1

“God does not dwell in temples made with hands” the old hymn goes. That is true. God does dwell in a community made by Him – “Christ builds a house of living stones: we are his own habitation”, the same hymn con-tinues--- and that is what weekly worship in church is all about. Our community, called into being by God in Christ, gathers weekly to wor-ship and praise Him. Worship is where your body is. As we rejoice in the resurrection of our

Lord this Easter, might it not be a joyful opportunity to renew your commitment to grow one step closer toward faithful attendance? Start with yourself. Do you attend worship at St. Luke’s fifty-two weeks a year? Do you worship when you have company for the week-end? Do you miss when the weather is bad? Decide right now that you will not miss wor-ship the rest of this year. Choose to let the resurrection live in you. In weekly worship, we have the joyful and wonderful experience of God “resetting the clock” through forgiveness, praying together and for one another, singing side by side, having our spirits and values lifted by the Word proclaimed and scripture, to God who loves us so. We are recalled, like the Prodigal son to “come to our senses” when the rest of the week we are pulled and pushed by myriad demands and desires. The Word, the songs, the scripture, the Story becomes part of you. In weekly worship the theoretical becomes real. No religion made by man here, but rather the gift of God coming to humankind! And I can tell you that in weekly worship and community the lost are saved, the prodigal comes back home we are welcomed back our-selves and the population of heaven increases ---God will honor our efforts because this is our calling every Sunday. Worship is where our body is. Writer John Krahn writes, “Let’s make it simple. The question is, “Does God de-sire and deserve our weekly worship?” The answer is a resounding “yes”. Believing this, we do not have to ask ourselves 52 times a year whether we are going to church this Sun-day or not. Unless we are ill or have an urgent other commitment, we attend. Going to church is not primarily about meeting our needs. It is about pleasing God who meets our needs every minute of every day.” My own attitude has changed by one short sentence from St. Augustine: “The sing-ing of psalms and hymns is prayer to God.” How that changes the direction of our hymns of worship from ourselves (“This is an old favorite hymn of mine”) instead to addressing and praising God! Martin Luther one day visited a member whom he had not seen at mass for some time. Both men sat before the fireplace in the man’s living room. Without saying a word, Luther went over to the fireplace and with a pair of tongs, removed one of the glowing, red-hot pieces of wood from the bottom of the fire. He then placed it on the roughly hewn, wooden mantel. As they both watched, the piece removed from the fire quickly went out while all the others continued to burn brightly. The point was made. We need to be present every week at worship to remain on fire for the Lord. God desires our weekly worship. And we need it! Happy Easter!, Pastor Bill Damrow

God Desires and Deserves Our Worship

St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, New Rochelle, N.Y. April 2017

St. Luke’s

Lutheran

Church

A Congregation of the Evan-

gelical Lutheran Church in

America (ELCA)

95 Eastchester

Road

New Rochelle,

New York 10801

The Rev. Dr.

William J. Damrow

Pastor

Church: (914) 632-

2116

Email: StLuke654

@aol.com

CHECK OUR WEBSITE:

Slnr.org

Newsletter Editor: Pat

Fredericks:

mrsfred-

die47@gmail.com

Renee Taylor: eNews-

letter production

SUNDAY SERVICE:

Holy Communion:

10:00 A.M.

Sunday School– June

10:00 A.M.

Fellowship:

11:15 A.M

Last Lent Vespers :

Wednesday 7:30 P.M.

,April 5 -1-

2017 Holy Week Schedule

Palm Sunday April 9 Dramatic Reading of the Passion

Sunday of the Passion according to St. Matthew

Holy Communion

Wednesday of Holy Week April 12 Corporate Confession &

Forgiveness

Baptismal blessing

Holy Thursday April 13 Holy Communion

Foot-washing

Stripping of the Altar

Good Friday April 14 Dramatic Tenebrae &

Hymns - Gradual darkness!

Reading from St. John

Easter Sunday Festival Music Celebration!

The Resurrection of our Lord! April 16 Holy Communion

Children resurrect the “Alleluia”!

All weekday services of worship are at 8:00 p.m.

Sunday services are at 10:00 a.m.

