September 2019 Newsletter of St. Luke UMC

The Monthly Newsletter of St. Luke United Methodist Church ¡ September 2019

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St. Luke

LINE

Photos and stories from the God's Pantry Appreciation Event On Page 12

THIS MONTH

1. Announcements 2. Tailgating 3. Church-wide study 4. New Sunday School Coordinator 5. New Handbell Director 6. Pumpkinfest 7. Wednesday.comm 10. Blue Barrel Sunday 10. Stephen Ministry Ministry Moment 11. From the Pantry Shelf 13. Stewardship Update 14. Bottle Caps for Benches 15. Recycling Reminder

"How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.

Psalm 31:19

ANNOUNCEMENTS Prayer Shawl Ministry • Compassion and the love of knitting/crocheting have been combined into a prayerful ministry and spiritual practice which reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace, as well as in celebration and joy. Many blessings are prayed into the shawls. The Prayer Shawl Ministry of St. Luke meets every Tuesday morning in Room 124 from 10:00-12:00. If you knit/crochet, or would like to learn, please join us in the making and giving of the Prayer Shawls. Contact Sue Pixler at bspixler@gmail.com or 307-321-2934.

Got Music in You? • Come share in this community of music and camaraderie!

Chancel Choir rehearses every Wednesday from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

Questions? Contact Brent Merritt, Choir Director at bmerritt@stlukeumc.org.

Want to be blessed by helping a refugee learn English? • Our St. Luke ESL program will be resuming September 11 and we want your help!

We meet Wednesdays from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm in room 127 and need volunteers in the classroom, in the nursery (there are always two workers), and driving the church van. Our students have come from various countries: Congo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bhutan, Jordan, and Syria.

Questions? Call or text Marcie Barnett 859-806-7756 or Janet Garrison 859-221-5424.

Introduction to Christian Theology • Beginning September 1st, Ken Collins will offer the course Introduction to Christian Theology for earnest Christians who are curious about their faith in the face of an increasingly complex world. The course will not only offer challenging lectures, drawing from the resources of revelation and reason, but it will also welcome engaging and thoughtful participation.

Holiday Market 2019 • The United Methodist Women are hosting their Holiday Market on October 18 & 19 here at St. Luke. The vendor fee is $35, unless you are a member or regular attender of St. Luke and then the fee is only $30. The application can be found at www.stlukeumc.org/holidaymarket2019. Contact Kelly Claes at kegarrett@gmail.com for more information or any questions.

1 | September 2019

UMW to Host Headstart Speaker Ladies, please mark your calendars for the first UMW meeting of the season on September 3, the day after Labor Day. Our evening will feature an interesting speaker, Jessica Coffie, from our public schools’ Headstart program. The meeting begins at 6pm with light refreshments and we encourage you to bring a friend! Questions?

Contact Janet Garrison 859-221-5424 Support St. Luke Through Your Kroger Purchases St. Luke receives FREE MONEY from Kroger as part of Kroger’s Community Rewards program! Every time you shop at Kroger and swipe your Kroger Plus card, the church earns money! It does NOT take away any of your gas points or increase the price you pay for any items, but you must sign up! Since we began participation in the program in 2014, St. Luke has received $24,122.84.

FREE MONEY! The more people we have participating, the bigger our community rewards check! Just go to Kroger.com/ CommunityRewards, sign in to your Kroger account (or create one if you need to), click “I’m a Customer,” click “Enroll,” type in “St. Luke UMC,” and click “Enroll.” If you need assistance, don’t have a computer, or just don’t want to deal with it, Dawn Brodersen will do it for you! We make it so easy to participate! Simply fill out a “Kroger Community Rewards” form, available at the Welcome and Connection Centers.

St. Luke Texts!

You can now opt in to receive important texts reminders from St. Luke! This is a free service and you don’t even have to download anything or create a password in order to participate. It lets you choose precisely which groups and ministries you want to get email and text messages from here at St. Luke.

