Message from the Pastor

Peace be with all of us!

The United States election season is heating up, especially with the presidential debates, nonstop news coverage (often trying to be as addictive to us as possible), and political advertising. Methodists are reminded of a well-loved journal entry from John Wesley, which he jotted down on October 4, 1774:

I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them, 1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy: 2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against: And, 3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.

Wesley’s wisdom is good advice for all Christians to heed! A relevant question for self-examination might go like this: If aliens visited earth during election season, could they tell Christians from non-Christians, by their attitudes, actions, and words? If they read our New Testament with its command to “Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience,” would these visitors be able to tell that we follow such teachings? “Accept each other with love, and make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together.” I’m not sure if we’d pass the test! We can all be better at adopting the attitude that was in Christ Jesus. (See Philippians, chapter 1.)

Healthy churches like St. Luke UMC accept members from a diverse range of political persuasions. People of good faith can disagree on what governmental policies are best for their city, state, and country. However, people of good faith cannot belittle and bash politicians, and neither can we speak disrespectfully of those who vote differently than we do. Have you taken care that your spirits are not sharpened against others? I must confess that I have failed many times! I must pray over and over again, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.” If I focus on my own sins and my need for grace, I won’t be so harsh against others. Instead, I’ll be a blessing in their lives (and much more likely to persuade them to my ideas, if that’s my goal).

What gets the attention of your eyes and ears these days? We all have a limited amount of time with our eyes and hears. What sights and sounds are getting the bulk of your time? What matters are getting a lot of your energy and attention? These are good questions for election season, but they are good questions for all seasons.

With the weather getting more pleasant in October, will you spend more time outside and less time in front of a screen? Will you read scripture or spiritual books more than you watch the news or entertainment? Will you call friends and family instead of fomenting against your enemies?

All such questions are about stewardship. During our stewardship season at church, we talk of giving money to support our church, but God asks that we be good stewards of our time, energy, attention, and bodies as well. We have many resources besides money, and all of these resources are needed for spiritual growth—both our own growth and that of others. God needs our help in making sure the Gospel is proclaimed every Sunday. This is why I give to my churches, 10% of my pre-tax income. St. Luke has a budget of about $250,000 and over 100 actively connected members or friends of the congregation, so that means we spend about $2,500 per person every year, to provide opportunities for spiritual growth and formation. (If we’re being honest, the church of Jesus Christ has never been a most efficient business enterprise! We are generous, not money-making.)

What it boils down to: I want everyone to have such a meaningful relationship with Jesus that they support the preaching of his Gospel. I want everyone to have a church home that is worth supporting with 10% of their income. Honestly, it’s a lot of money to give away! But I am so grateful for church communities that allow and encourage me to pray, study, discuss, discern, and serve in transformative ways. Everyone deserves a place of spiritual formation, a source of spiritual nourishment. You deserve it. And you can support those sources of transformative spirituality with your presence, time, attention, energy, service, gifts, witness, and prayers. The church is a better place when you are a part of it!

+ Peace +

Pastor Brad

Lectionary Readings for October

Sermon Series: Jesus’ Sermons During His Last Week

Sunday, October 4 — Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Psalm 80:7-15; Matthew 21:33-46
Sunday, October 11 - Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Psalm 106:1-5; Matthew 22:1-14
Sunday, October 18 - Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Psalm 96:1-13; Matthew 22:15-22
Sunday, October 25 - Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost
Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18; Matthew 22:34-46

The Mission of St. Luke UMC is to be a Place to Belong, Believe, & Become Disciples of Christ

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELONG

The Church Council will meet Sunday, October 4, at 11:35 in the Fellowship Hall. All interested church members are encouraged to come. Please wear a mask.

Our annual Charge Conference with District Superintendent Rusty Keene will be Wednesday, November 4, at 7:00 p.m. It will be conducted by Zoom and details will be forthcoming. Please let Pastor Brad know if you need help participating via Zoom video-conferencing.

UMW Grace Circle will not meet in October, but there will be a meeting Tuesday, November 3, at 10:00 in the Fellowship Hall. Mary Dalton will lead the World Thank and Pledge service. We will also allocate any extra money that we have to various mission agencies/projects. Masks are required and the fellowship hall will allow plenty of room for social distance.

