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Do you ever feel disconnected, out of touch? Most of us do at times. Yet Christ, whose victory over sin and death we celebrate this Easter season, wants us to be in touch, in touch and in love, with God, with ourselves and with our neighbors, and with all creation.

Soon it will be Pentecost. Red balloons and flame colored clothing will remind us that that we have been gifted by the Spirit: gifted with life, gifted with speech, gifted with power to love and teach and heal. My favorite book about the Holy Spirit is called, The Go Between God, by John Taylor. It describes the work of the third person of the Blessed Trinity as connecting us with God and with one another, and with all creation. Unlike some eastern religions, our spiritual goal is not so much to be one with God (or nature) but to be in a relationship of love and mutuality. The great Jewish theologian Martin Buber called it an “I – Thou” relationship. Formal Christian prayer, often explicitly and always implicitly, is prayer to the Father, through the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Church offers us many tools for connecting, many ways to engage, with the Spirit’s help, in the work of love. Here at St. Luke’s our central engagement with the Holy Spirit is in the Eucharist. From that flow all the rest: service and study, play and witness, healing and nurture.

I want to draw your attention to two particular resources in which the Holy Spirit plays a central role. The first is the workshop on Saturday May 26 on Anglican Spirituality, led by Sisters Teresa and Alice of the Community of the Transfiguration. They will introduce us to three strands of prayer and life in our Anglican tradition:

Their Sunday afternoon program, a travelogue to Celtic Ireland, past and present, will be a delightful and colorful event. Both events will be of interest to friends from other churches, or none, who have an interest in the spiritual life. I strongly encourage you to plan on attending.

The second resource is the Stephen Ministry program. I am most grateful that Dan and Joan Collins have come forward to lead this effort. We at St. Luke’s have looked at Stephen

Florence Graham on her retirement as Altar Guild Directress. Florence served St. Luke’s as the directress for 5 years. She will continue an active member of St. Francis Altar Guild.

Joan Collins has been appointed by Fr. Jim to replace Florence as Altar Guild Directress and celebrated her installation on Sunday, April 29th.

No one knows when an emergency is going to occur and if they will be with someone or alone. Therefore, it is very important to be prepared for this possibility. Take a few minutes and sit down with a paper and pencil or at the computer and write down this information. Then post a copy on your refrigerator, also put a copy in your wallet and give a copy to someone you are very close to such as a spouse or a friend who lives close by.

Finally, update your information depending on your health status. Ideally this should be done once a month. Then relax and enjoy life. Hopefully, you will never need this information but if you do, it will be easily available to whoever needs it.

Ministry a number of times over the years, and never felt we had the committed leadership with which we could go forward. We have that now. What we need next is some follower ship and some money for the required training of our leadership team. A Stephen Minister is a layperson, trained, equipped and supported, who invests an hour a week in simply being present with someone in need of caring presence. They listen, they support, they understand. They depend on the leading of the Holy Spirit to help them make connections that are deep and true. Occasionally they offer the gift of wise counsel, as a friend. It is a great program. It blesses the care giver and the care receiver. It also supports and extends the ministry of the clergy. I hope a dozen of you will offer yourselves to be trained for this ministry, and that dozens more will help finance the training of our leadership team. This will be on the agenda of our May Vestry meeting, and I would be glad to tell them we are off to a good start both in funding the program and in recruiting potential Stephen Ministers.

I am pleased to welcome to St. Luke’s our new organist, Don Corbett, and his wife Jacqueline. Don played his first service on April 22. Next month’s issue of the Log will include a more complete introduction. We look forward to happy years with both of them.

Dr. Edla Stephenson continues her recovery. A coronary stint was successfully implanted on April 20. We hope to see her back in front of the choir very soon. Keep up your prayers. And we continue to solicit funds to help her over a temporary but serious loss of income. Thanks to those who have already helped out.

Finally, do join Bishop Itty for the dedication of our renewed and handicap accessible facilities on Saturday, May 19, at 5 pm. Persons new to St. Luke’s in the past year or two, or desiring to reaffirm their faith, are invited to contact me about being received, confirmed, or blessed by Bishop Itty. (This will be our principal service for that weekend, but the regular 8:30 and 10:30 services on Sunday will also be available.)

I thank God that the Holy Spirit continues to move among us, as the hymn says, “to guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.”

Healing Ministry

Our healing prayer team offers prayers for individuals and families each Sunday in the baptistery at the conclusion of both the 8:30 and 10:30 church services. Many have already found this prayer resource a blessing. Just approach them and ask.

If you are interested in joining the Prayer team, contact Lynn Hughes at 476-4671 or the Church office.