Simply text the letters SLUMC to the SHORT 5-digit phone number 84576. After it texts you back, make sure you click that link and complete the process, choosing what updates you’d like from us.

We’ll also use this to send you important updates about church-wide special events coming up, inclement weather announcements, reminders of overall cancellations or schedule changes, and, if ever necessary, immediate church-wide safety and security notifications. If you can’t complete this on your mobile phone, please go online to: flocknote.com/ StLukeUMC.

September 2019 | 2

CHURCH-WIDE STUDY ANNOUNCED Love" is a six-week study that has participants work through six ways we can stretch ourselves to love our neighbors better.

The Church-Wide study will start on October 6 and run through November 10 as a sixweek study.

The Grow and Equip Team is happy to announce that our annual church-wide study will be over the book by Tom Berlin "Reckless Love: Jesus’ call to love our Neighbor." "Reckless 3 | September 2019

If you are not already a part of a Sunday school, this is a great time to jump into one, at least for the six-weeks in which we will be studying Reckless Love. If you would like help in finding a class that might fit you, contact John Duff (jduff@stlukeumc.org) or Mike Reed (mrreed@email.uky. edu) to get more information on our Sunday Schools!

There are video and leader guides for the study, and we will have our typical leader’s information sessions for all Sunday School Facilitators. In the meantime, feel free to stop by John Duff ’s office to take a look at the curriculum.

The St. Luke Grow and Equip

Leadership Team, John Duff, Karen Dutton, Morgan Harper, Pat Henderson, Mike Reed & Jackie Walters.

W O O E C N Y SCHOOL

A D N U S

R O T A N I D R

The Grow and Equip team is happy to announce that we have a new Sunday School Coordinator! Michael Reed has agreed to step into the role, which was previously held by Pat Henderson. Mike leads the Kemp Sunday School and has been connected at St. Luke for a long time. He has some new ideas to help Sunday Schools continue to grow and thrive in their ministries.

A Message from Mike Reed New Sunday School Coordinator

I

have been a member of St. Luke, along with my wife, Gail, since 1986. Our two children, Laura and Brian, grew up at St. Luke. We have been members of the Kemp Sunday School Class since its inception many years ago.

I look forward to working with adult SS class leaders to support our current SS classes; increase communications with the congregation about adult SS offerings and new topics; see if there are new adult SS classes that might fit our congregation; and work in other ways to increase adult SS attendance at St. Luke.

Blessings, Mike Reed

September 2019 | 4

Sunday, September 15 @ 12:00 p.m.

TAILGATING AND PICNIC IN THE PARKING LOT

BY BRIAN EBEL

W

e’re heading toward the full swing of fall! The Cats are warmed up and ready to roll and we at St. Luke have been covered in the dust of our rabbi. As we make our way from summer to fall, we turn toward the growing time of the year in the Church.

Wednesday.comm is ready to get under way, vacations slow down, and church attendance stays strong throughout the whole of the school year. As we are learning to follow Jesus more closely, there’s an opportunity: inviting others to be part of the journey.

5 | September 2019

Jesus tells us in Matthew 28:18-20: And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Disciple-making is at the heart of the final instructions Jesus has for us before he ascends into the heavens and is seated at the right hand of the Father. How, then, can we at St. Luke develop a culture of disciple-making?

of an event .

The beginnings of it are a culture of invitation.

Think about it. You invite people every day. You invite them to coffee. You invite them to dinner. You invite them to like your Facebook post or to check out the latest store you shopped at. You invite friends, family, and even complete strangers, to talk, to learn, to all sorts of life opportunities. Why not invite them to Church?

Inviting to Church is simple.

There are usually three doors through which we invite people into the Church…

1. Through the front door of worship .

You might suggest them joining you for Sunday morning worship at 9:30, 10:45, or 11 am and then head to brunch or lunch afterward. It’s a great time to get ready for the week, grow in faith, and invest in people’s lives both spiritually and relationally.

