LOVE IS THE LANGUAGE SPOKEN HERE

January 22, 2026

STANDING FOR JUSTICE, LIVING IN GRACE

We believe worship and justice go hand in hand.

Find your voice and your place at St. Luke’s.

MUSINGS FROM THE TOP OF THE STAIRS

Beloved,

Weather forecasters are predicting snow and ice this weekend, with Sunday expected to bring the most challenging conditions. While the forecasted amounts continue to shift, even a small amount of snow, freezing rain, or ice can increase the risk of injury. Even if it appears to be a minimal amount of snow or freezing rain, I encourage you to err on the side of caution and stay home.

WE WILL LIVESTREAM OUR WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY!

CHECK ST. LUKE'S WEBSITE FOR THE LINK TO JOIN US ONLINE.

We are moving into the coldest part of the year, and even if this winter storm isn't as bad as predicicted, there will most likely be other days and stroms that will be.

So, I want to offer a gentle and important reminder about staying safe this winter.

When weather conditions are snowy or icy, please do not feel obligated to come to church in person that day, even if you are scheduled to help lead the service in some way or host the coffee hour. Your safety matters deeply to us. Slippery sidewalks, icy steps, and cold temperatures can pose real risks, especially for those with mobility or health concerns. The roads in front of your house may look clear, but there may be some hidden ice on your porch, the steps, or the sidewalk and driveway leading from your home that you can easily slip and fall on resulting in broken bones, or worse.

Staying home on a wintery Sunday is not a failure of faith or commitment. It is an act of good judgment and self-care. God’s presence is not limited by weather or walls, and neither is our prayer for one another.

When conditions are questionable, I encourage you to:

Stay home and keep yourself safe.
Say your prayers from wherever you are
Check the parish website for updates and a link to attend worship online: https://stlukesdc.org/
Check email or voicemail for any weather-related updates.
Keep your phone charged and closeby, and call for help, if needed.
Check in with family and friends to see how they are doing, and let them know you are OK and planning to remain home.
Join us again in-person when travel feels safe and comfortable.

We would all much rather miss seeing you on a cold, snowy, icy Sunday than knowing you took an unnecessary risk getting here.

Please take good care of yourselves, and of one another, this winter.

Faithfully,

John +

A CHRISTIAN'S CALL

TO CONTEMPLATION & ACTION

SERMON SUMMARY

Second Sunday after the Epiphany – Year A

January 18, 2026

Lectionary Readings:

Isaiah 49:1–7
Psalm 40:1–12
1 Corinthians 1:1–9
John 1:29–42

THEME:

Epiphany calls us to shine now, not after everything is settled. In seasons of transition, Christ is already present, inviting individuals and communities to remain attentive, faithful, and open to what God is revealing.

SUMMARY:

The sermon reflected on Epiphany as a revealing season rather than a holding pattern, especially for St. Luke’s as the congregation lives through a time of clergy transition. Drawing on Isaiah’s honesty about weariness and God’s affirmation that faithfulness is never wasted, the sermon affirmed the long, quiet labor of this congregation and named it as meaningful and enduring.

Through Psalm 40, Paul’s words to the Corinthians, and the Gospel invitation to “come and see,” the sermon emphasized that waiting does not mean passivity, and discernment does not require certainty. Christ does not arrive with the next rector; Christ is already here. Epiphany light reveals possibility, calling everyone who is part of St. Luke's to remain present, listen deeply, and trust that God is still at work among them.

The sermon also gently addressed participation in the Congregational Vitality Assessment, framing it not as paperwork but as a shared act of discernment and witness. In connection with the witness of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the sermon closed by reminding the congregation that light grows when people step forward with courage, honesty, and love, even when the way ahead is not fully clear.

