December 26th is Boxing Day for Canadians… a day parallel to Black Friday (when businesses finally get “into the black” with a sales day on the Friday immediately after US Thanksgiving) where there are also great Canadian sales! However, I’m laying low like many of you after the rush of Christmas, writing material for liturgical renewal for the ACNA, at the invitation of newly-ordained Bishop Bill Thompson, formerly Dean of the Anglican Network’s Western Convocation. Bill has been at St. Luke’s several times in his former capacity as Dean. Bishop Bill now oversees the Liturgical Commission of the ACNA as well as being the new leader of Western Anglicans (Southern California).

2010 will bring some changes to St. Luke’s in our worship schedule - The most significant change will be the reintroduction of a Christian Education Hour between the Sunday morning services. We have eight people in our parish with theological degrees, plus many others with significant teaching gifts!

Thus, Sunday Mornings at St. Luke’s will look like this -

8 to 9:15 AM Traditional Liturgy (Rite One or 1928 BCP) in Chapel with Hymns and 10 minute Homily

9:30 to 10:30 AM Adult Christian Education (we are planning to have nursery and childcare services provided)

10:45 to 12 Noon Contemporary Liturgy in Bennett Hall with 10 minute Homily. Church School will run concurrent with the latter service with the children beginning classes at 10:45 AM, joining their families later for Communion.

Thus, the teaching focus will be in the hour between the services. Here’s what January 2010 Sunday AM Adult CE will look like:

Sunday January 3rd - Anne and Marla Ni (and Margaret Hla-Gyaw) Report Back From Myanmar

Sunday January 10th - Bishop Daniel (Nigeria) speaks of the Factors Behind the Growth of the Church in Africa

Sunday January 17th - Shannon Staples reports on Alpha Conference - Reaching Out in a Secular Culture

Sunday January 24th - Paula Shields shares on Influencing Others for Jesus

Sunday January 31st - 9 AM Combined Service in Bennett Hall followed by Annual Meeting (Part 2)

The other dynamic we want to foster is active outreach. 85% of people come to faith through the influence of family and friends. I want to challenge you to a New Year’s Resolution of participating in “Operation Andrew” - it was St. Andrew who brought his brother Simon Peter to meet Jesus. This initiative involves prayerfully identifying 10 family and friends who are unchurched (not active in living into their faith).

The first commitment is to pray for them - that the Lord will bless them, reveal Himself to them, and that they will develop a hunger for God. That’s the least we can do for those we care about!

The second commitment is to look for opportunities to bless these people on your “Operation Andrew” list with acts of kindness, directed by the Holy Spirit - perhaps a meal together, a movie, etc.

The third commitment is to invite these friends or family to an Invitation Sunday. Invitation Sunday is a parish-wide initiative to pray corporately for new people to join our fellowship in search of the Lord! Our parish in Vancouver, BC grew to almost 400 through Invitation Sunday. BTW, the services were the regular liturgies so people could see us how we “really are!” Guests were invited out for brunch following the service by their hosts. Sometimes we had parish meals to help our guests meet other parishioners and experience the warmth and love of a parish family. Our first Invitation Sunday will be in February 2010. You’ll hear more about it! Begin now to pray and seek the Lord about who you will ask!

Accompanying the Operation Andrew focus will be the establishing of a New Member Ministry. This will be a group of parishioners who will pray for and follow up on people who visit the parish. Almost 70% of people will return to the parish if they receive a brief phone call and visit by a lay person with 72 hours! Simply following up on those who visit can double our congregation in 5 years! If you feel called to be part of a new member team, please let me know!

July 2010 marks the 50th Year of the beginning of the Renewal at St. Luke’s. This is our Jubilee Year… one of our best yet! I encourage your prayerful and active participation! God Bless!  -John+

I am writing with a few reminders:

- This Sunday June 28th will be a 9 AM Combined Service in Bennett Hall, celebrating our graduates - young and old. The Sunday School certificates will be presented, etc. Following the service there will be a parish-sponsored lunch (folks are welcome to bring sides and deserts) and a party!

Please note the weekly summer schedule of events.

