May 21, 2026
Connecting you to the events, meetings & services
This Sunday
At the Feast of Pentecost the Holy Spirit enabled the apostle to speak in many languages. Do you know multiple languages? Readers of many languages are invited to take part in our liturgy by reading, in different tongues and all at the same time, the beginning of our first lesson. You don't need to register ahead of time. Just bring with you a copy of Acts 2.1-4 in the language you want to read. At the Feast of Pentecost, 23-24 May, after the lector announces the first lesson, please stand up where you are and together we will read these verses in our many languages. Afterward you may be seated as the lector then reads the entire lesson for us. If you have questions, ask Fr. Todd.
Gospel Reflection
This week we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. Sometimes referred to as the Birthday of the Church, we remember the experience of Jesus' disciples when the Holy Spirit became known in and through them in a new way. This was described by some as having tongues of flame dance over their heads and the practice of speaking in the diverse languages of their cosmopolitan city. The result of all this was Baptism: the joining
of new persons to their community and the growth of the community of Jesus-followers, people empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Join us at St. Luke's this week as we celebrate Pentecost. Dress in red to remember the flames of the Holy Spirit. Bring a Bible with you written in a non-English language so that we can read together Acts 2.1-4 in a glorious babel of tongues. And together we will witness the baptism of four new citizens of the Kingdom of God: new Christians also anointed with the promised Holy Spirit.
(Then stay after for a celebratory picnic!)
Happening at St. Luke’s
Friday, May 22
Office Closed
8:00am Anglican Prayer beads (online)
Saturday, May 23
5:30pm Holy Eucharist Rite II
Sunday, May 24
8:00am Holy Eucharist, Rite I
9:00am Bible Study (Parish Hall)
10:00am Choral Holy Eucharist (livestream)
11:15am Coffee Hour - Parish Picnic
1:00pm Tea & Scones
Monday, May 25
Office Closed - Memorial Day
Tuesday, May 26
7:00pm Candlelight Vespers
Wednesday, May 27
12:15pm Eucharist with the Saints
6:00pm St. Veronica’s Guild Meeting
7:00pm Bible Studies (Zoom)
Friday, May 29
8:00am Anglican Prayer beads (online)
Church Office Closed
Friday, May 22
Monday, May 25 Memorial Day
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 Figuera family will host our Pentecostal picnic this Sunday, 5/24. If you haven’t signed up to bring anything, don’t worry. There’s always plenty. But if you’d like to help, here’s a list:
Please drop off Sat / Sun (5/23, 5/24) in church kitchen and label for picnic. If you would like to make a monetary donation instead, please see Tammy F. Please consider helping with set-up 9 am or clean-up after. Thanks!
Water Bottles - 24 pk - 3 X Donated
Iced Tea Half Gallon - 1 x Donated
Soda - 2 X Donated
Lemonade Half Gallon - 2 X Donated
Seltzer
Potato Salad - 1 pound - Donated
Potato Salad 1 pound
Macaroni Salad 1 pound - Donated
Macaroni Salad 1 pound
Fruit Salad 1 pound - Donated
Fruit Salad 1 pound
Other Salad: (fill in)
Desserts (Fill in)
1 cake + Cookies - Donated
Fill In:
Fill In:
Fill In:
Snacks
2 Bags of Potato Chips - Donated
Other snacks: (Fill in)
To donate you can scan the QR Code; or in your touchscreen device hold the QR Code image for 3 seconds and it will take you to Venmo account or just click this link: https://venmo.com/u/stlukesmet
Wardens Corner
At the Vestry meeting on May 19, Treasurer Tammy F clarified some billing issues and advised that Churchtrac utilization is progressing; the Finance team is working on the operating account and updating both Churchtrac and ACS for May. An audit is planned. Fr. Todd highlighted a couple projects of the Metuchen-Edison Interfaith Clergy Association. Paul P. advised that B&G continues to seek quotes for smoke detectors, and voiced concerns regarding wireless options. The team is also awaiting quotes for the steps and railing project. They are installing a new 3-sink system in the kitchen as directed by the health department. Kathy M of the Facilities and Usage Team will work with the parish administrator to streamline the rental process. Per general discussion, a new section will be added to our weekly e-news highlighting community events in which our parishioners participate. Great news: Our Garage Sale raised $3,650.47! In an incredible coincidence (?), that is the cost, to the dollar, of our recent organ repair! And the best news of all: To date, our Smoke Detector Capital Campaign has raised $32,420 with another $5,000 on the way! Contributors include individuals and groups who use our facilities such as the Scouts and 12-Step groups, as well as folks from the community who have fond memories of being at St. Luke's, many strangers, and of course our own generous members. We are more than halfway to our goal of $70,000, and your parish leadership is extremely grateful for the donations received so far. Please note it is not too late to donate for this urgently needed equipment! Please reach out to your Wardens and Vestry members if you have any questions, Stay cool!
Finances
Notes:
1. Pledge income is above budgeted, due to some pledges being prepaid.
2. Total revenue includes pledge income.
Call for Art -
New Exhibit at Nails in the Wall Gallery
All artists are invited to apply for the next juried exhibit at Nails in the Wall Gallery, “Light and Shadow”. Please feel free to share this flyer with any artists you may know.
Tea & Scones Book Club
We are continuing through June! Currently we are finishing up Madeleine L'Engle's A Circle of Quiet, which has sparked many conversations about life, God, and Christian ethics. Join us at 1:00 p.m. in the Fryer Room. You don't have to read the book first - Deacon Anne will share excerpts to get the conversation going. All are welcome!
No Adult Forum this weekend due to Parish Picnic.
Daily Office 9am, 12 noon, 5pm, 8:45pm (link)
Children’s Chapel: Leah F.
Children's Chapel will be extra special on Pentecost Sunday as the children return to the church early to share their Prayers of the People and their thoughts about Children's Chapel with Father Todd and the congregation and watch the baptism of some of their friends. We'd like to have as many of the children present as possible, so we hope your child will be with us - and feel free to wear something red in celebration of the Holy Spirit!
Coffee Hours Hosts: Fighera Family - Parish Picnic
Serving in Worship this Weekend
5:30pm (Sat) Perla V.
8:00AM (Sun) Jane S.
10:00AM (Sun) Doreen C., Kasi L., John S.
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, Lenny, Kristi, Frank, Frank, Janice, Dale, Dwinal, Randi, Chad, Sally, Katherine, Shannon, Tim, Janis, John, Dottie, Delphine, Candice, Peter, Cheryl, Richie, Carl, Mary Ann, Joseph, Joana, Brian, Brian, Pat, Michael, Amy, Glenn, Sandra, Matias, Ryan, Ava, Jeannine, Joseph, Suzzane & John, Melanie, Bernandette, Karen, Elaine, Elizabeth, Brenda, Karen, Jose Vilmar
For Those Who Have Died
Margaret, George, Gloria , Glennis, Mike
Links for: the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
For Those Who Celebrate Birthdays - May
Sharon H., Dwinal S., Francesca M., Janice S., Ann M., Josephine N., Leandro C., Alanna S., Carmelina A., Roman G., Bernardette R., Nicholas B., Poppy B.
Community Events
These are events that have members of St. Luke's involved in them.
Submissions for this section must be images (e.g., jpg or png) and should be received by email to the church office by 8am Wednesday each week. Each submission will be run once only but may be re-submitted the next week.
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.
