The Rev. Ernie Ashcroft

Some Observations From Your Transitional Priest:

I have served as the Transitional Priest at St. Luke’s for approximately nine months. During this time, in addition to the regular activities (liturgical and pastoral), I have been reflecting on the church and it’s fu-ture. I offer these thoughts to stimulate discussion and thinking among all.

St. Luke’s is at a very important point in it’s life. You have formed a Search Committee and are engaged in seeking a new Rector. An important question for the church to consider is:

“Where is St. Luke’s at this point in it’s life and where do we want it to be in 5-7 years’ time?”

It has become very clear to me that St. Luke’s has many strengths:

It has a well maintained and extensive building with good parking and easy access from HWY 52.

It has recently undertaken a significant and successful capital fund campaign to provide the

necessary resources for a new HVAC system and hopefully the construction of an elevator.

St. Luke’s has no debts or mortgages and has significant savings and endowment funds.

It has a loyal, committed congregation and gifted staff.

There are no serious conflicts with the congregation.

Rochester is a very healthy, vibrant community which is likely to grow over the next 3-5 years by

30,000+ persons, many coming as employees of the Mayo Clinic.

St. Luke’s is in a good place to face the future. But, like all churches at this particular time, it also faces challenges:

There is no longer any “brand loyalty” to church denominations, particularly for younger (20-35 aged

adults). That is folks no longer choose a church because that was the denomination in which they were raised, but most folks today choose to become a member of a church (if they are interested in church membership) on the basis of “which congregation is best for me and my family?”

A large proportion of the present membership of St. Luke’s are 65 or older; young families and indi-

viduals, which are the future of the church, are relatively few. Without an influx of younger individuals and families over the next few years, it is likely that the church will suffer a steady decline.

So now is the time for St. Luke’s to embrace a strategic goal of attracting this missing demographic. Given the high likelihood of future population growth in Rochester, fueled by younger professional people coming to work at Mayo, there is a great opportunity to attract these folks. However, the window to do so is narrow, probably 3-5 years.

I also want to offer a word of appreciation of the staff of St. Luke’s. I inherited this talented, hard working group and have benefited greatly through their faithful and effective endeavors. In Ceri, you have a remarkably talented and energetic musician. Karen quietly and very effectively takes care of the administrative needs, but also exercises a wonderful ministry of being the “listening ear” for so many who call with questions and concerns. Betsy oversees the outreach activities of St. Luke’s which is a key ministry of this congregation. Oscar cleans, polishes and keeps the building sparkling. Also, so much of the ministry that happens at St. Luke’s is because of the faithful service of so many volunteers. Without them, so many events, programs and even services could not happen. Thank you, all of you.

Ernie Ashcroft, Serving as Transitional Priest

WE WORSHIP

Baptisms

Brayden Kraemer Aviel Alafuro Afonya Confirmations

Brianna Farley Jena Garness Alison Ofori-Atta Jiles Ofori-Atta Deaths

Edward Johnson Selma (Sally) Knox Ilona (Kitty) Larson Thomas Leonard June Luck Frances Retall Sherwood Young Marriages

Rigo & Olivia Salazar

WE PROCLAIM

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Faith Formation

2015

2016

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100120140160180200220240260280

Attendance

2015

2016

450

475

500

525

Membership

Total Baptized Membership

2015

2016

WE TEACH

Total Income $300,146

WE SERVE

Total Expense $297,058

WE CARE

As of December 31, 2016 Gifts & Commitments Totaling $574,114

WE WITNESS

Amanda Akogyeram Clement & Ivy Akogyeram Julian Akogyeram Nicholas Akogyeram Doris Allen Andrew & Shanna Altrichter Samantha Alysworth Andrew Arndt Clayton & Patty Arndt Scott Arndt Scott & Colleen Arnold Jill & Leah Baethke Laurie Bale Christopher & Kay Batchelder James & Sandra Beier Jessica Beier Daniel & Sandra Berndt David Birka Eric Bornholdt Mark & Betsy Bornholdt Stacey Bornholdt Andrew Botz Jessica Botz Patrick & Cathy Botz Gus & Patricia Braga Lindsay Brice John & Julia Briese Philip & Jinny Brown Richard & Nancy Brubaker Bartlett Brubaker Jay Bryant Jim & Judy Buettner Douglas & Sue Butler Casey & Robin Caldwell Christine Caldwell Daniel Caldwell Barbara Campbell Amy Caucutt Jolene Chadderton Welly Chen Jamie Christopherson Richard & Charlotte Clugston Carol Coe Jennifer Coe-Lutz Kevin & Kathy Connelly

