The Lark - St. Luke's Episcopal...
Transcript of The Lark - St. Luke's Episcopal...
Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church
From the Senior Warden
I want to share with you some of the activities and discussion that occurred at the Vestry Retreat on
June, 2017. The following is from my notes of the retreat:
Agenda Item: Talents/Exercise to Identify Vestry Talents
Following an abbreviated vestry meeting at which the May minutes were approved and the
financials reviewed, Reverend Barbara began the retreat activities with a discussion of the walk to
Emmaus and how it relates to the topic of transition and our current situation at St. Luke’s and how
we discover or identify the talents and skills in our group that we might not be aware of, or have not
communicated to each other. An activity was then conducted to discern how we view each other in
several areas that are critical to leading the congregation on this path of transition:
• Communication-the ability to communicate effectively, whether verbally or in writing or
through media;
• Analysis-the ability to determine when a problem exists, what the nature of the problem is
and develop a means to address it through problem solving, planning and organization;
• Implementation-the ability to implement a resolution to a problem, “getting it done;”
• Humor-the essential ability to not take a situation too seriously, to approach each other
with kindness and goodwill.
(Continued on Page 2)
The Lark August 2017
The activity involved each of us writing another vestry members’ name(s) on a sheet that was
labeled with one of the listed abilities. [Suzanne Bady and Bonnie Weeber were excused from the
retreat, hence you do not see their names.] The activity yielded the following:
Communication: Ann, Amanda, Mary and Robert
Analysis: Don, Money Mike, Mary, Admin Mike, Ann, Jean
Implementation: Amanda, Mary, Jim, Admin Mike, Ann, Jan, Robert
Humor: Jim and both Mikes
In the discussion that followed we realized that we didn’t really know each other well, and so we
went around the room and introduced ourselves to each other and mentioned those talents, skills
and abilities that we possess and have used, or have a strong interest in using, in our lives.
Eve spent a lifetime in interior design and sales. Jean, as a medical technician, wrote detailed
medical procedure books. Mike Kallas is an experienced church administrator which he came to
after a career in the US Air Force in weapons and satellite systems. Mike LeClaire was a Marine
and a Vietnam veteran and spent a career in news broadcasting in production and photography
and has five Emmy awards (he didn’t mention the Emmys-Mary did). Don recently retired after 40
years in finance including 35 years in stock and bond investing. Robert’s background is in urban
design and landscaping and he focuses on large art installations in buildings—he recently did a
mural that spanned multiple stories in a building’s interior. Ann has 40 years in business operations
and human resources with an emphasis on executive search, leadership assessment and crisis
communications. She still does consulting in these areas. Jim Robertson has been involved in the
insurance industry for his career and has recently shifted his focus to wills, trusts and the transition
guidance seniors need for retirement planning. Jan has been deeply involved in Native American
issues through government, she is a curator at the Denver Art Museum in the Native American
section, is an educator and involved in tribal government at the local, state and federal level.
Amanda took her education in biology from work in a fertility clinic into 14 years in telecommunica-
tions training. She is now focusing on designing her own line of jewelry. Mary had a career in law
enforcement, retiring as an Assistant Chief of Police and then went into management consulting with
government, primarily fire and police departments. The Reverend Barbara had a career as an
attorney with the Environmental Protection Agency and worked in the development of the
Brownfields Program, before attending the seminary to become a priest.
At the end of these introductions most of us looked at each other in amazement about what we did
not know about each other, which led to a discussion about the wealth of talent, skills, and interest
that undoubtedly exists amongst the congregation about which we don’t know. It is Opportunity
slipping by us when we don’t know what people like to do or want to do for their church. We then
discussed how to capture that information.
We are still collecting our thoughts and ideas as to how we can get to know each of you and mine
your talents and give you opportunities to be more engaged with the church and its’ programs. Your
ideas are welcomed by the vestry.
Respectfully,
Mary Wamsley
The Lark, August 2017
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The Lark, August 2017
Page 3 TransFormations
Gordon C. Tucker Jr., Director of Christian Formation
Monthly Feature: Season of Pentecost We are now several weeks into the season of Pentecost, which runs
from the day of Pentecost (June 4) to the first Sunday in Advent
(December 3). It is a time of praise, fellowship and spiritual renewal. It
is often referred to as the “green season” because the liturgical color is
normally green, which seems particularly appropriate at this time of the
year because the trees and plants are blooming and the air is filled with
sweet smells.
Update on Church School: The Church School has taken a summer break, allowing our
teachers time to relax with their families. Church School will
resume on Balloon Sunday, September 10th. Stay tuned for
more information about this traditional celebration of the end of
summer and resumption of Christian education at St. Luke’s.
