Weekly Newsletter October 18, 2023
St. Michael’s Weekly News – October 18, 2023
ROOF FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
This week we surpassed the $30,000 milestone, Hooray! However, we still have a long way to go. So please open your hearts and your checkbooks and contribute to God’s building. We appreciate all your efforts. Thank you from your Treasurer.
Dear People of St. Michaels,
On October 18th of every year the Church commemorates St. Luke the Evangelist. Certainly we live in a world that could use a special touch of healing from this writer of the third Gospel, who was also recorded as being a physician. Luke seems to have either been a Gentile or a Hellenistic Jew and, like the other New Testament writers, he wrote in Greek, so that Gentiles might learn about the Lord whose life and deeds so impressed him. In the first chapter of his Gospel, he makes clear that he is offering authentic information about Jesus’ birth, ministry, death, and resurrection, as it had been handed down to him from those who had firsthand knowledge.
Only Luke provides the very familiar stories of the annunciation to Mary, of her visit to Elizabeth, of the child in the manger, the angelic host appearing to shepherds, and the meeting with the aged Simeon. Luke also includes in his work six miracles and eighteen parables not recorded in the other Gospels. In Acts he tells about the coming of the Holy Spirit, the struggles of the apostles and their triumphs over persecution, of their preaching of the Good News, and of the conversion and baptism of other disciples, who would extend the church in future years.
This Gospel of Luke is noted for the central and strong role women play in this Gospel and so many canticles and hymns of praise that are contained within it (Including the Gloria and Magnificat). Luke’s sequel volume, the Acts of the Apostles, is a book that is devotional and yet also a history of the early church, giving us the account we read at every Pentecost and focusing on the missionary and leadership first of Peter and then of Paul. Only Paul’s individual Epistles give us more information about his journeys, but in bits and pieces spread across those writings. Because Luke’s version is so orderly and definitive, we use the Gospel of Luke’s timeline for our celebration of Festivals, including Easter, the Ascension and Pentecost itself.
On this day, we give thanks for Luke’s writings and the blessing they have been to the world.
In Christ,
Pastor Randy Knutson
Please note the prayer offered by our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry for the Middle East:
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn
but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the
strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that
all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of
Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and
glory, now and forever. Amen.
Prayers for the World, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815.
Special Days Coming Up:
Sunday, October 29: Special Shared Ministry 5th Sunday Service AT Trinity Lutheran at 10:00 am. As we have been planning since May, we will go over to Trinity Lutheran to worship there on October 29 to celebrate Reformation Sunday. It is a special day for our Lutheran brothers and sisters. We had them over on the 5th Sunday, on July 30th. This will be an indoor service, followed by a Brunch Potluck they would like us to participate in as well (to bring brunch items to share; no sign up) Please wear Red that morning as well!!
Sunday, November 5: All Saints Sunday, here at St. Michaels at 10:45 am. As we have in the past, we will read the names of those deceased in our Book of Remembrance that morning in worship. The Book is out on Sundays and in Larsen Hall during the week to allow names to be added.
October Birthdays: Scott Dabel, Anne Blanton, Penny Neese, Kylie Navarro, Brother Michael, Christopher Crawford, Hector Magana, Carolyn Chernow, Sue Makovin, Trisha VanWormer
October Anniversaries: Erik & Charla Thorbecke, Kathy & Tom Charters
Online Worship Information
This Sunday we will offer in-person worship and at the same time offer the online broadcast of our service at 10:45 am in the ways posted below:
Our Sunday Service will be on St. Michael’s Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/StMikesFtBragg
https://www.facebook.com/StMikesFtBragg/videos
It will also stay there on the Facebook Pages and you can watch it later.
You can also watch it on this YouTube Channel later that day as well.
This is a NEW St. Michaels YouTube Channel and also on our website!
https://www.youtube.com/@st.michaelsepiscopalfortbragg
Website: When you can, check our new website: https://www.stmichaelfb.com/