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.

"If any man will come after me..." perhaps it's NOT "the economy," silly....

This needs no comment, except to finish the biblical quote: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross, and follow me

New Life in Christ - Baptism of Roman Andrew Walker

Roman Andrew Walker, son of Valerie Walker of Phoenix, was baptized on Rogation Sunday, the 5th Sunday after Easter.

Roman's sponsors - Melinda and Thomas Niemann of Louisville, Kentucky, and James Loughborough of Bodega Bay, California - were joined by a large gathering of family members and friends (including proud grandparents Nancy and George Walker!) as the Bishop baptized Roman during the 10 am Solemn Mass.

Congratulations, Roman! You didn't cry, you smiled, and you look so very handsome all day long!

You've made your Mother and all of us very joyous!

Now dedicated to Christ, may you always be endued with heavenly virtues and everlastingly rewarded, through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen!

A Great Time: Sedona Jazz at the Church - Part II

Well, the Sedona Jazz at the Church Part II was a grand success, and the crowd that attended were all foot tappin' happy! Steve Sandner's song styling included not only vocals and piano virtuosity, but he even picked up and played the trumpet, too.

Joined by bassist Steve Douglas and some local cat on a flugelhorn (we think he's the church gardener!), the evening ended with a rendition of "Goin' to Chicago," which Steve will be doing in early June!

Although the concerts are going to be "dark" until September, check out the jazz home page to see what's up next!

Jazz at the Church - Part Two!

Yup, we've a Jazz at the Church night scheduled for May.  It's on this Saturday,  May 16th, and you can read (and hear) all about it at this LINK.  

Our last Jazz Concert with Jim Martinez & Laura Didier was great, so if you missed that one, be sure to mark your calendar now, as Jazz at the Church - Part Two promises to be a musically memorable evening!

Who's the artist this time?  That mellifluous, multidimensional, ambidextrous, multilingual and just plain gifted pianist - our own Steve Sandner!  Steve will be playing a concert billed as "Sandner and the Blues," so don't miss it, and bring your friends!

And here's a neat thing, if you're thinking about eating out before the concert: the Marketplace Restaurant in the Village of Oak Creek will give you a 15% discount on everything on their menu on Saturday night.  Just mention the Jazz at the Church concert when ordering.  Their full menu selection is HERE.  So, have a good meal, get your discount, and we'll see you at the Church at 7:30 pm!

The flower baskets are back!

A while back we asked for subscriptions for the hanging flower baskets with a suggestion of giving them in thanksgiving for our families and specifically for our mothers, considering that Mother's Day is approaching.

Well, the baskets have arrived and are hanging now, so you'll have to wait until next year to "memorialize" your mother and/or family in this beautiful way.  

As our good mothers no doubt pointed out often, there's a life lesson in all this:  don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

This year's flower baskets are given in loving memory of and thanksgiving for 

• Barbara Jeanne Yoakum, a great mother and grandmother, friend to all who knew her, and a founding and faithful member of Saint Luke's Church, and the 
• Rev. Kenneth Vincent Schwartz II, founding member, loving husband, father grandfather and great-grandfather and Deacon Emeritus of the parish.
  

Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord.

And may light perpetual shine upon them.  Amen