Father Logan Updates:

 

“Crazy” Vicar’s Views and Other “Crazy” Things

December 2022

 

Dear St. Luke's Family and Friends,

Reflection for the month: 

Advent is one of two times in the Church Year where we change to a more reserved, thoughtful worship. Sundays are always a joyous celebration of the Resurrection, the miraculous redeeming work of the Lord coming to an astounding resolution.  However, the joy is muted in some seasons, Lent being the most obvious.  Advent is not a mini-Lent, but we do modify our worship to reflect the idea of preparation.  In Advent, we are preparing for the momentous reminder of the Son of God coming to earth to be born as Jesus.

And that is the true aim of Advent, to reset our spirits and realign our focus to the incredible work the Lord has done for us.  As a Spiritual Director, I know there are many ways people grow closer and feel the Holy Spirit operating in their lives.  There is no “one size fits all.”  What is true for all persons- losing focus on what is important.  “Keep the main thing, the main thing,” as Stephen Covey used to say. This world can be very distracting, and whether intentionally (the work of evil who leads us from God) or unintentionally (akin to the weeds growing over the good seed in the Sower parable in Matthew 13).  

Therefore, a time to reorient ourselves is critical.  That is Advent!  Make time this month to find the Lord anew, to rediscover the deep wellsprings of living water.  The main thing is following Jesus and this is the season to do so anew.  That is the real purpose of Advent!

 

Bringing a brighter future update: 

The Vestry is still getting ideas and bids for lighting in the Nave area.  

The Narthex now has lights!  Perfect timing as darkness comes earlier in the day.  The fix also included putting new sockets on the outside, which appeared to be very old.  The total cost was still below the original estimate and the repairs did not require any changes to the building or the fixtures.

 

Outreach Update: 

And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' (Matthew 25:40) 

St. Luke’s continues to give to outreach at a fantastic rate exceeding what many other places are doing.  Thus, we help grow God’s kingdom locally, nationally, and internationally.  Total outreach giving includes special events, such as events for the orphanages in Mexico and Malawi, as well as church budget designated funds.  All told, St. Luke’s gave over $10,000 in outreach year to date, plus clothing articles and 307 boxes of food.  A tithe of your giving going to ministry outside the walls of our church.

In keeping with our continued efforts to be a Good Samaritan in God’s Kingdom, just as we did last year, we are offering St. Luke’s folks a chance to help out via Samaritan’s Purse.  Donations to Samaritan's Purse will be collected till early January 2023.  Samaritan's Purse is a national and international Christian ministry and mission.  Select a "gift tag" from the tree of a project, place your donation in the Red Shoebox, and keep the Gift Tag.  You may give the Gift Tag to a friend or family member, if you are giving the gift in their honor. Donation amounts on the tags are suggested. Checks may be made out to St. Luke's Church, and cash donations are accepted also.  Further instructions are listed beside the tree.  Questions may be directed to Barbara Corry.  St. Luke’s gave almost $1,300 to various Samaritan’s Purse ministries last Christmas season.

In short- incredibly generous is St. Luke’s and putting larger churches to shame.  As Jesus told his followers, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

 

Merry Wells Parade: 

A shout-out to all the volunteers who donated, worked, and participated in a delightful parade float this year based on the movie, “A Christmas Story!”  It was a fun time for all and a way to get our church’s name out in public!  Thanks!

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

And looking forward, here are some ongoing and upcoming Church events:

Weekly-

·         Sunday: 

o    9am- Study of Bonhoeffer’s “Life Together.”  All are welcome!

o    10am- Communion Service & Sunday School

·         Wednesday: 6pm- Evening Prayer.

This Month-

·         December 5-11: Fr. Logan will be on vacation out of town.

·         December 11: 

o    No Bonhoeffer study this day

o    Fr. Hightower will be filling in this Sunday

o    Turn in your 2023 Pledges to the Treasurer, please

·         December 14: Vestry Meeting after Evening Prayer.

·         December 18: Decorating the Church after Mass.  Please stay and help.

·         December 24: Christmas Eve Worship at 7pm.  Pass the word!

·         December 25: Christmas Day Mass at 10am.

·         December 26-7: Church office closed.

·         .January 11: Vestry Meeting

·         January 12:  Book Club meeting starts 6:30pm.

·         January 15: Bishop’s visitation to St. Luke’s.  This change from our usual February slot is at the Bishop’s request to help a conflict in his calendar.

·         January 22:  Annual Parish Meeting.

·         January 23-26: Diocesan Clergy Retreat.

 

MISC

Some items are just miscellaneous.  Here are a few:

Outreach items:

·         Ongoing donations of pasta to the Mineral Wells Center of Life, a Christian-based group to help the needy and struggling in our area.  Collected in the Fellowship Hall.   

·         Also, social media and our website (see below for links) are ways to reach beyond our walls.  You can share the video worship services on your page and you can talk up what is going on here.  Even a few pictures for events add to the impact.  Social media and our website can be thought of as another (virtual) door to St. Luke’s. 

 

Finally, announcements for upcoming events and activities are in our weekly bulletin, in emails, and online.  Keep the faith!

Blessings from your “crazy” vicar, Jeff+

https://www.facebook.com/StLukesMineralWells St. Luke’s Facebook- live streaming here

http://www.stlukemw.com/  Our website

http://www.fwepiscopal.org/index1.php     Diocese of Fort Worth Website

https://anglicanchurch.net/  ACNA Official Website    

 

“Crazy” Vicar’s Views and Other “Crazy” Things

November 2022

 

Dear St. Luke's Family and Friends,

Reflection for the month: 

“Humility is the perpetual quietness of the heart.” (Canon Thomas T. Carter, 1808-1901)  In the rush of life, especially this time of the year (November and December are notoriously full of events), God calls us.  But what is He calling us to?  Truthfully, this call is into a deeper relationship with Him.  

Life as a Christian is a calling to a renewed, grace-filled life in this fallen world, a broken place filled with woe, distractions, laments, missteps, and misguided folks.  We are called to be a part of this world and yet be distinct from it.  We are called to have a foot in two worlds- earthly and heavenly, just like Jesus.  To follow Jesus means to have all our steps on this planet aimed towards the Kingdom.  To follow Jesus means to walk towards God’s realms while bringing His joy, love, mercy, and forgiveness to this struggling world.  

To bring His kingdom to life in this world surrounded by discontented folks, we need to be centered and focused spiritually.  As Canon Carter aptly put it, we need to start with a quietness of the heart, and in that quietness, we invite God to reside.  How is your heart?  Is it quiet?  What are you doing to help bring a calm, open spirit with a heart for the Lord into your life?

Certainly, attending worship services with other Christians regularly (weekly) is a way to re-center the spirit, mind, and heart.  Just stopping the sometimes mad rush of the day with a pause to reflect on God, or stop and open your heart to the Holy Spirit are ways to do so.  Maybe reciting a short prayer, such as the Jesus Prayer (there are many variations on the same theme, that is “Lord Jesus Christ…Son of God…Have mercy on me…a sinner”).  The aim is to stop the evil of this world penetrating into us while filling our heart with the breath of Heaven.  This is what God did when He created Adam (Genesis 2:7), and it is still a necessity today- to fill our spiritual lungs with Heaven’s air, not the polluted stuff here.  Carter’s short poem ends with, It is to have a blessed home in myself, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and be at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is troubled.

Come Holy Spirit, take possession of our souls and make us your own! (Adapted from “Veni Creator Spiritus”)

 

Bringing a brighter future: 

As mentioned last month, the Vestry and I continue to look at ways to brighten our lovely worship space.  The age of the building limits us, at least if we stay within a reasonable budget.  There are some ideas of how to brighten our future lighting to help us all see better, hopefully without changing the basic, beautiful aesthetic.  

This work also includes seeing about getting power and lights into the Narthex, the entryway of the church.  It has been out for a long time, and the upcoming change of seasons with the changing of the clocks (semi-annual confusion and disruption of Daylight Savings continues), mean we need a more permanent solution than battery-powered lanterns.  Hopefully, bringing electricity to the switches will resolve things, but there may be more issues, however one step at a time.

 

New Church Year, Some New Customs: 

Advent 1 is always the start of the new Church Year.  This year we begin Year A in the Sunday lectionary, which is based on the gospel of Matthew.

Some changes in the liturgy include a trial usage of the ACNA Book of Common Prayer (2019), similar to the trial of Evening Prayer last July.  Most likely, the diocese will be moving to the ACNA BCP in the future, however our bishop, Ryan Reed, makes that call.  For us here and in this season, this is a temporary change of BCP.

Other changes include communion.  As of Advent 1 (Nov 27), people will come forward to the Altar rail to receive.  I recognize not all persons are as agile as they once were, so I will bring Communion to those who are unable to get up to the rail.  Communicants will have 3 options for the wine: to drink directly from the chalice, intinct, or not receive from the chalice (God’s grace from communion is fully active regardless of which elements one receives or how many elements one receives).  The diocesan rules for intinction are simple- if the recipient wants both elements together, the communicant will hold the host out for the chalice bearer to dip and then give back the person.

Also, we will begin to introduce some service music, meaning certain parts of the worship will be sung instead of spoken.  We are blessed to have Pam here, and for some more folks to join together as Singers during our worship, which allows the freedom to bring different pieces of music in.  We are also looking at a new ACNA hymnal to replace the current Episcopal one, but the ACNA hymnal is in the initial review stages.

Fear not, the seasonal color change (green to purple) will continue per the Church’s custom.

 

Crazy Water Festival: 

I just want to give a shout-out to all the brilliant volunteers who helped make the St. Luke’s Crazy Water Festival booth a great success.  The volunteers did a wonderful job of greeting people, passing out free items, receiving donations, and telling other about who are and where we are, plus taking prayer requests!  It was a blessing that so many got to see us and a blessing to have such abundant volunteers!

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

And looking forward, here are some ongoing and upcoming Church events:

Weekly-

·         Sunday: 

o    9am- Study of Bonhoeffer’s “Life Together.”  All are welcome!

o    10am- Communion Service & Sunday School

·         Wednesday: 6pm- Evening Prayer.