EASTER FLOWERS
Altar Flowers for Easter Sunday were given to the Glory of God
and in memory of Peg Milbank
and by Caroline Pitts in memory of her parents and husband.

Thank you to all who contributed to Easter flowers.
Fr. Jim & Pamela Boston in memory of his father Lee Boston
Tom Reed & Family in memory of Tygrachet Rose Lorsntz
Don & Gloria Edmon in memory of loved ones
Helen Vanard in memory of loved ones
Jean & Theron Middleton in memory of loved ones
Natalie Sabransky in memory of Margaret & Allan Sabransky
Tom & Minnie Francisco in memory of family
Sharon & Bob Simpson in memory of Laura Simpson & Sophia Shea
Fr. Randel & Nancy Livingood in memory of Ken Feriante
Ginger Reinach in memory of her mother
Sally Smith & Robert Pugh in memory of loved ones
Lloyd & Laura Dunwald in memory of Ruth Deleane Pryle & Nancy Dunwald
Susan Hall in memory of Frank & Beryl Cooey & Joe & Kay Cooey
Frank & Sheilah McCrackin in memory of family
Kristine Michael in memory of parents, Gretchen & Robert
David Brenn in memory of his brother, Stephen
Amanda & David Sloan in memory of Ann Gallamore and Gordon Sloan
Jim & Patti Elliott, Harmony Thayer, Tim & Jen Roberts, Dick & Robin Griffiths, and
Roxie Templin

Bible Study
Monday 4pm Bible study will begin a study of the teaching of Paul in his shorter letters and in the Acts of the Apostles. We will begin in May with the earliest books of the New Testament, Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians. We will not meet on Memorial Day.

The Bible
Deacon Joani’s Wednesday morning Bible study is meeting at 10:00am in the Guild Room. She is doing an over-view of the Bible and Apocrypha beginning with Genesis. All are welcome. Please make note of the time change.

Genesis
The Wednesday Night Bible study group has begun a study of the Book of Genesis led by Joe and Starr Hungate. The group is meeting at the home of Al and Lucille Fitchell, 1258 Ironwood. New comers are welcome. Call Dan and Joan Collins at 476-6169 if you have any questions or need directions to the Fitchell’s.

ST. LUKE’S GUILD
We will be discussing the Guild’s new direction at the Hong Kong Cafe 820 NW 6th Street on Wednesday, May 9th at 12:00 noon. Please join us for lunch and brainstorming. For more information please call Crista at 659-9208. Remember that all women of St. Luke’s are Guild members, see you then.

ST. LUKE’S SCHOLARSHP
St. Luke’s offers a scholarship each year to parishioners who are pursuing education beyond high school. As an attempt to encourage people to receive training at the college level or at a trade or technical school scholarships are given. Awards may be renewed for a total of 4 years. Parishioners who wish to apply must contact Jean in the church office or Lynn Hughes for an application. All applications must be submitted no later than May 15th. Eligibility requirements include being a St. Luke’s communicant on a regular basis.

Choir
The Choir rehearses Wednesday evenings from 5:30 – 6:30. Please come and sing with us. We hope to be able to do some a cappella pieces, as well as things incorporating other instruments, such as handbells, drums, strings, praise band, flutes, guitars, etc. Please be encouraged to come join us.

Bell Choir
The Handbell Choir will continue to meet on Wednesday from 4:30 – 5:15 with new members being added on a continuing basis. We hope to get bigger and better. Children are encouraged to join us. We have a lot of fun. Call Dr. Edla Stephenson at 761-6490 to learn more.

Praise and Worship Musicians
If you are interested in participating, please contact Ulf Bjorklund at 476-5012 for practice times.

Children Choir
Our Children’s Choir has been learning together after the 10:30 service. New singers are welcome.

May 3                                      : National Day of Prayer
May 5                                      : 16th Annual ECW Spirituality Day @ Emmanuel Episcopal                                                                Church, Coos Bay, Oregon
May 17                                                : Ascension
May 17-20                               : 2007 Women’s Cursillo @ Church of the Good Shepherd
                                                Vancouver, Washington
May 26 & 27                           : Sisters of the Transfiguration @ St. Luke’s
May 27                                                : Pentecost
May 28                                                : Memorial Day Office will be closed

MEN’S MONDAY MORNING BREAKFAST
The Men’s breakfast meets on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month and occasionally on a 5th Monday. Breakfast is at the Gold Miner Cafe on the corner of 7th and “M” streets at 8:15. If you have any questions, you can call the office at 476-2493

DEREK SEALS
Please continue to keep Derek Seals in your prayers as he recovers from surgery at Dornbecker Children’s Hospital in Portland. If you would like to help the Seals family, an account has been set-up at US Bank in Derek’s name.

