Welcome to the E-News!
Connecting you to the events, meetings & services at St. Luke’s, Metuchen - December 11, 2025
Gospel Reflection
For Advent 3, 14 Dec:
Was is John the Baptist doing in prison? What is Jesus going to do about it? What does this sordid episode have to do with preparing for Christmas? Come to St. Luke's this weekend and let's talk about it.
Happening at St. Luke’s
Friday, December 12
8:00am Anglican Prayer beads (online)
Saturday, December 13
9:00am Centering Prayer Retreat
5:30pm Holy Eucharist Rite Rite II
Sunday, December 14
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
11:30am Adult Forum
11:30am Christmas Pageant Rehearsal
1:30pm Tea and Scones - Book Club
Tuesday, December 16
7:00pm Candlelight Vespers
7:30pm Vestry Meeting
Wednesday, December 17
12:15pm Eucharist with Saints
7:00pm Advent Evening Prayer @ St. Peter’s (188 Rector St., Perth Amboy)
7:00pm Zoom Bible Study with Mo. Crafton (link)
Thursday, December 18
10:00am Gallery Meeting
11:15am Rental Committee Meeting
Friday, December 19
8:00am Anglican Prayer beads (online)
11:30am Ladies Luncheon at Panera Rt 1
Saturday, December 20
5:30pm Holy Eucharist Rite Rite II
Coffee Hour will be just a social time -- "A Christmas Carol" performers will rehearse in the Robbins Rooms beginning at 11.30.
Coffee Hour Hosts Hosts are Julie Jirout and Tommy Bilgrav
Adult Forum - Sunday 12/14 @ 11:30am - in the Fryer Room. Wonderful Counselor
No art station this month! Enjoy the Readers' Theater production of the Christmas Carol instead - bring your friends!
Announcements
St. Luke’s
Sunday, December 21 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.
Community
Saturday, December 20, 2025, 7:30pm at St. Francis Cathedral on Main St, Metuchen. 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). 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."
From Dec 28 – Jan 3 The Rotating Men's Homeless Shelter is seeking volunteers to serve as overnight hosts. For more information, please see below or speak to Paul P.
Tea & Scones
All are welcome to enjoy Tea & Scones, the St. Luke's book club, at 1:30 at Fryer Room.
Subscribe to the weekly Diocese of New Jersey Communications by going to https://bit.ly/SubscribeDNJ
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, willing to provide dinner or have any questions or like additional information: secretary@stlukesmetuchen.org
Daily Office 9am, 12 noon, 5pm, 8:45pm (link)
Dear Friends in the Diocese of New Jersey,
Our recent Diocesan Convention passed Resolution 242-1, Migration with Dignity (begins near the bottom of page 1 of the Report of the Committee on Resolutions). In the Sixth Resolve (near the bottom of p. 2), the Convention “[called] upon Episcopalians in the Diocese to advocate for the passage of S3672/A4987, the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act, which would legally establish some Migration with Dignity principles within our State.”
Briefly, the Immigrant Trust Act (ITA)
● Protects personal information by limiting the circumstances under which public agencies can collect information related to immigration status
● Requires public schools, health care facilities, libraries, and shelters to adopt model policies to help people feel safer seeking the public services for which they are eligible
● Prohibits state and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities when doing so is voluntary under federal law.
More information on the ITA is here and here.
The ITA has been languishing in the State Legislature since it was introduced in 2024.
Supporters of the ITA believe that the current Lame Duck Session is the best opportunity to get it passed, and with aggressive ICE activity in our State, passage is urgent. Following the call of our Convention, you are urged to contact legislators to advocate for its passage now.
Resources, including key legislators to contact, phone numbers, and sample scripts for phone calls are here (this resources was created for a “Phone Zap” on a day in November, but the information is still accurate to the best of our knowledge). The ITA has been assigned to Committees in both Houses, but hearings have yet to be held. The Senate President, Assembly
Speaker, and the two Committee Chairs have crucial power in moving the ITA forward.
If you’d like further information on the ITA, please contact the Rev. Jack Zamboni at jzamboni@juno.com.
Winter Session: Fridays from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. on January 23, 30; February 6, 13, 20; March 20
Spring Session: Tuesdays from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. on April 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, June 16
Fall Session: Wednesdays from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. on September 16, 23, 30, October 7, 14, November 11
Serving in Worship this Weekend
5:30 PM (Sat) Ellie
8:00AM (Sun) Sue S.
10:00AM (Sun) Mary S., Katherine Y., John S.
Coffee Hour Hosts Julie Jirout and Tommy Bilgrav
Click here to find the readings for this weekend.
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, Shannon, Adriel, Tim, Janis, John, Dottie, Delphine, Candice
For Those Who Have Died
Patrick, Robin, Helen, Kevin, Jeannine, Michelle, Jean-Marie, Hank, Karen , Charlie, Eleanor
Links for: the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
For Those Who Celebrate Birthdays - December
Del G., Louise F., Isabelle H., Erika R., Chris D.
For Those Who Celebrate Anniversaries - December
Jim & Patrick, Julia & Florence, Michael & Madalyn
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.