This Month-

·         November 3- 6:30pm, Book Club meal with discussion.

·         November 4-5: Diocesan Convention in Southlake.  Please pray for it.

·         November 6:

o    Blessing of the handmade gifts to the Seaman’s Church

o    Celebration of All Saints and All Souls

o    Clock change, “Fall Back.”

·         November 9: Vestry Meeting after Evening Prayer.

·         November 11:  Veteran’s Day.  Church Office closed.

·         November 13: Stewardship Sunday.

·         November 16:  7pm- Lay Eucharistic Minister (aka Chalice Bearer) hands-on training.  Required for those who are licensed.  Talk to Fr. Jeff if you cannot make it.

·         November 20:  5pm- Ministerial Alliance Community Thanksgiving Service and meal at the Mineral Wells High School.

·         November 24: 1pm- Thanksgiving Potluck meal at St. Luke’s.  All are welcome.  A signup list is at the kitchen door!  It was a great time last year and it should be fun this year as well.

·         November 25: Church office closed.

·         November 26: Merry Wells Parade and St. Luke’s have a float, just like last year!  Our theme is “A Christmas Story” movie.

·         November 27: Advent 1.

·         December 3: 10am- Steve Watson diaconal ordination at All Saints, Weatherford.

 

MISC

Some items are just miscellaneous.  Here are a few:

 

We have changed internet providers at the church.  Hopefully, this will reduce or eliminate the dropout issues we have had with live streaming.

 

Outreach items:

·         Ongoing donations of pasta to the Mineral Wells Center of Life, a Christian-based group to help the needy and struggling in our area.  Collected in the Fellowship Hall.   

·         Also, social media and our website (see below for links) are ways to reach beyond our walls.  You can share the video worship services on your page and you can talk up what is going on here.  Even a few pictures for events add to the impact.  Social media and our website can be thought of as another (virtual) door to St. Luke’s. 

 

Finally, announcements for upcoming events and activities are in our weekly bulletin, in emails, and online.  Keep the faith!

Blessings from your “crazy” vicar, Jeff+

https://www.facebook.com/StLukesMineralWells St. Luke’s Facebook- live streaming here

http://www.stlukemw.com/  Our website

http://www.fwepiscopal.org/index1.php     Diocese of Fort Worth Website

https://anglicanchurch.net/  ACNA Official Website    

 

 

 

“Crazy” Vicar’s Thoughts and Other “Crazy” Things

August 2022

 

Dear St. Luke's Family and Friends,

Reflection for the month: 

Here is a poem I found in the Anglican Digest, Spring edition (https://anglicandigest.org/issues/spring-2022/):

THE ORDINARY  

By Elizabeth Felts Olmsted

When one enters the church 

the outside world is no more.

It is as if a veil were dropped over 

the ordinary cacophony of life. 

One slowly proceeds to the pew of choice and curtsies, 

then kneels to see through the rood screen to the altar

beyond the ordinary where the silent priest will enter to begin the ritual, 

constant hundreds of years, performed as always, 

no deviation from the ordinary ritual of ages past, 

connecting one generation to the next 

in an unbroken line of worship to the God of the ordinary, 

The extraordinary Being who makes

the usual unusual, who lifts the veil 

so ordinary mortals can glimpse

the extraordinary life to come.

 

This poem is a reminder of how God works: transforming the mundane, the usual, the things of this earth to become symbols and doors to a greater kingdom and realm.  We come in the church, each of us, as fallible humans in desperate need of repair, and the true healing found in only one source- the Divine.  We come to worship, bringing our cares, concerns, worries, and ailments.  We gather with others who are just as broken as we are.  And in our gathering, if we open ourselves to the ever-present Spirit, we find something greater than a building or a priest or a sermon or the others with us, something beyond time and space, something that brings us up and doesn’t tear us down. In the usual, we discover the unusual. 

Moses saw a burning bush (Exodus 3:5), the beginning of a huge change in his life.  God spoke and told Moses he was on holy ground and to remove his shoes when he approached the bush.  That is a good model and image for us.  When we enter the church, think of Moses coming on to holy ground; we might reverence the altar (Moses and his sandals or “curtsy” as the poem states) and kneel to pray (Moses hid his face at the voice of the Lord, Ex. 3:6).  It is not the church itself that is holy, rather the One who is present that fills it with holiness.  We enter and come into the presence of Him who is beyond this universe, who is literally extra-ordinary, and who carries us and calls us.  For those who are unable to join us physically, you can join us online every week because our service is streamed on Facebook.  God’s presence isn’t limited to church buildings, so you can come into His presence while worshipping together!

That is another part of the poem- we are changed by coming in contact with God through the ancient rites of worship and communion.  We are called, just as Moses was.  Moses was called and left the holy ground and presence of Yahweh to go save the slaves in Egypt.  Likewise, we sally forth from our worship to bring God to those enslaved by sin, evil, and this world; those who can’t see God because they are blinded by culture, wrong-thinking, and emotional and spiritual wounds.

Do you spend reverent time with your Lord when you come to St. Luke’s?  And are you living out your calling in the real world outside of the church walls?

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

And looking forward, here are some ongoing and upcoming Church events:

Weekly-

·         Sundays: 10am- Holy Communion worship.

·         Wednesday: 6pm- Evening Prayer worship.

This Month-

·         August 4- Book Club, 6:30pm with a meal, then watching Robbye Bond’s choice, the movie “Chocolat.”

·         August 5- 4-6pm: Karen Duffy of St. Louis, Missouri will be sharing her adventures as a missionary to the Ecuadoran Rainforest Tribes for the past 8 years.  She personally knew the Waorani's involved in the missionary massacre involving Elizabeth Elliot's husband.  (Elizabeth’s book, “Through the Gates of Splendor” details the massacre and missionary work done with that tribe.  More about Elizabeth can be found at https://elisabethelliot.org/about/.)

·         August 5- 6-10pm: Professor Duffy will switch hats and become an instructor of mid-19th century dance in the Fellowship Hall.  The Fort Belknap Dancers from Graham will be attending the dance class and anyone from the church is welcome and encouraged to come, even if you just want to observe.

·         August 7- 8pm: “Back to School” Prayer at and over MWISD Schools.  Locations are at each school’s front door and will be guided by a local minister.  Fr. Jeff will be at Travis Elementary, but all are welcome to go to any of the schools and pray.  If you can’t make it physically, you are invited to pray along spiritually with the prayer teams.  Recent experiences here in Texas reveal that our children need all the prayer protection they can get.

·         August 10- 6:45pm, Vestry Meeting.   .

·         August 18-20- Fr. Jeff will be taking a few days of vacation to help more Gabrielle to UNT.

·         August 20- 10am: Diocese of Fort Worth Mothers’ Union Inauguration service.  Location is to be determined.

·         September 11- Beginning a study of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s “Life Together.” More details to follow.

MISC

Some items are just miscellaneous.  Here are a few:

·         Pray for conflicts around the world, that the Lord of Peace will reign in the hearts of leaders, and that the hearts of the aggressors may be changed from hearts of stone to hearts filled with the Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27).  

·         Please keep those who are sick or homebound in your prayers. 

 

Outreach items:

·         Ongoing local donations of pasta to help the needy and struggling in our area.  Collected in the Fellowship Hall.   We have already donated 190 boxes this year.  Well done!

·         Also, social media and our website (see below for links) are ways to reach beyond our walls.  You can share the video worship services on your page and you can talk up what is going on here.  Even a few pictures for events add to the impact.  Social media and our website can be thought of as another (virtual) door to St. Luke’s.

·         If you desire to donate to help the Ukrainian people, you can do so through ACNA’s Anglican Relief and Development Fund.  The website is Support Relief Effort for the People of Ukraine. 

 

Finally, announcements for upcoming events and activities are in our weekly bulletin, in emails, and online.  Keep the faith!

Blessings from your “crazy” vicar, Jeff+

 

https://www.facebook.com/StLukesMineralWells St. Luke’s Facebook- live streaming here

http://www.stlukemw.com/  Our website

http://www.fwepiscopal.org/index1.php     Diocese of Fort Worth Website

https://anglicanchurch.net/  ACNA Official Website    

 

“Crazy” Vicar’s Thoughts and Other “Crazy” Things

July 2022

 

Dear St. Luke's Family and Friends,

Reflection for the month: 

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord; for they rest from their labors.  

It is with sadness I note the passing of Robert “Bob” H. Manskey; he and his family were longtime members and worshippers at St. Luke’s (almost 40 years) and residents of Mineral Wells.  Bob died on July 2, 2022 after a long battle with cancer.  His memorial service is planned for July16 at 11am here at St. Luke’s with a reception to follow.  All are invited to the service, and I encourage you to lift up Gayle and children as they mourn his passing.

Into thy hands, O merciful Savior, we commend thy servant Robert.  Acknowledge, we humbly beseech thee, a sheep of thine own fold, a lamb of thine own flock, a sinner of thine own redeeming.  Receive him into the arms of thy mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

_____ 

St. Luke’s has had a spate of COVID-19 infections recently.  Fortunately, none were life-threatening and proved to be more akin to a cold or severe flu in symptoms.  Due to this, the measures used at St. Luke’s to prevent the spread of infection will remain in place.  To the best of my knowledge, the infections don’t seem to be caused by one person.  Please keep COVID afflicted persons in your prayers.

™=====

 On another, less somber note, as old hands know, Anglicans use a worship book that contains many things- from worship services, church calendar, lectionary (the Bible readings for appointed days), and a special translation of the Book of Psalms (translated for usage in worship services).  The first Book of Common Prayer (BCP) was completed just a few years after the Church of England formed (1549).  Thomas Crammer is credited with this Prayer Book, and became an influence for all subsequent BCPs.  The definitive and current Church of England Prayer Book is the 1662 (keep this in mind), although they have authorized alternative worship books also.  