Deacon Marva Montalvo will be leading a one session adult education class on “Learning Something New

Every Day” on Sunday, April 30 at 11:30 a.m., in the Church Council Room after worship. No matter our age,

every new day we are learning by listening, teaching by our actions and we graduate as we move from one

phase of our life to another. All are welcome to the presentation and discussion!

And coming this summer in June and July, Deacon Marva will include a “Did You Know. . .” on “Who’s Who

in the Bible” in the Sunday bulletin.

- 2 -

LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY

NEWS FROM THE CHURCH COUNCIL

During a meeting on March 21st, the Council was alerted to a concerning drop in Current and Mission Support

for the first two months of the year as compared with the same time last year and this year’s budget. If you have

not been keeping up with your financial commitment or you can make an additional contribution at this time,

please do so now. It is very early in the year, which is a perfect time for us to be paying close attention to this.

If you have any questions, please contact Susanne Kuligowski, Council President at 914-413-1119.

Sunday, June 25, 2017 | 2 PM

Presented by Concordia College-New York

Performers

Lutheran National Festival Choir

Jason Thoms, Conductor

Concordia Lutheran Festival Choir

Jason Thoms and Ralph C. Schultz, Conductors

Concordia Camerata Chamber Orchestra

Treva Foss, Soprano

Sarah Marvel Bleasdale, Alto

Kristopher Jean, Tenor

George Heath, Bass

Program

BACH Cantata No. 80: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott

Works by Gwyneth Walker, Keith Hampton, Brahms, John Rutter, Paul Weber, Jason Thoms

and Ralph Schultz

Consider joining for this great musical event at Carnegie Hall to continue our celebration of Martin Luther!

He in his own words said: “Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the

world.” (Martin Luther)

Please get your own tickets soon – certain seating is already starting to sell out! https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2017/6/25/0200/PM/500th-Anniversary-of-the-Reformation-Hymn-Festival/

- 3 -

500th ANNIVERSARY OF THE REFORMATION

HYMN FESTIVAL

Join us on May 6 for a unique concert to celebrate 500 years of

the Reformation. Susanne Kuligowski will act as our MC

weaving highlights of Martin Luther's life around a varied

program of music and song. Iryna Arbatska will perform on the

new piano and also accompany Cathy O Rourke in a Bach

Suite for flute and piano. The Junior Choir will sing the

Canticle of Turning accompanied by Robert Brent on guitar, and our very own Julia Ungewitter will sing

Amazing Grace. There may also be a piano and organ duet, a spiritual, and one of Luther's favorite hymns sung

by our choirs. Come and listen and bring your friends at 4 pm. Plan to stay afterwards for refreshments and

fellowship too.

This month sixteen ladies will be attending the Annual Women’s Retreat at Koinonia April 21-23.

On May 6th we will celebrate the Reformation with a Recital from 4-6pm. Please see the Save the Date, as well

as the article elsewhere in this issue for additional information about this event.

We will have a planning meeting on May 7th after church in the kitchen

for our Spring Sale on June 3rd. Please feel free to email us with

questions, suggestions, etc. June 3rd we need all the help we can get to

make the sale a bigger success than last year. There will be a sign-up

sheet later in May.

Lastly, our cook books are now ONLY $5 EACH …We would love to

share them with you. Would make a great gift or keep one for yourself.

See us anytime!

Gratefully yours,

Pat and Dawn

P.S. Remember, our church is only as strong as its members and we are so lucky and so thankful to have such

great friends and members as you. Thank you all for being part of St. Luke’s fellowship this year. If anyone

would like to join us, whether for an event or to join the committee please let us know… God bless you all

Pat Damrow email: PatDamrow@hotmail.com and Dawn McEvoy email: Mmcevoy33@aol.com

Fellowship events at St Luke’s are collaboratively sponsored by the Fellowship committee, St. Luke’s Sunday School, the

Stewardship committee, the Evangelism committee and the Youth Group. … This is what Fellowship is all about, and we

are always looking for new faces to join us in furthering our fellowship ministry. If you would like to support any of the events or join the committee, please contact us.

- 4 –

COME HEAR THE MUSIC!

