July 2019 Newsletter of St. Luke uMC

The Monthly Newsletter of St. Luke United Methodist Church · July 2019

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St. Luke

LINE THIS MONTH

Photos from Family VBS 2019 on pages 13-16!

“See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Isaiah 43:19

1. Announcements 3. Introducing Brian and the Ebel Family 5. From Mark Girard 6. From Mike Powers 7. July Discipleship Resource 9. Nicaragua Water Project 11. Giving Matters 12. Stewardship Update 13. Family VBS Photos 17. From the Pantry Shelf 18. Blue Barrel Sunday 18. Photos from our Swahili Community

ANNOUNCEMENTS Mountain Mission Truck The United Methodist Mountain Mission has 8 opportunity stores in Eastern Kentucky. With the help of supporters like you, they are able to provide gently used clothing and household items at a reasonable price. They are looking for new socks and underwear for men, women, and children, men’s and children’s summer clothes, good pots and pans, men’s shoes, good used furniture, coffee, coffee cups, air fresheners, 33 gallon garbage bags, Pinesol, dust mops, toilet bowl cleaner, sugar, paper towels, toilet tissue. Please place your items in the stairwell by the Connection Center before Monday, July 22.

Summer Study: Revival!

Do you find that your faith sometimes seems less strong than others? Do you long for a faith that is robust and fully alive? If so, you are in good company! In fact, the founder of Methodism, John Wesley, had this same experience and desire, and his message and faith continue to speak to us today—calling for a revival of our hearts and souls so that our world might be changed. Join us on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-7:15 p.m., beginning July 10, for Adam Hamilton’s Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived It. A light meal will be provided! Contact facilitator Nora Conner at nconner@ stlukeumc.org or 859-269-4687 with questions or to sign up, or sign up in the Connection Center.

Looking for Food Rescue Volunteers A few weeks of experience has shown that it would be very helpful to have our own St. Luke Food Rescue volunteers to do the Tuesday and Thursday pick-ups from the Bryan Station Road Kroger. Pick-up would need to be by 10 a.m. with food delivery to St. Luke around 11 a.m. Brief training would be provided. Several folks could share this task. For more information contact Karen Hinkle at kphinkle@twc.com.

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Volunteer in Worship this Summer It's summer, the kids are out of school, and the choir is on summer break! St. Luke has a tradition for members and friends to share their talents by providing Offertory music during the summer months. We are seeking talented persons of all ages to fill in the blanks on the sign-up list posted on the wall by the Connection Center for Sundays running through August 18. Please sign up or call Mariann with the dates you are available (mreinke@stlukeumc.org/419-494-3335). You will be contacted with further details.

Habitat for Humanity Build It’s that time again! Starting July 10, several United Methodist Churches and Thrivent Financial will build a house alongside Wakenya Saidi and Sifa Entyonyemya for them and their seven children at 230 East 6th Street. They are originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo but have lived in the United States for many years. If you are interested in construction, painting, landscaping, and more, volunteer signups can be found at www.lexingtonhabitat.volunteerhub.com/ lp/Methodist. If you are interested in providing lunches for the build please call or email Kathy Silberman at 699-1582 or k.silberman123@gmail.com. Wakenya and Sifa are grateful for what God has done for their family. They are looking forward to working with all the volunteers who will be helping them build their home!

Get Connected Want updates on church events, important announcements, and to receive the monthly Church Newsletter via email? Each week we send out an email with important information about the life of St. Luke. Signing up is quick and easy. Just fill out a "Get Connected" card or send an email to infoline@stlukeumc. org asking to be put on the list. Signing up is a great way to ensure you know what's happening at the church. We welcome anyone to sign up to receive this email.

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HELLO FRIENDS!

J

WEL C O M EBE E L FA MIL

une has been a whirlwind, and we’re thankful to begin settling into our new church family and home in Lexington. We are thankful for the many acts of kindness that you have shown – messages, calls, and even some fantastic dinners as we moved. St. Luke has been incredibly supportive to our family, and we are grateful. I also want to thank Mark Girard and the St. Luke staff for their support, dedication, and flexibility through the transition process. Mark has been very gracious and helpful, and all of the staff at St. Luke have done the same. I am excited to be part of such a great team!

I suppose beginnings require a bit of introduction, so that’s what I’ll try to do in this opening St. Luke Line article. I’m not a lifelong United Methodist or Kentuckian, but I’m glad to be both now. I grew up in a Roman Catholic family and attended church in my parents’ home parish until the end of high school. When I left to go away to college on a golf scholarship, I decided I didn’t need a church anymore.

