"There is a Crack in Everything"

Saint Luke's Lutheran Church

308 West 46th Street

New York, NY 10036

212-246-3540

The Lutheran Church of Times Square

. . . in the city

for good!

www.stlukesnyc.org

www.stlukesarchives.org

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Announcements

for the week of

June 26

July 2, 2024

A Message from Pastor

"There is a Crack in Everything"

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

I came upon the music of Nick Cave only a few years ago. He responds online to comments and questions. Here is a recent exchange I'd like to share with you.

Dear Nick,

God and I have always been very tight; even in hard times when I’ve been furious at God, God now feels absent.

Very heavy things have happened throughout my life, but I always had an optimism that I could do the work to improve things. But losing young friends to illness, losing a love to some very serious circumstances, some big consequences for doing work that holds people accountable, I’m feeling very heartbroken about the world. It’s the lack of justice that really breaks me and the feeling of helplessness despite all the work I’ve done. I’d love to know how to find my way back.

Looking for My Old Friend God (LFMOFG)

Dear LFMOFG,

A well-known couplet from Leonard Cohen’s song, Anthem, goes, ‘There is a crack, a crack in everything/ That’s how the light gets in.’ These words had always sounded like a platitude and a little corny to me, but a long, dark journey made me better understand their radical and unsettling nature – that God is often most acutely found in His absence.

This realization shook me to the core, that the meaning of life – its joy, boundless beauty and love – emerges out of our most devastating losses. I learned that without the savagery of life, love has no true domain, and the relational quality of joy and beauty has no natural way to express itself. I came to understand that although the world’s energizing principle is love, joy ultimately declares itself most intensely through our heartbreaks.

As I said, it took a prolonged and painful journey to arrive at this insight, and perhaps that is the road you are on now. The idea that ‘God is love’ is a hard-earned truth, and it can be discomforting to think that His presence is at its most resonant in life’s darkest and cruelest moments.

Understandably, you feel heartbroken about the world – it can feel like a ruthless place, vindictive, and sometimes it seems personal. But I have realized that it is a moral error to compulsively fixate on the world’s troubles, to elevate ‘the crack in everything’ and not acknowledge ‘the light getting in.’ Our pleasures and joys are not a negation of humanity’s suffering, a betrayal of those we have lost, or the denial of our various griefs. They are the bright, necessary, God-filled articulations of our humanness. We humans are our own howling voids – cracked and beautiful things pierced by light. Faith is not something we find, it is bestowed upon us as a consolatory gift. LFMOFG, there is no need to find your way back. You are already there.

Love, Nick

May 2024

In Christ,

Arden Strasser, Pastor

PS Don't forget to follow our happenings on

@StLukesNewYork and @stlukessoupkitchen_nyc

The cross makes peace with our past;

and the resurrection recreates our future.

You are invited to worship with us this Sunday.

On Sunday, June 30, 2024 we celebrate

The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Service of the Word 9:30 am

Sung Eucharist 11:00 am

Spanish Worship Service 1:00 pm

Gospel Lesson: Mark 5:21-43

Christ healing a woman and Jairus' daughter

9:30 am Service of the Word
Preaching: Pastor Arden Strasser
Lector: TBD
Postlude: Richard Sterne
Greeter: Volunteer
Videographer: Volunteer

11:00 am Sung Eucharist
Preaching and Presiding: Pastor Arden C. Strasser
Assisting Minister: TBD
Organist: Brian Manzo
Summer Soloist: TBD
Lector: Katie Chan Chee
Ushers: Richard Sterne, Volunteers
Videographer: Volunteer

1:00 pm Spanish Worship Service
Worship Leader: Deacon Carlos Lopez
Sermon: Deacon Carlos Lopez
Lector: TBD
Presiding: Pastor Arden Strasser
Guitarist: Ruben Gonzales
Ushers: Volunteers

Services are also Live Streamed on Facebook

Juan Carlos Rivera

12/31/1982 - 6/23/2024

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the sudden passing of our beloved member, Juan Rivera late on Sunday evening, June 23rd. We spoke with Juan last Thursday at Soup Kitchen, and are as stunned and confused by this news as you surely are. The cause of death is unknown. Juan was alone at home when he died.