With the Revolutionary War over, the American Anglicans formed a new church body and chose to create their own BCP, finalized in 1789.  This set a precedent: as individual nations broke from Great Britain, these newly independent Anglicans formed their own national Anglican Church independent of the Church of England but still in communion, and these new Anglicans created their own Prayer Books written with the local context in mind.  The reference for most of these local editions was the English BCP 1662, in fact for many of these national churches, the 1662 is still the official BCP of many Anglicans around the world.

This historical perspective is important for two reasons: new Anglican churches create their own BCP, and the contemporary (modern/typical) versus traditional (thy/thou) language debate.  

First, when the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) formed, there was a desire to create a Prayer Book for all which reflected the worship of this new church body.  This new BCP was issued in 2019 in contemporary language only (ACNA BCP 2019), and a traditional language edition was released this year (2022; ACNA BCP- Traditional Language). This creation of a distinct Prayer Book is a natural and normal event in the life of Anglican churches.  

Second, Anglicans have been known to argue, sometimes vehemently, over traditional language BCP or modern/contemporary language.  For those who adhere to traditional language, please remember the original prayer books, including 1662, were written in then-modern language, and for those who stand for modern language- the aim of Anglican worship is to remind us of the transcendent, that we worship a God beyond our understanding and sometimes distinct non-everyday language reminds us of this intention. There are many other arguments bandied about- beauty of the language, comprehension, etc., however the aim of every BCP is to allow Anglicans to worship a mighty God in a local, common language.

If you want to know my thoughts, please keep in mind I have led worship around the world using Prayer Books old and new, different languages, and from many other nations.  I have accepted that some folks find one worship type, language, and BCP really important to their spirituality, however I have learned to be more flexible, and that each format of various Prayer Books and the language has strengths and weaknesses.  The aim for me is about worship: worshipping the Lord who created me, praising the Son of God who redeemed me, and hearing what the Spirit is saying to me.  A Prayer Book is a simple, effective means to provide structure and organize a group of people to do exactly that- worship and praise our great God!  The idea is to keep the first things first!

As a trial, St. Luke’s will be using the new 2019 ACNA BCP (Traditional Language) for Evening Prayer in the month of July.  This is a trial only, and then we will revert to our current Prayer Book, 1979.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

And looking forward, here are some ongoing and upcoming Church events.  Summer time classically is a little slower moving with less events.

Weekly-

·         Wednesday: 6pm- Evening Prayer worship using the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) Book of Common Prayer (2019).  This will be for the month of July only.

This Month-

·         July 13- 6:45pm, Vestry Meeting.   .

·         July 14- 6:30pm, Book Club meal with discussion of "ABC Murders" by Agatha Christie afterwards.

·         July 16- 11am, Bob Manskey Memorial service at St. Luke’s with reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall.

·         July 23-28- Fr. Jeff will be on vacation visiting his mother in Chicago.  Fr. Tom Hightower will be leading worship on July 24.

 

MISC

A variety of items:

·         Charles and Dotty Hillis will be moving away from our area this week to their new home in the east Texas area.  Be sure to wish them farewell and pray for them as they commence life in a new place. 

·         Pray for Ukraine, the war, her people, and that the hearts of the aggressors may be changed from hearts of stone to hearts filled with the Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27).  

·         Pray for the victims of the many shooting victims in the US and overseas.  Pray for the souls of those killed, and comfort for those grieving.

·         Please keep those who are sick or homebound in your prayers. Here is a prayer:

Almighty and immortal God, the giver of life and health: We beseech thee to hear our prayers for thy servant (add names as desired)., that by thy blessing upon him and upon those who minister to him of thy healing gifts, he may be restored, according to thy gracious will, to health of body and mind, and give thanks to thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 

Outreach items:

·         If you desire to donate to help the Ukrainian people, you can do so through ACNA’s Anglican Relief and Development Fund.  The website is Support Relief Effort for the People of Ukraine. 

·         Ongoing donations of pasta to the Mineral Wells Center of Life, a Christian-based group to help the needy and struggling in our area.  Collected in the Fellowship Hall.   We have already donated 182 boxes of pasta!

·         St. Luke’s has sent over $1,000 to two orphanages this year in honor of our parents!

·         Also, social media and our website (see below for links) are ways to reach beyond our walls.  You can share the video worship services on your page and you can talk up what is going on here.  Even a few pictures for events add to the impact.  Social media and our website can be thought of as another (virtual) door to St. Luke’s.

 

Finally, announcements for upcoming events and activities are in our weekly bulletin, in emails, and online.  Keep the faith!

Blessings from your “crazy” vicar, Jeff+

https://www.facebook.com/StLukesMineralWells St. Luke’s Facebook- live streaming of our worship here.  Later viewing of worship is available here as well.

http://www.stlukemw.com/  Our website.

http://www.fwepiscopal.org/index1.php     Diocese of Fort Worth Website

https://anglicanchurch.net/  ACNA Official Website    

 

“Crazy” Vicar’s Thoughts and Other “Crazy” Things

May 2022

 

Dear St. Luke's Family and Friends,

Reflection for the month: 

Season of Easter- Now that Lent is behind us, a thought which reminds me of the old Mac Davis song’s chorus, “Happiness was Lubbock Texas in my rear view mirror,” and, if you know that song, it ends with a return to Lubbock (“And when I die you can bury me in Lubbock Texas in my jeans”), so like the cyclical Church Year, we will see Lent again next year around the same time (Ash Wednesday is Feb. 22, 2023).   And yes, Mac Davis did indeed grow up in Lubbock!

Now that Lent is over, we are completely into the full-on celebration, an Easter celebration of the Resurrection.  We celebrate because in spite of how much we wander from God, how much we sin, how much we offer tepid worship and prayer, Jesus still came to earth, died on the Cross, rose from the dead, and then ascended to Heaven.  If Lent is used as a season to reflect on our sinfulness, Easter is a season to reflect on what God has done for each one of us who follow Him.  We are celebrating in our worship with music (much more joyful), vestments (very shiny and glittery this season), modified liturgy (using the Easter sentences, less emphasis on sin, and featuring the joyful return of the “alleluias”), and even in the sermons (focus on virtues).  

You may know the story, but are you celebrating the story?  What are you doing in your personal time to remember the “good news” of Easter?  As Paul reminded the Colossians, If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (Col. 3:1)  This joy echoes throughout the generations of God’s faithful, from the Exodus to the current generation, we can repeat with Moses, The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. (Exod. 15:2)  Take time each day, stop and simply praise and thank God!  That is the Easter spirit lived out in us.  He is Risen!

UPCOMING EVENTS

And looking forward, here are some ongoing and upcoming Church events:

Weekly-

·         Sunday School is ongoing, beginning at 9:55am.  Thanks to some great volunteers.

·         Nurseryis available during our worship most Sundays.  

·         Wednesday:

o    5pm- Women’s Study, “Gentle & Lowly” by Dane Ortland. See Anne Logan for details

o    6pm- Evening Prayer worship.

·         Thursday: 12pm- Women's Study, "Gentle & Lowly" by Dane Ortland. See Anne Logan for details.

This Month-

·         May 5- 12pm, National Day of Prayer Gathering, 100 SE 6th Ave.

·         May 5- 6:30pm, Book Club.

·         May 7- Mineral Wells City Elections.

·         May 8- Mother's Day Ingathering of donations in support of La Gran Familia orphanage in Northern Mexico.  Cards and envelopes are available in the Fellowship Hall.  Make checks payable to St. Luke's, and put "La Gran Familia" in the memo section.  We send in all the donations together.

·         May 11- 6:45pm, Vestry Meeting. 

·         May 21- 11am, Jack Chesher Funeral at St. Luke’s.

·         May 26- 6pm, Ascension Day Worship

·         May 30- Memorial Day

·         June 2- Book Club (tentative date)

·         June 5- Pentecost Day

·         May 23-June 17- Bishop Faneul Magangani, Diocese of Northern Malawi, visiting our Diocese.  He will be visiting 3 churches in the Diocese on Sundays (not St. Luke’s), and leading Bible Study at 4 churches on Thursday evenings (list posted in the Fellowship Hall).  The Bible Studies are open to all.

 

MISC

Some items are just miscellaneous.  Here are a few:

·         Pray for Ukraine, the war, her people, and that the hearts of the aggressors may be changed from hearts of stone to hearts filled with the Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27).  

·         Please keep those who are sick or homebound in your prayers.  We have had several who are sick and recovering at this time.

 

Outreach items:

·         If you desire to donate to help the Ukrainian people, you can do so through ACNA’s Anglican Relief and Development Fund.  The website is Support Relief Effort for the People of Ukraine. 

·         Ongoing donations of pasta to the Mineral Wells Center of Life, a Christian-based group to help the needy and struggling in our area.  Collected in the Fellowship Hall.   We have already donated 114 boxes of pasta to Center of Life this year.  Well done!

·         Also, social media and our website (see below for links) are ways to reach beyond our walls.  You can share the video worship services on your page and you can talk up what is going on here.  Even a few pictures for events add to the impact.  Social media and our website can be thought of as another (virtual) door to St. Luke’s.

 

Finally, announcements for upcoming events and activities are in our weekly bulletin, in emails, and online.  Keep the faith!

Blessings from your “crazy” vicar, Jeff+

https://www.facebook.com/StLukesMineralWells St. Luke’s Facebook- live streaming here

http://www.stlukemw.com/  Our website

http://www.fwepiscopal.org/index1.php     Diocese of Fort Worth Website

https://anglicanchurch.net/  ACNA Official Website    

 

“Crazy” Vicar’s Thoughts and Other “Crazy” Things

April 2022

 

Dear St. Luke's Family and Friends,

            Reflections for the month:

Season of Lent: We are almost there, the end of Lent that is.  As I have noted, Lent is a season for looking at how we are doing in Christian walk.  It is easy to take God for granted because we acknowledge His omnipresent (we can encounter Him anywhere and everywhere), His good power (being all-powerful and perfectly good), and His eternity (He lives beyond time, thus He exists forever).  In short, we accept He is present with us and working for our good, if we accept and choose Him as our Lord.  As with all the things in life we take for granted, God may be overlooked in your daily life.  We can use some spiritual disciplines to “break” this commonplace acceptance to find something better.

