three grandchildren.

The Rite of Christian Burial for Bishop Croneberger will be this Saturday (March 18, 2023), 12:00 p.m., at Christ Episcopal Church in Reading. Additionally, the service will be live streamed on the Diocese of Bethlehem’s YouTube channel: click here. The service program is also available online: click here.

► “Straight Talk About Parish Finances”- March 7, 2023, online at 6:30 p.m

On March 7, 2023, online at 6:30 p.m., “Straight Talk About Parish Finances” is an opportunity to hear from finance and audit professionals from across the diocese and get answers to questions you have about managing parish finances. More information can be found here: (https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ejm33qn1af8e43d0&oseq=&c=&ch=)

This session is intended to be a pilot test that we hope will lead to future sessions both online and in-person. Registration will be limited to 30 participants with preference given to members of Convocations I, II, and III (to see a Convocation listing by parish: click here). We hope to learn from this session and create additional future sessions members from every Convocation.

The St. Luke’s Finance Committee will be attending as part of their monthly meeting. All Vestry members are strongly encouraged to register, as well.

►The Greater Scranton MLK Commission will host its annual dinner to celebrate the life, legacy, and work of Rev. Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr. on Sunday January 15, 2023 from 1:30-4:00PM at The University of Scranton’s DeNaples Center at 900 Mulberry St.

This year’s theme is When Good People Remain Silent:
Anti-Semitism, Othering, Belonging. The Commission is
focusing on the increasing threat of anti-Semitism, the
effects of othering, and the importance of belonging for our Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and LGTBQ communities. The dinner will be followed by a virtual livestream from Keynote speaker, Sr. Mary C. Boys EdD, DHL, Dr. Theol, Dlitt. Sr. Boys is a professor of Practical Theology and author of six books. The virtual stream will be followed by an in-person round table discussion.

Panelists include The Rev’d Rebecca A. Barnes, Rector, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church;  Rabbi Daniel Swartz, Spiritual Leader, Temple Hesed; Rev. Mark Alexander, Bethel A.M.E. Church; and Pastor Eric Wohner, Member Care and Discipleship Pastor, Steamtown Church.

Click here to listen to the lecture and panel discussion.

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►ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PARISH

St. Luke’s Annual Parish Meeting was held on Sunday, January 29, 2023 immediately after the 10:00AM Eucharist and was followed by a Parish Pot-Luck Luncheon in Kreitler Hall following. The meeting was a hybrid offering as permitted by the Canons of the Diocese of Bethlehem.

At the Annual meeting, Vestry, parish officers, and organizations/committee reports presented, and plans for ministry, mission, and spiritual growth in the year to come. The approved 2023 annual budget was also presented. There was an important parish vote to reduce the size of the Vestry from nine to seven Vestry members and the resolution was approved.  Two Vestry members were elected: Sharon Sollami (second term), and our Treasurer, Thomas Zurla (first term). The candidates for Lay Delegates to Diocesan Convention will be: Sharon Sollami, David Wegner; Alternate Lay Delegates are: Mickey Baccoli and Amanda Wrazien. 

Click here for a final edited copy of the 2022 Annual Report

Click here for the 2023 Annual Meeting Agenda

Click here for the 2023 Annual Meeting Ballot

Vestry Officer Election: At the Vestry meeting on February 8, 2023 elections were held for Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer and Clerk. The Diocesan Bylaws for all parishes stipulate that the Senior Warden shall be elected annually by the Vestry, upon nomination by the Rector or Priest-in-Charge, from among the members of the Vestry; the Junior Warden shall either be elected annually from among their number by the Vestry or shall be appointed by the Rector; and the Clerk and Treasurer shall be elected annual by the Vestry. Our Senior Warden, Mickey Baccoli and Junior Warden, Rick Ammenhauser have both been re-elected, as has our Clerk, Kathy Selemba. Tom Zurla is elected as Treasurer. Please offer your congratulations and thanks to our Vestry officers, and to Tom, newly elected vestry member. We are grateful for their willingness to stand for election and their service to St. Luke’s.

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►Obituary and Funeral Service 
The Reverend Lester E. Stephenson, Jr., died on Tuesday morning in the Hospice of the Sacred Heart Inpatient Unit, Dunmore. His wife of 41 years is Ruth Ann Meeson. Pastor Stephenson served St. John’s Lutheran Church in Jim Thorpe from 1974 to 1979, Saint Mark’s Lutheran Church in West Scranton from 1979 until 2005. In 2005, Pastor Stephenson was called to serve St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Scranton.  St. Matthew’s was a consolidation of the St. John’s Lutheran Church, Center City of Scranton and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church of  the West Side of Scranton.   Pastor Stephenson served there for 11 years retiring on December 31 2015. Upon retirement he and his wife attended St. Luke’s. Funeral services were held January 14, 2023 at St. Luke’s at 11:00 AM officiated and celebrated by Mother Barnes.

Click here for the service leaflet. Click here to view the streamed service is available on our FB page

 

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Video tour of St. Luke’s

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Upcoming Events

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

We have resumed in-person worship. All services also continue to be streamed online. 

IN-PERSON & LIVE-STREAMED SERVICES

Saturday Evening: 5PM Vigil Eucharist. 

Sundays: Morning Prayer (Rite I), 9 AM; Sunday Eucharist, 10AM; Evening Prayer at 5 PM.

Wednesday: Healing Eucharist, 12:10PM    (In person only)

Tuesday – Saturday Morning Prayer at 9AM; Evening Prayer at 5 PM. (Live-streamed only)

Services are live streamed on the St. Luke’s Facebook page and may be accessed by clicking here.

For a complete schedule of our parish worship services, classes, and events please visit our Livestreamed and Virtual Offerings page.

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In a Pastoral Emergency, please contact—The Reverend Rebecca A. Barnes, Rector,  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 permission of the member or his or her close family member.

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Office hours – The physical parish office has resumed regular hours. We are open (Tuesday – Friday from 8:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.)  You may also reach us via email at StLukesScranton@verizon.net.

In the event of a pastoral emergency, Mother Barnes may be reached on her pastoral cell phone, (646) 533-1836.

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To spread the Gospel to all people through hospitality, service, and spiritual growth.

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