the carillon - st. luke's episcopal churchstyle, a good job, a prestigious education,...

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The Carillon A Bi-Monthly Publication of St. Luke's Episcopal Church Established 1900

Reflections for the Family of God from the Rector

PO Box 605, 182 Main Street, Gladstone, New Jersey 07934 908-234-0002 Email: [email protected] www.stlukesgladstone.org

In This Issue

1 A letter from Our

Rector

2 Youth Group; Maundy Thursday; Music at St. Luke’s

4 Vestry Notes; Bishop Salmon returns for Confirmation; PLG Meeting Notes; Upcoming Fellowship Events

5 Spring Auction

6 Holy Week Schedule; Men’s Saturday Morn-ing Bible Study

7 Children’s Ministry; Vacation Bible School

8 Book Club; Monday Noon Bible Study

9 Calendar of Events

March/April 2016

Honor God’s Presence § Celebrate Christ’s Love § Serve God’s People

Dear Parish Family,

What difference does it make?

The passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ that we commemorate in

worship this time of year, does it matter for anything more than just a

nice feeling?

Life can change in an instant. This is true for ourselves as individuals, in

our families, our careers, and with our financial resources. One can be

riding high with everything in life going well and then suddenly be con-

fronted with loss. Will the tentative economic improvement we are seeing

today continue, or is the next great recession just around the corner? A

marriage can seem secure and stable, and suddenly a spouse is surprised

that the other wants a divorce.

No one is immune from this. We like to think we are in control of things,

but we really aren’t. The wealthiest among us can feel secure one mo-

ment and be facing a terminal disease the next. The healthiest among us

can seem to be doing so well when there is sudden job loss and the pros-

pect of financial ruin overwhelms everything else.

We value education, especially from prestigious universities, but academic

education does not insulate one from the twists and turns of life. Imagine

a college class on how to live the good life, or how to survive your next

tragedy, or where to turn to find security. Our academic institutions pre-

pare us for the specialized tasks of work in the world. They do not really

prepare us for life, as much as we might think they do. (Reflect on this

for a moment. Education is very important, don’t get me wrong; but it

will not save you.)

And we look at the world today and scratch our heads. What has gone

wrong? The world economy is unstable, violent tensions are erupting be-

tween people because of the color of their skin, we face a very serious

continued on page 3

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.stlukesgladstone.org

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Youth Group

Salt, The Middle School Youth Group, is going strong. We've recently had wonderful con-

versations on politics, food, school, and ways to find God in our daily lives.

The Annual All You Can Eat Pancake Supper was a great success. It was well attended,

and we surpassed last year's sales numbers.

Ignite, The High School Youth Group, has started supporting the soup kitchen in Somer-

ville. We made cookies and will start providing lunches once a month. Plans are also un-

derway for the Summer Mission Trip. Destination soon to be determined.

Join us for Maundy Thursday dinner!

Thursday, March 24th

Immediately following an informative Seder by George Maull, please

join us for dinner beginning at 6 pm SHARP. We are looking for volun-

teers to bring soup, salad, or mac n’ cheese to add to the dinner.

Please look for a sign up sheet to attend and to note what you can

bring outside Greene Hall. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Parish Life Guild

Music at St. Luke’s

On Sunday, April 17, please join us for a special service of Choral Even-

song at 5pm. Evensong is a service of sung Evening Prayer that allows

for an hour of peaceful reflection toward the end of the day. It follows an

historic liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of Eng-

land, originating with Thomas Cranmer in 1549 and revised in 1662. Free

and open to all, evensong is a wonderful way to introduce friends to the

musical and liturgical traditions of the Episcopal Church. The service will

be filled with beautiful choral music and hymns; the centerpiece of which will be the Eve-

ning Service in B-flat by Charles Villiers Stanford. This regal setting was premiered in 1879

and is strongly influenced by the music of Brahms. Among other things, Stanford is cred-

ited with expanding the role and musical importance of the organ accompaniment in Eng-

lish church music.



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continued from page 1

ideological life and death threat from Radical Islamic extremists, corporations continue to merge

and downsize their work forces, and the list goes on and on.

Where is one to turn for information that will help us face the circumstances of our lives? Where

can one look for true hope? We sense within us it will not come from within, none of us has the re-

sources to meet all of these challenges in ourselves.

Perhaps that is the reason that so many are drawn to church this time of year or in times of crisis.

We sense deep down that God is able to help us and see us through.

Think for a moment of the life of Jesus. He knew our struggles. His popularity grows with the

masses so that He can ride into Jerusalem on a donkey (an obvious claim to be the Messiah) and

be hailed by crowds who prepare the way for their King with palm branches. And then in the flash

of a moment, everything changes. A few narrow-minded Jewish leaders and an oppressive Roman

government join forces to stir up many in the crowd to turn against Jesus. Within a few days, the

One hailed as Messiah – the innocent, loving, infinitely wise Jesus - is beaten, humiliated, aban-

doned, and killed as if He were a heinous criminal.