Update on Adult Formation: Adult Formation has also been on a summer hiatus. I returned in early July
from a three week adventure excavation at Tel Shimron in Israel, which is
located approximately 4 miles west of Nazareth, on the northern edge of
the Jezreel Valley. It was a marvelous adventure, a good follow-up to my
participation for the last five years in the excavations at Ashkelon, on the
Mediterranean Coast. As I have done with Ashkelon, I will present in the
fall a narrated slide show and discussion on Tel Shimron and its role in
antiquity, however; in the article below, I want to share with you now some
of my time in Tel Shimron.
(Continued on Page 4)
Tel Shimron Gordon C. Tucker Jr., Director of Christian Formation
As many of you know, I am a professional archaeologist and I conduct most of my work here in the
United States. few years ago, I “moved up” to a managerial position at my company, which has
had both positive and negative consequences. The most negative aspect of this “promotion” is that
I do not get out in the field as often as I would like. I have compensated for this disappointment by
volunteering to participate in archaeological excavations in Israel. For 5 years (2012-2016), I exca-
vated at Ashkelon, one of the five cites of the Philistine Pentapolis, located on the Mediterranean
coast, approximately 30 miles south of Tel Aviv. In 2016, the project team ended 31 years of exca-
vation at Ashkelon and the excavations were backfilled and closed down. Because the site is a na-
tional park, it is protected and ready for the next round of excavations by some other team, some-
time in the near future.
Meanwhile, the project team moves this year to Tel Shimron, located on the northwestern edge of
the Jezreel Valley, approximately 4 miles west of Nazareth (Figure 1). The acropolis at the site is
located at the eastern edge of the Tel and rises nearly 60 meters (200 feet) above the lowest por-
tions of the settlement along the western edge of the site (Figure 2). An ancient road skirts the
Figure 1. Location of Tel Shimron Figure 2. LiDAR Image of Tel Shimron
(Continued on Page 5)
In the fall, we will also resume our study of Genesis (Sunday mornings from 9 to 10 a.m.) and our
collaborative study of Exodus with Congregation Rodef Shalom (Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to
8 p.m.). More information about all of these activities will be forthcoming next month.
But now, let me share my adventures at Tel Shimron with you.
The Lark, August 2017
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August Is Back to School Month As we enter into this transition from Summer into Autumn, let us reflect on what the Apostle Paul
taught us in the Letter to the Romans 12:4-6a. “For as in one body we have many members, and
not all the members have the same function, so we who are many, are one body in Christ, and
individually we are members of one another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given
to us.” The school system teaches children and helps them to live out their vocation requiring a
body of people with different gifts. We bless you now as you begin your vocation of helping
children.
St. Luke’s will bless our students and teachers on Sunday, August 20th along with school back-
packs, tablets, laptops, and any other school supplies you would like to have blessed.
Western edge of the site. Preliminary surveys of the area have identified remains spanning from
the Neolithic through the Ottoman periods, more than 8,000 years.
The site is reportedly the largest unexcavated site in Israel, and a significant amount of information
is undoubtedly contained within its many layers of history. I am excited to be part of the team that
will “crack open” this site for the first time. I will present in the fall a summary overview of the
excavations at Tel Shimron.
Have a wonderful summer!
The Lark, August 2017
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In Our Year of Outreach
Your Outreach Committee partners with Ashley Elemen-
tary School to help support the needs of students and
faculty. In August we provide school supplies of all
kinds: backpacks, notebooks, tablets, pens and pencils
and any and all miscellaneous school supplies students
and faculty may use and need. All donations to the
Ashley Elementary School Outreach box on the stage
are welcomed!
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
1270 Poplar Street
Denver CO 80220-3023
Phone 303-355-2331 Fax 303-355-5388
visit us at www.lukeonlin.org
Do you have information to share with the Parish? Is there a special celebration
coming up in your life? Please contact the office for inclusion in the Lark.
The Lark is Published Monthly
The Lark, August 2017
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More August Features
August 6th—Rockies Baseball Faith Day! Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies game time 1:10 p.m.
with an after game concert featuring The News Boys
August 6th—Church School Teachers Meeting 9:00 am to 10:00 am
August 13th— Outreach Committee Meeting 11:45 am in the library all are welcome
August 20th—Backpack Sunday. Bring your backpacks, tablets, laptops and any school supplies to
the 10:15 service for a special blessing for all Students, Teachers, and School Administrators.
From Your Outreach Committee
In the July Lark, we outlined who are Core Outreach Partners are and how we try to help them in our community. Today I would like to focus on the Colfax Community Network; our neighbors along the East Colfax Corridor who assist transient families in many ways. Through the Colfax Community Network, your donations of snacks, diapers and wipes, blankets and toiletries and school supplies are needed and greatly appreciated. As the school year approaches, the administrators are seeking volunteer tutors for their after school tutoring program. If this appeals to you, we encourage you to contact Nathan Hickman, Children’s Programs Director at [email protected] or by phone at 303.360.9175. In the meantime please continue with the needed donation items listed in this article. Any and all donations help the low income transient families of our East Colfax community. Respectfully Submitted,
Nancy Rein