Fasting and prayer are both in the Bible, both mandated by Jesus, and both a part of the Ash Wednesday charge: 

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word. (BCP p. 265)

Last month I talked about fasting from food and drink for a time as a way to “break” through the ordinary of our lives to help us see God better, and grow closer to him.  Our natural need to eat means fasting is a conscious decision, a decision made for a good spiritual cause.  It is a discipline to not eat, and our hunger feelings can be used to as a reminder of a spiritual purpose.  For example, I do a partial fast twice a week during Lent, and dedicate the fast to a particular purpose.  When I feel hungry, I am reminded of what that purpose is, and I lift it up to the Lord.  Also, Good Friday is one of two days set aside as a day of fasting for all.

This month I want to talk about prayer.  Prayer seems like it should be hard, since we fallen humans are addressing He who created the Universe.  Sounds imposing!  And it would be except God built a “hotline” for us.

At its core, prayer is actually straightforward- it is our communication with the spiritual realm.  The most important person to communicate with is God (Psalm 55:1) although the Bible records multiple instances of humans talking with other spiritual beings (e.g., Revelation 5).  At a basic level, one could interpret Adam and Eve’s conversations with the Lord in the Garden of Eden as a form of spiritual communication since God is non-corporeal (Genesis 3).  For us now, it is our faith in Jesus Christ that opens the door to communication with God (John 16:23), and standing in that faith, we can approach the throne in boldness and confidence (Ephesians 3:12).  This is that “hotline” God made for us!

            As we communicate, we grow closer to Him who made us, meaning we may become conduits for His grace and power in a broken world (Isaiah 9:2).  In this way, the power of prayer becomes manifest in this world.  Prayer becomes a two-way communication: we open ourselves to Heaven, and Heaven becomes real through us.

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. -Psalm. 62:1

The foundation for the boldness, confidence, and strength in prayer does not derive from our own power, it is through the wonderful work of Jesus: His example, suffering, death, and resurrection (Romans 3:22-24).  This is a godly gift to all who believe.  And when we enter into a faithful relationship with God through Jesus, a marvelous direct communication line to God is opened to us, which is available 24 hours a day, every day.  God is waiting and wanting to hear from us (Isaiah 30:18).  

Use the remaining time of Lent to work on your communication with God and help you renew and deepen your relationship with the Lord. May each of us hear the Lord more clearly, follow Him more closely, and love Him more dearly this Lenten season.

UPCOMING EVENTS

And looking forward, here are some ongoing and upcoming Church events:

·         Sunday School is ongoing, beginning at 9:55am.  Thanks to some great volunteers.

·         Nurseryis available during our worship most Sundays.  

·         Wednesday Evening Prayer at 6pm.

·         April 7- 6:30pm, Book Club.

·         April 8- 

o    5pm: Confessions; 

o    6pm, Stations of the Cross with Soup & Bread afterwards (last one for the year!).

·         April 11- 12pm: Ministerial Alliance Community Holy Week Service at First Christian Church.  Food and drink after the service.  All are welcome.

·         April 12- 6pm, gather- Seder Meal

·         April 13- 6pm: Evening Prayer

·         April 14-

o    6pm: Maundy Thursday Service

o    7pm-Midnight: Vigil at the Altar of Repose

·         April 15-

o    8am-6pm: Vigil at the Altar of Repose before the Reserve Sacrament

o    6pm: Good Friday Service

·         April 16-

o    9:30am: Set up for Easter.  All volunteers needed!!

o    8pm: The Great Vigil of the Resurrection

·         April 17- 10am: Sunday of the Resurrection, aka Easter

 

MISC

Some items are just miscellaneous.  Here are a few:

·         Pray for Ukraine, the war, her people, and that the hearts of the aggressors may be changed from hearts of stone to hearts filled with the Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27).  

·         Please keep those who are sick or homebound in your prayers.  We have had several who are sick and recovering at this time.

 

Outreach items:

·         If you desire to donate to help the Ukrainian people, you can do so through ACNA’s Anglican Relief and Development Fund.  The website is Support Relief Effort for the People of Ukraine. 

·         Ongoing donations of pasta to the Mineral Wells Center of Life, a Christian-based group to help the needy and struggling in our area.  Collected in the Fellowship Hall.   We have already donated 114 boxes of pasta to Center of Life this year.  Well done!

·         Also, social media and our website (see below for links) are ways to reach beyond our walls.  You can share the video worship services on your page and you can talk up what is going on here.  Even a few pictures for events add to the impact.  Social media and our website can be thought of as another (virtual) door to St. Luke’s.

 

Finally, announcements for upcoming events and activities are in our weekly bulletin, in emails, and online.  Keep the faith!

Blessings from your “crazy” vicar, Jeff+

 

https://www.facebook.com/StLukesMineralWells St. Luke’s Facebook- live streaming here

http://www.stlukemw.com/  Our website

http://www.fwepiscopal.org/index1.php     Diocese of Fort Worth Website

https://anglicanchurch.net/  ACNA Official Website    

 

“Crazy” Vicar’s Thoughts and Other “Crazy” Things

March 2022

 

Dear St. Luke's Family and Friends,

            Some thoughts for this month:

Season of Lent: It is that time of year…no not Christmas…rather a penitential time before the celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection in about 6 weeks.  Lent is designed to be an intense time of reviewing our relationship with the Lord.  Many folks think of giving up something for Lent as a discipline.  There is much goodness in that discipline, but I will focus on 2 other disciplines: prayer and fasting.  These disciplines are both in the Bible, both mandated by Jesus, and both a part of the Ash Wednesday charge: I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word. (BCP 265)  I will focus on Fasting this month, and Prayer next month.

             

Fasting:  Fasting has been a spiritual discipline for a long time.  Jesus himself fasted (Matthew 4:2) and recommended, even assumed it would be a practice for his followers (Matthew 6:16).  In other words, Jesus told us to forgo things to heighten our hunger and thirst for God, as Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6)

Fasting is forgoing food and/or drink for a set amount of time.  It isn’t a diet, although some diets include fasting as part of the regimen.  A set period of time can be 1 meal to not eating for a full 24-hour period.  I don’t recommend more than 24 hours (I have done longer- a 100-hour fast 1 time).  Fasting can include not drinking fluids as well, although this is certainly more dangerous than fasting from food (humans typically can survive about 2-7 days without water, but we can survive without food significantly longer).  Unless God says to, I encourage a food-only fast, and for no more than 1 day at a time.  However, even fasting for 1 meal regularly with intentionality can be beneficial spiritually.

Some have told me they can’t fast.  Medical studies show fasting to be actually healthy for humans, especially intermittent fasting. See Intermittent Fasting: What is it, and how does it work?  Yes, there are certainly folks who shouldn’t fast (young children, pregnant mothers, diabetics, those who have eating disorders), but for most of us, fasting is not harmful.  It is unpleasant, even annoying, so many of us choose not to fast, and thus removing a potential tool to help us grow closer to God.  Ask yourself- is there a verified medical reason not to fast? If there is no medical reason, then fasting, especially intermittent fasting, is a tool to prayerfully consider using this Lent to nurture a deeper relationship with the Creator.

Some might say, I don’t think as well when I fast.  Studies show our mental acuity gets better when we abstain from food, at least for a couple of days (hard to believe, but studies prove it- The Effect of Intermittent Fasting on Your Brain).   Yes, thoughts of eating are more frequent, but we do work better when not full of food.  There is a very valid reason why the siesta is after lunch, because the human metabolism slows down (including thinking), so as to focus on digestion.  Certainly, I get sleepy after lunch, a sign that my body wants to recover from the meal (and why I love the concept of siestas!).

Some don’t know how to use fasting.  When I am fasting, I have an intention.  I fast for a reason, and when I feel the hunger pangs, I remind myself of the reason why I am fasting and focus on that reason.  For example, if I am praying for someone when fasting, when I feel hunger pangs, I refocus my thoughts on a prayer for that person.

Some may not know when to fast.  The Church has set aside 2 days for fasting: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.  Beyond those 2 days, I suggest having a set schedule for fasting, for example fast from sunset on Thursday to sunset on Friday, or maybe fasting from breakfast and lunch on Mondays with a normal-sized dinner after sunset (don’t make up for the lost meals).

 

As noted at the beginning, I will look at the discipline of Prayer next month.  May each of us hear the Lord more clearly, follow Him more closely, and love Him more dearly this Lenten season.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

And looking forward, here are some ongoing and upcoming Church events:

·         Sunday School is ongoing, beginning at 9:55am.  Thanks to some great volunteers.

·         Nursery is available during our worship most Sundays.  

·         Wednesday Evening Prayer at 6pm.

·         Friday- 5pm- Confessions; 6pm, Stations of the Cross with Soup & Bread afterwards.

·         March 5- 12pm, Clyde Copeland memorial.

·         March 9- Vestry Meeting.

·         March 13- Daylight Savings time shift, as we Spring Forward 1 hour.

·         April 12- Seder Meal

·         April 14- Maundy Thursday with Vigil

·         April 15- Good Friday

·         April 16- The Great Vigil

·         April 17- Sunday of the Resurrection, aka Easter

 

MISC

Some items are just miscellaneous.  Here are a few:

·         Pray for Ukraine, the war, her people, and that the hearts of the aggressors may be changed from hearts of stone to hearts filled with the Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27).  There are certainly many prayers available, but if all else fails, you can use this prayer:

"O God, our heavenly Father, whose blessed Son has taught us to seek our daily bread from you: Behold the affliction of your people in Ukraine and send them swift aid in their time of need. Increase the fruits of the earth by your heavenly benediction; and grant that receiving your gifts with thankful hearts, they may use them to your glory, for the relief of those in need, and for their own health; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
- Adapted from Collect, In Time of Scarcity and Famine, BCP2019, p.653

·         Most Wednesdays after Evening Prayer, there is an opportunity for personal and private prayer.  If you desire prayers, just come forward to the communion rail after Evening Prayer concludes.