JOYOUS EASTER from the FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE

BOOK CLUB CORNER

Our March selection was Anna Quindlen's novel, Miller's Valley. This emotionally powerful coming-of-age

book tells the story of Mary Margaret (Mimi) Miller from ages 11 to 64. As a young woman, the protagonist

unearths deep secrets about her family and unexpected facts about the government's involvement in the flooding

of her small American town, Miller's Valley. As readers we enjoyed the

intimate and honest way Mimi described her family, friends and her

hometown on the verge of enormous change.

Mid-way through our engaging discussion led by Elizabeth Brent, we

were treated to a delicious blueberry pie, compliments of Karen Jantzen.

(Mimi's mother, Miriam, baked pies for her children as a token of her

love and affection). So our pie was theme based! Thus fortified, we delved into the risks of passion, loyalty,

betrayal and love. Mimi claimed that, "No one ever leaves the town where they grow up, even if they go." We

talked about the importance of sense of place in our own lives. We realized, as did the poet Mary Oliver, that

"Happiness isn't a town on a map."

Our next book is Out Stealing Horses by the Norwegian novelist, Per Petterson. We will meet at 7:30 PM on

Wednesday, April 19th, in St. Luke's kitchen. Everyone is welcome to join us.

This month we will be busy bringing our Lenten Journey to an end with

Easter Sunday. We will have our Annual Easter Bake Sale on Easter

Sunday, April 16th. Our Easter Pageant this year, “He Lives,” will be on

April 30th during the Worship Service. We will have rehearsals during

Sunday School as well as two Dress Rehearsals on April 8th and April 29th

at 5pm in the Church. Please be sure to tell us right away if your child is

NOT participating or will NOT be here for the pageant.

The Youth Group will be participating in the Easter Pageant, contributing to

the Easter Bake Sale and helping with the Reformation Recital on May 6th.

Please feel free to contact me at mmcevoy33@aol.com anytime.

Thank you all for your support!

Dawn McEvoy, Superintendent

- 5 –

HAPPY EASTER

from the SUNDAY SCHOOL & the YOUTH GROUP

~ SAVE THE DATE ~

During the summer, we will switch to a very easy and comfortable setting

of the Sunday liturgy which uses familiar hymn tunes. You will enjoy

singing the tunes– “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee”, “Open Now Thy

Gates of Beauty”, etc. We will quickly begin to pick up Setting Ten on

June 18 and continue until shortly after Rally Day, September 10.

From Rev. Daniel Rift, Director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal

to St. Luke’s members: “Thank you for your gift of $1,514 to ELCA World

Hunger” collected on Souper Bowl Sunday! “Your gift is surely a

manifestation of your faith in God’s grace and mercy and a witness to the

light that shines brightly through Christ to all nations.”

“

May 6, 2017

Recital begins at 4pm

In the Sanctuary.

Reception

Immediately Following.

Free Admission

St. Luke’s Lutheran Church

95 Eastchester Road

New Rochelle, NY 10801

(914)632-2116

- 6 -

NEW & EASY SUMMER SUNDAY SETTING LITURGY IN JUNE

THANK YOU

“Reformation, Recital

and Reception,

A 500th Anniversary

Celebration”

C

e

l

e

b

r

a

t

i

o

- 7 -

In our prayers this month are all those undergoing further tests or treatments, those in our

Sunday prayers, those hospitalized, with health concerns or in transition, especially Nicole

Maresca, Alan Fontrecchio, Doug Smith and Barbara McLaughlin, those who have died in

the Lord and the grieving.

