April 2020
St. Luke United Methodist Church
Message from the Pastor
What a difference a month makes. We are living in a strange, alternative reality for which we have not prepared. And yet, if I take a step back, I can notice so many good things happening.
My wife and daughter are enjoying time at home, where Edith gets to hear all the books she could possibly want. Kathleen draws letters in chalk on the driveway, for alphabet games. In this nice weather, we took Edith to the Dahomey Wildlife Refuge and to the Mississippi River, where she pet a friendly frog.
At church, Tricia Walker has provided the music for our online worship services so far, via Facebook Live. Please check them out on the St. Luke UMC Facebook page. We have reached 1,700 views of the first service on March 22nd, and 952 views (so far) of the second service on March 29th. That is truly astounding (but not surprising, given the musical talent).
I’ve noticed acts of generosity, both in Cleveland and across the world. Even though we’re tempted to hoard, our better natures call us forth to surprise our fellow humans with mercy and kindness. I have been humbled by your generosity and encouragement toward me, as we navigate these uncharted waters together. In spite of the virus keeping us distant, people are taking steps to become closer in our relationships.
In the midst of the chaos, I feel God speaking to me and giving me guidance. I’ll share with you what I’ve heard. It all applies to me, and some might apply to you:
Take time off the screens. Television and social media are inherently addictive technologies that disconnect us from our real surroundings. While getting the basic facts are important and helpful, getting wrapped up the drama and emotions is usually not. (In fact, studies have shown that we feel worse after being on social media, not better.) Don’t just silence your cell phones. Turn them entirely off for a few hours, when you need a significant break. Your soul will be more at rest.
Focus on the good people are doing for each other. There are stories in the local news and national news of supreme acts of generosity. Pay attention to these acts of kindness. Then, step back and think about what good you can do for someone. What act of kindness would make a positive difference? How you could pleasantly surprise a person with an act of generosity?
Step back, calm down, and read poetry. I heard someone once say, “You will die with things on your to-do list.” You will never get it all done. You will never accomplish every goal you set for yourself. This is okay. Therefore, don’t go crazy trying to accomplish a million tasks. God wants you to be at peace. That’s only possible if you step back and don’t assume the role of Savior of the Universe. That role is already taken!
Step back, calm down, and read scripture, large swaths of it. The authors of our bible went through a lot of crazy chaos in their times. We are in good company.
Are you stressed, worried, or lonely? As the hymn says, “Take it to the Lord in prayer.” Jesus is a friend! Talk to him like one. Jesus is a wise master. Talk to him like one. He loves you, and he loves spending time with you. He loves when you pray to God with him.
Pray the Psalms. The authors struggled mightily. You are in good company.
Receive spiritual direction from others. Make and keep your appointments with friends, family, and spiritual guides, even if you have to meet long-distance. Call them, video chat with them. (Most of our phones are able to make video calls. Facebook Messenger is one service. FaceTime is available for people with iPhones. At my office, I’ve had to learn Zoom video conferencing.) In talking to friends and spiritual guides, I have loved seeing people’s faces, instead of just talking on the phone.
What have you been doing to stay at peace? What have you been doing to grow as a human being, as a maturing person? What has helped you reflect? I’d love to hear from you. Call, video chat, send a text or email, or drop a card in the mail. (I have come to value paper letters and postcards more than ever before!) The strange yet beautiful thing about this virus is that we are all in this together, across the planet. What else could have possibly brought us together? We are incarnational people. We are in the flesh. Our bodies are our chalices of blood, the work of God. When our bodies are sick and threatened, we are struck at our core. Mindful of this deadly threat, we are brought together by the weight of all life, death, and life beyond. The grace we’re experiencing is that we are valuing our bodies, our fleshy experiences, our touches, hugs, and hand-holding. We long for the eucharist, receiving the Lord’s Supper in physical form. Spiritual connection is not enough. We yearn to be in physical communion with God. Touching the earth will be our temporary sacrament. “This, too, is my Body.” From the earth we were made. From the earth we were all made. It is our home. We are home. We are all home, no matter how far apart. Let us welcome each other into this great pasture, as fellow sheep of God’s flock.
