Lent & Easter TIDINGS
a newsletter of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and School
OUR VISION
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is called by God to illuminate San Antonio with the light of Christ through transformative education for people of all ages, compassionate care for every member of our community, and inspiring worship and music in the Episcopal tradition.
FROM THE RECTOR The Rev. Irv Cutter DATES TO KNOW WEDNESDAY EVENINGS IN LENT HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE CHILDREN & FAMILIES MUSIC AT ST. LUKE'S VESTRY NOTES WELCOME TO THE BODY
Contents
An Invitation to a Holy Lent
From the Rector
Since its earliest days, the church came to understand the value of setting aside a season before Easter, a season whose themes would include penitence and repentance. This season of Lent continues to be an important season for us today. Especially in our Episcopal corner of the Kingdom, Lent is an annual opportunity to remind ourselves of our dependence on God’s grace and mercies, and it’s an annual chance to re-embrace the life God calls each of us to live. The worship of the church is a special resource available to us during Lent. • We begin the season with our liturgies on Ash Wednesday, when we hear powerful words that invite us into a holy observance of Lent. • Our Sunday services will be noticeably different, with purple vestments, and with Lenten hymns that remind us of the season’s themes. We refrain from saying “Alleluia” during Lent, so that the word will have more meaning when its usage returns at Easter. Adults will have special opportunities for faith formation during Lent. • On Sundays at 9:00am, in addition to “The Story”, we’ll have a four-part series on prayer (Sundays, March 17 through April 7). • On Wednesdays at 6:15pm, following a light supper, we’ll have a series focusing on our identity as a community here at St. Luke’s Church, which I hope will prepare us as we make plans for ministry in the future (Wednesdays, March 13 through April 10).
Jill Martinez, our Director of Family and Children’s Ministries, has prepared “Lent in a Box”, a collection of resources for families to use at home during the season of Lent. In addition to all that, our annual Bishop’s Visitation will be right in the middle of Lent: on Sunday morning, March 17, we’ll welcome to St. Luke’s Church the Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of West Texas, the Rt. Rev. Jennifer BrookeDavidson. The word “suffragan” comes from the old Latin word which means “assisting”. In effect, the Bishop Suffragan assists the Diocesan Bishop in overseeing life in the diocese. It will be a great joy to have Bishop Brook-Davidson at St. Luke’s that morning. At the 11:00am service, we’ll present youth and adult candidates for confirmation to her. It will be a great occasion! I encourage you to take advantage of what the church offers you during Lent. In addition to the personal disciplines you may take on during Lent – giving something up or taking something on – the more fully you tend to your soul during Lent, the more ready you’ll be to celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ when we celebrate Easter on April 21. See you Sunday,
Irv
THE REV. IRV CUTTER Rector rector@stlukes-sa.net
Dates to Know
March 5th • Shrove Tuesday 5:30 - 7:00 PM in the Parish Hall. Ash Wednesday (and the beginning of the season of Lent) is on March 6th, so let's get together before that and enjoy "breakfast for dinner", complete with all-you-can-eat pancakes, syrup, bacon and sausage! In addition to this delicious meal, there will be "Mardi-Gras" crafts for kids. All are welcome AND are encouraged to bring friends! March 6th • Ash Wednesday Services at 8 AM, 12 PM, & 6 PM. Childcare available at 12 PM and 6 PM
March 17th • Confirmation Sunday Bishop Jennifer Brooke-Davidson will be with us on Sunday March 17th to Celebrate at the morning services. She will also be Confirming and Receiving those who desire her blessing at the 11 AM service. March 17th • Choral Evensong 4:30 PM in the Sanctuary. April 5th • Parents' Night Out 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM April 5th • Amigos Potluck Dinner 6:30 PM -9:30 PM. For more information please contact Kim West –kimbolinasue@gmail.com. April 14th • Palm Sunday Services at 8 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM, & 6 PM.
April 18th • Maundy Thursday Service at 6 PM.
April 19th • Good Friday Service at Noon. Church Office closes at Noon. April 20th • Easter Vigil Service at 7 PM. April 21st • Easter Sunday Services at 7 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM, & 6 PM.
May 1st • St. Luke's LIVE!
