St. Luke's Men's Group (SLMG) - 2018 Activities

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All men who regularly attend services at St. Luke’s are invited to attend the meetings and participate in the fellowship and activities of our St. Luke’s Men’s Group. 

 

In fiscal year 2018, Neil McDonald served as Chairman, Tony McConnell served as Secretary, Bob Morgan served as Treasurer. When Tony was ordained as Deacon, Bob Morgan graciously accepted a “promotion” to serve as our current Secretary/Treasurer. At year’s end, there was $1904.04 in our SLMG checking account balance was $1904.04, mostly acquired through personal donations. 

 

The SLMG mission encompasses three general categories of involvement:  Community service projects; Christian fellowship activities; and service to the parish and parishioners. 

 

It may not seem apparent, but the many tasks our men perform, eliminate what outside vendors would otherwise be paid to do. This avoids making unnecessary expenditures from our annual St. Luke’s church maintenance budget--thereby leaving greater funds on hand to fund other parish needs. 

 

Below, I have summarized our activities performed in service to our Lord and His people during 2018:

 

• Medical Transportation Assistance program—Joe Brandon and Hoot Skelton coordinate this activity with others to assist those who lack the means to transport themselves to scheduled medical appointments.

• Following a residential fire that threatened the lives of Mrs. Betty Willis and her son, a team consulted with her to remediate the unsafe conditions, and scheduled an appointment with professionals to inspect the faulty chimney.  We intended to perform carpentry repairs.  Days later, one of her sons living in Florida became available to resolve all the unsafe issues.

• When Mrs. Jane Koster’s declining health required her to seek an assisted living alternative, the ECW and SLMG processed her household contents for removal to accommodate its ultimate sale.  We helped move her into her new residence in Cameron Hall. 

• Mrs. Mary Jennus’ needed assistance.  A major tool collection left by her late husband, Bob Jennus had to be photographed, inventoried, and priced to assist the Jennus family during the liquidation sale.  Later in the year, we examined weather damaged railings, and have coordinated with professionals on her behalf to remediate this problem as she remains in Florida.

• Special Community Projects Coordinator Fr. Ron Wikander and “Papa” Joe Brandon coordinated with St. Luke’s volunteers to participate with other area churches in community based initiatves known as Bright From the Start; Snack in the Backpack; and Seamless Summer.  These programs provide food resources to area needy children

• Habitat for Humanities—Helping Hands program:  This summer we were asked to join other community volunteers who repainted the Fannin County VFW Conference Center

• Blue Ridge Interfaith Coalition for Habitat for Humanities—Joe Brandon represents St. Luke’s with other area churches involved in assisting HFH project planning needs.

• Feed Fannin, Family Connection:  this fall our volunteers helped to unload a ton of frozen turkeys for distribution to needy area families.

 

Fellowship Events:

• We sponsored the annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper held in Thomason Hall on February 13th

• We sponsored  a joint Men’s Fellowship Retreat, May 17 thru May 20, with Holy Cross men’s group in Ten Mile, Tennessee—at Hala’s Place Plantation

• We built and sold 36 carpenter bee traps, and raised over $400 for funds to support our projects

• We provided security and other assistance at the Annual Easter Egg hunt, March 31st

• We planned the June 2, parish picnic at  Lake Winfield Scott—23 attended this enjoyable event

• On June 16th  we held our our first co-ed shooting event at Jim and Meredith Yacavone’s farm

• On September 28th “Pappa” Joe Brandon and our men sponsored the Low Country Boil

• Intended but cancelled:  Our joint Apple Tree Men’s fellowship camping event in the Nantahala Nat’l Park with men from Holy Cross Church men’s group in Sweetwater, Tn., scheduled for October 7 thru 12  had to be cancelled at the last minute--it was in the path of approaching hurricane Michael.

• Also intended but cancelled:  A Toccoa River canoe/kayak event, scheduled for Thursday Sept. 20 had to be cancelled due to dangerous river conditions

• ASSISTANCE TO OUR ECW:

  • Helped with spring cleaning day on March 22 to free up storage spaces at St. Luke’s and with church grounds maintenance.

  • ECW annual rummage sale event (Saturday, September 8)

  • Assisted with the Fall Festival, at the old farmer’s market in Blue Ridge

  • Assisted in setting up Thomason Hall for the annual Christmas Bazaar

 

MISCELLANEOUS PARISH PROJECTS:

• Our men have participated in church grounds clean-up and landscaping, when requested.

• We began mounting new St. Lukes’ Anglican (Episcopal) Church signs in the area

• We have addressed several safety measures: mounted fire extinguishers near fire exits; replaced a faulty smoke alarm above the elevator doors; tested emergency exit signs and lighting to assure proper functioning.

• We have resolved exterior security lighting issues

• We re-mounted the mail box post closer to Ewing St., to eliminate erosion caused by the mail delivery vehicle. 

• We have relocated the Parish house sign and flag pole, now centered in front of the Parish house

• We have rebuilt stairs descending from the pavilion to Parish House carport for improved safety

• We constructed an addition to an existing utility storage shed, doubling its size for increased storage

 

The aforementioned accomplishments and the Christian fellowship we share are continual blessings to each member who participates among this incredible group of brothers. We welcome others to join us. Thanks be to God and His Son Jesus Christ for allowing us to serve Him in this way.