·         Please keep those who are sick or homebound in your prayers as we finish out Winter and move into Spring.  We have had several who are sick and recovering at this time.

 

Outreach items:

·         If you desire to donate to help the Ukrainian people, you can do so through ACNA’s Anglican Relief and Development Fund.  The website is Support Relief Effort for the People of Ukraine. 

·         Ongoing donations of pasta to the Mineral Wells Center of Life, a Christian-based group to help the needy and struggling in our area.  Collected in the Fellowship Hall. 

·         Also, social media and our website (see below for links) are ways to reach beyond our walls.  You can share the video worship services on your page and you can talk up what is going on here.  Even a few pictures for events add to the impact.  Social media and our website can be thought of as another (virtual) door to St. Luke’s.

 

Finally, announcements for upcoming events and activities are in our weekly bulletin, in emails, and online.  Keep the faith!

 

Blessings from your “crazy” vicar, Jeff+

 

https://www.facebook.com/StLukesMineralWells St. Luke’s Facebook- live streaming here

http://www.stlukemw.com/  Our website

http://www.fwepiscopal.org/index1.php     Diocese of Fort Worth Website

https://anglicanchurch.net/  ACNA Official Website    

 

 

“Crazy” Vicar’s Thoughts and Other “Crazy” Things

February 2022

 Dear St. Luke's Family and Friends,

            Some thoughts for this coming month:

Annual Meeting: As you may be aware, our Annual Meeting was a great success, both in terms of fellowship, and in church business.  We heard reports on our progress, elected Karen Bond and Robbye Bond to the Bishop’s Committee/vestry, with Jeff Cowan as delegate to the Diocesan Convention.  Among the reports, we heard about the proposed budget for this year, which is good news in deed!  One of the signs of growth here is the 2022 Income which is almost double from 2019, just three years ago!  St. Luke’s estimated income is thanks to all you giving out of your abundance.  Each and every one of you make this happen!  Just to be clear, St. Luke’s is a mission, which means we operate differently from a parish.  For example, the Diocesan Bishop is head of this congregation, so we work with his permission.  A blessing we have is the current bishop lets us run as if we were a parish, a sign of the trust he puts in St. Luke’s.  Looking at our history, St. Luke’s started in 1900 as a mission, became a parish around 1956, and reverted to mission status around 2005.  As I have mentioned more than once, I hope and pray St. Luke’s will become a parish again in the near future.

             Epiphany Season: This season is best understood as a time to reflect on and complete the growth of joy deriving from Christmas and Epiphany.  Both these days celebrate God’s incredible efforts to bring us humans back into His embrace, an embrace we have strayed from.  Consolidating our spiritual growth at this time allows us to be prepared for the spiritual push commonly found in Lent.  Yep, Lent is just around the corner, and we will have multiple chances to deepen our relationship with God with Imposition of Ashes, Evening Prayer, Stations of the Cross, and Reconciliation (aka “Confession”) available, as well as other events.  The ultimate aim of Lent is two-fold: to prepare ourselves properly for the celebration of the Resurrection (aka “Easter”) and to prepare ourselves to be with God for eternity.  But more on Lent when we get there!

            Ladies Prayer Request: In the Upcoming Events, gentlemen will see information about the upcoming Diocesan Men’s Conference this coming Saturday (you can still register on the link below).  In addition, there is a request for the ladies of the diocese to pray over the conference on Friday night and Saturday morning (at home is an option).  Contact Kathy Pruitt if you are called to do so (kathypruitt@cleanblastservices.com).  Fr. Jeff will be attending the conference, and at least one other man. 

Episcopal Visit: As you know, we are blessed with a godly bishop to provide spiritual oversight for St. Luke’s and this diocese.  As noted in the Upcoming Events, Bishop Reed will be visiting St. Luke’s on February 20 at our 10am Eucharist.  Please come and invite a friend for this special occasion.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

And looking forward, here are some ongoing and upcoming Church events:

·         Sunday School is ongoing, beginning at 9:55am.  Thanks to some great volunteers.

·         Nurseryis available during our worship most Sundays.  

·         Wednesday Evening Prayer at 6pm.

·         February 12- 2022 Diocesan Men’s Conference in Arlington.  Registration and more information is at www.fwmensconference.com.  You can register online till Feb. 10

·         Women’s Devotional Study on Psalm 23 finishes this Sunday (Feb. 13).  A new study will commence in the future, details will be coming soon.

·         February 16- Eucharistic Minister training after Evening Prayer. This is required training for all who desire to assist with the distribution of communion on Sunday.

·         February 17- Book Club begins at with a potluck at 6:30pm and then discussing “So Big” by Edna Ferber.

·         February 20- Bishop Reed is making his annual pilgrimage to St. Luke’s.  Come out to see him, worship with him, and enjoy a lunch in his honor afterwards.

·         February 26- Bishop’s Leadership Workshop at St. Andrew’s Church in Fort Worth from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm, see the diocesan web site for more information.

·         March 2- Ash Wednesday.

·         March 4- Stations of the Cross begin and will occur every Friday in Lent.

·         March 13- Daylight Savings time shift, as we Spring Forward 1 hour.

 

MISC

Some items are just miscellaneous.  Here are a few:

·         Please find your palms from last year’s Palm Sunday and return them by Feb. 27 so as to use the burned palms as ashes for the Imposition of Ashes.

·         Most Wednesdays after Evening Prayer, there is an opportunity for personal and private prayer.  If you desire prayers, just come forward to the communion rail after Evening Prayer concludes.

·         Please keep those who are sick or homebound in your prayers as we continue the winter season.  We have had several who are sick and recovering at this time.

 

Outreach items:

·         Ongoing donations of pasta to the Mineral Wells Center of Life, a Christian-based group to help the needy and struggling in our area.  Collected in the Fellowship Hall. 

·         Also, social media and our website (see below for links) are ways to reach beyond our walls.  You can share the video worship services on your page and you can talk up what is going on here.  Even a few pictures for events add to the impact.  Social media and our website can be thought of as another (virtual) door to St. Luke’s.

 

Finally, announcements for upcoming events and activities are in our weekly bulletin, in emails, and online.  Keep the faith!

 

Blessings from your “crazy” vicar, Jeff+

https://www.facebook.com/StLukesMineralWells St. Luke’s Facebook- live streaming here

http://www.stlukemw.com/  Our website

http://www.fwepiscopal.org/index1.php     Diocese of Fort Worth Website

https://anglicanchurch.net/  ACNA Official Website    

 

 

January 26, 2022

Dear St. Luke’s Family & Friends,

 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12)

 Sunday we had our Annual Meeting, with fine food and fine folks all coming together for an encouraging time of fellowship and business. Our annual meetings are about transparency of financial stewardship to the local church and diocesan body of Christ, but it’s not totally about business and finances. It is also a time to celebrate and encourage one another with the growth and progress of our congregation and outreach.

To that end, I would like to say a personal and heart-felt THANK YOU to one and all. St. Luke’s has been struggling to keep the light of Christ alight in our community for many years. Three of the largest challenges to this goal have been the court-case against our diocese, the stability of a committed long-term priest, and COVID.

These challenges have been met with prayer and determination by the family and friends of St. Luke’s to their best ability. Through dedicated efforts and prayers of everyone involved, St. Luke’s not only stayed afloat, but remained alive in faith and hope. Thanks goes out to everyone!

The first challenge could only be resolved by God. We rejoiced, yet again, with the removal of the court-case against our diocese. We can now turn our attention to tending to our physical church needs and repairs, but more importantly we are renewed in our spirit with God lifting this challenge off our hearts and minds, replacing the heaviness with His joy and triumph.

The second challenge involves my commitment to you as priest and shepherd of this parish. As one archbishop (Catholic Archbishop Julian Porteous) succinctly said, “The priesthood cannot be considered simply as a role performed or a job that is to be carried out. It is a calling or a vocation that goes to the very heart of who the person is. It is not something one simply chooses to do as a career, rather it involves an invitation that one receives from the Lord. The Church has always understood that at the moment of ordination to the priesthood the candidate undergoes an ontological change, a change that leaves an indelible mark on his soul which cannot be removed. It marks him as a priest forever.”

Serving God by serving you is my calling. To shepherd you in your faith journey into the heart of God is what I do. To be a part of St. Luke’s also means to be a part of the wider community in which you live. It is for that very reason my wife and I chose to live in Mineral Wells as I serve as priest to the St. Luke’s people. If St. Luke’s is to be a thriving part of the local community, then we all personally need to be a part of that community as well. My commitment as your priest and shepherd is to each and every one of you, in the corporate setting of the church and the various services conducted weekly, and also individually through prayer, counseling, confessions, visitations, and more.

 

“Crazy” Vicar’s Thoughts and Other “Crazy” Things

January 2022

 

Dear St. Luke's Family and Friends,

            It is a new year, at least for those of us using a western calendar.  What does a new year mean to you?  There are many things people typically do at the beginning of a different year because, well, it is a New Year and a time for fresh starts.

            For all persons, the continuing COVID-19 disease poses a threat.  Not exactly how I was hoping the New Year would begin!  The Bishop recently issued a renewal of the Diocesan COVID protocols for churches, and St. Luke’s is in full compliance.  If you feel sick, stay home and watch our worship on Facebook, it is streamed live every Sunday.  I plan to continue the live streaming and health-based safety measures during our worship (such as masks and hand sanitizer for the worship leaders, and items available at the back of the church).  Just keep praying everyone remains healthy!

            For St. Luke’s, a new year means an Annual Meeting.  Ours will be on January 23, after our worship that morning.  Not the most exciting thing, you think?  Well, I grant, a visit to family and friends might be better, but for us here, the meeting is a time to look at where we have been, how we are doing, and where we hope to go.  This includes electing new leadership to the Bishop’s Committee (aka, the “vestry”), electing a representative and alternate for the Diocesan Convention, deciding on a budget (spoiler alert- there is good news here), a solid look at the growth from the past year, and other essential matters.  That is the business end of this meeting, yet there is more!  