KEY POINTS

Epiphany is a season of revealing, not waiting on pause.
Faithful labor is never wasted, even when results feel thin.
This transition is about rediscovering identity and calling, not just filling a role and is not about reclaiming the past or staying the same as we are now.
St. Luke's congregation is not lacking in gifts, wisdom, or resilience.
Christ is already present; leadership is called to help us notice and respond.
Discernment begins by showing up, remaining present, and paying attention.
Participation, even when uncertain, is an act of light.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:

What are you looking for in this season of change, personally and as a community?
Where do you sense weariness, and where do you sense quiet faithfulness?
What “new song” might God be placing among this congregation now?
How might your voice help shape what is still unfolding at St. Luke’s?

INVITATIONS TO ACTION:

Participate honestly in the Congregational Vitality Assessment, trusting that your perspective matters.
Stay present and engaged during this season rather than waiting for clarity to arrive first.
Listen for signs of new life, new partnerships, and new ways of telling St. Luke’s story.
Seek ways to reach out to the surrounding community and to serve as a resource for the people who live and work here.
Share what you are noticing and learning, allowing light to multiply as it is named and shared.

ADULT FORMATION

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 - 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

ADULT DINNER FORUM IN THE PARISH HALL

Born to Love Greatly

Following up with Conversation,

Community Reflection & Discussion with Samier Mansur

JOYCE CROCKETT TURNER

APRIL 15, 1937 - DECEMBER 10, 2025

Joyce Crockett Turner crossed

over into Eternal Life on

Wednesday, December 10th, at the

Georgetown University Hospital,

Washington, D.C.

Funeral Services

will be held @ St. Luke's

Saturday, January 31, 2026

Ivy Beyond the Walls Ritual: 10:30 am

Visitation: 11:00 am

Funeral: 12:00 pm

Gifts in Joyce's memory may be made to:

St. Luke's Episcopal Church

https://stlukesdc.org/online-donation/

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America

https://myasthenia.givevirtuous.org/donate/donation-form

STEWARDSHIP

An Update & Pastoral Note on Our 2026 Pledges

Dear Friends,

PLEDGE UPDATE AS OF JANUARY 18, 2026

As of Sunday, January 18, St. Luke's treasurer has received 54 pledges totaling $202,552. The Vestry and I are grateful for every commitment that has come in so far. Each pledge, large or small, is a sign of hope for the year ahead and a reminder that this parish is held together by the generosity and faithfulness of its people. The Vestry set a goal of $250,000, from pledge income, so we still have ground to cover, and your participation truly matters. Reaching this goal will help underwrite the mission and ministries we share at St. Luke’s.

If you haven’t yet returned your 2026 pledge, I invite you to take a moment this week to prayerfully complete it. It's as easy as clicking on the link below https://stlukesdc.org/pledge-online/.

ONGOING RECURRING GIVING

Perhaps you have previously set up a recurring gift, either by credit card or through automatic deduction from your checking or savings account, and plan to continue that arrangement this year; it would be very helpful to know that you intend to contiune those on-going, automatic payments for 2026. Please email or call Paula Singleton or Audrey Thurman to let them know your intentions.

OUTSTANDING 2025 PLEDGES

The truth is, life has a way of interrupting even our best intentions. If you made a pledge for 2025 and have fallen behind, please know that you are not alone, and it’s not too late to catch up if you are able. We understand that unexpected events can have a real and sometimes serious impact on personal finances, and there is no judgment here if you need to adjust your pledge sometime in the course of the year.

If your circumstances have changed, or if you need a bit more time, please consider sending a brief note to our treasurer, Paula Singleton (paulaesingleton@aol.com), to let her know. Your openness helps us plan responsibly and care well for the ministry we share together.

PLANNING FOR MINISTRY AND MISSION

For the last several weeks your Vestry has been working on next year’s budget, and having your pledge in hand makes that work easier in figuring out mission priorities and how to fund them. It also helps this parish to dream faithfully: to imagine the ministries we could strengthen, the neighbors we could serve, and the welcome we could extend if everyone made a realistic, meaningful pledge, one you feel good about and can fulfill in the coming year.

