May 2021
St. Luke United Methodist Church
Message from the Pastor
A few days ago, I was looking for worms in the backyard with my daughter Edith, who is almost 5 years old. She was given a bug-catching kit at my parents’ house, and she was excited to put it to use. We overturned a large stump, to find a nest of slugs, a couple of earthworms, and a cricket. I caught the cricket and put it in a container with air holes, while Edith picked up the slug and put it in another container.
I told her we needed to find worms to put in our garden, so we turned over a couple more pieces of wood and a concrete block, finding a few worms, large and small. Edith took them over to the garden, where we watched carefully as they slowly dug their way into the earth. She was captivated by watching them dig, and she listened carefully as I told her how the worms would eat the dirt and poop it out, which made for good soil for our plants (or so I assume). When her mother came outside, Edith excitedly told her about the worms, the digging of the holes, and the poop that’s good for the plants.
It felt good to be outside, in a spring cold snap, digging around in the dirt, admiring some of the smallest creatures. (Earlier in the week, we had gone to a small zoo near my parents’ house, where we fed a giraffe, but holding little worms can be just as engaging.) I felt good that Edith wasn’t scared of bugs, and I was proud that she would pick up a worm with her bare hands, despite how wiggly it was. She even pet the worm while it was digging.
I was proud of how observant she was—how focused on what was in front of us. I wasn’t as focused, since I was worried that these seedlings wouldn’t grow, wouldn’t produce, or would be destroyed by rabbits. In the back of my mind, I still needed to write my sermon. But for now, we were playing together, doing what Edith wanted to do. She so often has to follow our directions and do what adults want her to do. It’s nice to follow her lead and enjoy what she is enjoying.
So much life is underneath the surface of things. The slugs, worms, and cricket were thriving underneath the stump. What’s going on inside of you, underneath the surface? Who notices the life wriggling around in you? And who is unaware? How can you honor the wriggling life in others, underneath the visible exterior? Everyone’s got a lot going on inside. God may be calling you to focus on one thing, appreciate the small things, or honor the life that’s underneath the surface in you, underneath the surface in others, and underneath the surface in all of creation.
Peace,
Pastor Brad
Lectionary Readings for May
Sermon Series: Forgiveness, Restorative Justice, and Reconciliation
Sunday, May 2 - Fifth Sunday of Easter
”Truth-Telling and the Confrontation of the Other”
Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 14:17-24Sunday, May 9 - Sixth Sunday of Easter
”Rehumanizing the Other and the Choice to Forgive”
Luke 15:11-32Sunday, May 16 - Ascension Sunday
”Repentance and Restitution”
1 Samuel 25:1-38; Luke 19:1-10Sunday, May 23 - Pentecost Sunday
”Reconciliation of the Jews and Gentiles - The Story of the Jerusalem Council”
Acts 15:1-29
Sermon Series: Christianity and World Religions: Questions We Ask About Other Faiths
Sunday, May 30 - Trinity Sunday
”The Wise Men and The Question of Religious Diversity”
Matthew 2:1-11
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, May 4, 10 a.m. in the church library. Jackie Pennington will continue the study Women United for Change: 150 Years in Mission which she began in 2020 before COVID stopped meetings. Women who participate in Lunch Bunch as well as others who are interested are welcome to attend.
Mark your calendars to join us after worship on Sunday, May 16, for a Potluck Luncheon and Portico Dedication. Tables will be set up in the Fellowship Hall and courtyard so you may choose to dine inside or out. We will also celebrate with a special dedication of our newly added portico over the Fellowship Hall entrance, which was made possible by the generous donations given in loving memory of Gerald Jacks and Jean and Troyce Taylor.
The St. Luke afternoon book club gathered recently to say good-bye to Carol McAdams, who will be moving to Kansas City, MO, soon. Carol and her husband Charles, the Provost at DSU, have been cherished members of St. Luke. They are looking forward to being closer to family as Charles begins retirement. Book club members enjoyed a beautiful afternoon with a box lunch “picnic” on the deck of Frances and Jim Tims’ home.
OPPORTUNITIES TO BELIEVE
Vacation Bible School Arts Camp will be held on Saturday, June 19, from 8:30—2:30 (breakfast and lunch will be provided). If you have a child or grandchild going into 4K up to 7th grade in the 2021-22 school year, please go to stlukecleveland.com for more info and to sign up. Children will be split into four age groups and placed at four church campuses—St. Luke, 1st UMC, 1st Presbyterian, and Calvary Episcopal. We are doing this in keeping with best practices regarding Covid-19 precautions, although we expect conditions to continue to improve into the summer.
Teachers are needed for the Children’s Sunday School class, grades 2-5. If you’d like to help out, please contact Sue Givens or the church office.
OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES
United Methodist Women’s Spring No-Bake Sale is underway. You should have received a letter with a stamped, addressed envelope included for you to return your donation to Jackie Pennington. Please let us hear from you by May 2. You may also put a check in the offering plate made out to St. Luke UMW, No-Bake Sale on the memo line. This money is used to support various mission projects around the world benefitting women, children and youth. Thanks to all who have already donated. Our goal is $1000. As of Tuesday, April 27, we have $880. We’re almost there!
Looking ahead to our Christmas in July project, we’re asking you to help in identifying a child or family that may need assistance with school supplies. It could be a family in your neighborhood, your child’s classmate, or if you’re a teacher, you may have a student in your class (or your school) where you know the family is struggling to provide and could use some help. Please consider acting as a sponsor for that family. You can contact the church office for more information or to add a family to the list. Let's help these children get the 2021-2022 school year off to a successful start with a back-pack full of supplies!
St. Luke is committed to serving our community, and we had the opportunity to do just that on Saturday, April 17th. After seeing the pavilion at Fireman’s park get a new paint job, it became apparent that the gazebo should get a fresh coat of paint as well. The Cleveland Park Commission bought the supplies, and members of our congregation did the work! Not only did we paint the gazebo, we discussed everything from our local schools, the Covid vaccine, social media, podcasts, and the state of morals in our society. We had a VERY productive morning, as you can tell! Many thanks to the following who came to get the job done: Pastor Brad, Kay Daves, Cade Holder, Claire Rogers, and Susannah and Sean Wessel. And many thanks to Sally Rogers who brought freshly baked cookies! Be sure to drive by Fireman’s Park when you get a chance and check out the newly painted gazebo!
The St. Luke Scene
Before
After
Let’s Get Back in the Habit…
of checking the exterior doors of the church building. Now that Sunday School has started again and more of us are attending in-person worship services, our St. Luke family is once again using many different doors to enter and exit the building—and some of the doors have been left unlocked lately. Please, as you pass by an exterior door on your way to your car, check to make sure it is locked from the inside. And be aware that some of our doors may appear locked when they actually need a strong push to engage the lock fully. Let’s all take responsibility to make sure our building is secure!
Memorials
Attendance and Offering Report
May Birthdays
5/02 Kelly Horton
5/05 Hayley Cummins
5/06 Abby Bassie
5/06 Hart Rogers
5/06 Mary Jayson Rogers
5/07 Wyatt Williams
5/16 Sheryl Stump
5/21 Brad Corban
5/21 Bette Simpson
5/21 Candy Vickers
5/29 Eliza Hardy
May Anniversaries
5/10 Beverly & Roy Jacks
5/14 Lindsey & Mae Givens