A visiting parishioner stood before the congregation of St. Luke’s Anglican Church, instructed patrons to bring both wrists together as if bound by shackles, and told them to cast the symbolic chains aside.
“You’re free,” he said, inside the unfamiliar confines of Seventh Day Adventist Church in Glendale.
The Rev. Rob Holman cast a knowing smile over the sermon Sunday, the first since surrendering the keys to the stone-facade church at 2563 Foothill Blvd. following a three-year legal battle for ownership of the building.
Mmm…
Before they broke away St Luke’s had more than 400 active members.
At their final service in the building they had 175 worshipers – http://www.lacanadaonline.com/articles/2009/10/17/news/lnws-stlukes1015.txt
And now at their first service in their new location they had only 60 worshipers – http://www.glendalenewspress.com/articles/2009/10/18/news/gnp-lukes101909.txt
Mmm . . .
“Members” is rather different from “ASA”.
But mmm . . . I’m sure Jools knows that he wasn’t comparing apples to apples.
Mmm . . .
; > )
Forget the ‘active’ members then, dear. 175 last service, 60 first service. You do the math.
Jools, I was the preacher at St. Luke’s yesterday. I don’t know where the reporter came up with the number of 60 people, but the official count of the attendance was 188 and no fudging. It was a great service. The Lord is blessing that congregation. God bless them for their faithfulness.
[i] Snarky comment removed by elf. [/i]
There were 220 people in attendance on the final Sunday in the stone building. This included a lot of people who travelled to be there one last time. As Bill Thompson wrote there were 188 people at the inaugural service, which more accurately reflects the congregations normal attendance. Membership is of course higher.
RE: “Forget the ‘active’ members then, dear. 175 last service, 60 first service.”
Good idea — a pity that you did not do so from the beginning, however.
But I think most readers can understand why now . . . ; > )
The bottom line here is that Bishop Bruno will not be able to publish bogus data for 2009. For 2008 the parish still reported 560 Members, 240 ASA, and Plate & Pledge of $500 thousand. (Sort of saying that if you own the building you own the Members!). Will be interesting to see what numbers the TEC St. Luke publishes for 2009. Bishop Bruno has gained the building but lost the Members. Hmm. Reminds one of gaining the whole world and losing your soul. Statmann
Before commenting on this thread I’m afraid I need to go back and read the admonition under StandFirm’s comment block.
And so how many were in the Old Stone Church for the great service of reconciliation on St Luke’s Day??
Not to dwell on the point, but Fr. Rob commented on the newspapers website that there were 188 in attendance. Read more carefully, “Jools”, the reporter said “60 VISITORS”.