Five things you need to know about the Grand Scheme

A special gift day season Grand Scheme is coming, and it needs you to help make it happen. But what is the Grand Scheme? I hear you cry (through the magic of the internet.)

1. It's about having fun. Different people in church organise events and if an event sounds like fun to you, you buy a ticket to go along.

2. It's also about raising money. At the moment, St Luke's is only just managing to pay its bills. During the vacancy, we've seen a drop in giving and in the next few years we need to do some serious (ie, expensive) activity to fix some of our stone work. We can only get stuff done if we raise a bit more money. That's why Grand Scheme events are ticketed; the money goes to keeping the show on the road and prevent stones falling on your head.

3. It's about building community. When people organise events, only the type of event and rough location are promoted, and that means you're more likely to make friends with someone new.

4. It's about trying something new (or doing something fun). In the past, Grand Scheme events have included film nights, guided bird watching, cream tea, fancy dress dinner parties, singalongs, dance classes....it could be anything really, so if you have a passion for something then please consider putting on an event, and if you just want to have fun then please buy tickets to other people's events.

5. Did we mention it will be fun?

This year we're running a mini Grand Scheme in the autumn and planning for something bigger in the spring, when our new vicar will be around and presumably looking for fun things to do.

If you want to organise an event, please get in touch with Susie, Sarah or Joy (you can email Sarah) and if you want to use the church space to host your event, please check availability by sending Tina an email.

(Grand Scheme events are not charged a rental fee)

Speakeasy is back: Friday 4th October

The biggest event in the St Luke's calendar (except for maybe Easter and Christmas) is back. For the uninitiated, Speakeasy is a Crispin-produced cabaret, variety and singalong event, complemented by a live band, entertainment and bar (ooh, naughty). As ever, St Luke's will be magically transformed into a stunning night club setting. It's the perfect occasion to bring your friends, family and neighbours for a night of holy revelry.

• Friday 4 October, 20:00-23:30, at St Luke's

• £5 on the door, £2 concessions

• 16+ (strictly observed)

• Tickets available online

An Arbor Blessing for Sissy

Every year on the anniversary of the death of her husband Bill, Sissy used to make a gift to Sam – and later to Jean – to plant some bulbs in the church garden. The beauty of the gardens over time was sponsored by Sissy without anyone knowing. On Sunday June 16th, some of Sissy’s children and grandchildren, joined us to bless an arbor in the garden in her memory. Here’s the blessing we shared.

May this be an arbor of shade and shelter

As Sissy’s presence through the years

Helped make this place a shelter of community

As we pass by and walk through,

May we notice the quiet life of plants, the silent grass

The earth that we come from, that holds us up,

Just as we come from each other and also hold each other up

As the life in this garden harnesses the great sun

To make real the unlikely dream of life

May we photosynthesize the light in the face of stranger and friend

Generating faith, hope and love to sustain each daily journey

And may Sissy always be a sign to us,

… like Jean and Norman, like Sam and Julia,

like those in decades past and decades to come,

who tend this hidden plot of planet

… a sign like all who nurture the hidden seeds of life

in flower pots and on window sills,  front and back gardens,

A sign of the life of this good earth

Which keeps us alive and longs for our friendship and care.

Amen

Easter at St Luke's

Easter is one of the Church’s great festivals and Holy Week a special way to enter it.  Join us at St Luke’s.

Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter) commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, before the tide turned, leading to his crucifixion five days later. On 14 April, in keeping with tradition, we’ll start our service at 10:45am in the garden, before processing into the church carrying woven crosses.

Maundy Thursday, marks the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his friends and we also share a meal together, along with a short service and reflection. (8pm, Thursday 18 April)

Our Good Friday meditation at 12 noon on 19 April takes the form of a contemplative service, where we move around the church through  a series of ‘stations’ created by members of the church. The theme of these installations this year is 'Hope Carriers’ - who are the people and what are the places holding hope in our world today?  

On Saturday 20 April at 11.15pm we gather for the dramatic  Vigil of Fire - a midnight mass of darkness, fire and light in which we meditate on the dark hours after Christ’s death, followed by his rising.

On Easter Sunday, 21 April, we’re back in the church at 11am to celebrate resurrection morning. 

Whether you’re a regular at St Luke’s, an occasional visitor or have never joined us before, you’re very welcome at any of our Easter events. 

27 January: Rick Wakeman - concert & conversation with Simon Mayo

Rick Wakeman – rock god and keyboard extraordinaire of Yes fame – is coming to St Luke's to chat with Simon Mayo and play some songs. Best of all, it's a fundraiser for Nightshelter.

