NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2024
Church Service on Sundays 10:30-11:30
Prayer
He forgives your sins—every one. ~Psalm 103:3a (MSG)
Gracious and Merciful God, as we enter this new month, we pause to reflect on Your boundless grace. We are reminded of Your promise to forgive our sins, each and every one. We come before You with humble hearts, grateful for the mercy that flows from Your love.
Lord, we often fall short, making choices that lead us away from Your perfect will. Yet, in Your compassion, You lift us from our failures and embrace us with forgiveness. Help us to release the burdens of guilt and shame, knowing that in You, we are made new each day.
As we journey through this month, may we live as people forgiven and free, sharing the grace we've received with those around us. Teach us to forgive others as You forgive us, to extend kindness and compassion, and to walk in the light of Your truth.
We ask for Your guidance in all our endeavors, that our lives may be a reflection of Your love and mercy. May Your Spirit renew our hearts and minds, leading us to deeper communion with You.
In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
Keeping those in need in our prayers. Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief, health issues or trouble, especially:
Joyce, Pat and Gary, Kathy, Artie, Abril and Ken Peres and their sons Joseph and Kenny, Jesse Morgan, Susan Mills, Garry, Ron, Rhonda, Sandy and Robert, Valerie, John and Bob Rivord, Jim, Zane, Max and James, Isabel Rivera, Katie Oliver Haas, Frieda, Ayden, Betty, Lena, Kathleen, Bruce and Lynette, Benjamin, Rose, Jim, Russ Howell, Daniel Archuleta and family, Andrew Perez, Elizabeth Garcia and family, Reverend Susan, Bea Trujillo, Linda, Fannie, Ben, and Christian, Marcy and Jeff Northrop, Daniel, Nicole, Cathy and Mike Porter, Marla, and Kenny Sallee.
St. Thomas of Canterbury 65th Birthday and 50th Parish Anniversary Celebration
Join us at St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Albuquerque for a momentous weekend celebrating our 65 years as a faith community and 50 years as a parish!
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Start the celebration with a happy hour and reception, followed by a seated dinner featuring entertainment and a showcase of artwork by Canterbury’s talented artists.
Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 10:00 AM
Continue the festivities with a celebratory Eucharist, followed by a communal potluck meal.
For updates or to RSVP, please email: canterbury65birthday@gmail.com
Stay tuned to our Facebook page for more information.
We look forward to celebrating with you!
AN INVITATION TO JOIN AN EfM COMMUNITY 2024-25
An Education for Ministry (EfM) group meets weekly from September through May each year here in Albuquerque. We have met via Zoom for the past 3 years and will continue to do so as some of our participants live too far away for us to meet face to face. We meet for a minimum of 2 hours once a week for 36 weeks. Our schedule is adjusted for holidays. The day and time is determined by the participants’ schedules. This past year we met Tuesdays, 6-8:10PM.
This four-year continuing education program was begun by the School of Theology at Sewanee: University of the South in 1975. EfM invites participants into small, mentored groups that provide the framework for understanding life and shaping actions as Christian faith is deepened.
Participants join for a variety of reasons. “I wanted to know more about the Bible ... who wrote it ... how it was organized ...” said Rosa Valencia, who graduated from EfM in 2017. “EfM helped me to find answers to my questions about the history of religion, but more importantly, EfM helped me connect to my God,” Rosa Valencia recalls. She joined the Cathedral as a result of her EfM studies.
During their four years in EfM participants study 1) the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), 2) the New Testament; 3) history of the Church, and 4) theological and moral ideas. Each participant reads the assigned material for him/herself during the week. This will take 4 or more hours a week in personal study.
The heart of the EfM experience is the weekly seminar group. Through discussion and guided reflection, the seminars furnish an opportunity to deepen understanding of the reading materials. Seminar groups work under the leadership of mentors who contract to serve as guides and administrators. They are not teachers in the traditional sense who are expected to impart information about the Christian tradition. (The role of the teacher is built into the program materials.)
EfM also trains participants in the art of Theological Reflection — bringing “the lens of Faith to bear on any aspect of life"--so we can each align our behavior with what we say we believe. EfM graduate Sandy Veltkamp agrees: EfM provided “a connectedness between what I profess to be my Faith and my daily life ... EfM internalized my Faith.”
By examining their own beliefs and their relationship to our culture and the tradition of our Christian faith, participants can learn what it means to be effective ministers in the world. In coming to terms with the notion that everything we do has potential for manifesting the love of Christ, we discover that our ministry is at hand wherever we turn.
The EfM program is preparation the work we pray for at the end of the Eucharist: “And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord.”
The one unforeseen but perhaps greatest benefit from EfM is the closeness of ‘EfMers’ to each other because of their shared "Living into the Journey of God." 2017 EfM graduate Betty Logan recalls "the most joyful surprise comes from the lasting friendships, which bring not only an understanding of different perspectives, but also become a source of loving support and fellowship." Sandy VeltKamp adds that she cherishes the ‘amazing support from fellow participants...and the grace!’
So, if you're ready to take a deeper dive into your Faith, you can check out EfM at their website https://theology.sewanee.edu/education-for-ministry/ for a brief introduction or go to https://theology.sewanee.edu/education-for-ministry/program/enrollment-and-fees/ for further information.
For more questions including tuition and enrollment for the 2024-2025 program year, contact EfM mentor Joanne Gray at 505-450-9934 or jgray59@msn.com . Classes are scheduled to start in early September 2024.
**Potluck Time is Coming Again!**
As people return from their vacations, we're excited to announce the start of our monthly potlucks! Beginning on the first Sunday in September, we'll gather each month through the winter and into spring.