Amen.
Pastor Brad
Lectionary Readings for April
Sermon Series: The Basic Teachings of Jesus (The Teaching Messiah & the Doctrine of Discipleship)
Palm/Passion Sunday, April 5
Matthew 21:1-22; Isiah 50:4-9a; Matthew 27:11-54
Maundy Thursday, April 9
1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-35Good Friday, April 10
Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12; John 18:1 – 19:42Easter Sunday, April 12
Matthew 28:1-10
Sermon Series: Sinners and Saints in Christian History
Sunday, April 19
1 Peter 1:3 – 9; John 20:19-31Sunday, April 26
1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35
The Mission of St. Luke UMC is to be a Place to Belong, Believe, & Become Disciples of Christ
OPPORTUNITIES TO BELONG
As we shelter in place and practice social distancing, please be mindful of your neighbors and your St. Luke family. A phone call or a video chat can be a day-brightener for those who are isolated, and by making contact we can find out whether there are any needs we can help meet. Let’s help each other through these uncertain times!
St. Luke Reading Groups have postponed their April meetings but will be reading at home. If you are unable to meet with us but would like to see what we’ve been reading this year, the list follows:
OPPORTUNITIES TO BELIEVE
While we are temporarily unable to meet together as a church family, there are many ways we can stay connected and practice spiritual disciplines. Did you know that you can check out the St. Luke Facebook page even if you are not on Facebook yourself? When you open the St. Luke website and are on the Home page, scroll down to see the invitation to link to Facebook. Click on it and you may see an invitation to sign in or to join Facebook—just click “Not now.” There you go!
Beverly Card maintains our Facebook page and does a great job—thank you, Bev! Lately she’s been posting photos of our favorite St. Luke kids “home schooling.” There’s a clip of Tricia Walker responding to a Three Hymn Challenge from Vicki Hartley. In lieu of our regular worship services on March 22 and 29, Tricia and Brad taped services to share with us. And Brad and Les Hegwood, the priest at Calvary Episcopal, taped a dialogue titled “Between 2 Priests: The Lenten Discipline We All Got Whether We Asked for It or Not.” Their second dialogue is “Humor and Delight in a Time of Mass Suffering.” All this, and much more, on the St. Luke Facebook page.
OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES
We will observe Native American Ministries Sunday in April and you may give at any time during the month. This special offering funds urban ministries with Native Americans, scholarships for Native Americans attending United Methodist seminaries, and annual conference Native American ministries.
If you would like to purchase a “virtual” Easter lily in memory of a loved one or in honor of someone who is special in your life, please call Lisa in the church office to place your order. We are asking for a donation of $10 per lily and all funds donated will go to support Camp Lake Stephens.
Thanks to everyone who has donated funds or supplies for the Kairos Outside weekend. The event has been postponed and we will notify the congegation when it has been rescheduled.
The Crosstie Arts Council will not make a decision about Crosstie until April 1, but we are expecting that it will be cancelled. If that is the case, United Methodist Women will make other arrangements for a spring fund-raiser, probably a second No-Bake Sale. Lisa will send out an email when we know more.
UMW Mission info:
Last month we highlighted the Frances Perry Scholarship Fund which is supported by UMW. This month we have information about Rust College in Holly Springs. St. Luke UMC in paying 100% of our mission shares actually supports Rust College through two line items in the Conference budget—Rust College and the Black College Fund. Rust College is one of six mission agencies in MS that is supported by the National Organization of United Methodist Women. In addition, UMW has budgeted in 2020 $100 for Rust College. This along with other money from UMW in the Conference is for student scholarships.
Rust College is a historically black liberal arts college. Founded in 1866, it is the second-oldest private college in the state. It is one of ten historically black colleges and universities founded before 1868 that is still operating. The most popular majors at Rust include Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Education; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Public Administration Social Service Professions; and Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services. Rust is also renowned for its wonderful a capella choir.