I was left with too many questions, too many struggles, and had too many things to do on a Sunday morning rather than go to church. While I didn’t stop believing God was real, my departure from church certainly affected the way I lived my life. At the end of my second year of college, I met Mandy. Mandy began to reveal to me a Jesus I never knew, and Jesus began to change me from the inside out. By the end of our college years, we began to attend churches of all kinds. Shortly after, I made a new commitment to be a follower of Jesus, asked Jesus to be my Lord, and began to experience more of God’s revolution in my life. Everything changed.

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Y!

After college, I began a career in the business community. Mandy had one more year of school to finish, and that year we planned our wedding. Two weeks after she graduated, we married at Leighton United Methodist Church, with her father, a United Methodist Pastor, officiating. While we had visited a number of different churches, God continually guided us back to Leighton. One of my contacts from the business community who became a friend and mentor, attended Leighton with his family. The church played a crucial role in our growth as Christians. We had a great Sunday School class of young adults who sowed into our lives. My friend mentored me. Mandy’s dad and mom were great pastors to us. We served in the church, and I would make occasional hospital calls at

lunchtime for my father-in-law, given the fact that I worked downtown near some of the hospitals. God was on the move.

Ebel crew! I have a B.S.B.A. from Aquinas College, studied in the M.B.A. program at Western Michigan University, a Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a PhD in Systematic Theology from the London School of Theology and Middlesex University in the United Kingdom. While ministry at St. Luke is my first priority, I enjoy serving as an adjunct professor of theology and preaching at Asbury Theological Seminary. I enjoy playing golf and do so competitively to take time away from ministry. It keeps me fresh and gives me an outlet. I also enjoy hockey during the winter months, and an occasional hour or two of fishing.

Then everything changed. In the midst of growing careers, God called us to full time ministry for the purposes of teaching, leading, and renewal. Eighteen months after receiving this call, we left our families and hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan to attend Asbury Theological Seminary and begin our ministry of serving churches and releasing God’s love and hope in the world. We have served in ministry since 2002, and I became an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church in 2009. We have We are excited to get to served the Mackville/ know each of you and Antioch Charge, and then begin ministry with you. I at St. Paul as an Associate. believe you’ll find I have a In 2009, Bishop Lindsey teaching style on Sunday Davis supported our vision mornings from the pulpit of a new church plant to – I want you to not only reach new people, and be inspired, I want for Revolution Church was born a year later in 2010. Now, you to grow in your faith. I have a visionary style of we have the joy of beginning anew with you, here at leadership, and I am excited about collaborating with St. Luke. We are excited! the leadership teams and staff at St. Luke to begin dreaming about what’s next – who can we reach for Mandy works remotely from home for a firm in Christ, how can we grow together, and where is God Louisville managing the charitable foundations of a leading us? We look forward to sharing in this journey number of different clients. She is not only an amazing with all of you. Let’s begin to press in together as we wife and mom, but an avid golfer, fisherwoman, and believe the God of the Impossible for all that is yet to loves to spend time with friends. Sarah Margaret (11) come. loves to read, Girl Scouts, do crafts, cook, and swim.

Luke (9) is a competitive golfer, hockey player, and an Brian avid reader, too. These three are the best part of the July 2019 | 4

Dear St. Luke Family, Karen and I are humbled and over whelmed by the outpouring of love and appreciation that we have experienced as our ministries have come to a close at St. Luke. O ur hearts have been warmed by your wonderfully kind words and generosity. Thank you to ever yone who sent cards and provided gifts. And thanks for all the wonderful celebrations. The whole church celebration was a special night that we will never forget, as well as celebrations put on by the Ser vant Leadership Team, Handbell Choirs, Staff and Directors, and the Swahili and Multicultural Ser vices, and others. You are a great church and a great people. It has been our joy and privilege to be in ministr y with you for these last seven years. Please know that we will sing the praises of St. Luke wherever we travel and will continue in prayer for all of you.

In Christ ’s Love, Karen and Mark Girard

Rev. Mark B. Girard

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THANK YOU ST. LUKE I

t has been an honor and a joy to share in the fellowship, worship and ser vice of St. Luke United Methodist Church these past two years. I deeply appreciate the opportunity my friend Mark Girard gave me to join the staff, make so many new and wonderful friends, and continue answering the call to ministr y God extended to me 50 years ago. W hen I was 16 years old, I told my mother that I sensed God ’s calling me to be a pastor. She paused a moment and then said, “ Well, just don’t say anything stupid.” I sincerely hope I have not said or done too many stupid things as we shared this journey together. Pray for me as I will continue to pray and give thanks to the Lord for you.