The heavens themselves turn dark at midday at that event. The ground shakes, tombs are split,

the thick woven fabric of the curtain in the Temple is torn in two, and even Roman soldiers are

filled with awe and fear.

But that wasn’t the end of the story! The sun shines brightly on Easter Sunday morning as the

man who was dead rises to life anew. The Son of God wins the victory over sin (bringing us for-

giveness) and death (offering us eternal life.)

At Calvary, God Himself suffered greatly, bearing the weight of the sin of the world and all the bru-

tality of those events we remember in Holy Week. Yet in the midst of that suffering, God was at

work bringing about good, turning the tables on suffering and death. Jesus Christ shows us how

much God loves us in being willing to do this for us. Jesus Christ shows us God’s power to do

something about the uncertainties of life and the great mystery of death. He lives so that we might

really live. He shows us the way to live in His life – loving God and neighbor more than self. He

shows us that God is not as distant as we presume, and that He cares about our plight more than

we can ever possibly imagine.

The Love of God in Christ shines through the passion and resurrection, offering the world a beacon

of hope. There is a place we can go to learn the wisdom we need to face the uncertainties of life

and the challenges of these days in which we live. Our rescue will come not from a healthy life-

style, a good job, a prestigious education, achievement, fame, an enormous fortune, a political

candidate or party, or even from our family.

The guardrails that guide us safely down the road of life are the cross and resurrection. Wisdom is

available and it comes but from one place ultimately: from seeking the living God.

May our Holy Week and Easter Services help you find wisdom for life in even greater measure.

The Lord Be With You,



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Parish Life Guild: Meeting Notes from Meeting Notes from January and February

In January the PLG thanked our outgoing members, especially 2015 Chair Steve Hans-

bury, and in February we welcomed six new members. Our 2016 Chair will be Allyson

Gallup.

The Missions Subcommittee has presented proposals for donations to charitable organiza-

tions, and the PLG has approved donations of 2015 revenues to the following: the Com-

munity Soup Kitchen of Morristown, Food Bank Network of Somerset County, Houses to

Homes, Peapack-Gladstone Fire Company, Peapack-Gladstone First Aid Squad, Seamen’s

Institute, Senior High Mission Trip, Somerset Chaplaincy to the Elderly, and St. Luke’s Vil-

lage.

The January balance of the PLG account was $36,931.64. In response to a Vestry presen-

tation on the parish’s budget challenges, and after much discussion, the PLG has agreed to

contribute $10,000 of the 2016 revenues from the Auction and the Holiday Fair towards

the general operations of the church. Any future contributions will be considered sepa-

rately and revisited next year.

Preparations are underway for Lobsterfest on March 5th and the Auction on May 14th. The

PLG has also been considering suggestions to improve coffee hour participation.

Respectfully submitted,

Betsy Halstead

Vestry Notes

If you missed the Annual Meeting and would like to read the Report, copies are available

by contacting the church office at 908-234-0002 or [email protected].

Lauren B. Luik, Clerk of the Vestry

Upcoming Fellowship Events

Maundy Thursday Supper – March 24th

St. Luke’s Auction – May 14th

Bishop Ed Salmon returns

On June 12 we will welcome back Bishop Salmon to preside over confirmation. Always

meaningful and a great blessing – join us as we support our confirmands and their fami-

lies and enjoy a word from the good bishop.



mailto:[email protected]?subject=Report%20from%20Annual%20Meeting

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Holy Week Schedule at St. Luke’s

Palm Sunday, March 20

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I 9:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II with Palm Procession Maundy Thursday, March 24 6:00 p.m. Parish Supper & Informal Eucharist 7:30 p.m. Tenebrae Service and stripping of the altar 9 p.m.-7 a.m. The Watch in Anne’s Chapel, Youth Lockin

(you are invited to come for one hour to pray) Good Friday, March 25 12–1:15 p.m. Good Friday Liturgy with cello 1:30-2:30 p.m. Silent Meditation in Anne’s Chapel Holy Saturday, March 26 7:30 p.m. The Great Vigil of Easter - Candlelight Easter Service with soloists and intergenerational choir Easter, March 27 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II with hymns 9:30 a.m. Festive Choral Eucharist 10:45 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt in Anne’s Garden 11:15 a.m. Festive Choral Eucharist

(nursery ministry at 9:30 and 11:15)

This is a great time to join the Men’s Saturday Morning Bible Study!

We have just begun a new session, studying the pastoral epistles of Paul begin-

ning with I Timothy. We continue to enjoy fellowship and breakfast together. We meet

Sunday mornings at 8:15 until 9:45 at the church. For more information contact Kent.



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Lent

Remember the fad of the pet rock. Well, perhaps I’m showing

my age, but your children were excited when they unwrapped

their gift of a stone to remind them of the Journey of Lent. We

discussed how stones have been used throughout biblical times,

and how words can be stones used by ourselves and others.