2. Through the side door

developing your part in our Sometimes it’s easier to invite culture of invitation at St. people to an event. For example, Luke? Make a list of people we have a Tailgating Party on you can invite to be part of the September 15 following 11 community at St. Luke. Take a am worship. Invite people to few mornings and pray for God worship and wear their favorite to reveal to you those who he sports team jersey (you too!), and would lead to a great church like then invite them to stay for the St. Luke. Pray for them regularly. tailgating party with hotdogs, Look for opportunities to invite inflatables, and all kinds of fun them through one of the three after worship. You might also doors to the Church. And as we consider inviting friends or those journey together in becoming who need a church family to our dusty in following Jesus and October 19 Pumpkinfest. When through inviting others along you invite, designate a time and the way, know that he ( Jesus) place to meet, or better yet, pick meets us all and leads us into his them up and carpool together. purposes for our lives.

3. Through the open door of service .

Sometimes people connect best with a church through the desire to make a difference in the lives of others. Invite them to serve at God’s Pantry or the Senior Commodities Day. It’s a great way to spend a few hours, connect with new people, and serve others to bless them with God’s love.

How can you get started in

Enjoy the journey!

We are kicking off the new teaching series “Tailgating” with a tailgating party of our own in the parking lot after the 11:00am service on September 15.

This will be fun for the whole family! Hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, and inflatables! Join us this fall at St. Luke as we look to how we might recapture the tailgating movement as God’s people called the Church.

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e will be having a 4-week Bible Study this fall during the month o f O c t o b e r. Us i n g B a r b R o o s e ’s DV D a n d h e r b o o k : “ I ’m Wa i t i n g G o d , f i n d i n g b l e s s i n g s i n G o d ’s d e l a y s . ” D o yo u e v e r f e e l l i k e G o d is taking too long to answer yo u r p r a ye r s ? T h i s B i b l e S t u d y w i l l b r e a t h e f re s h hope and practical steps i n yo u r l i f e . P l e a s e j o i n u s o n We d n e s d a y m o r n i n g s from 10-12 beginning o n O c t o b e r 9 . Fo r m o re information, contact Joanne Beidleman at 278-3973 or jobeidleman@twc.com.

7 | September 2019

JULY 2019

Budget needs

$103,109.56

Expenses

Total income*

Expenses-to-Income difference

$95,304.91 $139,075.78 $43,770.87

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

$3,812.00 $20,501.33 $324,128.78

Life Center mortgage balance (as of 7-31-19)

$1,985,946.34

FISCAL YEAR-TO-DATE

Budget needs (as of 7-31-19) Expenses (as of 7-31-19) Total income (as of 7-31-19)* Expenses-to-Income difference (as of 7-31-19)

$103,109.56 $95,304.91 $139,075.78 $1,43,770.87

There are several ways to give at St. Luke!

• Online at www.stlukeumc.org (click “Give Online”) • Your cash or check placed in the offering plate on Sunday mornings, or dropped off during the week, or your check mailed to the church • By texting “GIVE” to 859-214-6218 • Through stock donations • Through IRA minimum required distributions (for persons at least 70 ½) • Through foundations (This can be a good way to contribute for some people who have received sizeable funds through sale of a property, an inheritance, etc. Funds are placed with a charitable foundation and are dispersed at your timing and direction.)

Questions? Please contact Nora Conner, Executive Pastor

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

September 2019 | 8

COME MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE! Handbell choirs rehearsals resume on Monday, September 9.

The beginners choir ( Joyful Noise Choir) is at 6:30 p.m. and the advanced choir ( Jubellation Choir) is at 7:30 p.m. This is open to anyone interested in praising the Lord with music!

No prior experience or musical knowledge is necessary to join the Joyful Noise Choir.

The Jubellation Choir is open to anyone with prior bell or instrument experience. For more information, please contact Bethany Watt at wattviolin@gmail.com.