• 9 AM Combined Services throughout the summer (July/August) including Labor Day Weekend (Sunday September 6th). 8 AM and 10 AM Services resume Sunday September 13th.
• Tuesday Men’s Bible Study – Cancelled through July AND August. Resumes September 8th (After Labor Day)
• Wednesday Eucharist (9 AM) – Cancelled through July. Resumes August 5th
• Wednesday AM Bible Study – Cancelled through July AND August. Resumes September 9th (After Labor Day)
• Wednesday Evening Prayer Meeting (7 to 8:30 PM) CONTINUES throughout summer months!
• Monthly Prayer Vigil in Chapel (second Friday of the month) CONTINUES through the summer and into the fall on July 10th, August 14th, and September 11th. The vigil runs 6 PM Friday to 6 PM Saturday, focusing on prayer for the lost in Seattle and for spiritual awakening in the churches.
• No monthly Healing Services through the summer (July/August). Next Healing Service on Sunday September 20th (7 PM) with Ruth Handy from California.

Summer/Early Fall Events

Fr. John and Holly are away June 29th through July in Nova Scotia. They will be vacationing, visiting family, attending the 40th Anniversary of the NS United Christian Ashram (July 11th to 16th), and officiating at a wedding (July 25th). Please keep them in prayer. Chris will be “holding the fort” in Shoreline. Fr. Dean Scovell will be taking the Sunday AM Services.

A national call for repentance on Sunday July 5 - Theme: “Dependence on God”. See Call2Fall. Good timing: the day before GC 2009 begins!

Please pray for The Episcopal Church (TEC) General Convention meeting in Anaheim, California July 6th to 18th.

Missions Conference with Steve and Cindy Seabury – Friday July 17th and all day Saturday July 18th. Child Care provided. (See announcement below.)

Joel Graves’ Ordination to the Transitional Deaconate – Sunday July 19th (9:30 AM) at Old St. Peter’s, Tacoma

July 24th to 27th British Columbia (Canada) United Christian Ashram in Abbotsford, BC – a great family camp at good prices. See http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/ashram2009.indd.pdf.

Benefit Concert for Debbie McMichael in Bennett Hall – Saturday August 8th (1 PM)

Taize Service in Original Chapel – Saturday August 8th (6 PM)

Saturday August 15th – The Cry (All Day) in Vancouver, BC A powerful intercessory day. See http://www.thecry.ca.

St. Luke’s Vacation Bible School (VBS)- Monday August 17th to Friday August 21st.

St. Luke’s Parish Picnic – Sunday August 23rd (Holy Eucharist in Chapel at 8 AM. Picnic in Salmon Bay Park, Ballard begins at 11 AM)

Please continue to pray for the Okafors. Buki’s new address is 1869-B Cambria Drive, Greenville, NC 27858. Phone: (206) 326-0056 (a local Seattle call!)

We will be hosting a Healing Service this Sunday June 14th in Bennett Hall at 7 PM. I have ministered at a house church in Tacoma a couple times and have been impressed by how this fellowship moves in revelation and in power by the Holy Spirit. When I spoke there recently, I suggested that they ALL come to St. Luke’s and minister at our June Healing Service - leading worship, teaching, and ministry. Please plan to attend and bring family and friends who need a touch from the Lord.

Sunday June 28th will be a Combined Service at 9 AM in Bennett Hall as we celebrate the accomplishments of our children in Church School this year. This service will be followed by a celebration outdoors (pray for more sun!!) - fun activties for our whole parish family!

BTW, as has been our practice for a few years, July and August Summer Services will be Combined 9 M Liturgies in Bennett Hall. Fr. John and Holly will be in Eastern Canada from June 29th to July 28th. Fr. Dean Scovell will take services while the Roddams are away.

Fr. John and Holly spent the afternoon on Tuesday June 9th at the KONG TV studios taping The Eucharist. This is a ministry to shut-ins and others who are up early on Sunday mornings. This is viewed by over 4,000 households in the region! The Roddams taped two editions of The Eucharist to be broadcast on Sunday June 21st (Father’s Day) and June 28th. The program will air KONG-TV16 and on Cable Chanel 6 at 5 AM. If someone could record these programs, the parish office would like a copy. Thanks!

Please take note of the Missions Conference notice below. St. Luke’s Missions Committee is sponsoring a conference with Steve Seabury on Friday July 17th and all day Saturday July 18th. We are planning to have childcare so our younger families will be able to attend.

God Bless! -John+

Click here for more information and registration.

Please feel free to leave posts or contact me at my hollyroddam@gmail.com.  I would be interested to hear what you think of the poems and how they affected you. I hope they will encourage and maybe even help you on your journey to a deeper relationship with the Lord and inner peace.

Thanks for visiting my page

Peace and Love,

Holly M. Roddam <><