Meghan Connelly Ryan Connelly Alex Cooper George Cooper Leslie & Jane Cooper Christine Cross Wesley & Dorothy Crowle David Daugherty III David & Liz Daugherty Kate Daugherty Brian & Jaime Decker Marge Dent Irene DeWalt Nora Dooley Aaron & Brooke Druliner John Eakins & Emilie Tipton Alison Emslie-Smith John & Kim Engel Neal & Sue Engelman Brianna Farley James & Julie Farley Carley Ferguson * John & Tricia Fierst Penny Flavin Amanda Fogarty Jason & Stephanie French Barbara Furlow Molly Gappa Bernell & Carmen Garness Jena Garness Kati Garness Melia Garness Joseph & Jo Gibilisco Ryan Gilbertson Levi & Robyn Girtler Bonnie Gloor Randy & Maggie Goss Roger & Elaine Graf * Kevin & Karyn Graves Lynn Guenette Nick & Sarah Hall * William Hammer Kimberly Hammond Megan & Gage Hansen Mike & Kimberley Harris

Dan & Caroline Hartman Marvin & Barbara Heins William & Wendy Hickey Forest & Helen Higgins Sandra Hillesheim Nancy Honeychuck Heather Horton John Horton & Peggy Elliott William Horton Colin Jacobs John & Jane Jacobs Robert & Sharon Jarrett Chris & Becky Jarvis Edward & Vivien Johnson Gloria Johnson Lance & Janet Johnson Ann Jost Linn Kezer Lynn & Rose Kinyon Bette Klampe Julianne Klampe Kim & Nancy Klampe Mark & Jasmine Klampe Michael Klampe Samuel Klampe Shirley Klampe Terry & Jennifer Klampe Helen Klenner Paul & Heather Klinger Selma Knox Lee & Laura Kraemer David & Deloris Kramer Stanley & LeAnn Krueger Susan Krueger Monica Kujawa Glenn & Claire Laedtke Roger & Florence Lang Earl & Barbara Larsen Elizabeth Larsen & Darren Cooper Wayne & Kitty Larson Adam Lee Dennis & Karen Lee Jarrod & Megan Leffler Barry & Val Lehman John & Nancy Leimer

Frances Restall Robert & Mary Jane Hanson Retzlaff Scott & Keli Retzlaff Marcelino & Sara Rivera E. Jeff & Nancy Robertson Eric & Christy Rohren Carrie Russell Gregory & Joanne Russell Rigo & Olivia Salazar Michael & Barbara Sarr Eric & Alison Saugen-Smith Sue Sauter Lucy Schacht Ted & Cara Schmidt Randy Schubring & David Dobmeyer Bradley Shedd Nan Shorter Allan & Annette Shufelt Douglas & Margaret Sigrist Bill & Cindi Smalley Shawn & Mary Jo Smith Virginia Smith Luc & Susan Smolders Candice So Elson & Judy So Mathew & Kristin So Harold & Barbara Solbrig Mary Solbrig Sarah Solbrig Christina Sparks Douglas & Dana Sparks Gavin Sparks Graham Sparks Jack & Marilyn Stewart Lucinda Stockwell Jackie Swan Brad & Rosangel Thompson Rodney & Carol Thompson Lisa Tonjum Steve & Julie Troutman Sarah Uhm Barbara Ulrich Linda Van Sickle Allison Walker David Walker Gary & Tamara Walker Richard & Phyllis Weltzin Sarah Wiersbeck

Peter & Ranae Wiggins Mark & Shelly Winemiller Charles Withers Barbara Young

* = New Member in 2016

David Leonard Cecelia Lewis Alan & Margaret Lichty Terry & Sue Lobland Andrew & Naomi Lovell Barbara Lovett June Luck Lynn Lutz Bruce & Pam Magyar Mariellen Maki Geri Maki George & Mary Ellen Malkasian Joanne Martin & Tim Hildebrandt Jeff & Sarah Martinak Terence & Mary Maus Linda McCarty Matthew McElroy & Jessica Pool Barbara McLeod Jim & Susan McReynolds Nathan Meliak & Suzan Geu Ron Menaker & Linda Mansfield Virginia Moertel Howard & Kathy Monnet Brian Moskalik Thomas & Linda Moskalik Kit Muellner Margaret Murray Cory & Amy Nelson Megan Nelson Roger & Beverly Nelson Ruth Nichols Alexandra Ofori-Atta Alison Ofori-Atta Eric & Aba Ofori-Atta Jiles Ofori-Atta Justin Ofori-Atta David & Diane O’Mara Nancy Orr John & Karen Ostrander Brian Pagnano Mark & Linda Pagnano Pete & Sharon Parham Robert & Julia Phyliky Kenneth & Marsha Plummer Beth Pritchard Jan Pritchard John & Zoei Pritchard Emilio Quinones Oscar & Pamela Quinones Bert & Jane Reiman

Officers The Rev. Dr. Douglas Sparks, Rector The Rev. Ernie Ashcroft, Transitional Priest Chuck Larsen, Sr. Warden Brian Moskalik, Jr. Warden Vestry Clayton Arndt—Clerk Brian Decker—Treasurer Kathy Connelly Darren Cooper Kevin Graves Michael Harris Jane Jacobs Jeff Martinak Thomas Moskalik Bert Reiman Barbara Solbrig

Staff The Rev. Wesley Crowle, Pastoral Assistant Karen Gould, Parish Administrator Betsy Bornholdt, Communications & Outreach Oscar Quinones, Custodian Sarah Martinak, Director of Faith Formation Ceri Marie Benson, Chancel Choir Director & Organist