9 | September 2019

NEW HANDBELL CHOIR DIRECTOR Bethany Watt is our new Handbell Director at St. Luke! She is currently a private Suzuki violin teacher in the Lexington area. In addition to her thriving teaching business, Bethany is also an active performer throughout Central Kentucky. She is a member of the Lexington Community Orchestra and performs freelance work throughout central Kentucky. Bethany is also active in several professional organizations and maintains memberships in the Kentucky Music Educators Association and the Lexington Federated Music Club as well as the Suzuki Association of the Americas.

Bethany and her family came to St. Luke full time after graduating from Vanderbilt University in 2001. She rang full time in the St. Luke bell choir until Evie was born in 2006 and then served as a sub until being appointed director. She has sung in the St. Luke choir and also serves as a worship leader.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 5:00 - 7:00 P.M.

T

he Children’s Ministry Leadership Team is looking forward to our 6th annual Pumpkinfest on Saturday, October 19 from 5:00 -7:00pm.

help! There are plenty of fun, easy to set up activities that use pumpkins as the focus! We have a few games available too!

Talk it over in your Games and activities will class or group, then be in our front parking email Susan, at lot from 5-6:30pm. scutshall@stlukeumc.org That will be followed or call 859-269by viewing of “It’s the 4687, to indicate how Great Pumpkin, Charlie your group wants to Brown” in The Loft participate! This will starting at 6:30pm. help us be sure there are no duplicates.

Our church has so graciously supported It is always a joy to see this event in the past! the church body come Let’s do it again! We ask together to provide that your class or group this event for church provide all necessary families and families in items for your booth. If our community! you need ideas, we can

September 2019 | 10

FALL Semester 2019 Classes and Activities start September 11!

Our Wednesday.comm Opening Meal and Game Night is September 4!

Our opening event this year consists of a dinner provided by the Cornerstones Sunday School Class and an Opening Game Night led by the Grow and Equip Leadership Team. The meal and games will start at 5:15 p.m. and run until 6:30 p.m. in the Gym. The games will include 2 Ping-Pong Tables, 9-Square, Corn-Hole and other games! In addition to games, our facilitators will be available to discuss their classes that will be offered starting September 11th.

Come out to have a good time and build relationships with others through recreation at St. Luke!

Wednesday evenings are a great way to get connected at St. Luke. Each Wednesday evening starts with a time of fellowship over dinner. Following the meal there are classes and activities for children, youth, and adults.

11 | September 2019

Once again this year, the meals will be hosted by different groups and classes to raise awareness and support for various ministries in our community.

Meals are $5 per plate ($15 max per family, sharing allowed if you wish) and will be served from 5:15 -6:30 p.m. Our Wednesday.comm meal organizer is Marty Sell. If you are interested in serving during the meal, let Marty (marty2sell@yahoo.com or 859-2961038) know and she will be glad to find a place for you to serve.

Wednesday.comm Schedule Each Week: 5:15-6:30 p.m.

6:00-7:00 p.m.

6:00-7:00 p.m.

6:00-7:00 p.m.

6:00-7:00 p.m.

7:00-7:30 p.m.

6:00-7:30 p.m.

7:00-8:30 p.m.

Come-and-go community meal in the gym Childcare for infants and toddlers Activities for preschoolers K-5th Graders: "BUGS" Youth Bible Study in the Youth Room Youth Basketball in Gym Adult Classes Choir Practice

Wednesday Classes and Groups For the Children

6:00-7:00 p.m.

