NOVEMBER 2017 Welcome Age Dear Friends, A few mornings ago Annie Leibovitz was being interviewed by Charlie Rose. The famous photographer was opening up about her life experiences, challenges and hardships. She said that through all these depth experiences she has learned now to welcome age and to learn from aging. In our culture, when “aging” is mentioned, the default logic moves to a consideration of the aging process—the ways in which people slow down or become less than they were. Even the “positive” comments about healthy and fruitful senior years tend to have a subtext about fighting aging. That’s not at all what Leibovitz meant. And as she spoke, I was reminded of the elder prophet Simeon, in the Temple at Jerusalem when the infant Jesus was presented. What I recalled is the Nunc dimittis, the Evening Prayer Canticle which is reflective of Simeon’s words in the Gospel, and how his words offer timely and timeless wisdom. That’s what I heard Annie Leibovitz sharing: how learning from aging is about a spiritual awakening—not about a slowing down or encroaching drowsiness. The processes of our living—our experiences, challenges, hardships, recoveries and failures— become for us a wellspring of wisdom. Simeon and Leibovitz both are musing about what sets us free and enlivens us to go in peace. Read the Nunc dimittis (The Book of Common Prayer p. 120 or 66): What have you seen in your life that is a glimpse of the salvation promised to all? What in your life? Not someone else’s life, not something you’ve missed because you haven’t had the chance to visit exotic degrees of longitude and latitude. But in your very existence—in your trials and elations—what has been for you a glimpse of the WOW, the wholeness of life, or even the presence of a caring spirit/person in the brokenness of life? These harrowing/holy experiences: you have seen them, you have lived them; and you are here; at times, weary, yes; but wise. Welcome age and learn from age. At the end of Charlie Rose’s interview, Gayle King quipped, “I wonder if you have to be over 60 to appreciate it.” And yes, Simeon and Anna in the Temple are old. And Leibovitz isn’t a young up-and-comer. But if you think that way, you let the cultural default position be the flow. And that’s not the way the Gospels go! Welcome age and learn from age: Become a light that lightens the way; be an aspect of the Glory of God with us. Faithfully yours, ALL SAINTS / ALL SOULS Meditative Eucharist Wednesday, November 1 at 7:30pm On Wednesday, November 1 at 7:30pm, the Night of All Saints/Eve of All Faithful Departed, you are invited to a quiet candlelight service in the chapel with prayer, periods of silence and shared Holy Communion. Come and give thanks for the saints in your life and for your departed loved ones.
Transcript
NOVEMBER 2017
Welcome Age Dear Friends,
A few mornings ago Annie Leibovitz was being
interviewed by Charlie Rose. The famous
photographer was opening up about her life
experiences, challenges and hardships. She said
that through all these depth experiences she has
learned now to welcome age and to learn from
aging.
In our culture, when “aging” is mentioned, the
default logic moves to a consideration of the aging
process—the ways in which people slow down or
become less than they were. Even the “positive”
comments about healthy and fruitful senior years
tend to have a subtext about fighting aging. That’s
not at all what Leibovitz meant. And as she spoke,
I was reminded of the elder prophet Simeon, in the
Temple at Jerusalem when the infant Jesus was
presented. What I recalled is the Nunc dimittis, the
Evening Prayer Canticle which is reflective of
Simeon’s words in the Gospel, and how his words
offer timely and timeless wisdom. That’s what I
heard Annie Leibovitz sharing: how learning from
aging is about a spiritual awakening—not about a
slowing down or encroaching drowsiness.
The processes of our living—our experiences,
challenges, hardships, recoveries and failures—
become for us a wellspring of wisdom. Simeon and
Leibovitz both are musing about what sets us free
and enlivens us to go in peace.
Read the Nunc dimittis (The Book of Common
Prayer p. 120 or 66): What have you seen in your
life that is a glimpse of the salvation promised to
all? What in your life? Not someone else’s life, not
something you’ve missed because you haven’t had
the chance to visit exotic degrees of longitude and
latitude. But in your very existence—in your trials
and elations—what has been for you a glimpse of
the WOW, the wholeness of life, or even the
presence of a caring spirit/person in the brokenness
of life? These harrowing/holy experiences: you
have seen them, you have lived them; and you are
here; at times, weary, yes; but wise.
Welcome age and learn from age. At the end of
Charlie Rose’s interview, Gayle King quipped, “I
wonder if you have to be over 60 to appreciate it.”
And yes, Simeon and Anna in the Temple are old.
And Leibovitz isn’t a young up-and-comer. But if
you think that way, you let the cultural default
position be the flow. And that’s not the way the
Gospels go!
Welcome age and learn from age: Become a light
that lightens the way; be an aspect of the Glory of
God with us.
Faithfully yours,
ALL SAINTS / ALL SOULS
Meditative Eucharist
Wednesday, November 1 at 7:30pm On Wednesday, November 1 at 7:30pm, the Night
of All Saints/Eve of All Faithful Departed, you are
invited to a quiet candlelight service in the chapel
with prayer, periods of silence and shared Holy
Communion. Come and give thanks for the saints
in your life and for your departed loved ones.
Rummage Results -- Thanks to All! The 2017 Rummage Sale was a great success, with total
sales over $14,300. (See below)
Thanks to all of you, the amazing team of volunteers
who sorted all the donations, set up, cleaned up and
assisted during sale days. Without you we would have
been unable to have the success we did.
Thank you to all who came out and shopped, purchased
goodies at the snack bar and attended Bill Stokes' organ
recital. We look forward to next year's sale and the
adventure that awaits!
Maggie DelRosario & Louise Guinther
Rummage Co-chairs
SAINT LUKE'S RUMMAGE SALE
OCTOBER 7 & 8, 2017
GROSS INCOME BY DEPARTMENT
Appliances $ 433.00
Books 1,288.00
Boutique Fashions 3,036.00
Children's 393.00
Furniture/Outdoor 412.00
Jewelry 3,306.00
Jewelry Plus 169.00
Ladies' Separates 898.00
Linens 423.00
Menswear 602.00
Snack Bar 1,430.25
White Elephant 1,943.00
_______________________________
TOTAL $14,333.00
Eastern Standard Time -- FALL BACK
Before you go to bed on Saturday, November 4,
remember to set your clocks back one hour.
2018 Pledge Campaign
The 2018 Pledge Campaign letter will reach your
home on or shortly after All Saints Day, November
1. The Stewardship Committee of Chris Dippel,
Isabelle Smith and Debbie Smith are planning
presentations for Sundays November 5, 12 and 19.
Stewardship Sunday is November 19 and all
parishioners are asked to submit their financial
pledges for 2018 by this date. The support of
parishioners is the number one resource we all have
to maintain and grow the parish life and ministry
which we share, enjoy and know as Saint Luke’s
Church.
ALL SAINTS SUNDAY
NOVEMBER 5
8:30am - HOLY EUCHARIST
10:30am - FESTAL
CHORAL EUCHARIST
followed by Hospitality Hour
BAKERS NEEDED for
Gingerbread Players' Production of
Moliere's Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
Nov. 4, 5, 11 and 12
It's a long-standing tradition at St. Luke's that
gingerbread and other home-baked delicacies are
sold at intermission of Gingerbread Players shows.
Performances of Bourgeois Gentilhomme are at
2:30pm on Nov. 4, 5, and 12, and at 7:30pm on
Nov. 11. If you would like to bake, or sell goodies
