We are called...
Our Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) is straight after the 9.30am Parish Eucharist Service on Sunday 20th April.
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This is our chance to look back and give thanks for all that has happened at St Luke's in the last year, and to make plans and elect people for various jobs in the year to come.
In particular, we will be electing our two Churchwardens, our Parochial Church Council (PCC) members and our three representatives on the York Deanery Synod, which is the meeting point for all the Church of England parishes in the City of York.
The APCM will be followed by a bring-and share lunch in the church hall - so remember to bring something along.
Those on the church electoral roll may vote, but everyone is welcome at the meeting. We pray that it will be a fruitful time in which we find much to be thankful for, and much to inspire us for the future.
12 April 2008
It's the 'Phil'!
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The 'Phil' at Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland, in 2007 |
York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir comes to St Luke's on the 5th April.
The 'Phil' was formed in 1925 and has performed throughout Europe in recent years. It currently has 70 members aged from 20 to 80.
The concert is in aid of St Luke's Music Fund, set up in 2007 to raise money for the restoration of St Luke's pipe organ and to secure the future of the church's musical life. The fund is approaching its initial target of £42,000 and the 'Phil' concert will bring the target closer still.
The programme includes works by Mozart, Irving Berlin and Sir Arthur Sullivan, as well as traditional Spirituals. Refreshments will be served at the interval in the church hall.
Tickets (£5.00 or £3.00 for under 18s) are on sale from the Sewing & Knitting Machine Centre (01904 655751) on Burton Stone Lane, or on the door subject to availability.
2 April 2008
PCC Away Night washout
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Only the Vicar was prepared - and he's OK |
St Luke's PCC was forced to cancel its 2008 away night at short notice.
No members were prepared to sign the declaration that St Luke's would not be liable for compensation in the event of injury or serious embarrassment.
The planned date may have given the impression that that the event was not meant seriously - but at least Vicar Steve Benford took the trouble to get in some chainsaw practice (pictured).
We wait with interest to see to what use he will now put these new-found skills.
2 April 2008
PCC plans 2008 Away Night
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Night shift at the Galtres Forest Centre |
St Luke's Parochial Church Council (PCC) has unveiled its 2008 team-building exercise.
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Skilled tutors including 'Lopper' Limbov (pictured) will give a full five minutes' training, if time permits |
Following the successful day at Lastingham Church in 2007, this year's excursion is to be a practical trip to learn some new skills, develop a sense of mutual reliance and thin out the numbers a bit.
A coach will leave Burton Stone Lane on Tuesday 1 April and head for the heart of the extensive Galtres Forest, where York Vale Forestry (YVF) will give the PCC an experience of nocturnal tree surgery and lumberjacking.
YVF is a world leader in night-forestry techniques, developed to avoid disturbance to sensitive non-nocturnal wildlife and lucrative tourists.
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Safety equipment supplied with the chainsaws includes night-vision goggles |
The team of night-lumberjacks, headed by Russian ex-pat Leonid 'Lopper' Limbov, undertakes major tree surgery and logging operations through the night.
A full five minutes' training will be given to PCC members just after nightfall, before they are sent into the forest with flashlights, night vision goggles and chainsaws.
St Luke's PCC members will join the team for the start-of-shift briefing; the midnight meal break (when YVF offers a variety of hot and cold carrot-based dishes), and for the end-of-shift de-brief at the medical centre.
A taxi will return any survivors to Burton Stone Lane at sunrise.
16 March 2008