Welcome to the E-News!
Connecting you to the events, meetings & services at St. Luke’s, Metuchen - December 18, 2025
Gospel Reflection
Holiday Hours - Office will be Closed from December 24 to December 28
December 31 to January 1
No E-News for the next 2 weeks (12/25 and 1/1)
Diocesan Hours - Office closed from 12/24 to 1/1
Happening at St. Luke’s
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
Sunday, December 21
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
7:00pm Blue Christmas - Convocation Service at St. Peters Spotswood (505 Main St)
Monday, December 22
2:00pm Roosevelt Care Center Service
Tuesday, December 23
7:00pm Candlelight Vespers
Wednesday, December 24
No mid-day Eucharist
4:00pm Christmas Eve: Family Service (with Pageant)
7:00pm Christmas Eve: Choral service
11:00pm Christmas Eve: Solemn Service (with incense)
Thursday, December 25
10:00am HE: The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Friday, December 26
8:00am Anglican Prayer beads (online)
Saturday, December 27
5:30pm Holy Eucharist Rite Rite II
THANK YOU, to everyone who contributed in any and every way to creating a very successful 2025 Christmas Fair!
Saint Luke's Christmas Fair is one of our most important annual events. The opportunities to connect with fellow Lukans and our community at large are invaluable. And, we are thankful for the financial support generated for our ministries.
Adult Forum - Sunday 12/14 @ 11:30am - in the Fryer Room.
Announcements
St. Luke’s
Sunday, December 28 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.
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.
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) Perla
8:00AM (Sun) Becky
10:00AM (Sun) Lynne, John S., Karen G.
Serving in Worship Christmas Services
Karen S., Kasi, Theo, Emily, Roman, Florence, Katherine Y., Becky, Kathy M., Mary S., Jane B.
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, Shannon, Adriel, Tim, Janis, John, Dottie, Delphine, Candice, Peter, Cheryl, Richie
For Those Who Have Died
Kevin, Jeannine, Michelle, Jean-Marie, Hank, Karen , Charlie, Eleanor, Artie
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.