Fellowship Dinner & Auction 6:00 PM. St. Luke's will host a night of fun and festivities in the Gym. This event will be benefiting St. Luke's Church Youth and Gus Owen Stephnes Foundation. Childcare will be available. May 3rd • Parents' Night Out 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM May 19th • 5th Grade Bible Presentation all "graduating" 5th graders and their parents/families will be called forward as the students receive a special prayer and blessing at the 11:00 AM service. May 19th • Senior Sunday On Sunday, May 19th during the 11:00 AM service, all graduating seniors will be recognized. June 10th - 14th • Vacation Bible School
Wednesday evenings in Lent:
“Identity: Who I Am, Who We Are” begins Wednesday evening, March 13. This five-part series gives the Rev. Irv Cutter to learn more at the St. Luke’s community in his first few months here. From week to week, we’ll learn more about our new rector, and he’ll lead us through some exercises as we learn more about how God is moving in our own lives, and as we remind ourselves about the St. Luke’s story: our church’s history, its values, and the opportunities for ministry that God places before us. Wednesdays, March 13 through April 10, join us in the Parish Hall. Enjoy a light supper from 5:30-6:15pm, and then the program will be 6:15-7:00pm. We’ll have programming for our children and youth as well.
Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM
Caroline and Curt Mowen continue to facilitate “The Story” in the Parish Hall. Each week, participants explore another section of the Holy Bible, as the group comes to understand the over-arching narrative that runs through the Old and new Testaments. The Adult Forum: The Rev. Michael Koehler continues his series on the Baptismal Covenant. This series concludes on Sunday, March 10. On March 17, we begin a four-part series on prayer, looking at different ways to pray, the value of prayer, and the importance of prayer for our spiritual growth.
Holy Week Schedule
The earliest Christians observed with great devotion the events of Jesus’ life and ministry which led up to his arrest, passion, crucifixion, death, and finally, resurrection. During Holy Week, our worship services help us journey with Christ through these events. Thereby, we are made more aware of Jesus’ great love for us as he stretched out his arms on the hard wood of the cross. Keeping a holy, Holy Week also makes the joy of resurrection on Easter morning immensely more powerful. Here is the schedule of Holy Week liturgies at St. Luke’s:
Palm Sunday Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem 8:00am, 9:00am, April 14th 11:00am, 6:00pm Monday April 15th
Jesus is anointed at Bethany John 12: 1-11
5:30pm
Tuesday April 16th
Some Greeks wish to see Jesus John 12: 20-36
5:30pm
Wednesday April 17th
Jesus predicts his betrayal John 13: 21-32
5:30pm
Maundy Thur. April 18th
Jesus’ last supper with his friends (Sign up for overnight prayer vigil)
6:00pm
Jesus is crucified
Noon
The Great Vigil of Easter April 20th
This is the first service of Easter.
7:00pm
Easter Sunday April 21st
Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Egg Hunt at 10:30am
7:00am, 9:00am, 11:00am, 6:00pm
Good Friday April 19th
Children and Families Lent in a Box To prepare for Easter, we will be using an awesome spiritual formation tool called Lent in a Box! It is our hope that using the activities included in each box will help you and your family prepare for Easter not just on Sundays but have meaningful faith conversations throughout the week. Each box contains 7 hands on activities, 7 scripture pages, 7 interactive prayer activities and 7 Heroes of the Faith stories. How often you do the activities is up to you – one every few days or once a week – whatever fits into your schedule the best! Everything you need will already be inside the box apart from some basic household items. We pray that you and your family will find Lent in a Box to be a useful tool for this Lenten season as we together prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus! Boxes will be available at our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner, March 5th!
A Family Prayer for Traveling This month, many of you will be traveling with your families for Spring Break. Here is a prayer as you begin your journey: Dear God, bless us as we travel. We know that you are with us whereever we go. May your word be a lamp to our feet and a light for our path, so that at our journey’s end we may rest safely in the knowledge of your grace and protection. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen!
Sunday, April 21st We offer two special opportunities for children and families as we joyfully celebrate the resurrection of our Lord!
Annual Easter Egg Hunt - April 21st 10:30AM ALL children ages 1 yr - 3rd Grade are invited to join in the "hunt" and older children are invited to help hide eggs! How Does It Work? • For each child who will be "hunting" parents are asked to bring 1 dozen FILLED plastic eggs (wrapped candy, stickers, etc.) to the church office on or before noon on Friday, April 12th • Children will be divided by age and everyone will begin hunting at the same time. Look for the signs on the front lawn! • The hunt will begin at 10:30AM SHARP so don't be late ~ those eggs go quickly! • If you have a 4th grader or older who would like to help, please contact Jill S. Martinez (jillm@ stlukes-sa.net) • Please note that this event happens rain or shine! So, if it rains look for details on Easter Sunday as to where your child will be hunting!