The Church is called to acts of LOVE, and these acts of LOVE take many forms. St. Luke’s is in urgent need of two of these forms of LOVE;

USHERS: Ushers are “door keepers in the House of the Lord”. They are a first encounter with our church. Their ministry is hospitality, a gracious welcome and gentle care for all who come: visitors, the faithful, the young, the infirm, the nervous and the brash.

Ideally, we need 2 new Ushers for the 8:30 service and 6 new Ushers for the 10:30 service. Qualifications are “warmth and alertness”. A good memory for names and faces is a plus.

“PETAL PUSHERS” This is the name that Bob Graham gave to the generous people who deliver flowers after the 10:30 service. Flowers, personally delivered, bring joy and comfort to those who are unable to join us for Sunday Eucharist. We need three individuals or couples for a monthly delivery, plus a few substitutes.

Call Bob Graham or the office to learn more or to volunteer.

If during the past year we have missed any child’s birthday, we apologize. However, we do need to update our birthday list. So, please call the office with the child’s name and birth date. Thank you.

May 17 – 20 : Women’s Spring Cursillo Vancouver, Washington
October 4 – 7 : Co-ed Weekend Cursillo Eugene, Oregon

It’s not too late to sponsor someone for the 2007 Women’s Cursillo, May 17 – 20 at Church of the Good Shepherd, Vancouver, Washington.

If you are planning on sponsoring a candidate, please get the applications in soon, as spaces are filling up fast.

Applications can be found at www.oregoncursillo.org for additional information, please contact Tracy Esquerre tracyesg@aol.com Communications Chair 2007 Women’s Cursillo.

DAUGHTERS OF THE KING
Daughters of the King met on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 7:00pm. For the month of May, the meetings will be held at the home of Jean Middleton, 339 Beechwood Dr. All women of the church are welcome. If you need directions or information, please call Jean at 218-1516 or the church office at 476-2493.

A LITTLE HISTORY
While the old Ladies restroom was being dismantled, a few interesting artifacts were found either nailed or glued to some of the wall studs. The first is a union button from 1948 for the A.F.L. Medford Building Trades Council which will be mounted on a small display plaque. The other item was a portion of the newspaper that advertised property for sale. The ad reads: 2 ½ ACRES irrigated, 2 bedroom modern home; tub bath; laundry trays; service porch; large garage; deep well; pressure system; nice shade; easement road to river. 4 ½ miles out. This is a real buy. Title insurance. Full price $3,700.00.
Something to think about!

16th Annual Diocesan Episcopal Church Women Spirituality Day 2007
‘One in the Spirit’
When? Saturday, May 5th 8:30 – 3:00 Where? Emmanuel Episcopal Church,
400 Highland, Coos Bay

Registration forms can be sent to Emmanuel Episcopal Church
P O Box 1028, Coos Bay, OR 97420

Cost? $20 for early registration; $25 at the door. Scholarships are available.
Event schedule includes:
Keynote Speaker: The Rev. Esme Jo Culver
Spiritual Faith Practices: Daughters of Abraham
Celtic Holy Eucharist
Lunch
Marketplace
Workshops (check Luke’s Log for full details or the Church office)
Hosted by the Women of the South Coast Convocation

Workshops: Participation is limited to 25 persons per workshop based on receipt of registration.

                Session A                                        Session B
____ Spiritual Companionship              ____ Knitting as a Spiritual Practice
____ Hawaiian Spiritual Hula               ____ Herbs of the Bible & Beyond
____ American Indian Spiritual            ____ History of Women Clergy in the
          Practices                                                 Church

Any one interested in attending, please contact the office for registration forms.

LANDSCAPING GIFTS AND MEMORIALS ARE STILL NEEDED!
Everyone is delighted with the beautiful landscaping installed as part of our new front entrance. But, the landscaping was not included in the original budget for our new handicap access. The Vestry can borrow funds internally for the time being, but is eager to encourage special gifts. One tree and a number of bushes are still available as memorials, as are the irrigation system, the front lawn, the lawns on either side to the walk from the kitchen porch to D Street, the landscaping under the large stained glass windows of the nave, and the renewed landscaping along 4th Street. Gifts have been given in memory of Bob DeFreitas, whose artistic gifts have blessed St. Luke’s, and in memory of former rector Fr. Chet Shulda, and others. More are welcome. Don Kane is keeping track of gifts. Drop your gift in the offering plate, clearly labeled, or call the church or Don (955-9897) for more information.