Wondering what to expect? Check out this video of Rick shredding a mind-bending keyboard solo while sporting a fetching mullet.

• Sunday January 27th 

• 19:00-21:30 

• Tickets are £11.25

• Buy your tickets

P.S. Rumours that Rick Leigh is set to challenge Mr Wakeman to a keyboard-themed battle of the Ricks are as yet unconfirmed.

P.P.S. You really do need to get your tickets asap. By the time Rick's set up all his keyboards (see picture) we won't have room for many audience members.

Christmas at St Luke's 🎄

Whether you’re a regular at St Luke’s, an occasional visitor, or you’ve never joined us before, you’ll find a warm welcome at all our services over the festive period. Season’s greetings to everyone in the parish of St Luke’s, West Holloway, and beyond.

Nativity Play Service 
16th December, 11am

Candlelit Carol Service 
Followed by refreshments and mulled wine 
23rd December, 6.30pm

Midnight Mass 
With prayers for absent friends 
24th December, 11.30pm

Christmas Day Family Service 
25th December, 10.30am

We made it into the Times!

 ... the Church Times!  This time because of our support for Traidcraft who are at risk of going under. Check out the article here: Churches join shopping spree to save ailing Traidcraft.

All Souls 2018

Many people find their way to St Luke’s through the saddest of circumstances – planning a funeral for a loved one. Others have found comfort in the love and support of people at St Luke’s during the dark time after losing a friend or family member.

As a church, we often include opportunities during regular services to remember and give thanks for people we’ve loved and lost – perhaps through lighting a candle, saying a prayer, or the shared experience of communion, which symbolically gathers together all people, both living and dead.

However, once a year there’s a special service dedicated to those who’ve departed this world. All Souls Day (also known as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed) falls every year on 2 November. St Luke’s will be holding its All Souls service on Sunday 4th November at 4pm. It’s an opportunity to pray for departed souls, give thanks for those we’ve loved, and light a candle in their memory. Their names will be read out as part of the service.

The service is particularly popular with people who’ve attended funerals at St Luke’s in the preceding year, but anyone is welcome to attend, and some people make the journey every year.

If you’d like the name(s) of your loved one(s) to be read out at the service on 4th November, you can fill in this form and return it to Martin or Joy at church, or email your request to service@saintlukeschurch.org.uk. Please return your requests by 30th of October.

We look forward to welcoming you to the All Souls service to remember those you’ve loved and lost.

📄 All Souls memorial service reply slip

Gift Day, October 21st

Dear St Luke’s family and friends,

October 21st is when we have our annual Gift Day collection. We’re in an in-between moment in our community, having said goodbye to Dave and Pat and started down the path of finding the right person to join us in the next chapter. In the meantime, many people are volunteering extra time, talent and energy to ensure this remains a resonant and rewarding community.

Our Gift Day is key to help us meet our annual running costs - £12,000 per month - and to fund all the small but vital improvements to our shared spaces as we adapt to the evolving shape of our life together….(read more)

Please download a copy of our Gift Day Letter and forms if you are able to make a contribution.

🗎 Gift Day 2018

🗎 Gift aid form & standing order

Thank you

Speakeasy

Don’t miss the Speakeasy on 12 October

Here at St Luke’s, we’re blessed with some amazingly talented people in our congregation, from singers and musicians to actors and comedians. Our annual Speakeasy is an opportunity to be entertained by the best of the church’s talent – and enjoy a great social evening and a singalong, too.

What can you expect from a St Luke’s Speakeasy? You’ll arrive to find the church transformed into a twinkling candlelit café, with the stage set for the show. There’ll be a bar in the kitchen, and nibbles to snack on while you relax among friends and enjoy top-class musical performances, sketches, cabaret acts and a few surprise moments. Plus there’ll be a house band to lead a singalong we can all join in with. Crispin – who produces the event – will be our master of ceremonies.

The 11th St Luke’s Speakeasy is on Friday 12 October, 8pm-11.30pm. Tickets cost £5, or £2 concessions, and the event is only open to those aged 16+ (no exceptions). Tickets are on sale now at Sunday morning services and at https://billetto.co.uk/e/speakeasy-11-tickets-310817 (or on the door, space permitting) – advanced sales are encouraged so we can make sure the bar doesn’t run out. 

As well as a chance for us all to get together and have some fun, it’s also a great opportunity to invite friends, family and neighbours along for a relaxed evening out. So get your gladrags on, tune up your vocal cords and get ready for a great night at St Luke’s.