"BUGS" Our K-5th graders will find out that little things make a BIG difference. Love them or hate them, bugs are a part of God's creation. As small as they are, these little things can give us some direction on how to live a life that glorifies God. "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." Psalm 19:1 Caterpillars, Bees, Ants, Ladybugs, Fireflies, Grasshoppers, Roly Polys, Praying Mantis, Mosquitoes, Crickets, and Roaches will all give us some directions on living! Scripture reading, stories, activities and discussions will help identify ways we can "live" the lesson every day! We will meet in the Loft from 6-7pm. Miss Macy will also be leading us in music each week! She is an elementary school music teacher and brings us a wide variety of songs and exercises that help us understand how music can help us praise God!

Full Length Studies • Sept. 11-Nov. 20 Love and Respect: Marriage for Under 40’s

Facilitated by Brian and Mandy Ebel 6-7:00 p.m.

Dr. Emerson Eggerichs believes love best motivates a woman and respect most powerfully motivates a man. Research reveals that during marital conflict a husband most often reacts unlovingly when feeling disrespected, and a wife reacts disrespectfully when feeling unloved. Married couples under 40 years old come and join Pastor Brian walking through Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, looking at helpful tools to enrich your marriage and continue to put Jesus in the center of your marriage!

W ith: Reimagining the Way You Relate to God

6-7:00 p.m.

Facilitated by Morgan Harper and Nora Conner How do you relate to God? In Skye Jethani's With we find an eye-opening book that challenges the way we think about God and faith, digging deep into our motivations and issues of the heart. Jethani lays out what it really means to be in communion with God versus a life from, over, under, or for God. Join us and see how a life full of faith, hope, and love can be reimagined when we live in response to God's love.

Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life 6-7:00 p.m.

Facilitated by Beth Gawlik Do you long to experience a deeper relationship with God but the busyness of everyday life gets in the way? Using Tish Harrison Warren’s Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life we will walk through an ordinary day and learn how to "embrace the sacred in the ordinary and the ordinary in the sacred." We will see how each part of our day has a parallel in part of the worship service and how our daily practices and habits can draw us closer to God in surprising ways if we learn how to listen.

Come and discover the holiness hidden where you don't expect it.

(classes and groups continued on next page)

September 2019 | 12

Classes and Groups Continued...

inspiration and instructions from doctors and wellness Small Group Fellowship 6:00-7:30 p.m. experts. The class might continue for encouragement, Facilitated by Stephanie Gifford and Jessica Wells support, and/or exercise if group members are interested Do you long for Christian fellowship in your life, but in additional meetings. find yourself unable to commit even to preparing for a weekly study? Join us on Wednesday nights as you are able, to commune with fellow believers, share about Short Study • Oct. 30-Nov. 20 our lives and pray for one another.

Working for Peace 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Walking with God by John Eldredge Facilitated by Kathy Swango

Facilitated by Keith Reinke 6:00-7:00 p.m. Activism is an ongoing role of Christianity.

Using his personal journals, the author, John Eldredge, From taking part in the civil rights movement to will help us understand that our deepest need is to modern marches and protests, Christians have live in conversation with God. How to hear His voice. made a difference by standing up for human How to follow Him intimately. This is the single most rights and opposing war. Kathy Swango will life-changing habit that a Christian can adopt, because present material from the Peace Studies college it brings us back to the source of life. Unfortunately, class, that she teaches at BCTC, and inform and most Christians have never been taught how to have inspire us to work toward making peace a reality. a conversation with the Creator. Join us as we discover this immense opportunity simply waiting for us to seek.

Short Studies • Sept. 11-Oct. 23

Defiant Joy

6:00-7:00 p.m.

Facilitated by Lynn Hill and Beth Tackett Using humor, wit and wisdom, author Candace Payne (aka "Chewbacca Mom") reveals biblical insights to unshakable joy and freedom in every circumstance.

Dispel the myth that joy is frivolous, immature, or reserved for a few select "happy" people, and open your heart to the freedom and joy God created you to live in.

The Daniel Plan

6:00-7:30 p.m.

Facilitated by Erin Miley

Rick Warren’s The Daniel Plan is a 6-session videobased small group that focuses on 5 essentials for health: faith, food, fitness, focus, and friends. It includes biblical 13 | September 2019

Why does this ministry have the name Stephen?

