Church of St. Luke and The Epiphany

Congratulations to our wonderful neighbors, Mercy Hospice, as they celebrate a milestone of incredible ministry to women in recovery and their children. You are a blessing to our community!

Bishop Steven Charleston's thought for today....

We are all needed, more than we know. We are needed to fulfill the purpose Spirit had for us at the moment of our awakening into the world. We are needed to share our love and vision. We are needed to help others walking with us. I am needed. You are needed. We are all needed. Just as we are.

A wonderful first Sunday with our new Interim Rector. It was a joy to be back in the sanctuary and to have the wonderful choir add their gift of song. Joy was in the air for both worship and fellowship. Come worship with us Sundays at 11 am.

Come celebrate!
Please plan to join in the celebration this Sunday, September 8 when we welcome our new interim rector, the Rev. Canon Kirk Berlenbach. We’ll move back to the main sanctuary and our choir will return!

Special thanks to Marsha White and all the volunteers who worked hard to make our church sparkle!

There’ll be a special coffee hour in recognition of Fr. Berlenbach’s arrival. Please bring a plate of table-ready food to share if you can. It’s a great day to invite a friend.

WELCOME NEWS

“Be joyful, and may your dream of church come true.”

With those words, Barbara Abbott concluded her sermon here last Sunday.

Today, it is with great joy that the Vestry announces that the Rev. Canon Kirk Berlenbach has accepted the call of the vestry to be our interim rector. His first Sunday will be September 8th.

Kirk has over twenty-five years of experience in ordained ministry as a parish priest and most recently, Canon for Growth and Support in the Diocese of Pennsylvania. We found him to be open and enthusiastic about working with us. He is clear, yet undaunted, by the challenges we face.

The vestry unanimously agreed that Kirk’s experience and temperament are well suited to lead us as we chart our path forward. Our journey has not been easy. There is much to do. But God’s Spirit is at work among God’s people at the Church of St. Luke and The Epiphany.

As we continue together under the leadership of our interim rector, we pray as we did when this transition period began: “God of love, in this interim time, we pray for our parish family, that we may be genuine in our self-reflection, tireless in our commitment, patient in our discernment, loving in our communion, open in our search, imaginative about our future, and daring in our faith.”

Below is a letter from Kirk introducing himself to our community. Please join us in welcoming him on September 8th as we move back to the main church with the return of our choir. It is also a great day to invite a friend. This will be a joyful celebration as we boldly dream of church come true.

In unity,
The Vestry

My siblings in Christ,

I am thrilled to accept the call to be your interim rector. I first met you in 1997. We had just moved to the city and for a brief time, SLATE was our home church. Soon after I started serving the churches of our diocese, first, as the assistant at St Alban’s, Newtown Square and then as rector of St Timothy’s, Roxborough.

Seven years ago, I joined the diocesan staff as Canon for Growth and Support. I worked with many churches, including SLATE, on a wide range of issues, such as clergy transitions, property usage, budgets, conflict transformation, and adaptive leadership. But the core of my ministry is helping church leaders look beyond who they have been to imagine who God might be calling them to be and to become.

I was educated at Hamilton College, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Rutgers University School of Social Work. Prior to parish ministry, I worked in behavioral health, and as a chaplain in both hospital and hospice settings.

I am lucky enough to be married to Becky Sassi, who serves as Vice President for External Affairs at The Franklin Institute. We have three adult children, four cats, and live in the Overbrook Farms neighborhood. In my free time I can be found in my garden or reading on my porch. I love music, cooking, travel, and the study of Aikido in which I hold a third-degree black belt.

It is my privilege to join you in this moment. While the work ahead of us is challenging, I look forward to engaging it with you in the spirit of honesty, compassion, and faith, entrusting it all to the grace of God, which can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.

In Christ,
Kirk

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This gem was on Bp Stephen Charleston's page today. I sure needed to hear it. "Be at peace.." dear friends!

“Be at peace, good friend, and do not let what is to come cause you fear, for whatever challenges we face, we will have the strength of Spirit with us. We will not fail or falter to do what must be done, to heal the human family and our sacred Earth. We are the people of light, of love, of all that is courageously compassionate. Be at peace, good friend, and discover how real hope can feel.”

-Stephen Charleston

Lovely to see Michael being appreciated for all of his hard work to the diocese!

A Note From The Rector:

Dear friends in Christ,

I pray this message finds you well in this Easter Season.

Many times, in scripture, we are reminded that God is continually creating something new—even in times in our lives when we feel that we are in the wilderness or the desert. At the Easter Vigil, we got to hear our biblical salvation stories and end with scripture that speaks of Christ’s Resurrection—showing that our God will always remain with us. I personally find much comfort knowing that we have a God who loves us so much that God travels with us in times of joy, sorrow, stability, and transition.

