Wishing you peace and joy this Advent season
Dear St. Luke’s Family,
What a wonderfully busy and special time of year this is! The Advent season is always bustling with activity, yet it also draws us closer to the heart of Christmas: love, joy, and community.
One of my favorite parts of the season has always been the Christmas pageant. It holds a special place in my heart as it has been such a meaningful tradition throughout my life. I played baby Jesus in our church’s pageant, was an angel for many years, and later experienced the excitement of portraying Mary during my senior year of high school. It was truly special to be part of a tradition that brings such a sacred story to life—much like the joy and meaning found in St. Luke’s own Christmas pageant today.
There are so many wonderful opportunities to come together at St. Luke’s this season, and I hope everyone will join in. Here are just a few highlights:
Sundays during Advent: Join us for regular services at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., or 5 p.m.
Saturday, December 14: Help Lee Gilmore and his team green the church at 7:30 a.m.
Sunday, December 15: Don’t miss the Christmas pageant during the 10 a.m. service—it’s always a joy to see the story come alive through the eyes of our children.
Christmas Eve: Celebrate with us at either the 5 p.m. or 10 p.m. service.Christmas Day: Worship with us at 11 a.m.
Sunday, January 5: Join us at 10 a.m. for Lessons and Carols and return at 5 p.m. for the Burning of the Greens.
Thank you to everyone who helped make the Christmas Market a success! This beloved St. Luke’s tradition brings joy to our children year after year—all thanks to your dedication.
I also extend my deep gratitude to Mark Kauppi for leading a successful 2024 Stewardship Campaign. Inspired by the call to “Give to Grow,” we have made significant strides together as a community. At our December meeting, the vestry approved the 2024 budget, which includes an exciting development—the creation of a new facilities manager position. This role will enable Nick and Sue to focus on their core responsibilities while helping us further grow and strengthen St. Luke’s mission.
In other Vestry news, Melissa Bluey has stepped down from her role, and at our December meeting, the Vestry voted Chris Hanks to complete her term as Junior Warden. Please join me in thanking Melissa for her dedicated service and welcoming Chris into this leadership position.
Finally, as we embrace the spirit of this holy season, I encourage you to give generously through your Christmas offering. This Christmas season, many of our neighbors are experiencing significant need. Local charities are operating at capacity, with many seeing a sharp increase in the number of individuals and families they serve. If you are able, we invite you to make a special Christmas offering at St. Luke’s. Your contributions will directly support local Mount Vernon area charities, programs, and food pantries, including United Community (UC), Good Shepherd Housing, Rising Hope, and New Hope Housing.
Wishing you peace and joy this Advent season,
Mary Frances