"Sedona Jazz at the Church" updates, additions

We've updated our Jazz Concert series webpage considerably, and also added some jazz videos to our youtube site, so be sure to check them out for some really good Jazz comin' our way!

Here are the links:

Sedona Jazz @ the Church Concert Series

St Luke's Church YouTube Channel - Jazz Videos

July 4th Weekend @ St Luke's

Next weekend is Independence Day weekend. During the Sunday liturgy, we'll pray God's blessing, guidance and grace upon our Country, we'll pray for the Armed Forces, and we'll raise our voice in patriotic songs.

And then following the mass - and as we have done in the past - we'll be having a cookout at the church, repleat with hot dogs, hamburgers and all the rest of the "stuff" we Americans love so much!

We'll supply the food, together with coffee, ice tea and soft drinks - you bring your special "drinks!" Donations will be taken to help defray the day's expenses.

So, be sure to come to mass that Sunday, and hang around afterwards for some quality time with the quality people of Saint Luke's Church!

God bless America!

Sunday's Mass Propers (3 Trinity)

The illustration of Jesus eating with the publicans and sinners is by Alexandre Bida, from an 1784 book entitled "Christ in Art; or The Gospel Life of Jesus: With the Bida Illustrations" and it portrays the action of Sunday' gospel narrative.

In Sunday's gospel narrative, the Pharisees and scribes "murmured" about Jesus associating with the publicans and sinners, and our Lord responded with the parables of the Lost Sheep and Coin.

Sunday's epistle is from the first general epistle of Peter, and speaks of humility, sobriety, vigilance, and a stedfast resistance to "our adversary the devil."

As always, the question come up, can we both understand and respond appropriately to the Lord's teachings and our duties as His people?

The collect for the day gives us the answer: we can! We can what? "Be defended and comforted in all dangers and adversities" through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sunday's propers are found HERE. Be sure to read them, and identify the "afflictions" in your life which deal with suffering for the sake of Christ - for the sake of Love.

C.S. Lewis: Mere Christianity

It's always good to have a substantial reading regimen - something that we do every day - and Summer is a very good time, indeed, to begin anew in such an endeavor.

Beginning on July 1st, I will be studying/re-reading C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity." Will you join me? If so, pick up a copy of the book, and we'll read - actually listen to - it together.

And we'll do that via a very great resource on the internet - the book is presented via an audio adaptation being read by Jeffrey Howard!

Each day we'll listen to one of the readings, of which there are thirty-five. It will be a commitment of around 15 minutes each day, but will be more than worth it!

For now, pick up a "hard copy" of Mere Christianity, and get ready to learn from a very witty and gifted person - C.S. Lewis.

More details next week - for now, here's a link where you can get the book via Amazon - Mere Christianity

Rose bush memorial for Robert Eis, Senior

We've planted a "Mister Lincoln" rose bush in the courtyard in memory of Robert Eis, father of Robert Eis, Junior, father-in-law of Vici Eis and grandfather of Tiffany and Robert Eis III.

The bush joins one that was planted a few years ago for grandmother Marjorie Eis (her bush is in the tiered section of the rose garden). The new bush is on the walkway inside the courtyard, leading up to the Courtyard Crucifix.

Below is a video montage in honour of Robert Eis, Senior, created by his family.

Rest eternal grant unto him, O Lord.

And may light perpetual shine upon him. Amen.

A Note on Rose Bush Memorials....

If you are thinking of memorializing a loved one in this fashion, there's room in the Rose Garden, so talk with the Bishop, regarding the "hows, wheres" etcetera.

As of this date there are more than 50 bush memorializations, and everyone who visits our lovely church comments on the beauty of the roses - a most fitting and lovely way to remember our Loved Ones who have died and gone before us.

Will you help in this endeavor?

The highway in front of the Church is almost finished, and we are approaching the time to re-position our sign at the entrance to the parking lot. However, the old sign is well worn and termite infested, and needs to be replaced.

We do have the new "2 sided sign" already, as shown above, and it's being stored at the signmaker's - Baier Signs of Sedona. Now we need to build the frame, "plant" it in the right spot, and "finish" all other things associated with the project.

It's going to be magnificent, most assuredly worthy of the beautiful nature of our parish church, and the whole project will entail not only costs for lumber, but also the tile roof, electrification of the sign, and landscaping.

The sign itself is 4' x 8', and so ours is a massive undertaking, and will cost around $10,000 to complete. Therefore, the Vestry has established a "Sign Fund" and is asking for friends and members of our parish to contribute specifically and specially to this venture.

