Dear Friends,
As a member of the vestry and now Senior Warden, I am sometimes focused on the minutia of being sure the building is not falling down or replacing equipment or making sure programs are running and have what they need. You sometimes lose that larger question: What are we doing? I think we all can relate in these busy, stressful times.
For this reason, I feel so blessed to be a part of the discernment committee and developing our new vision statement. It has allowed me the rare opportunity to step back, pray and listen – to God and to my fellow parishioners. What is God calling us to be and to do?
This process has focused upon prayer and congregational input. The survey and cabin meetings were a critically important element in the discernment process. We are pleased to have the opportunity to report back to you what we believe God is calling us to be and do.
I hope you have enjoyed the past four Sundays of learning more about our vision statement, not only from the committee, but from each other. How does this vision play out for you and for our congregation? The discernment committee is hoping our presentations will foster your thoughtfulness and the beginnings of looking at how to fulfill this vision.
Over the next several months, the leadership will be wrestling with the new vision statement to determine how each area of the parish can live into this vision. We ask for your continued prayers. As we move forward into the fall, we will begin implementing this vision in all areas of the congregation – programs, ministries, and individuals. We fully anticipate this process to not take months, but maybe a year or two to have the congregation fully immersed in this vision.
As we move forward, I ask you to continue to reflect on how you can be a part of St Luke’s: A Christian community, called to vital, ever-deepening relationship with Christ and neighbor.
How can you contribute your time and talent to fulfill this vision?
Blessings,
Anna Dickerson
The word “Pentecost” means 50th, and was used to designate the Jewish feast of that name which was celebrated on the fiftieth day after the Passover. It was not long before it was converted into a distinctively Christian festival after the time of St. Paul.
Pentecost was the day on which our Lord’s promise was fulfilled that He would send His disciples the Comforter. The word “comfort” in those days did not mean something soothing – but rather something strengthening – the comforter was to be conveyor of spiritual power – God vigorously at work. Something happened that day on the feast of the Pentecost which sent the apostles bearing witness to Christ to the four corners of the earth. They could only describe it like the rushing of a mighty wind accompanied by tongues of flame.
To the Christian, Pentecost means two things – the anniversary of the bestowing of the Holy Spirit, and also the birthday of the Church. In England the name Pentecost was changed to Whitsunday – or white –Sunday – as it was a special day for baptism with the candidates clothed in white robes. The three great festivals of the Christian year are Christmas, Easter and Whitsunday and at those three times communicants are expected to receive the Sacrament however many other times they may have communicated during the year.
The extent of Whitsuntide is seven days indicating the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. It tells the story of the Holy Spirit operating through the Church. The incarnation of our Lord is more than an episode in history. For a time He lived on earth in a human body. He continued to live on earth in His mystical Body, the Church. Hence the Church in which the Holy Spirit resides. Whitsuntide never lets us forget it. The color of the season is red.
Dear Friends:
In proverbs we read: “The people of God will perish without a vision.” Strategy planners advise that the life of a vision is about five years. After seven years most of us believe we have realized our old vision: “Growing together in love, praise and service in Christ”. God is now calling us to a new vision. We are in a different place than we were seven years ago and we are a different collection of people. Visions are organic, dynamic and they evolve and change. During the next few months we will introduce a new vision for St. Luke’s, it reads: “St. Luke’s is a Christian Community that is called to vital, ever-deepening relationship with Christ and neighbor”. We invite your prayers and participation as we familiarize ourselves with this new vision.
Next, it might be appropriate for me to offer some clarification regarding clergy roles at St. Luke’s. Upon the resignation of Susan Greenwood we are exploring and evaluating a number of options including another associate rector, or a program person (youth, Christian Formation), ministry coordinator, retired clergy, etc. At the same time it should be clear that our Deacon Marc Genty is not replacing Susan nor is he assuming the responsibility for her areas of ministry. Graciously, he agreed to provide administrative, organizational support for the youth mission trip to Juarez, Mexico. He is not our youth minister, acolyte leader, or Christian Formation Coordinator. As a vocational Deacon his role is limited and clearly defined. Marc lives in Longmont, works in Boulder and is very active in Longmont with Hope ministry where he works with the homeless and street people there. His time and role at St. Luke’s requires well defined limits.
Finally on a personal note, Judy and I are delighted to announce the marriage of our daughter Krisanne on May 10, 2008 in Estes Park. Krisanne and Ben wanted a small, intimate church wedding of about 50 people with Holy Communion. With such a limited number Judy and I were not able to invite all our friends at St. Luke’s. Please keep Krisanne and Ben in your prayers. You might remember me in your prayers too as I try hard to be an obedient and gracious dad. We are all delighted and truly look forward to this joyful occasion.
Faithfully,
The Rev. Dr. Harold R. Warren, Rector
Next month, at 6:00 am on Saturday, June 7, six kids and two adults from St. Luke’s will be joining up with ~90 others from a total of four Front Range parishes to travel down to Juarez, Mexico to build homes for Casas por Cristo (CpC). Since 1993, more than 3,000 homes have been built, with 405 being built in 2007. Our group from the Diocese of Colorado will be building six. While there, they will be staying with and worshiping with the Espiritu Santo congregation of Zuniga Ministries, the Anglican counterpart to the US Episcopal Church.
Several weeks ago as I looked through the pre-trip packets, I could not help but think of the creation stories in Genesis. In six days, our group will build six houses, then rest of the seventh. The schedule for the week is as follows:
The days begin at 4:30 am with breakfast. At 5:30 am, the teams leave for the work sites. From 6:00 am to 2:30 pm, they work on the houses with a short break for lunch. At 2:30 pm, the workday ends. Free time is from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, and dinner from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The day ends with worship and small group time beginning at 7:00 pm, and everyone is in bed by 8:30 pm.
The cover page of the pre-trip booklet does a nice job of capturing the spirit and purpose of the trip. It contains the words of the song, “Holy Ground”, which begins with the following verse: This is holy ground. We’re standing on holy ground. For the Lord is present and where He is, is holy.
Thank you for your generous support of this mission trip. Please shower with prayer our diocesan group and the people they will be working with and serving in Juarez. They will be traveling on June 7 and June 14 and will be back worshipping with us and sharing their joy on Sunday, June 15.
Deacon Marc