Flowering of the Children's Cross This has been a long and meaningful tradition at St. Luke's and is a most vibrant and joyful reminder of the new life of the resurrection! On Easter Sunday at both the 9 and 11 a.m. services children are invited to bring a fresh flower from home to decorate a special children’s cross. The cross sits just below the pulpit in the church. Don't worry if the blooms have not yet arrived at your house yet ~ we will have extra flowers in the narthex!
New Beginings - March 29th St. David’s will be hosting New Beginnings #5. It will take place the weekend of March 29th-31st; beginning at 4:00 PM on Friday and ending at NOON on Sunday. New Beginnings is a spiritual retreat designed for 6th – 8th graders that is led by high schoolers. Youth who have attended previous New Beginnings weekends are welcome to come again! Questions? Contact Jill S Martinez – jillm@stlukes-sa.net
Parents' Night Out Parents' Night Out is offered on the first Friday of most months from 5:30 – 10:00 p.m. Parents may bring their children ages infant through 5th grade to our church childcare rooms where they will be cared for by St. Luke’s wonderful childcare staff. The cost is $15 per child ($45 maximum per family) for the evening. Mark your calendar for the following PNO dates! -April 5th -May 3rd Questions? Contact Jill S Martinez – jillm@stlukes-sa.net
Upcoming Baptism Dates The sacrament of Holy Baptism will be offered on the following dates. • April 20th (Easter Vigil) • June 9th • August 4th • September 8th • November 3rd To schedule a baptism, please contact the Clergy Secretary, Ilya Franco at 828-6425.
Senior Sunday - May 19th The end of the high school years and the move into the college world is an important milestone for both students and parents! It has been the tradition at St. Luke’s to recognize and bless this time in the life of your family. On Sunday, May 19th during the 11:00 AM service, all graduating seniors will be recognized.
5th Grade Bible Presentation - May 19th The end of the elementary years and the move into the world of middle school is an important milestone for both students and parents! It has been our tradition here at St. Luke's to recognize and bless this time in the life of your family. On Sunday, May 19th during the 11:00 AM service, all "graduating" 5th graders and their parents/families will be called forward as the students receive a special prayer and blessing. At the same time, they will receive a "Teen Study Bible" which will carry them through Middle and High School.
VBS 2019 IS COMING!!
The dates for this year’s VBS are June 10th – 14th! ALL children ages 4 years through 5th grade (entering in the fall) are invited to experience this awesome and memorable week! Junior and Senior High students may register as Teen Helpers. VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED in a variety of ways! From being a VBS Team Leader, to serving during the week of VBS as a classroom or craft helper! If you volunteer during the week of VBS, childcare is provided for your infant – 3-year-old! Questions about VBS and Volunteering?? Contact VBS Co-chairs: Rachel Lincoln at rchotin@gmail.com or Xochitl Denton lukablythe9@gmail. com. You can also contact Jill S. Martinez jillm@stlukes-sa.net.
Music at St. Luke's
CHORAL EVENSONG - March 17th at 4:30 PM
It has been wonderful to see so many people at our recent Evensongs - thank you for coming! Our next one is Sunday, March 17th at 4:30pm when the main part will center around the music of Herbert Howells. Howells' music can best be described as English, mystical romanticism - you can smell the incense and beeswax polish. He wrote the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis for King's College, Cambridge (Collegium Regale) and intended for the Magnificat (Song of Mary) to imitate the awe and astonishment of a young girl being told she is to bare Christ. The Nunc begins with a poignant tenor solo reflecting the aging Simeon who prays to come to God having seen Jesus presented in the temple. This is followed by one of the most cherished anthems in the Anglican repertoire: Like as the hart desireth the waterbrooks (Psalm 42.) The yearning of the music likens that of a young deer thirsty for water to the yearning of a soul after God. Do come and be inspired by the holiness of beauty this Lent.
