Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The saintly calendar for March is knee-deep in bishops, most of them from the early Church. Most people have heard of St. Patrick (17^th), and many become adopted Irish on his feast day, but Gregory the Illuminator, Chad, Cuthbert, and Gregory of Nyssa, are for a lot of people just strange names that they see on the calendar. One reason for this is undoubtedly that their admirers have not been as successful in publicizing their fame as the Irish with Patrick. St. Gregory the Illuminator (23^rd) was the Apostle of Armenia, but Armenians are much fewer than the Irish and their celebration is less noticed. St. Chad (2^nd) and St. Cuthbert (20^th) were both Saxon saints, but the later England that emerged out of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms opted for St. George (April 23^rd) as patron saint. St. Gregory of Nyssa (9^th) was an original theologian who agreed with Origen (3^rd century) that ultimately everyone would be redeemed including the Devil and his angels. Only St. David (1^st) and St. Gregory the Great (12^th) achieved a much wider prominence, David as the patron saint of Wales and Gregory as a major pope who bridged the end of the late Classical Age and the onset of the early Middle Ages. Gregory of course is also remembered for sending St. Augustine’s mission to the Anglo-Saxons in AD 597 that led to the founding of the see of Canterbury, the mother church of the present Anglican Communion and thus of our own Episcopal Church.

Despite the variations in their fame and renown all of these deserve to be remembered equally. They either belonged to dangerous times for stalwart upholders of the orthodox faith or lived in rough and barbarous ages. Not for them the endless committees and commissions of bishops today, who function at times more like CEOs. These were all hands-on bishops, most of them spending much of their time on the road. Hardship and peril were their frequent companions, and in the midst of this a number managed to achieve fame as scholars and authors. Each in his own way contributed to the growth and spread of Christianity, truly living up to their apostolic calling.

We remember them and we celebrate their feast days because we are part of the same living Church for which they labored so many years ago. In doing this we commit ourselves not simply to some pious remembrance of them but to our own service as members of Christ’s Church.

May this Lent be for all of us a time of commitment and service.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Michael +

Treasurer’s Report
January 2010

Income $12,693.82
Expense ($13,485.72)
Difference ($791.90)

At Easter we will celebrate new life in the risen Christ; the Sanctuary will be adorned with colorful spring flowers and beautiful fragrances. If you care to make a monetary "floral offering", which can be a memorial, a celebration or any particular thankfulness. Envelopes are included in the March Newsletter and can also be found on the table in the GuildHall. The envelopes are due to Bobbie by Palm Sunday, March 28^th. All intentions will be printed in the Easter bulletins.

* If your birthday or anniversary was in the month of March and it is not on the list, chances are our records are not up to date. Please call Bobbie at 414/744-3637, e-mail her at office@stlukeschurch.com or leave a note in the office mail slot next to the office door.

Please save your gently used items
All proceeds to go to the Roof Fund
More information will follow.

If you have any questions, please call Pat Mueller 482-4994 or Pat Kuenstler 744-5499.
Thanks, The Rummage Team

Marge is aware of the gift, as we asked her what clothing she had already purchased and if she needed anything in particular. She chose a green stole, which is used during Ordinary time, which is the bulk of the church year. Since the stole will have a custom design, that aspect of it will be a surprise to her when it is presented.

We will need to have the money collected before the designer begins the work. The whole process will take about a month to complete. Please make out your check to St. Luke’s and indicate that it is for "Marge’s Stole". Please see Amy Cook or Sue Doornek, if you have any questions.

Thank you for your generosity!

A 55-passenger bus will depart from the Brookfield Shopping Center and pick up people in Kenosha on the way to visit 3 amazing Chicago churches, and the elegant Café’ Grand Lux for lunch.

The three churches are

St. Clement’s Catholic Church-huge and magnificent, done in the early church, Byzantine style with wonderful mosaics.

First United Methodist Church in the Loop-built in 1923 on the top of a 21-story office building, seating 1,000, outstanding design more in the Episcopal style than Methodist, with a beautiful chapel under the spire, 400’ above the street.

St. Paul’s Catholic Church-twin towered Gothic style church built by German parishioners entirely of brick without a single nail. Venetian mosaics and stained glass windows from Munich. Designed by Schlack in 1897 and completed 30 years later.

Our adventures are not limited to Altar Guild members, or Episcopalians, or even Christians, so bring a friend. There are always several men participating. We hope to limit the cost to $50 or at the most $55.

If you are interested, please see Sue Doornek to sign-up.

The Liturgical Art Exhibit at the 2010 Diocesan Convention on October 8 & 9 at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee.

The Diocesan Altar guild is arranging an exhibit of liturgical items of beauty or historical importance at the 2010 Diocesan Convention.

We are asking Altar guilds, parishes, and Episcopal institutions in the diocese to think about what they might contribute. This is your chance to shine!

If you have something in mind, please notify:

Jan Henning at 608.238.4089 or e-mail Jane at shennin2@wisc.edu (and please put "Exhibit" in the subject line).

Items might be vestments, holy vessels, icons, needlework, or sculpture, anything beautiful or historical of liturgical nature. Security will be scrupulous.

Women and men are needed for days, evenings and weekends to volunteer at Sojourner Family Peace Center. We offer opportunities to volunteer on the Domestic Violence Hotline, with battered women and their children at our shelter, Sojourner Truth House, with children at Belle Resource Center, with men and women in our Beyond Abuse program and in the Domestic Violence Unit at the Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office. A minimum of three (3) hours each week for 6 months is requested. A 13¾ - hour evening training program begins on March 9 and continues on March 11, 16, 18 & 123, 2010 from 5:30 – 8:15 PM. All five evenings are required. Please call Melinda Wall Piraino at 414.933.2722 for further information.

FOR THE IRISH (and wannabe Irish)
Hail glorious Saint Patrick,
Dear saint of our isles.
On us they poor children
Bestow a sweet smile;
And now thou art high in the mansions above,
On Erin’s green valleys look down in thy love.

from an old Irish hymn)

This was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in Chula Vista, CA . He wrote it for his third-grade homework assignment, to 'explain God.' I wonder if any of us could have done as well?

EXPLANATION OF GOD:
One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way He doesn't have to take up His valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.'

God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because He hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in His ears, unless He has thought of a way to turn it off.'

God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting His time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.'

Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista ... at least there aren't any who come to our church.'

Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of Him preaching to them and they crucified Him But He was good and kind, like His father, and He told His Father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K.'

His dad (God) appreciated everything that He had done and all His hard work on earth so He told him He didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So He did. And now He helps his Dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones He can take care of Himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important.'

You can pray anytime you want and They are sure to help you because They got it worked out so one of Them is on duty all the time.'

You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!

Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.'

If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.'

But ... you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and He can take me back anytime He pleases.

And...that's why I believe in God.