Mike and Sherr y Powers July 2019 | 6

DISCIPLESHIP RESOURCE FOR JULY

52 Questions & Answers for Our Hearts and Minds

by John Duff he resources so far for Christian Discipleship have mainly been books, but this month's resource will require a bit of technology, but don’t worry, it is not too advanced. The St. Luke Discipleship Resource for July is an app entitled, New City Catechism. A catechism is an ancient tool used by Christians to teach new believers and children the faith which they proclaim. It involves a set of questions and answers that teach the doctrine of the church through the ages including things like the Apostles’ Creed, the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer. New City Catechism is an app put together by Tim Keller, a retired Presbyterian Minister from New York, which is based on previous historical Catechisms. Though created by a Presbyterian, the Catechism is meant for Christians of all denominations, and has updated answers in modern and simpler language.

T

New City Catechism is made up of 52 questions and is divided into three parts to make it easier to learn and includes some helpful divisions: • Part 1: God, creation and fall, law (twenty questions) • Part 2: Christ, redemption, grace (fifteen questions) • Part 3: Spirit, restoration, growing in grace (seventeen questions) 7 | July 2019

As with most traditional catechisms, a Bible verse accompanies each question and answer.

In addition, each question and answer is followed by a short commentary taken from the writings or sayings of a past preacher as well as a commentary from a contemporary preacher to help students meditate on and think about the topic being

explored. Each question ends with a short, original prayer.

those wanting to gain a deeper understanding Since there are 52 questions in New City of our faith.

Catechism, it can easily be learned one question Download the app per week for a year. This is a useful tool for today and check it families to use around the dinner table, simply out, or if you would having a conversation around one question and like to explore answer a week. You could also use it in your it more before small group or Sunday school to guide discussion downloading it, visit newcitycatechism.com. into the deep theological foundations of our The catechism is also available in a hard copy if faith. Catechisms are great because they are by you would like to purchase that from the website. nature interactive, one person asks the questions and another gives the answer.

Traditionally Catechisms have been used by memorizing the questions and answers, which could be done one at a time, or take a few at a time as well. This app is easy to use and flip through, and downloadable to your smart phone!

On your phone, a question will come up without the answer and with a Bible verse to go along with it. Once you have given your answer, you can click on the, ‘show answer’ button to let you know if you remembered correctly!

NewCityCatechism.com

I highly recommend this app for those wanting to help facilitate Christian learning and discipleship in the home, as well as for

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NICARAGUA WATER PROJECT The community of Yakalwรกs, Nicaragua, wants to thank St. Luke UMC for the clean water they now have at their homes.

They no longer have to drink, bathe and do their laundry in the creeks and rivers. Now they can drink clean water, bathe their children and wash their clothes at their homes. There will be less problems with parasites, and everyone, especially the children, will enjoy better health.

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Giving Dear St. Luke Family, What does the term “generosity” mean to you? Does it make you think of people being generous towards you? How did it make you feel? How do you think it made them feel?

Next question: How do you feel when you are generous?

Our culture has a way of making us feel the pull of material things, doesn’t it? It creates a desire, a hunger, for “things.” Our culture can make us feel like obtaining those “things” is the goal of life; it can even make us feel as though that is our purpose. When we go down that path, however, we are never satisfied; we only experience the desire for more, bigger, better, newer. We can even feel like we deserve it or need it, as though we are somehow incomplete otherwise.

However, the Christian message is counter-cultural.

We acknowledge the emptiness of such a claim. We say there is nothing wrong with things, but that it is the pull the things have on us that is dangerous.

We say that all we have is entrusted to us by God and that it really belongs to God. When we use what we have for God, whether it be time, talent, money, or relationships, we experience freedom from dissatisfaction.

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MATTERS

Have you experienced this kind of joy, this peace?

Do you long to? Christ gives us the answer. Being generous through your prayers, worship, learning, witnessing, service, and offerings are vital to everything we do here at St. Luke, and they are important ways we grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, who shows us that through these kinds of generosity, we find the peace we seek.

I invite you to pray and seek what God is saying to you about this. If you would like to discuss this or other “giving matters,” please don’t hesitate to contact me at nconner@stlukeumc.org or (859)269-4687.