In the book of Acts, Stephen was chosen to provide caring ministry to those in need. Since the time of the Apostles, caring ministry has been considered a hallmark of the Christian faith community.

MOMENT

by Karen Hinkle

Through this ministry a trained Stephen Minister comes alongside a hurting person and meets with that person on a weekly basis to listen, care, encourage, pray, and provide emotional and spiritual support. Men are paired with men; women with women. The caring assignment continues as long as deemed helpful by both the Care Receiver and the Stephen Minister.

Could you or someone you know benef it from the one-to-one, Christ-centered and conf idential care of a Stephen Minister? If so, contact one of our pastors or our Referrals Coordinator, Karen Hinkle, to learn more.

BLUE BARREL

SUNDAy T

his month we are asking for basics – vegetables, tomato products and soups.

Take your pick! The quantity of donated food coming through the main pantry continues to be low, so donations of any size are essential for us to have food available five days a week!

Pick up a Blue Barrel Bag on September 8 and return on Sunday, September 15.

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.

September 2019 | 14

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.

15 | September 2019

From the Pantry Shelf

by Karen Hinkle

Throughout August, food donations to the main pantry continued to be low. We have had days when we were very, very low on green beans or corn. On other days we have had one kind of soup but no other choices. We often have not had or we run out of tomato products which are popular choices.

The St. Luke congregation is indeed a full partner in the ministry to provide food assistance to those in our community who are at risk of hunger! St Luke’s contributions through our Blue Barrel Bag project have been a tremendous help in filling in those gaps, St. Luke’s pantry fund exists thanks to financial donations from those who don’t have time to shop.

Having those funds available has allowed us to purchase items in specific categories when the shelves are empty.

If you wish to make a monetary donation, cash or a check can be put in an envelope and marked as for God’s Pantry. Checks should be written to St. Luke with a note in the memo line that it is for the pantry.

Still looking for candidates for Volunteer Scheduler We have someone who is doing a trial run as Volunteer Scheduler but, we are still open to hearing from potential candidates. Are you organized, good with handling lots of emails and calls? This involves keeping the data base of current and potential volunteers, preparing the monthly volunteer schedule and keeping up with substitutes and sudden vacancies. If interested or if you have someone to recommend, contact Karen Hinkle at kphinkle@twc.com.

Pantry appreciation event from July 31 Sharing more pictures from the event on July 31 sponsored by G & J Pepsi Distributing Company for pantry clients and pantry volunteers.

Thanks to St. Lukers who helped with setup and clean up, to those who baked cookies or brownies or otherwise helped. Special thanks to all the employees from G & J who made it possible by cooking, serving hot dogs, drinks and chips, and to those who served in the food pantry that evening.

September 2019 | 16

RECYCLING REMINDER

Recycling is local. However, Lexington's recycling center can no longer accept any kind of paper or paperboard. Please do not put these items in the Recycling Bin as to facilitate easier sorting.

RECYCLE ONLY THESE ITEMS

17 | September 2019

BOTTLE CAPS TO BENCHES

by Dave Cohn, Director of Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center Thank you for continuing to support Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center through the simple but meaningful act of collecting and saving your plastic bottle caps.

We currently have two ADA compliant tables, and I would love 8 to 12 more. For every table, I have to deliver 550 pounds of lids. It actually takes 1100 pounds per table, but the leading manufacturer of bottle caps will match.

Some of the challenges we are facing: 1.) each table costs $550.00 in addition to the caps. We had a church recently send us the money for one. 2.) We have to sort the caps ourselves. It’s not hard, but it takes a little time, so we’re looking for work teams that would be willing to come and help. It is amazing how much you can sort in a couple of hours!

Right now I would say we have enough caps for at least 6 more tables. I literally have two bays that are floor to ceiling in bottle caps! Thank you!

September 2019 | 18

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.