April 2021
St. Luke United Methodist Church
Message from the Pastor
Will you travel anywhere this year?
Are you excited to go see a friend or relative, after a long time apart?
After Easter morning, the disciples of Jesus have to travel. They are invited to go on a road trip.
A couple of days after Jesus was killed, two women came to the tomb of Jesus, and they met an angel who had rolled away the stone in front of Jesus’ grave. The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He isn’t here, because he’s been raised from the dead, just as he said. Come, see the place where they laid him. Now hurry, go and tell his disciples, ‘He’s been raised from the dead. He’s going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.’”
The disciples have to hit the road and travel to Galilee to find Jesus. Galilee was the backwoods—the ghetto—and in Galilee was a town called Nazareth, a trailer-park town where Jesus was raised. Most of the reputable, high-class folks avoided Galilee. One of Jesus’s disciples, Nathaniel, asked “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” The religious professionals argued with Jesus that God’s anointed one couldn’t come from such a backwoods ghetto.
But the message of Christianity is that God will not often be found in the places of power and prestige and luxury. Instead, God will be found in humble places and among humble people. God is among those in need, among those who suffer, and with us when we are suffering. The Lord says that “whenever you feed, clothe, welcome, visit, and care for the most humble and humiliated people, you do it to me.” So even now, the risen Christ continues to live in hidden, ignored places, among folks that many people avoid.
The challenge is that if we are going to encounter God, then we will have to find God amidst our own suffering (and that will mean being honest about how we are suffering), and then travel to places where others are suffering, because God is with them there. We will need to stop avoiding places like Galilee and avoiding the pain that many people experience (and stop ignoring our own pain). Just like God is present with those who suffer, we need to be present with those who suffer, if we are going to be anything like God and if we are going to love like God loves.
So what happens after the angel gives the command? Here’s the end of Matthew’s gospel: “With great fear and excitement, the women hurried away from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples… the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. Jesus came near and spoke to them, ‘I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go 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 obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.’”
Jesus will be with us, but will we search him out and travel to see him, like his disciples did? Will we be with God, like God is with us? In other words, will we make a move in the right direction?
When the bible was written, men rarely took directions from women, or even trusted a woman’s testimony unless a man was present and could verify the same information. But in Matthew’s gospel, these male disciples humble themselves and do as the women advise. It prompts a question of self-examination: Will we humble ourselves enough to trust the testimonies of marginalized persons? Are you willing to be pointed in a new direction, to go to places that other people avoid? If so, you may find yourself in the presence of a living God.
If you make a move, God will give you meaningful work to do: You will be charged with making new disciples, from all nations—all different kinds of people, not just people like you. You’ll welcome them with baptism into a newly created family of God, welcoming them into a relationship with the Holy Trinity. You will teach Christ’s commandments to love God, love our neighbor, and even love our enemy. You will be kind to those who no one is kind to. You will be generous to those that everyone else ignores. You will welcome those that other people exclude. And then, maybe, someone will point to you and say, “Look! Look there—there I see the presence of the living Christ.”
May it be so.
Peace be with you,
Pastor Brad
Lectionary Readings for April
Holy Week
Thursday, April 1 - Maundy Thursday
John 13:1-17, 31b-35Friday, April 2 - Good Friday
Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12; Psalm 22; John 18:1 - 19:42Sunday, April 4 - Easter Sunday
Mark 15:1-8
Sermon Series: Forgiveness, Restorative Justice, and Reconciliation
Sunday, April 11 - Second Sunday of Easter
”The Journey of Jacob”
Genesis 32:3-8, 22-30; 33:1-11Sunday, April 18 - Third Sunday of Easter
”The Relational Nature of Reality and the Practice of Forgiveness”
Matthew 22:34-40; 2 Corinthians 5:16-20; Matthew 18Sunday, April 25 - Fourth Sunday of Easter
”The Importance of Grieving and Confronting our Fears”
John 19:25-27; John 20:1-18; Matthew 27:45-56; Matthew 28:1-10
The Mission of St. Luke UMC is to be a Place to Belong, Believe, & Become Disciples of Christ
OPPORTUNITIES TO BELONG
UMW Grace Circle will meet Tuesday, April 6, 10 a.m. in the fellowship hall. Wear your mask. Melba Washington will lead the Call to Prayer & Self-Denial Service. The service is Titled “She Leads: Empowering Women to Make a Difference.” As we move into our next 150 years of mission work, UMW continues to care for vulnerable women, children and youth. The programs offered by National Mission Institutions and international partner organizations promote leadership development and the well-being of those who are underserved. The offering will support programs that transform the lives of women, children and youth. We continue to advocate for the work of our eight Regional Missionaries. With our support, programs that lift up women leaders will bear fruit. Be thinking about that something that you can deny yourself in order to increase the amount of your Call to Prayer offering.
