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March 3, 2021

Quick Links:

Lenten Program

Our Zoom discussion on the Archbishop of Canterbury's commissioned Lenten Book,  Living His Story: Revealing the Extraordinary Love of God in Ordinary Ways, by the Rev. Hannah Steele, continues tomorrow evening. You can order a digital (e-reader) copy at this link.
 

We meet on Thursdays from 7-8pm beginning with prayer and then continuing with our discussion.

Mar 4: Chapters 3 & 4
Mar 11: Chapter 5
March 18: Chapter 6
Mar 25: Chapter 7 & Conclusion

Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 962 0660 0013
Password: lent

This book will lead our discussion about the powerful and transformative love of God in our world and how this light is intended to shine into all the world. These conversations will also prepare us to more fully receive and share with joy the Good News of Easter morning that the Lord is risen.

Sacrament of Reconciliation
Reconciliation, or Confession as it is often called, will be available by appointment instead of drop-in this Lent. Fr. Robert can arrange for either in-person (but distanced) Confession or it can be done on Zoom. If you want to learn more about this Rite, you can read this chapter from the Rev. Martin Smith's Reconciliation: Preparing for Confession in the Episcopal Church. Please contact Father Robert if you have any questions or would like to schedule a time for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Updates on Returning to In-Person Worship


As of Sunday, March 7th, the Episcopal Diocese of NC will re-enter "Stage 2" of the ReGathering Plan. Parishes are expected to also have a local percent positivity rate of 6.5% or less before beginning in-person worship. While our current county percentage is higher than this, we are seeing a downward trend in that rate. 

We anticipate adding in-person worship on Sunday March 14th with limited attendance numbers per liturgy and required safety precautions from all in attendance. Preregistration will be required, with the online sign-up opening at 10:30am on Wednesday March 10th. 

Two liturgies will be offered March 14th and 21st: 
10:30am, Holy Eucharist, indoors- maximum of 25 in attendance
5:30pm, Holy Eucharist, outdoors- maximum of 50 in attendance

Sunday March 28th: 
10:30am, Holy Eucharist, indoors- maximum of 25 in attendance
4:00pm, Holy Eucharist, outdoors- maximum of 50 in attendance
5:30pm, Evensong, indoors-maximum of 25 in attendance

Holy Week (March 29-April 3)
7pm: Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, indoors- limited attendance.
8am, Good Friday: Stations of the Cross, outdoors
12noon, Good Friday: Prayer Book Liturgy, indoors
10am, Holy Saturday: indoors-limited attendance

Easter Sunday (April 4)
6:30am, Easter Sunrise Vigil, Old English Cemetery
9am, Holy Eucharist, outdoors
10:30am, Holy Eucharist, outdoors
Additional liturgies (indoors or outdoors) if there is more demand, depending on our maximum capacity at that time.

The 10:30am liturgy will continued to be livestreamed for the foreseeable future. All Holy Week liturgies will also be livestreamed.

All of these plans are tentative and depend on factors beyond our control such as the rate of community spread and the weather - please bear with us as we do our best to return to in-person worship in a safe way.

Children's Church will be offered as a separate worship experience for children in the Parish Hall during the 10:30am liturgy. This will allow to safely have more individuals on campus per Sunday. Parents, please look for a separate email announcement with full details.

Children's and Youth Ministry News

 
Please join us for Children's Church this Sunday, March 7th, 9:30am!

Join Zoom Meeting

Volunteers are needed to help with Children's Church. If you are interested in helping with this ministry, please contact Caroline. 
 
We look forward to offering Vacation Bible School this August! The next few months will determine exactly what the week will look like, but there will be an offering of some kind during this week, with priority registration for our families of preschool-5th graders. We hope to be able to offer an in-person, half-day program as we did in 2019, with small groups of children and enhanced safety procedures. Volunteers (teens and adults) will be needed. Please contact Caroline if you're interested in helping with planning!

Each Wednesday in Lent, join us online for a Midweek Musical Meditation featuring harpsichord selections from Matthew Woods and prayer led by Father Robert. These 10-15 minute videos will premiere on Facebook each Wednesday at 12 noon. 
 


Applications for Spring 2021 Grants from the St. Luke's Foundation are now available at www.SLS.church/foundation. Applications are due April 2nd. Read more about the Foundation's spring updates here. 
Take a moment to learn more about one of our 2020 grant recipients, Love Must Act, on behalf of the Holy Cross Anglican School of South Africa.

Pastoral Care 

Ministering to the sick and those in crisis is an important part of the ministry of St. Luke’s. If you know of a parishioner who is in the hospital, is ill, or has other pastoral needs, please notify the clergy. Please don’t assume that someone else will notify us. We would rather hear from several people than not know when a member of our congregation needs a clergy visit. If you would like to have someone added to prayer list, after you have his/her permission, please contact the clergy or office staff. Those listed in the “crisis” section will be on the list for one month, after which they can be added again if the crisis continues; otherwise, they can be moved to the “ongoing” section. Please also help us by letting us know when we can remove someone from the list.

Those in crisis of health or circumstance: Lillie Cowan, Brenda Forbis, Andrea Misenheimer, Mark Perry, Nancy Stanback, Ray Stoddard, Mickey York

Those who are away at school: Nellie Brown, Ruth Clement, Aidan DeHaas, Heather Duncan, Jason Earnhardt, Caroline Forbis, Zach Huddleston, Mary Kaufmann, Abigail Lund, Cassandra Phoenix, Hans Roemer, Ellen Simons

Those with ongoing needs due to health, circumstance, or civic service: Dick Brownell, Patrick Carter, David Cline, Donna Gravely, Emily Hain, David Hamaty, Betty Hedrick, Blair Joyner, David Kemp, Jason Koontz, Walker Latimer, Don Lyerly, Jane Maxwell, Nan Medley, Joanne Nichols, Jim Phillips, Nik Plumley, Ian Schulte, Oliver Scott, Dirk Steenwyk, Ruth Trollinger, Barbara Upright

We hope you'll enjoy this video slideshow with recent photos of our children and youth. It is has now been a year since many of you have seen these young people. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue to navigate a challenging school year and social life. If the embedded video doesn't play in your browser, here's the direct link. 
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