For the past three years we have served as lay chaplains at Three Rivers Community Hospital under Chaplain Doug Schmidt, with additional training recently at Rogue Valley Medical Center under Chaplain Joe McMahon. Ministry with patients has been a blessing to those we serve and as well as rewarding for us. We believe that others at St. Luke’s also have a desire to offer care and love to those in need, and, like us, would benefit from training and a supportive structure.

More than 9,000 congregations from every state and over 20 countries now have Stephen Ministry programs. Since 1975 the Stephen Ministry Series has helped congregations organize, equip and supervise lay caregivers to provide high-quality distinctively Christian care. A weeklong residential training event equips leaders to conduct the local training program. Startup costs include a one-time enrollment fee ($1,675) for the parish, the training course for leaders, and local training materials.

Seven parishioners and Fr. Jim recently met to discuss Stephen Ministry at St. Luke’s. Two Stephen Ministers from Bethany Presbyterian Church, our near neighbor, were on hand to show us how it has worked for them and the benefits they have gained. Dorene Fowler and Kathy Stewart have led Stephen Ministry at Bethany for nine years. Many questions were asked and issues discussed. The group decided that we should move forward.

We are now looking for more people to take part and for ways to fund Stephen Ministry at St. Luke’s. Our next meeting will be in the parish Library on Thursday, May 10 at 6pm. All interested persons are invited to attend. If you would like more information, talk with Dan and Joan Collins (476-6169).

SISTERS OF THE TRANSFIGURATION
On Saturday, May 26th and Sunday afternoon, May 27th Sister Alice Reid and Sister Teresa Marie Martin will be at St. Luke’s. On Saturday they will offer a workshop and quiet day. Sunday they will present a slide show based on two recent trips to Ireland focusing on sites related to the traditions of Celtic Spirituality and looking at how the Celtic spirit is seen in contemporary Ireland. A free will offering will be taken at both events to help support their ministry.

Sister Alice L. Reid is a member of the Episcopal Community of the Transfiguration whose headquarters are in Cincinnati, Ohio. A native of Canada she grew up in Vancouver, BC. She is a graduate of Antioch University in Yellow Springs Ohio in Religious Studies. She was a part of the Community’s ministry in Sendai, Japan for a number of years and later was the director of St. Dorothy’s Rest Camp and Conference Center in the diocese of California. Sr. Alice has held numerous leadership positions in the Community and served as its Superior from 1993-1998. Presently she lives in the Community’s house in Eureka, California and has been a workshop leader and spiritual director in northern California for a number of years.

Sister Teresa Marie Martin is also a member of the Episcopal Community of the Transfiguration. She is a native of California and a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley. After entering the Community in Cincinnati she lived there for a number of years serving as a teacher and administrator of Bethany Scholl in Glendale, Ohio. While she was in Cincinnati, she completed a degree in Master of Arts in Theology with an emphasis in Anglican Spirituality at Xavier University. Since returning to California in the 1980’s she has primarily been involved in leading workshops and retreats in various aspects of prayer and spirituality as well as various diocesan and parish activities. She currently lives in the Community branch house in Eureka, California.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
224 NW D Street, Grants Pass, OR 97526
541-476-2493

PRESENTERS: SISTER TERESA M. MARTIN AND SISTER ALICE L. REID
Community of the Transfiguration

“All Christian life is sacramental. Not alone in our highest act of communion are we partaking of heavenly powers through earthly signs and vehicles. This neglected faith may be revived through increased sympathy with the earth derived from fuller knowledge, through A FEARLESS LOVE OF ALL THINGS.” (Fenton Hort, 19th Century Anglican Theologian)

Who are we as Episcopalians and Anglicans? How should we pray and live our Baptismal Vows as Anglicans? Is there an Anglican vision of spirituality? What does it mean to be Anglican in the 21st Century? With all of the questions and controversy swirling around the Episcopal Church it is vital that we understand and can articulate the roots of our heritage and how we can live it out in today’s world. In this workshop/quiet day we will explore these questions and practice some ways of prayer that may lead us into a renewed commitment to our faith in order to face the challenges that confront us daily with A FEARLESS LOVE OF ALL THINGS.

Presentations will include: An Overview of “Anglican Spirituality and the Roots of its Heritage – questions and discussion. Three strands of Anglican heritage and some experience of reflection and prayer with each of them.

Celtic Spirituality – Relating to God through the natural world.
Benedictine Spirituality – Relating to God through the Bible.
Sacramental / Incarnational Spirituality – Relating to God with us.