Mary Dalton, UMW treasurer, shared the following information: Crosstie Bake Sale and the No-Bake Sale raised a total of $2779. Of this amount, $692.50 goes to the church for projects such as White Christmas and Christmas in July. Nine UM women pledged and paid $4030. Extra giving and the penny fund netted $813. We sent $3643.76 to the MS Conference UMW for undesignated giving. We sent $2591 to various missions and people across our state and community. The remainder was spent on local, district and conference event expenses which includes leadership material and books for the Reading Program.s
Our Outreach to Parks Elementary School
March 6 was a fun, yet sticky afternoon for some Parks Elementary students and some of our St. Luke members! As we continue to build bridges with our neighbors across the street, we were able to help more students this semester better their attendance at school. Last fall the reward for good attendance was an ice cream sundae, but we decided to change things up a bit and offer cotton candy this time as a reward. We served cotton candy to 160 students who had me the attendance requirements for the month of February. Everyone seemed to love the sweet treat!
Parks Elementary has also let us know that they need new books to offer as
rewards to students who meet their accelerated reading goals. Many thanks to
those who have already brought new books to the bin in the narthex. If you have
new books to offer for this, please hold on to them, and we hope to get them
when we can open the church back up on Sundays. Cade Holder was visiting our
church one Sunday when the youth announced to the church that we are going to
collect new books for Parks. She contacted Susannah Wessel to tell her that
Parks students were signed up to come to a matinee production of Pete the Cat
at the BPAC. This production was a part of their Read It! See It! Hear It! Be
It! program with area schools. Most of the schools will pay the money so the
students can attend the matinee, but some do not have the extra money to buy
the book that goes along with the program. Even though the BPAC is able to
offer the books at $1 each, the schools’ tight budgets sometimes do not allow
for this extra expenditure. Cade asked if St. Luke would like to buy the books
for the students, and we said yes! We presented some of the third grade
students with their new books the same afternoon we served cotton candy. Even
though, sadly, the students did not get to attend the matinee, due to the BPAC
having to cancel shows, they at least have a new book to read while they are
home from school.
St. Luke’s relationship with Parks Elementary is steadily growing deeper, and
it truly is a win/win for both groups. We look forward to doing more with them
in the future.
The St Luke Scene—A Sticky Situation
Resources from The Wired Word
Several of our Sunday School classes use The Wired Word, an online source of lesson plans that focus each week on news headlines to discuss in light of included scripture passages. This week the editors of The Wired Word have sent us links to downloadable activity pages for children, devotionals for homebound adults, and a Sunday School lesson discussing innovative ways to “do church” in this time of social distancing. Copy/paste the url’s below to access these resources:
Children’s Worship Bulletins has put together a packet of resources—puzzles, Bible activities, worship bulletins on carefully selected topics and Scripture texts -- to share with members of our church and community. We pray these will strengthen the families, and especially the young disciples, with whom we work.
Find the page with links to the PDF files by copy/pasting this address: https://www.childrensbulletins.com/covid19-childrens-activities-for-churches
As a way to stay connected, HomeTouch Ministries has provided 4 days of devotions and activities to send to the loved ones in our lives. They've also included a template for families in our congregation who would like to color a picture and send a note to those who might feel isolated. Find the page with links to the PDFs by copy/pasting this address: https://www.hometouchministry.com/covid19-resources-for-elderly-homebound
The first lesson of The Wired Word mentions some of the accommodations, technological and otherwise, various churches have figured out to still "be the church" to people who are limiting physical contact or sheltering in their residences. The second lesson is based on news that has nothing to do with coronavirus, so. you’ll have a lesson option even if you’re feeling overloaded by news about the disease.
For a link to the lessons, click here. If needed, the login is stlukeumc and the password is sundayschool. In the sidebar on the left, choose the lesson for 3/22/2020, “Being the Church During the Pandemic.”
