Stoles!

STOLES!
Through one day’s comedy of errors, St. Luke’s finds itself with three lovely choir stoles and the possibility of more.
It all began when Kay Marovich decided the choir needed something to make it look more cohesive. Robes are nice, but heavy and hot. Black bottoms with white tops are adequate, but dull. Perhaps stoles would do the job, every choir member wearing an identical St. Luke’s stole.
What a surprise it was to Kay when she discovered that Kikanza Nuri-Robins, preaching at St. Luke’s on August 9, was a couture seamstress. “Oh, could you help us make stoles for the choir?”
“I’ve got a pattern. I could send you the pattern.”
“Do you think you could show us?”
“Yes, maybe I could come down and do that.
“Maybe we should come up to where you are.”
“Well, I’ve got an extra sewing machine, so come on. And bring people who sew. Bring sewers and we can get this done. I will not do it for you.”
The seed was planted. To make it grow, a call went out for St. Luke’s folks literate with needle and thread who would drive to Los Angeles and sew. Kay found deep red corded polyester blend for the stoles and she sent samples off to Kikanza. Kikanza lives very close to Mood Fabrics (of Project Runway fame) and there she found a somewhat slippery polyester taffeta to bind the stoles. Kay didn’t trust herself to choose the right red thread, so Beth Eichel went to shop. Kikanza told her not to get Coats and Clarks thread because it does not work well on newer machines. “I made a number of assumptions,” Kikanza said. “I assumed that she would get one of the newer brands of better quality thread. I assumed she knew what kind of thread to get for the fabric she and Kay had purchased.” Not having sewn in many years, Beth did her best, choosing a beautiful embroidery thread that matched the fabric, at a cost of $5/spool.
In her lush, 1940 home in mid-city Los Angeles, Kikanza created the first approximation of a St. Luke’s stole. Then she cleared her professional cutting table for us and turned her clean, multipurpose garage into a comfortable workshop with three sewing machines and space for more.
Wednesday morning, August 26, it somehow took from 8:30 to 9:00 for three willing volunteers—Shirley Kline, Beth Eichel, and Bertie Wood—to find one another between the upper parking lot, the lower parking lot and the closed church. When they succeeded, sewing machines and bags of stuff were quickly moved from car to car and away they went, Shirley driving her Lexus, Beth clutching MapQuest instructions, and Bertie enjoying the view. It was 10:00 when they arrived an hour late, unloaded, set up their machines, and discovered that the large role of fabric for the stoles had been left in Beth’s car, for which she was carrying the only key.
While Shirley drove Beth south to fetch the material, Kikanza cut bias strips of taffeta to edge the stoles. She taught Bertie how to remove the four eight-foot rows of tiny stitching that attached the edging to her sample stole, saying that it had to be restitched. The edging was cut on the straight grain; it should be biased.
About 11:30, Beth drove up in her Lexus with Shirley and a heavy bolt of beautiful red brocade with gold designs. Suggesting that the embroidery thread be returned to JoAnn’s Fabrics, Kikanza and Shirley produced from their sewing boxes appropriate red thread for each machine. Everyone got down to work. While Bertie picked patiently at stitch after stitch after stitch, Kikanza gave instructions and demonstrations for cutting and sewing. “We cut these 1¼-inch bias strips to make a Hong Kong finish for the binding. We’ll use the selvage as fringe. We’ll miter the corners at the top. 10 or 12 stitches per inch. Don’t backstitch, just sew off the edges.”
At some point, Beth disappeared into Kikanza’s immaculate kitchen to serve up the tuna-and-apple sandwiches she had prepared at home. Three of us enjoyed lunch outdoors looking over Westwood and the hills beyond while Kikanza continued to work. She attached pieces of bias binding to make each strip long enough to edge a stole up one side, into a point at the back, and down the other side and then she deftly finished Bertie’s stitch removal process.
As the crew returned from lunch, Bertie dropped out for an hour’s nap in the den and Beth discovered that she was wearing the wrong glasses to do close stitchery accurately. Shirley and Kikanza actually finished their stoles before all packed up, cleared the garage, and said goodbye to one of the most gracious, talented people in Christendom.
Now, St. Luke’s, who is ready to sit down behind a sewing machine and complete one of the 15 remaining choir stoles? If it’s you, please call Kay Marovich for scheduling, materials, and the perfect red thread.