Will you help?

If so, contact one of the Vestry members with any questions you may have. And yes, a "full support" contribution would memorialize the sign to/for a Loved One(s) or Special Event(s), complete with a commemorative plaque on the sign!

It's Here: St Luke's Purified Water (Almost Holy)!

Our personalized 16 ounce Purified Water bottles have arrived. As you can see above, the label shows not only the Church, but touts "Purified Water (Almost Holy)" in magnificent "Old English" print! Ooo La La, eh?

The water is available for purchase, and is a wonderful keepsake for folk who visit our church, to be sure. It is also a very neat gift to give your friends when they come visit on holiday!

So, pick up your bottle(s) - or a whole case of 24! - on any Sunday, or at our other parish gatherings and concerts.

Cost: $2 per bottle or $48 per case. Proceeds are designated to further the outreach ministry of our parish. And remember: when you purchase this, you'll both quench your thirst AND help draw other folk to our lovely, grace-filled parish church - Saint Luke's Church, Sedona AZ.

And besides all that, it's such good tasting water! Move over, Evian and Aquafina - a new purified water is in town!!

Can't you almost hear the Sons of the Pioneers singing "Cool, Clear [almost holy!] Water?"

Click HERE for the song, and Happy trails!

Sunday's Mass Propers (2 Trinity)

For the second Sunday in a row, the epistle we'll read is from the first epistle of Saint John. It continues the discourse on Love, and speaks of the Christian's peculiarly different life, when contrasted with the world's standard and rules.

Sunday's gospel reading is from Luke, and contains the parable of the great supper. A similar parable - only applied to a "marriage feast" instead of a mere "great supper" - is part of the gospel of Matthew, and can be found in Matthew 22:2-10. (It's the gospel reading for Trinity 20, and is found HERE). Insight is always offered to us as we examine scripture, so be sure to read both accounts, as you prepare for Sunday's worship.

Although a bit different, the same inevitable choice is part of both Luke's and Matthew's account. Can you guess what it is?

Sunday's propers are found HERE.

June Food Ingathering on Sunday

Sunday - the 2nd Sunday of the month - is our monthly Food Ingathering Day. We will be giving the items to the Old Town Mission in Cottonwood, which serves the low-income and homeless population of Sedona and the surrounding Verde Valley communities.

This month they have identified the following as particular needs, so please be generous and bring your donations with you to Church this Sunday:

NEEDS FOR JUNE, 2009

Canned Tuna + Peanut Butter

1lb Bags of Rice + Tents

Diapers

"Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"

- 1 John 3:17

Trinity Sunday - beginning a season of growth

Trinity Sunday marks the end of  the liturgical kalendar's commemorations of the events of the life of Jesus Christ and the coming of the Holy Ghost (the seasons of Christmas through Whitsuntide) and begins the season called "Trinity," during which Mother Church concentrates on the teachings of our Lord.

The Feast of the Holy Trinity was instituted by Bishop Stephen of Liége (850-920), enjoined by Pope John XXII in 1334, and became very popular in England, no doubt because of its association with the consecration of St Thomas a Becket on that date in 1162.

As  the plants of the earth grow and flourish in the brightness of the Summer sun and season, may we grow in God's grace throughout the season of Trinity, bathed in the light of the teachings of the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord.

To aid in your personal preparation for attending the day's mass, the Trinity Sunday propers (Collect, Epistle & Gospel) are posted HERE.  

It's been almost a year...

On June 11, 2008 we posted our first video on YouTube. 

It was a montage called "Building A Church For God's Glory in Sedona AZ (1987 - 2007)" and showed the beginnings of our parish - the building of the church, etcetera.  

Here's that first video:

As of today, we have 65 videos posted, most of which are meditations based upon the propers (collects, epistles & gospels) as noted in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, pages 90 - 269.

What started out as "simple and small" has blossomed into something far beyond our expectations - more than 20,000 viewings of the videos have taken place, with folk from all parts of the world visiting and watching the videos.

For that we thank God and give Him all the glory, AND look forward to an ever-increasing internet presence in the future for both our parish and diocese.

And as a bit of a teaser...  we are working on another vehicle of "electronic evangelism,"  the likes of which we would not have dreamed of a year ago!

This new endeavor will be unveiled this Summer... so, as they say, "Stay tuned!"

Regarding our YouTube presence, if you would like to see the whole list of the videos that are posted, they are found HERE.