Vestry Update
What excites me most about summer’s arrival is the shift to a more relaxed pace — the freedom from hectic schedules, the additional hours of daylight, and the chance to savor leisurely outdoor activities. Summer is particularly special for me, as I do not perform my regular work duties as a school librarian and I get to spend quality time with my boys.
Your vestry has also been in full swing over the past six months, tasked with the work of the church and supporting the clergy and staff of St. Luke’s. Here is a quick rundown of what’s happening at St. Luke’s:
At our vestry meeting in February, we voted in Cathy McPeek as treasurer and Alan Hope as assistant treasurer. We also voted in Rob Lamb as the Representative to the Region and George Omohundro as the Delegate to the Convention.
In March, the vestry held its annual retreat at Shrine Mont. There, Melissa Bluey led us through a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis of St. Luke’s.
In May, the vestry voted on mission and vision statements for St. Luke’s:
Vision: Growing a Christ-centered, vibrant, and joyful community with a fresh look at tradition and fostering deep faith and inclusivity for all at St. Luke’s
Mission: At St. Luke’s, we cultivate a lively, faithful, and welcoming community where all are known, fostering spiritual growth and spreading Christ’s love through vibrant worship and engaging fellowship
St. Luke’s hosted a successful VBS in July with over 45 children and 15 volunteers. Thank you to Education Coordinator Courtney Jukuri and all of the volunteers.
In July, Chris Weaver resigned from the vestry. We are grateful for Chris’ dedicated service and leadership on the Admin/Buildings and Grounds Committee. Consistent with Canon 11, Section 11 of the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of Virginia, the vestry has the authority to elect a qualified member to fill a vacancy until the next annual congregational meeting. We therefore held a special vestry meeting in July and elected Amanda Seese to finish the remaining six months of Chris’ term. You can read more about Amanda here.
We have also been busy collaborating with Vertical Bridge, our liaison with the cell phone companies, to address the leak in the nave ceiling. Additionally, we upgraded our kitchen with a new freezer, and Carlo Uchello has been hard at work arranging for installation of solar panels on the church roof. Exciting progress is occurring at St. Luke’s!
St. Luke’s Nominating Committee will be reaching out to potential vestry nominees soon. If you have an interest in being nominated or wish to receive more information, please reach out to Caroline Tringali, Wendy Joachim, Father Nick, or me.
“Save the Date” for Kick Off Sunday on Sept 8th. On this day, we will kick off the church year, visit Youth Education teachers and classrooms, and learn about the various volunteer and ministry opportunities. We look forward to seeing you there.
Enjoy the last few weeks of summer!
Faithfully,
Mary Frances