This meeting can celebrate what St. Luke’s has accomplished.  Not sure what that is, well, come on January 23 and find out!  Additionally, fellowship is the life-blood of any congregation (God is the foundation, obviously, with the Scriptures providing the walls and roof, and the Sacraments keeping us filled with grace).  Most of you, if not all of you, have been to congregations that are “dead,” in part because they just show up “worship” and leave with little interaction.  All of us believers need interaction with others.  God made us as social creatures; that is one of the main points of Genesis (“it is not good for him to be alone.”).  So, the Annual Meeting is a chance to spend time with old friends, get to know newer folks better, and mostly enjoy the company of fellow believers.  

I look forward to seeing you there!

 

UPCOMING

And looking forward, here are some ongoing and upcoming Church events:

·         Sunday School is ongoing, beginning at 9:55am.  Thanks to some great volunteers.

·         Nursery is available during our worship, and the service can be viewed there as well.  

·         Wednesday Evening Prayer at 6pm continues. We all need prayer.

·         Women’s Devotional Study recommences this Sunday.

·         January 13- Book Club begins at with a potluck at 6:30pm.

·         January 19- Eucharistic Minister training.  This is required training for all who desire to assist with the distribution of communion on Sunday.

·         January 23- St. Luke’s Annual Meeting.  There will be potluck meal before the meeting. New Bishop’s Committee (Vestry) nominees will be elected, and a representative to the Convention.  Be thinking and praying about who you would like to nominate for election to the Vestry at our Annual Meeting next year.

·         February 26- Bishop’s Leadership Workshop at St. Andrew’s Church in Fort Worth from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm, see the diocesan web site for more information.

 

MISC

Some items are just miscellaneous.  Here are a few:

·         Most Wednesdays after Evening Prayer, there is an opportunity for personal and private prayer.  If you desire prayers, just come forward to the communion rail after Evening Prayer concludes.

·         Please keep those who are sick or homebound in your prayers as we enter the winter season.  We have had several who are sick or injured at this time.

·         Fr. Logan will be at the Diocesan Clergy Retreat January 25-28.  He will be available by cell phone and will have limited email contact.

 

Outreach items:

·         Ongoing donations of pasta to the Mineral Wells Center of Life, a Christian-based group to help the needy and struggling in our area.  Collected in the Fellowship Hall. 

·         Also, social media and our website (see below for links) are ways to reach beyond our walls.  You can share the video worship services on your page and you can talk up what is going on here.  Even a few pictures for events add to the impact.  Social media and our website can be thought of as another (virtual) door to St. Luke’s.

 

Finally, announcements for upcoming events and activities are in our weekly bulletin, in emails, and online.  I look forward to seeing what God can do here in the future!  Keep the faith!

 

Blessings from your “crazy” vicar, Jeff+

https://anglicanchurch.net/  ACNA Official Website    

https://www.facebook.com/StLukesMineralWells St. Luke’s Facebook- live streaming here

http://www.stlukemw.com/  Our website

http://www.fwepiscopal.org/index1.php     Diocese of Fort Worth Website

 

 

“Crazy” Vicar’s Thoughts and Other “Crazy” Things

December 2021

 

Dear St. Luke's Family and Friends,

Advent is a season of preparation, preparation for the coming celebration of the birth of Our Savior, and preparation for the return of Our Savior, the Second Coming.  The Second Coming is associated with Judgement Day, where the faithful are granted a place in Heaven with God.  

So what is Heaven?   It is a place which many have spoken of, but which very little is truly known.  It is a place I plan to see and enjoy.  In fact, I plan on spending an eternity there! 

There is very little concrete noted in the Bible about what Heaven is like.  Heaven is God’s place, His home.  Isaiah 66:1 has God saying, “Heaven is my throne.”  All creation is His, He made it all.  God can be anywhere and everywhere, but Heaven is unique.  

Another way to think about Heaven is simple, where God is, there is Heaven.  What would Heaven be without God-- nothing.  So, it is God that makes Heaven special, not any trait in Heaven itself.  This statement, where God is, there is Heaven, does give us some insight into Jesus’s statement, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”(Matthew 3:2)  If God is at hand and near, then so is Heaven.  If He is far, then so is Heaven far away.  

The $64,000 question on all lips is- how do I get to Heaven?  Well, the first thing you need to do is die.  Yes, die!  Once you have attained that state (and been in the Place of the Dead…more on that in a moment), then you are raised by God’s power into a new life in Heaven.  A bit of Bible trivia to impress friends with:  it appears there are only 2 people who have not died in the Bible.  They are Enoch {Genesis 5:4} and Elijah {2 Kings 2:11}.  

Now, I will wander a bit off the Biblical path.  What I am about to say is not overtly stated in the Bible as such, but is inferred from what is there.  There appears to be a place of the dead.  A place where the dead “sleep” until the Judgement day.  For those with a Roman Catholic background, this is not the Purgatory you learned about.  No, I think this place of the dead is where Jesus went when he died, and it is where we will go when we die.  It is not a bad place; in fact, I think the dead are unaware of the passage of time.  Just like we go to sleep at night and awake the next morning, unaware of the passage of time, people die and it may be the next thing they know, they are face to face with Jesus on the Judgement throne.  Look at John 5:24-29 and Revelation 20:11-13 to see biblical support for this place of the dead. 

Regardless of any intermediary stops from here to Heaven, the only door to Heaven is through the resurrection.  One of the core tenets of Christianity, that salvation, which means being with God in Heaven, can be attained solely by and through the work of Jesus on the cross and the empty tomb.  It is only in Jesus we find God and Heaven.  In I Corinthians 15, St. Paul tries to answer some basic questions for the folks in Corinth.  This passage will not answer all questions, but I think it goes a long ways to answering all the important ones. 

The next most common question about Heaven is, “who is there?”  To this very difficult question, I give the only safe answer, “All who are saved by Christ.”  I cannot be more specific than that.  Can we know who those are who are saved?  Well, not really!  This is where the saying of Jesus about judging comes into play.  In Matthew 7:1 (and Luke 6:37), Jesus says, “Judge not, lest you be judged.”  This passage is sometimes incorrectly interpreted to mean Christians should not say what is right or wrong; that we should not say whether someone is sinning or not.  The New Testament usage of the word judge always refers to the Judgement Day, when Jesus decides who stays in Heaven and who doesn’t.  As Christians, we are supposed to recognize good and evil.  We are to know sin, in ourselves and others, and avoid it, just like Jesus did.  But, we cannot know who will be saved, that is God’s merciful work alone.

Heaven is a marvelous place, as I said at the beginning, I look forward to when I am there, as I hope you do as well.  I ask you not to worry about what Heaven is like exactly or who is there, rather just look forward to it.  Anticipate the joy of being there, of being united with God in a perfect way for all time.  I look forward to seeing you there!

 

UPCOMING

And looking forward, here are some ongoing and upcoming Church events:

·         Sunday School is ongoing, beginning at 9:55am.  Thanks to some great volunteers.

·         Nurseryis available during our worship, and the service can be viewed there as well.  Again, thanks to another great volunteer.

·         Women’s Devotional Study will recommence in January.

·         Wednesday Evening Prayer at 6pm continues. We all need prayer, and this time is a reminder of our need to offer and receive prayers.  Plus, Fr. Jeff offers (sometimes) interesting reflections on saints, life, Anglican theology, and anything else that strikes his fancy!

·         December 19- Decorating the church for Christmas after the Sunday morning worship.

·         December 24- Christmas Eve Mass at 5pm with Christmas hymn singalong starting at 4:45pm

·         January 23, 2022- St. Luke’s Annual Meeting.  Details will be coming later.

 

MISC

Some items are just miscellaneous.  Here are a few:

·         Thanks for the great idea of having a float in the “Merry Wells” parade this year!  And equally thankful for those who worked to make it a reality- Robbye, Jeff, Connie, and Mike!  Steve Watson brought a passel of kids to ride along with Karen, Robbye, and Tuckur on the float while Jeff drove, and Connie handed out candy on the parade route!  It was a last-second idea that bore fruit!  Thanks!

·         A note of gratitude to Karen, Robbye, and Anne’s idea of hosting a potluck Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving, open to all.  Everyone enjoyed themselves (and ate too much, as always)!

·         New Vestry nominees will be needed in January for the Annual Meeting.  Be thinking and praying about who you would like to nominate for election to the Vestry at our Annual Meeting next year.  

·         Training for Eucharistic Ministers will be in January.  All those interested, please talk to Fr. Jeff.

·         Most Wednesdays after Evening Prayer, there is an opportunity for personal and private prayer.  If you desire prayers, just come forward to the communion rail after Evening Prayer concludes.

·         Please keep those who are sick or homebound in your prayers as we enter the winter season.

 

Outreach items:

·         Ongoing donations of pasta to the Mineral Wells Center of Life, a Christian-based group to help the needy and struggling in our area.  Collected in the Fellowship Hall. 

·         Also, social media and our website (see below for links) are ways to reach beyond our walls.  You can share the video worship services on your page and you can talk up what is going on here.  Even a few pictures for events add to the impact.  Social media and our website can be thought of as another (virtual) door to St. Luke’s.

 

Finally, announcements for upcoming events and activities are in our weekly bulletin, in emails, and online.  I look forward to seeing what God can do here in the future!  Keep the faith!

 

Blessings from your “crazy” vicar, Jeff+

https://anglicanchurch.net/  ACNA Official Website    

https://www.facebook.com/StLukesMineralWells St. Luke’s Facebook- live streaming here

http://www.stlukemw.com/  Our website

http://www.fwepiscopal.org/index1.php     Diocese of Fort Worth Website

 

 

 

“Crazy” Vicar’s Thoughts and Other “Crazy” Things

November 2021

Dear St. Luke's Family and Friends,

STEWARDSHIP TIME

For all things come from thee, and of thy own have we given thee. (1 Chr. 29:14)

As you know, it is Stewardship Sunday on November 7.  That is a day for you to turn in your Pledge Card, or at least give the amount you plan on giving for 2022 to the Treasurer.  Stewardship is giving back to God what He has already given you to support the ministry taking place in His name for His Kingdom.  Stewardship is about recognizing God as King of all things, including all the things we humans tend to claim as ours.  The Old Testament standard was 10%, a tithe.  In the early church there was no set standard, rather a push to give generously, at times very generously (Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Cor. 9:7)  I use the tithe as a goal, a goal that I think meets the criteria for being generous and grateful.  Rather than waiting to see what is left over each month, I give at the front, and then figure out the family budget from the 90%.