The Church Council will meet on Sunday, April 11, at 11:35 am in the Fellowship Hall. All interested Church members are encouraged to come. You are invited and welcome.
UMM College Scholarships: The UMM of St. Luke and Cleveland First UMC has announced that applications are now being taken for their two $1,000 scholarships for the scholastic year 2021-22. Application forms are available in the offices of each church. Scholarship applications for 2021-22 must be on file in the church office of First United Methodist Church by April 15, 2021. Applicants must be from Bolivar County; must have maintained a 3.0 grade point average in their high school and college work; and students who are members of St. Luke and Cleveland First UM Churches will be given priority when winners are determined. Applications may be filed either in person or by mail at the FUMC address provided in the application or filed electronically at clevelandmsfumc@bellsouth.net. Winners of the scholarships will be announced by the UMM by the following May 15th. More details about the application process and the scholarships are provided with the application form.
OPPORTUNITIES TO BELIEVE
On Thursday, April 1, from 12-1:00 pm, Pastor Brad will offer a Drive-Through Communion. Please drive under the portico of the sanctuary to meet with Brad and receive the elements.
Maundy Thursday service will be held on April 1 at 6:00 pm at First UMC and Good Friday service on April 2 at 6:00 pm at St Luke. Invite a friend or neighbor!
Mark your calendars to join us in the Courtyard at 8:30 am, next Sunday April 4 for Easter Sunrise Service. We will also have Easter Service as usual at 10:30 am in the Sanctuary. We hope you will join us for one of these special services, or both if you can.
OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES
St. Luke folks recently held a Prayer Retreat and Workday, organized by the Trustees. Please thank Adam Williams and others who made repairs to the playground and trimmed, swept, and power-washed the courtyard prior to Holy Week activities. Thanks also to Kay Daves who provided morning snacks and what was described as a “delicious soup” for the workers’ lunch.
St. Luke has another service project coming up with another opportunity to support our local parks. We are going to paint the gazebo at Fireman's Park on Saturday, April 17, at 9:00 am until finished. We expect the project to take about 2-3 hours. The Park Commission has offered to buy the supplies if St. Luke will provide the labor! If you would like to help with this project, please let Susannah Wessel know.
United Methodist Women will have another No-Bake Sale in April due to changes in the format of the Crosstie Art’s Festival. You will receive a letter about the second week in April with a return envelope for you to send your donation. We all have many requests for donations to worthy causes, but we hope you will prayerfully consider contributing to the mission work of United Methodist Women. Any amount is welcome.
In 2020 the two No-Bake Sales for UMW netted $2,005 and $685 for the White Christmas/Christmas in July account. Six United Methodist Women pledged and paid $3,540. We sent $3,244.74 to the Conference UMW for undesignated giving; and $1,304 for designated mission giving (for example, our Mississippi Community Centers). Another $500 went to local mission for Wesley Foundation, Helping Hands and Christmas gifts for church staff. A small percentage is used for meeting expenses and program materials and books.
Dates are still available on the Flower Calendar if you would like to sign up to help provide altar arrangements throughout the year. The calendar is located on the bulletin board across from the choir rehearsal room or you can contact the church office to sign up.