Birthdays

4/1 Paula Hayes 4/15 Erika Johnson

4/2 Julianne Kehou 4/17 Brad Fredericks

4/4 Claudia Rubicco 4/19 Sandra Makucewicz

Frank Saavedra Shirley Benge

4/5 Debbie Hollander 4/21 Robert Doerr

4/8 Linda Potrafke Curtis Benge

Rachel Kimber 4/22 Cidney Montalvo

4/9 Brian LeBoeuf Stephanie Elmer

Lisa LeBoeuf Rachel Elmer

4/11 Mrs. G. John Gerretsen 4/24 Michael Migliore

4/12 Daniel D. Brisson 4/25 Elizabeth Mitze

Erik Jantzen 4/27 Margaret Lenz-Nicolais

4/14 Sophia Kehoe 4/28 Rupert Thompson

Sanjay Smith

Anniversaries

4/4 Zachary & Rosalind Carter

4/8 Traci & Ermenegildo Daniele

4/11 Sanjay & Ayumi Smith

4/16 Linda Skillen & Jose Saavedra

4/18 Len & Donna Elmer

4/23 Gloria & Laurence Head

4/29 Jeremy & Rachelle Harris

- 8 -

APRIL BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

AROUND THE PARISH

WORSHIP ASSISTANTS - APRIL 2017

USHERS:

Apr. 2 Ed O'Garro, Lydia Bersito, Petrona Brissett

9 Denise Tolles, Jennifer Archer, Lenard Garrett, Dori DeCarlo-Palm Sun.

12 Rupert Thompson, Karen Jantzen-Corp. Confession

13 Rosemarie Doerr, Denise Tolles-Maundy Thurs.

14 Peter Johnson, Walt Mitze-Good Friday

16 Denise Tolles, Karen Jantzen, Ed O'Garro, Ray Rankis-Easter

23 Peter Johnson, Walt Mitze, Jeremy Harris, Bob Maresca

30 Rupert Thompson, Lydia Bersito, Petrona Brissett, Ward Henderson

ACOLYTES:

Apr. 2 Graeme Buehrer Apr. 14 S. Mitze, J. O'Garro-Good Fri.

Apr. 9 S. Taylor, E. Aponte-Palm Sun. Apr. 16 K. Roksvold, E. Aponte-Easter

Apr. 12 Victoria McEvoy-Corp. Conf. Apr. 23 Jessica Bose

Apr. 13 Cory Tupper-Maundy Thurs. Apr. 30 E. Aponte

CRUCIFERS: TORCH BEARERS: BANNER BEARER: Apr. 9 Simon O'Rourke-Palm Sun. Apr. 16 R. Elmer, S. Elmer-Easter Apr. 16 Simon O'Rourke-Easter

Apr. 16 Samantha Mitze-Easter

COUNCILPERSON:

Apr. 2 Pat Fredericks Apr. 23 Jeremy Harris

Apr. 9 Doug Smith-Palm Sun. Apr. 30 Steve Olsen

Apr. 16 Dawn McEvoy-Easter

COMMUNION ASSISTANT

Apr. 2 Brett Buehrer Apr. 16 S. Kuligowski, L. Head, R. Carter-Easter

Apr. 9 Dec. M. Montalvo, M. Ungewitter, Apr. 23 Robert Brent

C. O'Rourke-Palm Sun. Apr. 30 Martin Ungewitter

Apr. 13 Henry Doerr- Maundy Thurs.

LECTORS

Apr. 2 Martin Ungewitter Apr. 16 Elizabeth Brent-Easter

Apr. 9 Renee Taylor -Palm Sun. Apr. 23 Cathie Behrend

Apr. 13 Melissa McEvoy-Maundy Thurs. Apr. 30 Pat Damrow

Apr. 14 (TBA)-Good Fri

ALTAR GUILD

Apr. 2 P. Fredericks, N. Sigler Apr. 15 Altar Guild Set-up for Easter

Apr. 9 Altar Guild-Palm Sun. Apr. 23 S. Kuligowski, N. Sigler

Apr. 13 N. Sigler, R. Taylor-Maundy Thurs. Apr. 30 P. Fredericks, J. Archer

COUNTERS

Apr. 2 D. Smith, Nancy Sigler Apr. 23 R. Thompson, P. Johnson

Apr. 9 T. Brooks, K.Jantzen-Palm Sun. Apr. 30 D. Smith, Nancy Sigler

Apr. 16 D. Smith, T. Daniele- Easter

COFFEE HOUR

Apr. 2 Social Ministry Apr. 23 Fellowship

Apr. 9 Evangelism-Palm Sun. Apr. 30 Altar Guild

Apr. 16 Sunday School-Easter

If you cannot keep your scheduled assignment, please make arrangements to switch with someone and let the

church office know early that week. Thank you.