As many of you know, my beloved Christopher will be graduating from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education this summer, and following the call of God to embrace his love of teaching, Christopher has accepted the invitation to become the new Head Chaplain at the Oregon Episcopal School in Portland. Our family will be relocating to Portland, Oregon at the end of June so that Christopher can begin his work and ministry in early July. I will be taking this time as an opportunity to discern what God might be calling me to in these next few years. My time with you has been a time of great growth for me spiritually and vocationally. I thank you for giving me this opportunity to work alongside you these three years.

I know that this news may come with great sadness, maybe even anger or fear. In this moment, I invite you to let yourself feel these emotions and allow them to become prayers that you offer to our God who loves us as we are.

I will continue to serve as Rector of this congregation through June 25th. My last Sunday with you will be Sunday, June 23. I ask that my last Sunday with you be observed as a regular Sunday Eucharist with a regular coffee hour following.

I have and will continue to work faithfully with the vestry and The Diocese of Pennsylvania as you begin to take the next steps in your corporate life together.

In the meantime, please continue to pray with and for this community, and celebrate the News of all that our Risen God has done and continues to do.

Pax,

Fr. JWW

A Note From The Officers Of The Vestry:

Dear fellow parishioners,

On April 30th, Fr. Joseph informed the vestry of his decision to resign as the ninth rector of the Church of St. Luke and The Epiphany. While the vestry is sorry to see him leave, we are deeply grateful for his many gifts and leadership during his tenure. We wish Frs. Joseph and Christopher well in this new chapter of their life together. Fr. Joseph’s last Sunday with us will be June 23rd, and his last day will be June 25th. The vestry will respect Fr. Joseph’s request that we simply gather as a community on his last Sunday in the community room during coffee hour.

Conversations have already begun with the Diocesan staff who facilitate transitions. While steps to secure pastoral coverage for July are in process, given the upcoming vestry elections (3 open positions), the officers feel that further details in the administration of the transition should be left to the new vestry once it is seated.

Faithfully,

Michael Krasulski, Rector’s Warden
John Erickson, Accounting Warden
Tess Farmer, Secretary

https://mailchi.mp/bf0ceddca0a1/7kuswynxed-16532257?e=4799265d53

COME ON OUT!!!!!!

Celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month with us. 🎷 🎶 Don't miss Josh Lee and the Extended Family at the Church of St Luke and the Epiphany on April 12th at 7 PM!

🎟️ Tickets available at the door and online: https://bit.ly/3TxvJJG

Come on out!!!!!!

Our Concerts - Artcinia Nov 10 November 10, 2023 @ 07:00 pm - November 10, 2023 @ 08:00 pm Prelude to the Holidays in the Gayborhood Holiday Season Appetizer featuring music acknowledging our nation's Native American heritage and prepares us for the holiday season. Tickets and Information

This is going to be another fabulous performance!!! TICKETS: Adults $10. Families with children $15. Students and Seniors $5. At the door and at www.artcinia.com

🍂 Happy September 1st! Is it too early to celebrate fall? We don't think so! 🎉

Join us as we kick off our Fall Season next Friday at 7pm with music by The Chronicles 🎶

🎟️ Haven't secured your tickets yet? Don't wait! Get them here ⬇️

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jazz-fusion-in-the-gayborhood-with-the-chronicles-tickets-697229711837?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

All are welcome!Please consider joining us on May 19th for
Bartok and Brahms for Clarinet and Strings in Gayborhood where Luigi Mazzocchi (violin), Antonello DiMatteo (clarinet), and friends will perform a breathtaking program for clarinet and strings. Please get your tickets here:

Bartok and Brahms for Clarinet and Strings in Gayborhood Luigi Mazzocchi (violin) Antonello DiMatteo (clarinet), and friends perform a breathtaking program for clarinet and strings.

Come and worship with us this Holy Week and Easter!!

Ash Wednesday Service.

Ash Wednesday Service

Freedom Express Bus Tour, Week 1 Some events from week 1 of our bus tour. This tour will promote a faithful and inclusive vision for building a beloved community in Pennsylva...

This Friday! Josh Lee and the Extended Family are bringing their lively jazz music to the Gayborhood! Bring your family and friends to enjoy this beautiful Autumn evening at Church of St. Luke and The Epiphany 🎶🍁

We invite you to "come, taste, and see" what love looks like in public when it is organized and powerful. Join us as we celebrate our wins, organize for the future, and break bread together. Guest Speakers: Reverand Gregory Edwards, POWER's Chief of Staff, Pastor at and Executive Director Dwayne Royster.
Save your spot: https://bit.ly/3CsnGVZ

Hello all--
Remember all our brothers and sisters living with HIV/AIDS. Lots has changed in 36 years but folks still need our love and help. Donate if you can. Pray because you can. ❤️ Mike H +

AIDS Walk Philly Donate and register today!

The community gathering to have fellowship and give back!