St. Luke Reading Groups resumed their monthly meetings with gatherings in the Fellowship Hall on September 22. We wore masks and sat appropriately distanced. Members shared titles of books they had enjoyed since the last meeting in March and made plans for the next several months’ discussions. Both groups will meet October 20 and November 17 at 2:00 and 6:00, respectively, in the Fellowship Hall. In October, the afternoon group will read The Keeper of Lost Things and the evening group will read Florence Adler Swims Forever. For November, both groups will read The Book of Longings. All readers are welcome to join our groups—contact Frances Tims for more information.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELIEVE

Pastor Brad’s small-group opportunity for spiritual formation is taking place on Wednesday nights at 6:00 in the sanctuary. If you haven’t taken part but are thinking about joining, give Brad a call to discuss it.

Two of our Sunday School classes will resume in-person meetings on Sunday, October 11. The Coleman Class will meet in the Fellowship Hall at 9:30 and masks will be required. The 4-5K Class will meet during the worship hour. The children will be in the sanctuary until the end of the Children’s Message and then will go with their teacher to their classroom for a lesson. A big thank-you to Claire Rogers for agreeing to coordinate the children’s class and to others volunteering to teach so that no teacher has to miss Brad’s sermon every Sunday! We hope it won’t be too much longer before all our Sunday School classes can resume.

The Worship Team will meet Sunday, October 11, at 11:35 in the Fellowship Hall. Please wear a mask.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES

You are invited to an Eagle Scout ceremony for William Wessel on Sunday, October 4, at 3:30. The ceremony will take place in the courtyard, weather permitting, with a reception in the Fellowship Hall.

The annual fall No-Bake Sale as of September 28 has raised $860 for UMW and the White Christmas/Christmas in July mission projects. Our goal is at least $1,000. A big THANK YOU to all who have already contributed. If you haven’t donated, you still have time. Any amount will help. The drive doesn’t end until October 11. To make a donation, make your check payable to “St. Luke UMW” and drop in the offering plate or mail to Jackie Pennington in the stamped, self-addressed envelope that you received in early September.

Don’t forget our Second Sunday mission effort for Helping Hands. Please bring a bag of apples and/or a jar of peanut butter—or canned goods, if you prefer—on the second Sunday of each month. There is a collection basket in the narthex. The second Sunday is also Dollar Sunday, when we have an opportunity to put a few extra bills in the collection basket to support our Compassion Fund, which the pastor uses to meet emergency needs in the community.

World Communion Sunday is October 11. Your special offering provides scholarships for U.S. and international students, on both undergraduate and graduate levels. Donations will be accepted anytime during the month of October. Your gift makes a world of difference!

Previous newsletters have highlighted the UMW Frances Perry Scholarship, Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi Children’s Homes, Mississippi Choctaw United Methodist Mission, Wesley House in Meridian; Bethlehem Center in Jackson and St. Andrew’s Mission in McComb which are included in the UMW budget and funded in part with proceeds from the No-Bake Sales. The highlight for October is Moore Community House in Biloxi.

Moore Community House was founded in 1924, a time when east Biloxi was filled with seafood factories that attracted workers from around the world, especially from Central Europe after World War I. Many of these workers came with small children. Early programs at Moore included childcare and a night school for adult workers.

Nearly 100 years later, programs at Moore Community Center are still based on the core principle that the most effective way to help families achieve economic security is to ensure access to affordable child care and work that pays a living wage. Two of the programs at MCH that implement this principle are the Early Headstart Program and the Women in Construction program.

Quality early child care makes a difference. The first few years are pivotal to a child’s lifelong development. In addition to early learning, the Early Headstart program ensures that children have access to educational, nutritional and medical services that are critical to their health and wellbeing. Moore has about 100 children (infants to age 3) enrolled in the Early Headstart program.

In addition to childcare, women need access to high-paying, high opportunity work. The Women in Construction Program at MCH gives women necessary skills and helps them find construction and trade jobs that pay a living wage.

For more information about the work of Moore Community House go to their website moorecommunityhouse.org.