These pledges are a good way for the Vestry to anticipate and plan for 2022.  As much as I would love to say things are free at the church, we still have electricity and other bills.  Stewardship allows the Vestry to plan better to use your gifts responsibly.

Stewardship also involves our time and talent.  You may have heard the old phrase- the “3 Ts.”  The “Ts” are Time, Talent, and Treasure.  A tithe in each area is a goal, giving of what God blessed you and me with by giving back. Many of you do volunteer, and I believe we have been blessed because of your efforts.  Pray and consider how else you can give of your time and talent.  If you feel you want to use more of your gifts and time, come talk to me about how you can fit in and help St. Luke’s continue to grow!

OUTREACH/MISSION WORK

    Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?  And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?'  And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' (Matt. 25:37-40)

I like to brag about St. Luke’s in this area to my fellow clergy, shamelessly!  Since I have arrived, you have stepped up to add more outreach support while continuing to give wonderfully in local and distant missions.  Locally, we support Mineral Wells Center of Life with both money and food, and the Children’s Alliance.  Non-locally, we support a priest in Northern Malawi (Diocesan Centurion Project), plus we have given offerings to the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund, two orphanages, Camp Crucis (two times), and to the Seaman’s Church.  This support puts other congregations to shame in the diocese!  Well done and keep it up!

CHAPLAIN TO WHERE?

There has been a by-name-request for Fr. Jeff to be a member (as a volunteer chaplain) of a not-for-profit Missing In Action (MIA) remains recovery group, History Flight (www.historyflight.com).  There is a tentative History Flight trip to return to Tarawa to continue the mission of recovering our Marines and Sailors who lost their lives in that battle, but whose bodies were not recovered afterwards (there are a lot of unrecovered remains).  As with so many things, COVID has really stopped all trips to that island in the Kiribati nation.  The island may be opening back up soon, allowing a possible trip in 2022.  More to follow as the details firm up.  In case you are wondering about the recovery mission, here is a short overview of the battle, the losses and the large number of MIA , historyflight.com/tarawa. And, if you don’t know about Tarawa, start here: www.kiribatitourism.gov.ki/islands-to-explore/tarawa-island. 

MISC

Some items are just miscellaneous.  Here are a few:

• New Vestry nominees will be needed soon.  Be thinking and praying about who you would like to nominate for election to the Vestry at our Annual Meeting next year.  

• Thanks to all those who filled out the Diocesan Survey last month.  The results help the Diocese and St. Luke’s moving forward.

• Thanks to all who attended the Lector training.  You might see some new faces reading the lessons on Sunday, a good thing indeed!

• Most Wednesdays after Evening Prayer at 6pm (shameless plug), there will be an opportunity for personal and private prayer.  If you desire prayers, just come forward to the communion rail after Evening Prayer concludes.

• Lay Eucharistic Minister training will take place in December.  This is open to all members who desire to serve in this capacity.  FYI- Lay Eucharistic Minister used to be called “Chalice Bearer.”

UPCOMING

And looking forward, here are some ongoing and upcoming Church events:

• Sunday School is ongoing, beginning at 9:55am.  Thanks to some great volunteers.

• Nursery is available during our worship, and the service can be viewed there as well.  Again, thanks to another great volunteer.

• Women’s Devotional Study is ongoing at 11:30 each Sunday till late-November.  All ladies are invited and you don’t have to be a member.  Thanks to a great leader.

• Wednesday Evening Prayer at 6pm continues. We all need prayer, and this time is a reminder of our need to offer and receive prayers.  Plus, Fr. Jeff offers (sometimes) interesting reflections on living out the faith.

• November 13- The Diocesan Convention at St. Peter and St. Paul, Arlington, Texas.  Unless something horrible occurs, this will be an in-person convention, with a live stream option.  At this time, all voting will be in-person only.  Please pray for God’s will to be accomplished during this time. 

• November 14- Blessings of handmade items (scarves, hats, mittens) for Seaman’s Church.  Items will be boxed and shipped soon after.

• January 2021- St. Luke’s Annual Meeting.  Details will be coming later.

Outreach items:

• Ongoing donations of pasta to the Mineral Wells Center of Life, a Christian-based group to help the needy and struggling in our area.  Collected in the Fellowship Hall. 

• Also, social media and our website (see below for links) are ways to reach beyond our walls.  You can share the video worship services on your page and you can talk up what is going on here.  Even a few pictures for events adds to the impact.  Social media and our website can be thought of as another (virtual) door to St. Luke’s.

 

Finally, announcements for upcoming events and activities are in our weekly bulletin, in emails, and online.  I look forward to seeing what God can do here in the future!  Keep the faith!

Blessings from your “crazy” vicar, Jeff+

https://anglicanchurch.net/  ACNA Official Website   

https://www.facebook.com/StLukesMineralWells St. Luke’s Facebook- live streaming here

http://www.stlukemw.com/  Our website

http://www.fwepiscopal.org/index1.php     Diocese of Fort Worth Website

 

 

“Crazy” Vicar’s Thoughts and Other “Crazy” Things

October 2021

 

Dear St. Luke's Family and Friends,

Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. (James. 1:2-3)

 

The continued COVID cases locally, in the diocese and in our world bring to mind the plagues that God visited upon the Egyptians (Exodus 6-12).  If you remember, there were 10 before the Pharaoh let the Hebrews go.  I hope and pray we don’t have 10 plagues before all is said and done!  We are coming up on two years since it started (December 2019 in China, https://www.cdc.gov/museum/timeline/covid19.html).  The results of this “plague” are all around us: deaths of friends and loved ones, long-term after-effects, uncertainty in public situations, and a still-raging political and personal debate about how to stay healthy.  And yes, some members here have gotten COVID of late, so St. Luke’s will continue to take precautions in our worship and gatherings.

Frankly, I am ready to be done with all of this, however the good Lord is walking with us, as he always does.  The Hebrews cried to the Lord for relief from their Egyptian slavery and God answered.  So too, He answers our cries.  Further, these worldly trials become a test of our faith, as James reminds us.  I pray all of us remain faithful to Him who redeemed us till we pass through the gate to His eternal peace.  If we focus on the end, then we can “count it all a joy” to have served the Lord and remained faithful during time of duress.  As we are reminded in Hebrews, Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2).  In other words, stay the course and stay true!  Old Sailors talked about navigating by the North Star (since it was almost always visible in the Northern Hemisphere), and that analogy is what Hebrews is talking about- navigating our life here using Jesus as our “North Star” for navigation and assistance during these days here, with support from the fellowship of believers.

Speaking of fellowship of believers, St. Luke’s runs on gifts: gifts of time and talent!  Virtually everything you see at St. Luke’s is done by volunteers.  We could use volunteers for reading, acolyting, running the video camera, teaching, nursery, Sunday food and drink, home visits, prayer ministry, and other things.  If you feel you want to use your gifts and time, come talk to me about how you can fit in and help St. Luke’s continue to grow!

And grow we are.  Numbers are not always a godly indicator, yet our Sunday average attendance is up from when I arrived late last year (not quite double, but close) with a surprisingly solid group on Wednesdays.  And we average 3-5 viewers online each Sunday worship (a critical way of reaching those who cannot physically attend worship here).  Plus, we have increased our giving to the budget significantly (don’t tell the treasurer that I mentioned this), while increasing substantially what we give for outreach, locally and globally. We have had 2 women’s devotionals this year (one in Lent, the other happening now), which have been and are outstanding.  In addition, we have started a Sunday School and Nursery (admittedly, the Sunday School isn’t well attended, but it is something we must have).

As I mentioned last month, if you feel led to help with our fellow believers, especially those left in Afghanistan, you can:

·         Pray for Christians and other Afghans as God leads you.  Your prayers and mine are a great power, whether we see the effect or not.  

·         Directly support refugees.  To make a cash donation, use this link, or send a check to For the Nations, 414 S. Purdue Drive, Garland TX 75042.  

·         Follow God’s calling and help in other ways. 

 

And looking forward, here are some ongoing and upcoming Church events:

·         Sunday School is ongoing, beginning at 9:55am.  Thanks to some great volunteers.

·         Nurseryis available during our worship, and the service can be viewed in there as well.  Again, thanks to another great volunteer.

·         Women’s Devotional Study is ongoing at 11:30 each Sunday till late-November.  All ladies are invited and you don’t have to be a member.  Thanks to a great leader.

·         Wednesday Evening Prayer at 6pm is still a “thing.”  It is great way to Jesus in the middle of the week!

·         October 7- Monthly Book Club starts at 6:30pm with a Potluck meal, and discussion to follow.  All are welcome.

·         Before October 10- The Diocese is still requesting folks to take the survey.  This helps the Diocese and St. Luke’s to plan for the future.  The link is http://remissioning.com/church-health/?church_id=bdad03cab9.  It takes 5-10 minutes.

·         October 13- Vestry meeting after Evening Prayer.

·         October 17- St. Luke’s will be celebrating our patronal feast day.  This will be a fun time to remember, reminisce, and think about where we have been, and where God is leading St. Luke’s now.  Oh, and there will be a Pot Luck Lunch that day!

·         October 30- For those of you who like shooting clay in the sky, there is the Second Annual Sporting Clay Challenge benefiting Camp Crucis. The event takes place at the Alpine Shooting Range in southeast Tarrant County.   Click on the link in the name for information.  In case you are wondering, I have tried this (shooting “clay”), and experience shows I am lousy!

·         November 13- The Diocesan Convention at St. Peter and St. Paul, Arlington, Texas.  Unless something horrible occurs, this will be an in-person convention, with a live stream option.  At this time, all voting will be in-person only.