Juan had been a part of our Saint Luke’s family since December 2017 and became a member at his Adult Baptism on March 10, 2019. He often served as our Crucifer and a Torchbearer at the 11:00 worship services. He enjoyed Caroling on the church steps, our Bowling Parties and “Christmas Carol Read-throughs”. Juan was the Easter Bunny for a few of our Easter Egg Hunts for Children, portrayed Judas in the 2019 Maundy Thursday play, and worked for a while in our Soup Kitchen. He had a gentle spirit and a big, kind heart, helping with many of our church projects. Juan was very proud to be a loving uncle in his family.

We will share more information as we learn it from Juan's sister Olga. Let us keep Juan's family in our prayers, asking for God's peace and comfort to surround them. In times like these, we find solace in our faith and in the support of our church family.

St John's Lutheran Church, in the village, is hosting

a Rainbow Revival this Saturday, June 29th,

and we are invited.

They will have a day of speakers, panels, music performances, and worship. Of note is the 3pm performance by the Stonewall Chorale (the oldest LGBTQ choir). Then at 5pm, they will have a special pride worship service with sermons and performers from the IGS ministry (a predominantly African-American and Trans ministry based at St. John's.) The full schedule is in this image below.

Share Your Musical Gifts with Us

Our "Summer Soloists" program is in effect when the choir is enjoying their summer break. Now it's time for you to share your talents with us. If you would like to offer a solo, duet, family groups, or play an instrument during our 11:00 am Sunday worship services, please email the office, or place your name on the Sign Up sheet in the Narthex when worshiping in person. Pedro is available to accompany you. The Summer Solo program continues through and ends Sunday, September 1..

Saturday, July 13

11:00 am

Walking Tour - Southern End of Roosevelt Island

For many years this part of the East River Island was closed to the public and contained mostly abandoned structures. Now the South End features the beautiful Four Freedoms Park, stabilized ruins used in films, a new Cornell University tech campus, public art, monuments to both FDR and the disability rights movement, a Cat sanctuary, and the old hospital featured in "Batman".

We'll travel on the fascinating RI Tramway, tour the area, and maybe get a drink afterwards. The tour group will meet by the stairs to the Tramway, located at 2nd Ave and 60th Street at 11:00 am. Bring a hat, sunscreen and water. The tour will be approximately 90 minures.

For information, contact Tony Rohling at tonythetourguy@proton.me

2024 Summer Campaign

Please join our church Council in financing this project

as a matter of urgency.

Worshiping during the summer months can get hot and uncomfortable in the sanctuary. Fans are placed around to circulate the air, creating a slight breeze, and on extremely hot days we worship in the 2nd Floor lounge. Well - those days can be coming to an end. This summer we are installing two air conditioning units to cool our worship space. This is our 2024 summer capital campaign, now underway. Please join our church Council in financing this project as a matter of urgency. We're asking everyone to contribute to make it a reality.

Click here to read Pastor's full Summer Appeal letter.

Summer Retreat, August 2-4, 2024

Have you ever been on a retreat? A retreat is a chance to take a outdoor break in nature, make new friends, to laugh, and refresh. Mark your calendars now for our annual vacation weekend away. This year we’re in the Catskill mountains, at Camp Koinonia, situated on 1,200 acres of forest, with numerous facilities, surrounded by God’s creation. We’ll enjoy great food we prepare ourselves. Our Saturday program includes rafting on the gentle Delaware River. Our late afternoon is open for looking for eagles, taking walks in the woods, swimming, kayaking or canoeing. In the evening we’ll sit by the campfire. On Sunday we’ll be worshiping outdoors in the Chapel of the Pines.

Koinonia is in the Delaware River Valley. The cost is $160 per adult inclusive of rafting, all meals and accommodations, from dinner Friday through Sunday lunch. Detailed logistics will follow, regarding what to bring, transportation options and our activity schedule. Transportation will be coordinated and priced separately.

We're staying in the Lake Front cabin. Each cabin has eight bunk beds, kitchen, bathroom and living room. Conference Center hotel style accommodations are available for an extra $125 per single or per couple.

I hope you will consider joining us. To reserve your spot email pastor@stlukesnyc.org. You can speak with the Pastor about a payment plan or financial assistance if necessary.