EASTER The music of the Triduum has a special place in the church year. Holy Week begins with the triumphal procession of Christ entering the Holy City, though we learn through the Passion Gospel that this ultimately ends in tragedy. The choir will sing the emotive Crucifixus of Antonio Lotti on Palm Sunday. Then on Maundy Thursday they sing Gjeilo's Ubi Caritas to portray Jesus' new commandment that we love one another. The service on Good Friday represents the devastation and bleakness of that day, and the choir simply sings Psalm 22 to describe the hopelessness of the situation. Holy Saturday begins with the same darkness as Good Friday but is transformed into the Glory of Easter as portrayed in the magnificent but angular anthem by Kenneth Leighton: Solus ad victimam. And finally on Easter Day we sing Beethoven's Hallelujah from the "Mount of Olives." As always we are joined by brass on this most important day.
HIGH TEA - May 19th at 4:30 PM Our final Evensong of the term is a Festal Evensong. Again we will be singing music that we will sing in England while in residence at Ripon Cathedral. But this special "send off" will take place at 3:00pm and is followed by an English High Tea, with an Arts & Crafts Fair at 4:00 in the Parish Hall. The music will be of Paulus and Phillips, and we invite you to celebrate with us as we represent St. Luke's Episcopal Church to the larger community and showcase what American composers have contributed to the Episcopal tradition of choral worship. We look forward to joining with you!
RUSSELL JACKSON Music Director and Organist russellj@stlukes-sa.net
Vestry Notes
New Members
At its February meeting the Vestry welcomed the five new members elected at the January Annual Parish Meeting: Si Millican, Michael Mortensen, Steven Rodriguez, David Schrantz, and Kirstin Silberschlag. With a vacant seat on the Vestry, because of the death last fall of Vestry member Brandon Hudson, Vestry members voted to appoint Catherine Bishop to serve the one year remaining on that unexpired term. Catherine will serve throughout 2019, and she will be eligible to be a candidate for a full term next year.
Officers
In addition to the appointment of Seth McCabe as Senior Warden, the Vestry re-elected Steve McAllister as Junior Warden and Bill Bangert as Treasurer, and the Vestry elected Robin Newman to serve as Clerk.
“Vestry Person of the Day”
The Vestry continues its practice, which began last year, of having a “Vestry Person of the Day” (“VPoD”) on Sundays. On a rotating basis, each Sunday a member of the Vestry is present all morning long, worshiping at all three services and available to visit with people between services. The VPoD helps to greet people when they arrive and is available to talk with parishioners about concerns or ideas. Vestry members say they’ve enjoyed their interactions with parishioners, and they look forward to continuing this practice in 2019.
St. Luke's Senior Warden Seth McCabe, and newly elected Vestry Members: Kirstin Silberschlag, Si Millican, David Schrantz, Steven Rodriguez, and Michael Mortensen!
Welcome to the Body
For information on being baptized or having your child baptized at St. Luke's, contact Ilya Franco, Administrative Assistant to the Clergy, at clergysec@stlukes-sa.net.
Upcoming Baptism dates are: April 20th (Easter Vigil), August 4th, September 8th, & November 3rd
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and School 11 St. Luke's Lane San Antonio, Texas 78209
Nonprofit Org US Postage Paid San Antonio,TX Permit No. 1001
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 11 St. Luke’s Lane, San Antonio, TX 78209 (210)828-6425 | www.slecsa.org The Rev. Irv Cutter Rector - rector@stlukes-sa.net
Gracie Gonzalez Facilities Manager - gracieg@stlukes-sa.net
The Rev. Michael Koehler Associate Rector - michaelk@stlukes-sa.net
Jill S. Martinez Director of Children's Ministries - jillm@stlukes-sa.net
The Rev. Dr. Mark Lee Assisting Priest - chaplainlee@gmail.com
Daniel Kittrell Director of Communications - danielk@stlukes-sa.net
Ilya Franco Administrative Assistant to Clergy - clergysec@stlukes-sa.net
Catherine Landis Mustard Seed Director - mustardseed@stlukes-sa.net
Lenesa Leana Interim Head of School - lleana@sles-sa.org
David Thomas Parish Administrator - davidt@stlukes-sa.net
Russell Jackson Music Director & Organist - russellj@stlukes-sa.net
Rhonda Jordan Parish Secretary - rhonda@stlukes-sa.net
Dr. David Heller Associate Organist - dheller@trinity.edu
Vol. 60, No. 2