Welcome to the E-News!
Connecting you to the events, meetings & services at St. Luke’s, Metuchen - 27, 2025
Gospel Reflection
In this week’s gospel reading, the writer of Matthew tells us that we must be awake and ready for the coming of the Son of Man, but yet he will come at an unexpected hour. Welcome to the season of preparation and chaos! How can you possibly be prepared for his coming when you don’t know when it will occur…and yet how can we always be so unprepared for our Christmas season yet know exactly of when that occurs? What a dilemma! Join us this Sunday at St Luke’s as we explore this conundrum and consider ways that we might begin to celebrate this season in a different way. All are welcome!!
Thanksgiving Hours - Office Closed:
November 26 at 12:00 noon, November 27 and 28 all day.
Happening at St. Luke’s
Thursday, November 27
Thanksgiving Day
10:00am Holy Eucharist - Thanksgiving
Friday, November 28
Office closed
8:00am Anglican Prayer beads (online)
Saturday, November 29
5:30pm Holy Eucharist Rite Rite II
Sunday, November 30
8:00am Holy Eucharist Rite I (livestream)
9:00am Bible Study with Mother Crafton - Fryer Room
10:00am Holy Eucharist Rite II with Music, & Children’s Chapel (livestream)
11:15am Coffee Hour
11:
11:30am Adult Forum
1:30pm Tea and Scones - Book Club
Monday, December 1
2:00pm Roosevelt Care Center Service
Tuesday, November 2
7:00pm Candlelight Vespers
Wednesday, November 3
12:15pm Eucharist with the Saints
7:00pm Buildings and Grounds Meeting
7:00pm Evening Prayer for Advent @ Trinity, Woodbridge (650 Rahway Ave at Trinity Ln)
7:00pm Zoom Bible Study with Mo. Crafton (link)
Friday, December 5
8:00am Anglican Prayer beads (online)
Saturday, December 6
10:00am Christmas Fair
5:30pm Holy Eucharist Rite Rite II
Adult Forum - Sunday 11/30 @ 11:30am - in the Fryer Room: Make Advent wreaths with Handel’s “Messiah” for the beginning of Advent
St. Luke’s
Sunday, 30 November Rehearsal Christmas Pageant, 11:30am-12:15pm, at Robins Room, We hope all children and teens of the parish will participate. There are roles and parts suitable for all ages. Friends and grandchildren are also welcome to join. Please contact Julia Jenson or the parish office.
Dress Rehearsal tentatively set for Sunday, December 21st at 1pm (following the performance of "The Christmas Carol").
Saturday, 13 December, 9am - 1pm in the Chapel and the Robins room. This Advent come learn about Centering Prayer as taught by Fr. Thomas Keating and presented by Contemplative Outreach. This is a free event; donations toward an honorarium for our presenters will be gratefully accepted. Please see Florence Tracy to help with refreshments!
Sunday, 21 December During Coffee Hour in the Church Hall, Christmas without Ebenezer Scrooge and Charles Dickens A CHRISTMAS CAROL? Unheard of!! St Luke’s will be presenting an enhanced reading of this timeless classic with members of our own congregation assuming roles…and this is likely to become a classic in itself!! For more information, please see Mo. Barbara or Deacon Carol. Please plan to attend and bring your family and friends.
Wednesday, December 24 Christmas Pageant, Christmas Eve, 4pm Service.
Diocesan
Saturday, January 31, 2026, A Diocesan Service of Confirmation and Reception has been scheduled for 2:00pm at Trinity Cathedral in Trenton. If you or someone you know is interested in Confirmation / Reception / Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vocation, please confer with Fr. Todd right away.
Comunity
Sunday, December 7, at 3:0pm Temple Emanu-El invites you to a Service of Dedication
Saturday, December 20, 7:30 pm at St. Francis. For some of us it isn’t quite Christmas without experiencing the beauty and majesty of Handel’s masterpiece, THE MESSIAH. Our neighbors at St Francis Cathedral will be presenting this oratorio (with full orchestra and choir) at the their cathedral on Main St, Metuchen. No advanced sales and no fee (a free will offering would be graciously appreciated). Any LUKANS who would like to attend, please see Deacon Carol. We are likely to meet outside the Cathedral that evening between 6:45-7:00 in order to ensure admission. Please join us!!
Tea & Scones
At our next session, we will look at the chapter on Wisdom Stories in Rachel Held Evans' book Inspired since last week's session was canceled.
Trinkets & Treasures Needs Your Help!
Trinkets & Treasures starters sorting this week! Contact Deacon Anne if you can volunteer during daytime hours, especially Tuesday through Friday, or if you want to help on Fair Day itself. An email to those who responded already will be going out shortly.
A Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of New Jersey and Jerusalem.
Altar Bread provided by Karen Gough, Mo. Crafton. Linda Zeh & Kathy McNulty.
Support Women at Town Clock Development and Mission First Housing of Amandla.
As Christmas approaches, St. Luke’s would like to continue our support of the women at Town Clock Development (housing for abused women and their children) and Mission First Housing at Amandla. We hope to present a Christmas gift bag to the women containing a gift card,(Target, Shop Rite, Walmart) as well as travel size toiletries, fancy soaps, makeup, lotions, etc. Donations of gift cards (or money to buy them) would be gratefully appreciated as well as donations of toiletries etc. If you are seeing your dentist soon maybe ask for an extra toothbrush or paste. Donations can be dropped off at the church or contact Linda Z. or Diane L.
The Rotating Homeless Shelter 2025/ 2026
In 2025/2026 Christ Church (our sister Episcopal congregation in New Brunswick) will be hosting the shelter the weeks of December 28 through January 3 and March 1-7 and we are seeking volunteers to serve as overnight hosts or to supply a dinner. Typically, the rotating shelter serves 15 men. If you are able to help or have any questions and would like additional information: secretary@stlukesmetuchen.org
Daily Office 9am, 12 noon, 5pm, 8:45pm (link)
Serving in Worship this Weekend
5:30 PM (Sat) Ellie
8:00AM (Sun) Jane
10:00AM (Sun) Marilyn, Mary, Leah, John
Coffee Hour hosts Mo. Crafton and Tommy Bilgrav
In Our Prayers This Week
Please continue in your daily prayers for:
Mary Jo, Rosie, Don, David, Louise, Andy, Eletia, Suzan, Michael, Lenny, Kristi, Frank, Frank, Susan, John, Suzanne, Gregg, Robert, Robin, Shady, Janice, Dale, Jeremy, Karen, Don, Stephen, Vanessa, Ryan, Charlotte, Tina, Maria, Paul, Dwinal, Tara, Chris-Ann, Skyler, Easton, Gene, Randi, Chad, Sally, Katherine, Peter S.
For Those Who Have Died
Georgette, Cynthia, Alan, Patrick, Robin, Helen, Kevin, Jeannine, Michelle, Jean-Marie, Hank, Karen
Links for: the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
For Those Who Celebrate Birthdays - November
Sierra, Mark, Sofia, Tim, Jacob, Tommy, Maggie, Kimberly, John, Jaimmie, Diane, Paul
For Those Who Celebrate Anniversaries - November
Chris & Mary, Carol & Carmen, Navin & Mary
Parish Information Form
Everyone is welcome at St. Luke’s. This form is designed to help us to keep in your records up-to-date so we can keep you connected to what is going on the parish.
Prayer requests may be submitted on the website.