In Christ,

Nora Conner Associate Pastor Director of Ministry and Stewardship

The information is a summary of our finances through May 2019. Many thanks for your faithfulness and for the many ways you impact our church and the world for Jesus Christ. May we continue to be good stewards of God’s gifts!

MAY 2019

Budget needs

$112,470.84

Expenses

Total income*

Expenses-to-Income difference

$96,067.33 $90,116.07 ($5,951.26)

Alms contributions for May 2019 Balloon Fund contributions for 2019 Total Balloon Fund contributions to date

$2,469.75 $14,660.72 $318,288.17

Life Center mortgage balance (as of 5-31-19)

$2,064,361.32

FISCAL YEAR-TO-DATE

Budget needs (as of 5-31-19) Expenses (as of 5-31-19) Total income (as of 5-31-19)* Expenses-to-Income difference (as of 5-31-19)

*Total income includes contributions, building use fees, and Kroger card receipts. ** Our current fiscal year runs from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019.

Questions? Please contact Nora Conner, Associate Pastor/Director of Ministry and Stewardship

$1,237,179.24 $1,096,374.39 $1,085,376.28 ($10,998.11)

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A BIG shout out to all the awesome people who served during our Family VBS! (The list is long!)

It takes an awesome team to be sure families had the opportunity to grow closer to God and closer to each other! It is our prayer that families learned together, worshiped together, prayed together and had fun together!

We collected breakfast items for God’s Pantry!

80 boxes of cereal, breakfast bars & PopTarts were donated to help support our pantry! Great job!

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pantry St. Luke operates a food pantry through God's Pantry on Mondays through Fridays from 1-2:30 p.m. & 6-7:30 p.m.

The clients are given an opportunity to pick food items to form a nutritional food selection.

Food supplements are prepared from both donated and purchased food and contain the items necessary to prepare enough meals for five to seven days.

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From the Pantry Shelf

by Karen Hinkle Family VBS Donates Breakfast Foods Families that participated in Family VBS in June blessed the pantry with donated breakfast items as their mission focus. Thanks for the generous contributions!

For more information contact Karen Hinkle at kphinkle@twc.com.

Seeking Volunteer Scheduler We are seeking someone to serve as Volunteer Scheduler for our daytime pantry operation. Kathy Gendreau Still Need A Volunteer for Rescuing Food who has served as Scheduler for We are still looking for one or more our daytime pantry volunteers since persons to pick up ‘rescued food’ 2013 needs to take a break from that from the Kroger at Bryan Station on task due to health and family issues.

Tuesdays. Since mid-May we have received rescued food directly from This requires someone very comfortable that Kroger store on two days a week. with computer use including a simple Thus far, this has included some deli scheduling format, sending group and meat options, specialty baked breads individual emails, and maintaining a and pastries, and produce that is past data base of volunteers. In addition, its prime sell date. Having someone they need to be willing to learn and connected to St. Luke ensures we understand the various tasks performed have someone committed to our at the pantry in order to determine ministry who can work within the time how to match interested persons with constraints of our other volunteers. volunteer assignments. A monthly We have a volunteer for Thursdays but schedule of volunteers is prepared would like to identify one for Tuesdays. and substitutes sought and assigned throughout the month.

Pick-up would need to be by 10 a.m. with food delivery to St. Luke around If interested, or if you have someone to 11 a.m. Brief training is provided. recommend, contact Karen Hinkle at Several folks could share this task. kphinkle@twc.com

BLUE BARREL

SUNDAy

D

espite the added rescued food coming to the pantry, the continual need for canned foods remains.

This month we are seeking what we call our ‘misc veggies’ NOT green beans or corn, which usually come in abundance. We need peas, carrots, greens of all types, beets, sauerkraut, hominy.

Pick up your Blue Barrel Bags on July 14 and return on Sunday, July 21.

On vacation or out of town on those dates? You can drop off your contributions any time by leaving at the Blue Barrels by door 3 or at the pantry.

Pictures from Our

SWAHILI Worshiping Community

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Pictures from Our

SWAHILI Worshiping Community

This newsletter is also available online in full color at stlukeumc.org/newsletter.

Worship Schedule: 9:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11:00 a.m.

God’s Backyard (K - 5th grade): 11:00 a.m.

Swahili Worship: 12:30 p.m.

Multicultural Worship: 3:00 p.m.

2351 Alumni Dr., Lexington, KY 40517 ¡ 859-269-4687 Child care available at all services.