Come Worship with Us!

Sunday, August 30, 2009
Confirmation and Hymn Sing

Come and celebrate our new members. Come and sing to your hearts content – hymns you have chosen.

Another Gift from God

Volunteer Watermelons in St. Luke's Parking Lot Divider

St. Luke 12: 29-31

Come Worship with Us!

      Sunday, August 23, 2009  

Sermon:       The Chants of Taizé 

Preacher:         The Rev. Laura Krauss 

Sermon text:        John 6: 56-69  

 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever." 59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. 60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?" 61 But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But among you there are some who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65 And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father." 66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67 So Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" 68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."  

Question to Ponder: 

The Chants of Taizé

"Short chants using just a few words express a basic reality of faith, quickly grasped by the mind. As the words are sung over many times, this reality gradually penetrates the whole being. And these simple songs then enable us to keep on praying when we are alone, by night and by day, sometimes in the silence of our hearts when we are at work."    Come, a sing a prayer that will last all week. 

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Today is Natalie Keck's 90th Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Congratulations, Natalie

Kay's First Post

Using this format of communicating should be quite helpful and informative.

Come Worship with Us!

      Sunday, August 16, 2009  

Sermon:    Thank God!                     

Guest Preacher:         The Rev. Linda Culbertson

 

Sermon text:        Ephesians 5: 15-20

15 Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20 giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

The Rev. Linda L. Culbertson was born and raised in Southern California.  She received a B.S. in Anthropology and Behavioral Sciences from California State University in Dominguez Hills.  Her career path began as an elementary school teacher, followed by an appointment as a community relations specialist for the Los Angeles Unified School District. During this period in her life, Linda was a member of St. Luke's and served as a deacon and a choir member.

 

An active lay person of the Presbytery of the Pacific since high school, Linda further pursued the call to ministry.  In 1986, she received an MDIV from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.  Linda has served as the director of a specialized ministry and as an interim pastor.  She was called to the Presbytery of the Pacific in 1992 as the Associate General Presbyter for Congregational Life, and served the Presbytery as the Acting General Presbyter until August 1998.

 

In September 1998, the Rev. Culbertson was elected General Presbyter of the Presbytery of the Pacific.  The Presbytery's mission field is one of the most diverse, multicultural regions in the country.

 

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Fwd: St. Luke's Garden Concert - Sun, 30Aug09

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From: AANDEHOY
To: jeninger@earthlink.net
Sent: 8/8/2009 12:24:44 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time
Subj: St. Luke's Garden Concert - Sun, 30Aug09

St. LUKE's GARDEN CONCERTS - 2009 - Free

Sunday, August 30, 2009 - 5:00-7:00PM

St. Luke's Presbyterian Church

26825 Rolling Hills Road

Rolling Hills Estates CA

[SouthBay][Free]

For a Google map, click:

http://tinyurl.com/auwcx

NOTEWORTHY DUO - Flute and Guitar

LISA SCHROEDER flute and MICHAEL NIGRO guitar

Selections for classical guitar and flute.

The NOTEWORTHY DUO is currently touring 17 states from Massachusetts to California. LISA SCHROEDER is the winner of the 2009 National Flute Association Convention Performers Competition. MICHAEL NIGRO attended the Indiana School of Music for his Bachelor's degree and CSU Fullerton for his Master of Music. He is the co‑founder of the Long Beach Classical Guitar Society. Both Lisa and Michael are faculty members of Vanguard University. Read about the NOTEWORTHY DUO and listen by clicking:

http://www.noteworthyduo.com/

The concerts are outdoors in St. Luke's beautiful garden. Bring your own chairs. Come early and picnic on the lawn.

Free admission. Beverages, dessert, and coffee hosted by St. Luke's at intermission. For information, call (310) 377-2825.