FINANCIAL STABILITY WILL HELP IN THE SEARCH FOR A NEW RECTOR

Your financial commitment will also shape our ability to call a new rector and support the staff needed for St. Luke's to once again be a thriving parish. Just think about how wonderful it could be if, in addition to calling a rector, we could create some new part-time staff positions, such as a music director, a part-time director of Christian Education and Community Engagement, and a Sexton, creating a team who will work alongside the new rector, the Vestry and other parish members to rebuild and expand the ministries of St. Luke’s!

Together, your commitments will move us closer to fulfilling God’s dream for St. Luke’s - a dream of growing as a vibrant, compassionate, outward-facing church made up of mature, spiritually grounded parishioners committed to proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and serving our fellow parishioners and our neighbors with joy. With God's help and yours, WE CAN DO THIS!

St. Luke’s has always been at its best when we pool our gifts and trust that God can do more with us together than any of us could manage alone. I hope you’ll join in that vision and make your pledge as soon as you’re able. It's as easy as clicking on this link and submitting your pledge online.

Thank you for your love for this parish and for all the ways you help bring its ministry to life.

With gratitude,

John+

COFFEE HOUR Signups - Posted in the Parish Hall: Coffee Hour is an important component of our Sunday worship & community experience and for becoming the Beloved Community God intends us to be. It’s often referred to as the 8^th Sacrament of the Church.”

CHECK THE SIGN UP SHEET IN THE PARISH HALL & SIGN UP!

We are grateful for those who prepare and serve the coffee hours. Thank you!

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

SHROVE TUESDAY MARDI GRAS

WAFFLE SUPPER

Tuesday, February 17th - 6:00 - 8:00 pm

St. Luke's Parish Hall

To Volunteer to Help - Contact: Joyce Howland

joyce.howland@gmail.com

ASH WEDNESDAY

FEBRUARY 18, 2026

This year, in partnership with our sister parishes, St. Thomas and St. Margaret's Episcopal Churches, we planning to offer three joint Ash Wednesday services. The traditional Ash Wednesday Liturgy with Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes will take place as follows:

8:00 am @ St. Luke's
Noon @ St. Thomas
6:30 pm @ St. Margaret's

WORKSHOP CANCELLED

This workshop has been cancelled due to an insufficent number of registrations.

Icon Writing Workshop

& Retreat

February 5 – 7, 2026

Thursday, February 5, 2026

(9:00 am – 4:00 pm)

Friday, February 6, 2026

(9:00 am – 4:00 pm)

Saturday, February 7, 2026

(9:00 am – 4:00 pm)

Sunday, February 8, (Afternoon if needed)

The Image: Our Lady of Tenderness

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Washington, D.C. will host an Icon Workshop with iconographer and Episcopal Priest, The Reverend Peter Pearson, OFM. Peter has studied and painted icons for over fifty years, authored three books on the subject, and painted hundreds of icons for churches, monasteries, seminaries, convents and individuals all over the world. He has taught thousands of students, and at the end of each workshop, everyone leaves with an icon of their very own.

No previous experience or natural talent is required. We paint, pray, and follow the simple step-by-step instructions.

This event is open to everyone.

The Place:

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (Parish Hall)

1514 15th Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20005

Class Minimum: 15 Students

Class Maximum: 25 Students

Cost: $300:

(The registration fee includes all materials which will be provided by the instructor at NO additional charge.)

For More Information Contact:

Father John Ball: 202-667-4394 office

240-434-2998 cell / email: Johnball0450@gmail.com

DONATIONS

St. Luke’s ministry depends on your financial gifts and pledges. There are several

ways to support St. Luke’s financially:

● Giving electronically to St. Luke’s online at stlukesdc.org/donation/

https://stlukesdc.org/donation/

Use this QR Code to donate online via phone.

● Mailing contributions to:

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

1514 15th Street, NW

Washington, DC 20005

● Place offerings in the collection plate during services.

Your generosity makes St. Luke’s ministry to the parish and the broader community possible.

Thank you!