We will continue to meet as a group, grades 1st through 6th, as we discuss the journey of

events leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus

Vacation Bible School

Volunteers Needed

VBS is an event that stays with me throughout the year. It could be as simple as seeing a

teenage counselor wearing their VBS t-shirt or running into someone at the grocery store,

who I can’t immediately place, but reminds me of their child attending VBS. Last year, the

best thing about VBS was the participation and assistance of parishioners. Some of you

prepared the snack, helped rinse out t-shirts, or greeted campers and their parents at

sign-in. Hopefully, you were as touched as I was by the smiling faces and also have a fond

memory from VBS. For those who graciously volunteered, we hope to see you again in Au-

gust and if you’ve been thinking of helping but not sure you can squeeze in one more

thing, I can promise you that you will feel rewarded as you share in faith and community.

Allyson, Tracy and I will once again be putting our heads together as we gear up for

Egypt: Joseph’s Journey From Prison to Palace. Please let us know if you are interested in

helping behind the scenes in the planning process.

Calling all Children August 8th-11th

As you begin to plan your child’s summer activities, consider VBS, right here at St. Luke’s.

Not only will it be one of the most affordable camps your child does all summer, but it will

be a time of new friendships, games, songs, and of course Bible Adventures. Different

from Children’s Worship each week, children are transported back in time to experience

the lesson first-hand.

For those of you with children entering into 7th grade and older, please know that we wel-

come teens to join the team! VBS offers teens an opportunity to be a Counselor, providing

them with opportunities to gain leadership experience and actual “work experience” for

their first job application.



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The Carillon is a publication of

St. Luke's Church, Gladstone, New Jersey. The Reverend Dr. Kent R. Walley, Rector.

Articles should be submitted to Vieva Grenier,

Parish Administrator, in the church office 9:30-5:00, M-F.

Telephone 908-234-0002;

Fax 908-234-1446; email: [email protected]

www.stlukesgladstone.org

Design/Layout: Valerie Szkodny Coordinator: Vieva Grenier

Assembly/Mailing: Jane Knight

The

Carillon Comittee

St. Luke's Book Club

We're celebrating our 17th year of page-turning fellowship!

Discussions begin at 7:15 p.m.

in Canterbury Room. All are welcome.

Theme: Perspectives on Faith

April 7: For the Time Being

by Annie Dillard

Annie Dillard’s non-fiction work of spiritual wonderment is a journey through

the underpinnings of major belief systems. As she discusses knowing that

which is unknowable, she challenges us toward greater introspection and faith.

(222 pages)

May 5: Fahrenheit 451

by Ray Bradbury

In the society of this classic futuristic novel, written in 1951, all books have

been banned. Intellectual ideas are subversive and individualism is forbidden.

What happens when an ordinary man questions these notions? (194 pages)


Another Bible Study opportunity – Monday

Noon Bible Study – Going in Depth in the

Gospel of John!

Each Monday we meet at noon, some

bring lunches and we talk and then move

into a careful study of a passage from the

Gospel of John. Historical context, Greek

grammar, literary features and more inform

us about the text. And we seek the Holy

Spirit to guide us into relevant application.

Join us Mondays at noon! Contact Kent for

more information.





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St. Luke's Episcopal Church

182 Main Street, PO Box 605

Gladstone, NJ 07934

www.stlukesgladstone.org

(Address Correction Requested)

Rector: The Reverend Dr. Kent Walley [email protected] Deacon: The Reverend Anne Lemay [email protected] Rector Emeritus: The Reverend Canon John T. Morrow Organist/Choirmaster: Dr. Brian Harlow [email protected] Parish Administrator: Vieva Grenier [email protected] Dir. of Children’s Ministry: Helene O’Neill [email protected] Youth Choir Director: Dr. Brian Harlow [email protected] Handbell Director: Katherine Newcomer [email protected] Youth Director: Norm Penney [email protected] Dir. of Communications: Valerie Szkodny [email protected] Sexton: Charlie Hamma Altar Guild: Missy Witte and Cathy Henry Usher Guild: Emily Childs

The Carillon A Monthly Publication of St. Luke's Episcopal Church 182 Main Street, PO Box 605 G lads tone ,NJ 07 934 email [email protected].

Established 1900 (908) 234-0002

Mailed by March 17, 2016

The Parish Life Guild

Allyson Gallup, Chair Lauren Diemar Betsy Halstead Bob Henry Mike Mandeen Noelle McCarthy Kim McLean Anne Parker Aileen Peterson JW Pierron Frank Porcelli Lisa Stryker Bill Trego

The Vestry

Senior Warden: Stan Hays Junior Warden: John Gallup Clerk: Lauren Luik

Pam Craven Tom Elliott Roger Fischer

Roxanne Hayes Dave Ingrey Priscilla Miller

Steve Neville Tammy Riley












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