Having worked as a hostess at a senior center in California, Deacon Sandy learned the importance of safe food handling through a course she took. While much of the information was familiar, Sandy gained new insights as well. The key takeaway: keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold, even during transportation. Certain foods are particularly susceptible to bacterial growth, such as dishes with eggs, meat or chicken, mayonnaise, and fish. It's crucial to use separate knives for meats/fish and fruits/veggies or thoroughly wash the knife between uses to avoid cross-contamination.
Some foods, like pies and cookies, transport well and are stable at room temperature. However, dishes containing whipped cream, milk, or sour cream should be kept cold until served, just like other cold dishes.
Gathering to share food and stories is a joy, and we look forward to enjoying these moments together!
Coffee and sweets are served all other Sundays after service, all in the fellowship hall.
Is your life affected by someone’s drinking? Your child, a parent, your spouse, or a friend.
Al-Anon is a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who meet weekly to share their experience, strength, and hope as they seek to learn how to take care of themselves.
Al-Anon is an anonymous, spiritual fellowship that does not have outside affiliations with other organizations.
Starting May 6th, Seeking Serenity AFG meetings are each Monday from 11:30 am-12:30 pm in
St Luke’s Episcopal Church parish hall, with an entrance on Spruce St., is located at 417 W. Spruce St, Deming.
For more information, please call 757-936-0285.
Small Group Bible Study
This fall, Br. Kenny Sallee will be hosting a small group Bible study. Br. Kenny, a respected theologian and passionate teacher with a Master’s degree in Theology, currently serves as a teaching assistant for Biblical Interpretations courses under Professor Ray Vander Laan at Christian Leaders Institute—an online educational platform providing free and affordable training in ministry, theology, and biblical studies for aspiring Christian leaders. He will guide the group through Ray Vander Laan's study series, That The World May Know. This series offers an immersive exploration of the Bible, blending rigorous academic research with stunning on-location footage from significant biblical sites. Vander Laan, a noted historian and biblical scholar, brings the scriptures to life, connecting ancient contexts with contemporary applications. This study aims to deepen understanding and encourage practical application of biblical teachings in daily Christian life, providing a visually and spiritually enriching experience. For a sneak preview of the videos in these studies, visit the church's website under the Bible Study section.
St. Luke's Fall Rummage Sale
Save the date for our highly anticipated Fall Rummage Sale on October 4th and 5th, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM each day in the fellowship hall! We are now collecting donations of gently used items. You can bring your donations with you when you come to church on Sundays or contact Ginny Sallee to arrange an alternative drop-off. If you need assistance with packing or transporting your donations, Ginny is here to help. For assistance or any questions, please call 906-367-4251. This is a wonderful opportunity to declutter your home and support our church community!
We are trying to put a monthly Newsletter together and get it out to our congregation and put it on the website as well.
Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter HERE.
If you have any news to add to the newsletter please email it to: msginnyisd@yahoo.com
By the last Friday of the month.
The church's website is up and running. It is still a work in progress, and we will be adding to it and making improvements as we go. Please feel free to check it out at www.StLukesdeming.org
Click on the image above to explore an inspiring Daily Devotion. Each morning, Br. Kenny Sallee shares an uplifting and soul-stirring message to start your day. A new Daily Devotion is posted daily on St Luke’s Facebook Page and can also be read on St Luke’s website.
Click on the image above to discover the inspiring Verse of the Day. Every morning, Br. Kenny Sallee delves into the meaning and insights of a new biblical verse. This Verse of the Day is posted daily on St Luke’s Facebook Page and is also available for reading on St Luke’s website.
Click on the image above to explore Br. Kenny Sallee's daily Morning and Evening Prayers. Each day, Br. Kenny carefully selects a scripture passage and crafts prayers that inspire and enrich the soul, tailored to enhance your morning and evening meditations. These prayers are posted twice daily on St Luke’s Facebook Page and can also be read on St Luke’s website.
Happy Birthday greetings to:
There are no Birthdays in September
God's Blessings to you all !
Remember to follow us on our Facebook page at:
St.Luke’s Episcopal Church in Deming, NM
Also, our website @ stlukesdeming.org
On Sunday, August 11th, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church joyfully celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Baptism for Armando Jimenez. The service was a beautiful and meaningful occasion, with Reverend Jeanne Lutz presiding. We warmly welcome Armando into our church family and rejoice in this special moment of faith and community.
SEPTEMBER READINGS
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 1, 2024
Song of Solomon 2:8-13
Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9
James 1:17-27
Gospel: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Labor Day
September 2, 2024
Ecclesiasticus 38:27-32
Psalm 107:1-9
1 Corinthians 3:10-14
Gospel: Matthew 6:19-24
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 8, 2024
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23
Psalm 125
James 2:1-10 [11-13] 14-17
Gospel: Mark 7:24-37
Holy Cross Day
September 14, 2024
Isaiah 45:21-25
Psalm 98
Philippians 2:5-11
Gospel: John 12:31-36a
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 15, 2024
Proverbs 1:20-33
Psalm 19
James 3:1-12
Gospel: Mark 8:27-38
St. Matthew
September 21, 2024
Proverbs 3:1-6
Psalm 119:33-40
2 Timothy 3:14-17
Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 22, 2024
Proverbs 31:10-31
Psalm 1
James 3:13—4:3, 7-8a
Gospel: Mark 9:30-37
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 29, 2024
Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22
Psalm 124
James 5:13-20
Gospel: Mark 9:38-50
St. Michael and All Angles
September 30, 2024
Genesis 28:10-17
Psalm 103
Revelation 12:7-12
Gospel: John 1:47-51