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Hymns by Popular Request

We will be singing one hymn chosen by the congregation each Sunday for the next couple of months. Hymns must be chosen from the St. Luke's hymnals (we apologize, but we cannot accommodate hymn requests that are not published in the hymnals). Please make your request in writing and hand it to the ushers or place it in the "Summer Hymns" jar in the narthex (which also holds a pencil and paper). Please submit it by Wednesday of each week. There is no limit to the number of requests any person can make.

(Copied from today's worship bulletin.)

Staff Vacations

The Krauss family will be on vacation August 3-16.
Mark Apoian will be on vacation August 4-12.
Raymond Egan will be on vacation August 5-30.

(Copied from today's worship bulletin.)

Wine Tasting REVISED

Our 2nd wine tasting of the year will occur at the home of John Stevens, 5024 Range Horse Lane, on Sunday, August 23rd at 4:00 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring hors d'oeuvres. Marti will provide a salad and John will provide teriyaki flank steak. Please mark your calendars.

(Copied from today's worship bulletin.)

This event will NOT be held as listed above, but is being relocated or rescheduled.

Prayer Requests

Muriel & Bill Koeller
Robert Weakley (husband of Ronnie)
Jill Murphy (friend of Ann Dempsay)
Sally Jarvis (friend of Ann Dempsay)
Gil Garcia (friend of Ann Dempsay)
Jerrie Bird ( friend of Ann Dempsay)
Fred Olinger ( friend of Kay Marovich)
Corcoran Family (friends of Marti Williams)
Vivian And April Armenta (friends of Marti Williams' daughter)
Alice Gabrielson (cousin of Jan Gardner)

(Copied from today's worship bulletin.)

Am I in???

Well, whether I am speaking too Gene or DivineBlog, I seem to have made to into something. Where am I?
The Blind Blogger,
Marti

Hi St. Luke's family! I miss you! Melinda

Calendar of Ongoing Activities

SUNDAYS          9:30 AM         Worship Service and Church School
MONDAYS        10:00 AM         Al-Anon
    2nd MON      10:00 AM         Mission Meeting
    3rd MONDAY  7:00 PM         Deacons Meeting
    4th MONDAY  7:00 PM         Session   
TUESDAYS        8:00 PM         Alcoholics Anonymous
    2nd & 4th TUES 10 AM         Bible Explorers Group
    2nd TUES       6:00 PM         S.H.A.W.L.
    3rd TUES  9:00AM-Noon       P.V. MOM's Club 

                         7:00 PM         Children & Youth
WEDNESDAYS       Noon         Staff Meeting
                             1 PM          Alcoholics Anonymous

THURSDAYS     1:00 PM          Alcoholics Anonymous
FRIDAYS

    1st FRI   9:00AM-Noon          South Bay Mothers Alliance  

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52nd Wedding Anniversary

Today, Aileen and Gene Hoy give thanks for being blessed with 52 years of a wonderful marriage.

John Calvin's 500th Birthday

Recently Laura gave us a test that measured how Calvinistic we are. While our individual scores probably varied quite a bit, little notice was made at St. Luke's of John Calvin's 500th birthday on Friday, 10 July 2009. The pastor of the Branch of Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Torrance did write an article for the Daily Breeze. It was interesting to note his mention of the Five Points of Calvinism summarized in the acronym TULIP, which is generally well-known among members of the Christian Reformed Church and Reformed Church of America, both descended from the Dutch Reformed Church.

Total depravity

Unconditional election

Limited atonement

Irresistible grace

Perseverance of the saints

Do you see predestination there?

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St. Luke's Free Garden Concert- Sunday, 2 Aug @ 5pm

Come early to picnic. Bring your friends and neighbors.

 

 The Palos Verdes Chamber Players  

Castillia Bolero  G. E. Holmes
Five Dances  Denes Agay 
Selections from Fiddler on the Roof  Jerry Bock,        Bill Holcomb arranger
Sour Suite  Herman Stein
Cascades  Scott Joplin

 

  Intermission

 

Selections from The Sound of Music  Richard Rogers,
      Bill Holcomb arranger
Summer Waltz  Lennie Niehaus
Spring into Swing   Lennie Niehaus
Gershwin Melodies  George Gershwin
     Nice Work if You Can Get It, Bill Malcolm arranger
     Prelude II, Bill Malcolm arranger
     Rialto Ripples, Bill Holcombe arranger
The Liberty Bell John Philip Sousa
 
