Welcome to This Week at St. Luke’s for the First Week of Christmastide, December 27, 2025 to January 3, 2026.

We hope everyone has been enjoying the holiday season. Our thanks to those who prepared for, attended and participated in our beautiful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. The church looks beautiful full of greens and poinsettias, and truly seemed steeped in peacefulness during our candlelit singing of “Silent Night”.

This weekend we will celebrate the First Sunday after Christmas at our 5pm Saturday Said Holy Eucharist and 11am Sunday Sung Holy Eucharst. At 11am on Thursday, New Year’s Day, we will worship together again for a Sung Eucharist for the Feast of the Holy Name. Please note we will not have our Wednesday Healing Eucharist this week or next.

Our schedule of special Christmas Season services is as follows:

Family Christmas Eve Service at St. Mark’s, Moscow	4:00pm December 24
Christmas Eve Sung Holy Eucharist with Choral Prelude	8:30pm December 24
Christmas Day Sung Holy Eucharist	10:00am December 25
Sung Holy Eucharist for The Feast of the Holy Name	11:00am January 1
Sung Holy Eucharist for The Feast of the Epiphany	7:00pm January 6

Please see below for our weekly schedule, important announcements and upcoming events, livestream links, and our parish prayer list.

Livestream Links:

Links to our livestreamed services are available on our website’s Livestream page (links are posted within 2 hours of the service) or may be viewed on our Facebook Page or YouTube Channel.

Click here to download the Leaflet for the First Sunday after Christmas

Click here to watch Father Parry’s sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Advent

Click here to watch Father Parry’s Christmas Eve sermon

Click here to watch Father Trygar’s Christmas Day sermon

Announcements and Events:

“Tell Out My Soul” Stewardship Campaign:  This week Father Parry offers a letter to the parish to read here. Stewardship pledge cards will be collected on January 11, 2026, the First Sunday after the Epiphany. Pledge cards are available at the church in the back of the nave. 

Molly’s Food Pantry Update – In the weeks to come, and in light of anticipated cuts to food distribution programs, St. Luke’s will continue to collect shelf stable food for Molly’s Pantry located in Nay Aug Park. We are asking for cold weather, comfort foods (soups, stews, grains, rice, pasta, and pasta sauces). Proteins like canned meats/tuna and peanut butter are essential, as are hot drink mixes and bottled water. A shopping cart will be available in Kreitler Hall for your donations, or if you’re in the neighborhood, you can drop off your gift directly in the pantry located near the helipad in Nay Aug Park.   

Anna Young Project Update: Looking for an impactful volunteer opportunity in the new year?  Here it is.

Consider volunteering with The Anna Young Project. Over the course of two days, we will work to continue Anna’s legacy. Your support will be invaluable in helping us to sort, pack, and prepare 700 gift bags for incarcerated people, bringing a touch of hope and humanity to those who need it most.

Volunteer opportunities are available on Monday, January 5th and Tuesday, January, 6th for as little as two hour intervals from 10:00AM to 6:00PM both days. (Opportunities might also be available on Wednesday.) We will be doing this meaningful work at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 232 Wyoming Ave. in Scranton.

Please click on the link below to add your name to our volunteer list. Or you can contact Fr. Parry or Sharon Sollami (sharonsollami@gmail.com) to add your name to the list of volunteers.

https://forms.gle/Amm1GmZJ3dgUSra7A

Our endeavor helps remind incarcerated men & women that they are not forgotten and are indeed valued members of our shared community. Thank you for your consideration and support. We look forward to collaborating with you on this impactful project.

Ronald McDonald House Soda-and-Soup Tabs Collection: The St. Elizabeth Princess of Hungary Chapter of the Order of the Daughters of the King is collecting pull-tabs from soda, soup, and other cans to benefit the Ronald McDonald House through their recycling program. Please bring in your tabs and drop them in the container at the back of the nave.   

Wednesday Book Study: On Wednesday, October 15, we began a book study following our Healing Eucharist, exploring together Bible Stories for Grown-Ups by author Josh Scott. Some copies of the book are available at the church; please feel to join in! 

Sunday School Volunteer Opportunity: Please see Father Parry if you feel called to assist in our Sunday School. Safe Church requirements must be fulfilled. 

Thank You To our special ministers at last week’s worship services and our coffee-hour hosts!

In Our Prayers

Please keep the following in your prayers this week: Jordan, Frank, Elaine, Lynn, Mary Jane, Robin, Heather, Chase, Philomena, Jeanette, Mario, Canon Bill+, Scott, Margaret, Brendan, Albert, Bessie, Christine, Colleen, Melissa, John, Anne, and Josie.

And the departed: Ricky, John, Linda, Janina, Mary Ann, and Bob. May they rest in peace and may light perpetual shine upon them.