·         November 14- Bishop Keith Ackerman will be visiting St. Luke’s.  This is newly scheduled item and isn’t to be confused with Bishop Reed’s visit, who is our Diocesan bishop.  Bishop Ackerman is a retired bishop who is assisting Bishop Reed in visiting congregations in this large diocese.  More to follow.

·         January 2021- St. Luke’s Annual Meeting.  Details will be coming later.

Outreach items:

·         Ongoing donations of pasta to the Mineral Wells Center of Life, a Christian-based group to help the needy and struggling in our area.  Collected in the Fellowship Hall.  These donations of food are in addition to the money St. Luke’s gives in support of that ministry every year.  Keep up the wonderful donations!

·         November 15 is the last day for handmade items (scarves, hats, mittens) for donation to the Seaman’s Church.  Donations may be dropped off in the Fellowship Hall.

·         Also, social media and our website (see below for links) are ways to reach beyond our walls.  You can share the video worship services on your page and you can talk up what is going on here.  Even a few pictures for events adds to the impact.  Social media and our website can be thought of as another (virtual) door to St. Luke’s.

Finally, announcements for upcoming events and activities are in our weekly bulletin, in emails, and online.  I look forward to seeing what God can do here in the future!  Keep the faith!

 

Blessings from your “crazy” vicar, Jeff+

 

https://anglicanchurch.net/  ACNA Official Website       

https://www.facebook.com/StLukesMineralWells           St. Luke’s Facebook- live streaming here

http://www.stlukemw.com/  Our website

http://www.fwepiscopal.org/index1.php  Diocese of Fort Worth Website

 

 

 

 

“Crazy” Vicar’s Thoughts

September 2021

 

Dear St. Luke's Family and Friends,

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Rom. 8:35-39)

And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. (Acts 14:27)

 

We live in a time of uncertainty, fear, anger, and certainly change.  For example, America pulled out of Afghanistan last month, after almost 20 years of US military presence.  I am not alone in having most of my military service and virtually all my associated experiences shaped by September 11, 2001 with the accompanying military conflicts.  I’m less upset about the pullout (as messy as it was), than I am fearful for those who remain in Afghanistan, those who were friendly and worked with Americans, those who benefited from our presence there (for example, girls getting educated), those interpreters who were critical to the mission, but most especially our fellow Christians.  They are few in number, but they have made a stand for God, a strong stand for the one true God in the face of estrangement, persecution, and even death.  As we can see in Paul’s writing to the Romans, this is not the first time, in fact Christians have faced persecution and danger for 2,000 years in various corners of the globe.  On September 2, our church calendar lists the “Martyrs of New Guinea,” a day to commemorate Anglican martyrs in the wake of the Japanese occupation in 1942 (for more information, see https://prayer.forwardmovement.org/the_calendar_response.php?id=300902).

Regardless, this is happening in our time and right now.  It is easy to dismiss or feel helpless in the face of struggles and fears for our fellow believers half-way around the globe, and to allow ourselves to do nothing.  We can help each and every one of us!  The very first best thing we can do is pray Christians and other Afghans as God leads you.  As James tells us, The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. (James. 5:16)   Your prayers and mine are a great power, whether we see the effect or not.  Additionally, there are other ways we can help.  Our bishop sent out a letter to the clergy this week and he stated, AFGHAN REFUGEE FAMILIES being resettled in North Texas are receiving assistance from agencies including For the Nations, a group in Garland. Last week volunteers from St. Andrew’s, Fort Worth, delivered 30 welcome baskets to help families just get started here. To make a cash donation, use this link, or send a check to For the Nations, 414 S. Purdue Drive, Garland TX 75042.   For the Nations is overtly Christian.  I have looked at the For the Nations website and there are ways to volunteer as well, see https://ftnro.org, for example, they run English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, and tutoring services.  If you have some ideas and want to help out like St. Andrew’s did, let me know.  And, if you desire to help in other ways, please do so.  My suggestions are not to limit you, simply to give some ideas of how we can respond.

I have mentioned in the previous letters about the Back to Church Sunday on Sept. 19.  Unabashedly borrowing from a local Mineral Wells group, I think of this upcoming effort as the “Grow Crazy” Sunday.  There are several things starting on the “Grow Crazy” Sunday, including Sunday School (thanks to our volunteers), Nursery (more volunteers), and a Women’s devotional study on Psalm 23 (even MORE volunteers).

To support this “Grow Crazy” Sunday, I have asked you to invite someone to come to church with you.  I suggest doing this face to face when you invite someone.  The target group are folks not attending church right now.  There are many in recent years who have stopped practicing their faith, or those who have not yet become Christian.  As Jesus reminded his followers, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." (Matt. 9:37-38)  There are many folks who need God in their lives, and each of us are laborers in this field.  I quoted Acts above as an encouragement, and know that the modern-day Gentiles are folks who are not Christians, folks who are not worshipping with us on Sundays.

To help you, here are some things to do for “Grow Crazy”:

·         There are “Welcome to St. Luke’s” booklets available to give out to folks as an introduction to our church and Anglican ways.  Also, you could leave those booklets with others, if they want to know about us.  And if you need more, let me know.  

·         If the person is worried about COVID, you can tell them about the measures we take (masks available, hand sanitizer, our means of communion, etc.) to ensure all worshippers are safe.  

·         And, if there is still some fear or concern about COVID, invite them to participate via our Facebook video (we average 2-5 viewers on Sunday).  

·         When you invite, promise to sit with them and help them through the worship.  

·         And if you see a new person sitting by themselves, don’t be afraid to help them during the worship (which book to use, what page we are on, standing, sitting, kneeling).  

·         For all worshippers here, we have customs of when to do or say certain things, such as standing for the Gospel reading and making the sign of the cross.  These are NOT required for good worship or salvation, they are customs we use to increase our devotion during worship, so please let the new folks know they can do or not do as they feel comfortable or are able.  If a person has a hard time kneeling, then sitting for prayers and other points in the worship is acceptable.  The real purpose of worship is…well WORSHIP of God, and if we do that, regardless of custom, then God is pleased!

·         Be sure to introduce yourself and invite them for fellowship after worship.  Fellowship and friendship are two huge ways to make people feel welcome inside a house of worship.  I encourage you to do your part!  We are doing a good job in this area, so just keep at it!

·         Finally, social media is a way to reach beyond our walls.  You can share the video worship services on your page and you can talk up what is going on here.  Even a few pictures for events adds to the impact.  Social media, such as our Facebook can be thought of as another (virtual) door to St. Luke’s.

Finally, announcements for upcoming events and activities are in our weekly bulletin, in emails, and on our Facebook page.  I look forward to seeing what God can do here in the future!  Keep the faith!

 

Blessings from your “crazy” vicar, Jeff+

 

https://anglicanchurch.net/  ACNA Official Website       

https://www.facebook.com/StLukesMineralWells           

St. Luke’s Facebook, good starting place for all things going on

http://www.fwepiscopal.org/index1.php  Diocese of Fort Worth Website

 

 

August 1, 2021

St. Luke's Family,

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.  Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace” 1 Peter 4:8-10

 

As I noted last month, I am reaching out via a monthly email.  The usual means of announcements at worship, weekly emails, and Facebook will continue, this email is in addition to them.  And if you know others who would like to receive this, please forward their address to me.  And apologies to Mineral Wells Crazy Water for using “crazy.”

I truly appreciate all the present and former members have done to build St. Luke’s and keep it alive during some very, very lean years.  I believe God is calling us to rebuild here to continue the work of the saints who have gone before us, a work that you and I are a part of.  This growth may include a change in status from mission to parish.  Know that the Vestry has discussed this, done the research, and is planning a way forward.  Once those plans are complete, they will be presented to all the members.

As I mentioned last month, COVID-19 still presents a challenge to the health of Mineral Wells.  To mitigate and ensure all persons feel safe worshiping, the safety measures outlined last month continue (worship live on Facebook, and in-person worship measures such as masks and hand-cleaning for altar servers, bringing communion out to the pews, etc.).  To assist those who worship with us virtually on our Facebook stream, I offer the following suggestions: use your Prayer Book to follow along, pray during the communion time for God’s continued blessing, and let me know when I can bring communion to you at a later time if you desire.  I am aware of the drop-outs during our live stream at times, for which I am sorry.  We have done some research and the answer seems to be the internet itself dropping out on us.  Who knew Sunday morning would be so demanding on Mineral Wells internet backbone?  We will continue to keep an eye on the issue as the live stream option will be with us for the foreseeable future.  Finally, you can “share” the video on your personal Facebook page, if you desire.

Another casualty of COVID is folks’ practice of their faith.  The pandemic hits all sectors of American society, and Christians attending church and other overt faith practices are just another sign of the widespread changes.  I don’t know what the “new normal” will look like going forward, but there are many, many people who are struggling and need the Good News of Jesus in their lives right now.  If you can help bring the Light of Christ to them, then you are doing exactly what God is calling to you to do! Keep praying for them during these darker times.

And you can introduce the idea of coming to worship at St. Luke’s on our “Back to Church” Sunday, September 19.  Invite someone, sit with them, help them with the Prayer Book and Hymnal, and coach them through communion.  While I try to announce things as we go along, our worship can be confusing to a first timer!  So your help may be a gift to them.  September will feature the restart of Sunday School and Nursery, thanks to some folks stepping up.  St. Luke’s will be starting other courses and classes as well.  More to follow.

Finally, I would like to thank all the folks who volunteer their time and skills.  What occurs at St. Luke’s depends totally on people coming together, putting their God-given gifts, their desires, and their callings to create what we have here.  From volunteers during worship- readers, servers, music, and bulletins; set up and clean of our worship; food and drink for fellowship; teaching and vestry leadership, well the list just goes on and on!  Remember to pray for these volunteers, and thank them- all of them!  Good things happen at St. Luke’s because of these great folks who are using their gifts just as St. Peter urged us!

I look forward to seeing what God can do here in the future! 

Blessings from your “crazy” Vicar, Jeff+