 
Joanne Davidson, clarinet, is a Manhattan Beach native who developed her love of music from her parents, Paul and Ardath, he a trombonist and she a pianist. Joanne began her music career at the age of 7 on the accordion, added piano at the age of 8, and clarinet at the age of 10.  Besides studying privately under Clairon Williams, playing her father's musical arrangements and performing in school bands and orchestras, she was a member of the All Southern California Junior High Honor Orchestra and the Southwest Youth Symphony. She was principal chair throughout high school and while at El Camino College. Joanne retired her clarinet for about 10 years to raise a family, but returned as an active musician by joining the Palos Verdes Symphonic Band and the El Camino College Community Band. She left those organizations to join the Peninsula Symphonic Winds with which she is the concert mistress and plays principal clarinet. Joanne has attended the Ashland Chamber Music Workshop the past 10 summers, is a member of the El Camino Community Orchestra and the Palos Verdes Chamber Players and will frequently be heard in the Los Angeles area performing as a free lance musician.
Roger Eastman, French horn, earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the University of Illinois and currently works as an engineer at Northrup Grumman.  Roger started his musical education studying piano and singing in choirs at his church. In the fifth grade he took up the French horn and has played in notable groups in both Illinois and California. While at the University of Illinois, Roger played horn in the premier symphonic band under the direction of noted composer and arranger, James Curnow. Since then he has never stopped performing as a musician having played in concert bands and orchestras and in stage bands for musical theater. He currently is a member of the Peninsula Symphony, the Beach Cities Symphony, the Peninsula Symphonic Winds where he plays principal horn, and the Palos Verdes Chamber Players.
Bill Malcolm, bassoon, was always interested in music beginning in elementary school and continuing through college where he studied Music Education at Arizona State College (now Northern Arizona University). He received a Master of Music degree in composition from Los Angeles State University studying with Byong Kon Kim. Later he took private instruction from Roy Harris and studied music for cinema with Don Ray (composer for TV's Hawaii 5-0). Most of Bill's work career was outside music with the longest time spent at Hughes Aircraft, Space and Communications during which time he earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Pepperdine University. He retired from Hughes in 1999.  In addition to the bassoon, Bill also plays flute, clarinet, saxophone and string bass and is an accomplished composer and arranger
Ed Retzler, oboe, began studying music when he was in high school where he played in the school band and orchestra and in his first woodwind quintet. After attending the College of Wooster, where he played oboe in the orchestra and the concert band and bass drum in the Fighting Scots marching band, he was drafted into the army and spent 18 months with the Seventh Army Symphony performing good-will concerts throughout Germany and Austria. Upon his return to the United States, he studied oboe with Harvey McGuire of the Cleveland Orchestra and played oboe and English horn in the Canton (Ohio) Symphony. Following retirement from UCLA Extension, Ed enrolled as a music student at California State University, Long Beach where he studied with Gregory Donovetsky. Ed is a charter member of the Peninsula Symphonic Winds, a founding member of the Palos Verdes Chamber Players, a member of the East Winds Quintet and the Freeman Valley Quintet and a member of the Beach Cities Symphony.
Stephanie Schwartz, flute, graduated from UCLA with a BA in English and a Masters in Education. She also has a Masters Degree in Psychology from California State University, Long Beach. At the age of 6 Stephanie began studying piano and added the flute at age ten.  She has studied flute with outstanding teachers including Donna Clark, Buddy Collette and Pat Maki.  Stephanie teaches English at El Camino College. Stephanie has played with a number of  musical groups including Wister Woods' Flute Quartet and the Sounds of Winds. She has performed with the Long Beach Steel Drum Orchestra and has taught both piano and flute. She is currently active as a jazz flutist and can be heard performing in venues throughout the South Bay. Her first CD is expected to be issued in the near future.

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Are You My Shepherd?

lk 09

While on pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago, Spain in June 2009
-I seem to be asked by a passing sheep -

"Are You My Shepherd? . . . "

I could only answer with Psalm 23:
The Lord is my shepherd
I shall not want...

Rev. Laura Krauss