[Abbreviations-BB: Banner Bearer, C: Crucifer, A: Acolyte, TB: Torch Bearer]

- 9-

EASTER PLANTS

If you wish to order an Easter Plant in memory of or in honor of a loved one, please complete the form below.

Names of donors and loved ones will appear in the Easter Bulletin.

Cost: $25.00

Deadline Date: April 9, 2017

--------------------------------------------------------

EASTER PLANTS

In memory of___________________________

or in honor of___________________________

From__________________________________

Please send to: St. Luke’s Lutheran Church 95 Eastchester Rd.

New Rochelle, NY 10801

ST. LUKE'S LUTHERAN CHURCH - APRIL 2017

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

All Sundays

9a-Sr. Choir Rehearsal

10a-Choir

10a-Sunday School

[Cont. next box]

11:15a-Jr. Choir Rehearsal

11:15a-Coffee Hour

1

9:30a-A.A. Men’s Group

2

10a-Eucharist

11:15a-Passion Reading

Rehearsal

11:30a-Adult Ed. “The

Power of Forgiveness”

3

7p-A.A. Mtg.

4

7:30p-Sunday School

Staff Mtg.

5

9:30a– Clergy Sermon

Study

7:30p-Lenten Vespers

Host: Fellowship

8:15p-Sr. Choir

6

7:30p-Centering Prayer

(Last Class)

7

7:15p-Boy Scouts

8

9:30a-A.A. Men’s Group

9 Palm/Passion Sunday

10a-Eucharist

10a-Passion Reading

No Sunday School,

children worship w/ family

10

7p-A.A. Mtg.

11

7:30p-Church Council

Mtg.

12

8p-Corporate Confession

& Forgiveness

9:30a-Clergy Sermon

Study

13

8p- Maundy Thursday

Liturgy, Eucharist

8p-Sr. Choir

14

8p-Good Friday/Tenebrae

Liturgy

No Boy Scouts

15

9:30a-A.A. Men’s Group

16 Resurrection of Our

Lord/Easter Sunday

10a-Eucharist

No Sunday School,

children worship w/ family

17

Office Closed

7p-A.A. Mtg.

18 19

9:30a-Clergy Sermon

Study

7:30p-St. Luke's Book

Club

20 21

No Boy Scouts

Women’s Retreat

Apr. 21-23

22

9:30a-A.A. Men’s Group

23 Easter Hymns &

Readings

10a-Eucharist

24

7p-A.A. Mtg.

25 26

9:30a-Clergy Sermon

Study

27 28

7:15p-Boy Scouts

29

9:30a-A.A. Men’s Group

5p-Sunday School Easter

Pageant Rehearsal

30 Youth Sunday

10a-Eucharist

10a-Sunday School Easter

Pageant

[Cont. next box]

April 30 Cont.

11:30a-Adult Ed.

“Learning Something

New Every Day”-Deacon

Marva Montalvo

1:30p-First Communion

Instruction Part 1

May 6 (Sat.)

4p-Reformation Recital &

Reception A 500th

Anniversary Celebration

in the Sanctuary

May 7 (Sun.)

10a-Service for Healing &

Bring-a-Friend Sunday

1:30p-First Communion

Instruction Part 2

Jennifer M. Archer Fernita E. Ross Jean Carlson Aija Sears Mr. & Mrs. John Gerretsen Nancy Sigler Lorraine & Walter Helfer Madeline & William Tappert Margaret Lenz Christel Tippett Robert Lepple Ernest & Rosalind Wallace Bob Maresca Martin & Julia Ungewitter Art Rankis Lilian Warren Ray Rankis Patrons are those who wish to make a gift to help support the publication of St. Luke's Voice. To become a patron, just make a contribution of $25.00 send to St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 95 Eastchester Rd., New Rochelle, NY 10801. Please designate the gift toward "Patron of Newsletter".

Thank you to the Patrons of St. Luke's Voice – 2017

St. Luke’s Voice

April 2017

Easter Issue

St. Luke’s Lutheran

Church (ELCA) 95 Eastchester Rd.

New Rochelle, New York

10801-1209

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED