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Connecting you to the events, meetings & services at St. Luke’s, Metuchen - February 19, 2026
Gospel Reflection
Metuchen Train Station; Ash Wednesday at “oh dark thirty.” A man came to Mother Crafton and me to receive ashes. He said, “I used to do this when I was a child. Maybe I should go back to church”. That is exactly what Ash Wednesday, and indeed all of Lent, is for. It is an invitation to come back, to try again. Always God is inviting you to come back and try again. We make mistakes. We disappoint ourselves and those around us. But God is still there, urging us: try again.
Come to St. Luke’s this Sunday as we begin to observe the season of Lent together, a season of preparing the way for the joy of the Resurrection. This is the season to try again.
Happening at St. Luke’s
Friday, February 20
8:00am Anglican Prayer beads (online)
11:30am Ladies’ Luncheon Panera Bread Rt 1. Edison
Saturday, February 21
2:00pm Gallery Opening
5:30pm Holy Eucharist Rite Rite II
Sunday, February 22
8:00am Holy Eucharist Rite I (livestream)
9:00am Bible Study with Mother Crafton - Fryer Room
10:00am Holy Eucharist Rite II with Music (livestream)
11:15am Coffee Hour
11:30am Adult Forum
1:00pm Shine your Light
Monday. February 23
2:00pm Roosevelt Care Center Service
Tuesday, February 24
7:00pm Candlelight Vespers / Lenten study
Wednesday, February 25
12.15pm Eucharist with the Saints
6:00pm St. Veronica’s Guild Meeting
7:00pm Bible Study with Mo, Crafton (Zoom)
Thursday, February 26
11:15am Rental Committee Meeting
Friday, February 27
8:00am Anglican Prayer beads (online)
Coffee Hours hosts this weekend: Barbara Crafton and Tom Bilgrav
Adult Forum - We’ll take a look at the very short letter to Philemon, in which Paul asks a man to free his slave — all of whom are Christians. We’ll talk about what slavery was like in Paul’s time. It was different from slavery in our country.
Warden’s Corner
We had our first meeting with the new class on February 17. Fr. Todd opened with a prayer. Warden Brenda welcomed Dahlia B, Bill N, Paul P, and myself. The vestry approved the minutes from the 1/20/26 Meeting and the Annual Meeting. The Rector’s, Treasurer’s, Buildings & Grounds, and Rentals Team reports were each approved as submitted. Treasurer Tammy F. discussed the status of efforts to replace our current accounting system. She noted the reduction of our deficit to -57K owing to additional and increased pledges after our Annual Meeting. Michael G presented information on the restructuring of our operations and capital accounts to ensure both continued availability of funds and a repository for large donations. He and all agreed that further research and discussion was needed. The B&G report (Paul P) included information on the smoke detector project and the status of necessary repairs and kitchen enhancements. Brenda added .information on legally enforceable signage for parking in front of Fryer Hall. Linda P (Rentals) reported on a special weekly rental through June, where the renter was requesting use of Fryer Hall only, providing her own supplies and with no need for the kitchen. The vestry agreed to allow, subject to continued compliance with the usual rules governing all rentals. There was a brief discussion on fundraising for the smoke detectors. Details to follow once a decision is reached on the type of equipment needed. Brenda encouraged vestry members to talk with parishioners about the many happenings at St. Luke’s, and to listen to their questions and concerns. Special name tags will be provided to the vestry, and Erica N volunteered to encourage parishioners to wear the name tags provided in Fryer Hall. Fr. Todd closed the meeting with a prayer.
Announcements
St. Luke’s
Altar Bread provided by Karen Gough, Mo. Crafton. Linda Zeh & Kathy McNulty.
Remember the First Presbyterian Church food bank when you go grocery shopping! Put non perishable foods in the basket at the church door. Canned goods, cereal, pasta, tinned meats, tuna, all are needed.
The Rotating Homeless Shelter 2026. Christ Church (our sister Episcopal congregation in New Brunswick) will be hosting the shelter the weeks of March 8-14 and we are seeking
volunteers to serve as overnight hosts or to supply a dinner. Typically, the rotating shelter serves 15 men.
Do you have graphic design chops? Or do you just enjoy using tools like Canva? Would you like to put your gifts to use in ministry? Please speak to Fr. Todd (or email fathertodd@stlukesmetuchen.org) if you would be interested in putting your aesthetic sensibilities to work in support of St. Luke's!
Join us to Candlelight Vespers and Conversation. Tuesdays in Lent at 7pm in the Chapel at St. Luke’s.
Episcopal Relief and Development and Sister Monica Clare from the Community of St. John Baptist (in Mendham, NJ) offer us a series of meditations for Lent designed to lead us more deeply into our very Episcopalian ways of knowing God.
Written by Sister Monica Clare, an Episcopal nun, author and unlikely TikTok star, these meditations offer an invitation to rediscover — or deepen — holy habits of prayer, worship and Scripture engagement. These holy habits provide a path to a life rooted in God, given shape, meaning and direction.
You can engage in these meditations at home on your own throughout Lent, but you are especially invited to join us in the chapel at St. Luke's on Tuesdays at 7pm as we celebrate the service of Vespers (in which the meditations are rooted) and talk together about the meditation of the day.
Daily Office 9am, 12 noon, 5pm, 8:45pm (link)
Serving in Worship this Weekend
5:30 PM (Sat) Frank
8:00AM (Sun) Marilyn
10:00AM (Sun) Tom. Katherine, Karen
Click here to find the readings for this weekend.
In Our Prayers This Week
Please continue in your daily prayers for:
Mary Jo, Rosie, 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, Skyler, Easton, Gene, Randi, Chad, Sally, Katherine, Shannon, Adriel, Tim, Janis, John, Dottie, Delphine, Candice, Peter, Cheryl, Richie, Carl, Carmelina, Mary Ann, Joseph, Joana, Brian, Brian, Pat, Michael, Amy, Jeff
For Those Who Have Died
Alice, Dorothy, José, Robert, Gloria, Chrisanthi
Links for: the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
For Those Who Celebrate Birthdays - February
Emily G., Ariana, Rocco, John F, Austin, Samantha H., Christina D., Aidan R., Ellie R., Ana C., Annette G., Diane L., Julia J., Nora C., Sandra S
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.