Don’t forget that on the second Sunday of every month we collect bags of apples, jars of peanut butter, and also canned good for the Helping Hands Ministry. That day is also our Dollar Sunday, when you are invited to slip an extra dollar or two into the offering plate to help support our Compassion Fund, which the pastor uses at his discretion to help those in need.
Report from our Lay Leader
Lay Leader Jim Tims is serving on the MS Conference Episcopacy Committee. In virtual meetings with Bishop Swanson and others from around the state, one of the main topics of conversation recently has been planning for General, Jurisdictional, and Annual Conferences. The following is a report from Jim:
They are projecting that a special called virtual General Conference Meeting will be held on May 8, 2021.** If a quorum participates, then all major items discussed and eligible for a vote will be voted on by paper ballots. These ballots must be returned by early July, 2021. The most controversial items will be held for discussion and voting at the next in-person General Conference, hopefully to be held in 2022. One item to be voted on is the appointment/non-appointment of bishops for the various jurisdictions.
e.g. The Southeastern Jurisdiction now has 5 bishops who should have retired last year or are due to retire in 2021. It is my understanding that this Special GC will determine what instructions to give the Jurisdictions about Bishop positions that may become unoccupied because of retirements. If the positions are not filled, how will the details of episcopacy be handled in each conference.
The Southeastern Jurisdiction will meet virtually in late July, 2021. They will decide what to do about potential vacant bishoprics. They may decide to have fewer conferences, thus fewer bishops in the Southeast Jurisdiction. They may try to fill any vacancies. A lot is still undecided.
The MS Annual Conference will meet virtually a week later than normal. This year's meeting will be June 23-25. The normal order of business will be altered, with the ordination of new preachers and memorial service to be held separately at other times to allow these functions to be held in a more personal and meaningful way.
The United Methodist Church continues to function under the resolution passed at the 2019 special called General Conference, which GC mandated that churches must meet certain strict standards to withdraw from the Church. Major issues not covered in the 2021 virtual meeting(s), such as the Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation and other similar proposals, will not be voted on until the next in-person General Conference, tentatively scheduled for 2022. This will ensure that face-to-face debate on these important subjects will flourish in a manner that virtual meetings do not readily allow.
** Jim reports now that the May 8 date for General Conference has been postponed. More info will be forthcoming when he has received it.
The St. Luke Scene
“Virtual” Easter Lilies
Proceeds from the orders of our “Virtual” Lilies went to support Camp Lake Stephens. Camp Lake Stephens is a United Methodist Camp and Retreat Center located in Oxford, MS, who is committed to being a place where children, youth, and adults can encounter God and respond in faith to God’s call to transform the world. Thank you to those who contributed to this sacred and transformative place!
In Memory Of. . .
Eddie Daves by Kay Daves
Bonnie Horton by Sue Givens
Took Mason by Sue Givens
Our Recently Deceased St Luke Family by Lisa & Shaun Horton
Took Mason by Dillard & Sandi Melton
Dorothy Melton by Dillard & Sandi Melton
Bonnie Horton by Jackie Pennington
Robert Johnston by Jackie Pennington
Took Mason by Sally Rogers
Eleanor Corban by Tricia Walker
Marie Walker by Tricia Walker
In Honor Of. . .
Melanie & Woody Earls by Kay Daves
Brittany & Trevor Runnels by Kay Daves
The St. Luke Compassionate Care Team by Lisa & Shaun Horton
The St. Luke Lunch Bunch by Sue Pearson
Bettye Johnston by Jackie Pennington
Sally Rogers by Jackie Pennington
Susannah Wessel by Jackie Pennington
Memorials
Attendance and Offering Report
April Birthdays
4/12 Dillard Melton
4/16 Carlie Rogers
4/19 Steve Lewis
4/26 Mike Gressett
4/29 Bob Corban
April Anniversaries
4/09 Bertha & Glynn Neal
4/13 Sheryl Stump & Rick Torgerson
4/18 Billy & Laura Bassie
Bev & Bob Card
4/20 Elaine & Larry Lambert
