August 2021
St. Luke United Methodist Church
Message from the Pastor
I’ve recently started going to the gym three days a week. The trainer leads classes in which I use muscles that have been long-neglected, to lift weights heavier than any of my bible commentaries. I’m sore the next day. Why go? Because the challenge is exciting, I want to stay strong, and I want to keep my heart healthy. I tell Edith that I go to the gym so that I can see her children.
The comparison to worship is obvious. Just as some people physically exercise every day and take group classes once in a while, Christians pray daily and participate in group spiritual formation at least once a week, worshipping in the sanctuary.
Why do we attend to worship? Because worship consists of people whom God has called, who have heard the divine call, and who have answered the call to gather, so that they may learn from God how to live.
We worship to become strong and healthy, to become mature, to “grow up into Christ,” as the pastor of Ephesians would put it.
Listening to music while sitting still in the sanctuary is unlike anything else I do all week. Outside of worship, I rarely sing songs with other people in a group. I rarely meditate on the needs of other people, as we do in the Prayers of the People. I rarely reflect on how I can give more of my life to God, which is what I’m called to do during the Offertory. And most rare of all is confessing my sinfulness and foolishness out loud. It’s a rebellious act of vulnerability in a shallow culture that tells us to hide so much of ourselves.
Worship is strangely different from everything else I do all week. So is going to the gym. But both do my spirit and body good. I’m more centered after worship and after working out.
I’m thankful for the people who join me in worship. It wouldn’t be as fun, encouraging, or challenging without you. You bring gifts, needs, and ideas that challenge the church to rise to the occasion of being a diverse Body of Christ. We’re called to incorporate everything and everyone. The author of Ephesians believed that Jesus was accomplishing a divinely-desired unity in the Church. When we act like Christ toward one another—with humility, gentleness, and patience—and act like Christ toward the world—with generosity, sacrifice, and healing—then we are God’s accomplishment.
Worship teaches us how to be part of God’s work in the world.
I’ll say this again, because it bears repeating: Worship consists of people whom God has called, who have heard the divine call, and who have answered the call to gather, so that they may learn from God how to live.
When I call my Australian cattle dog—a blue heeler—she comes running to me. She usually sits when I tell her to sit. She happily receives treats from her master, and she pays close attention to where I am and what I’m doing.
When God calls you, do you answer? Do you come into God’s presence? Do you submit, pay attention, and receive from God the nourishment being offered?
I pray we all will.
Peace,
Pastor Brad
Lectionary Readings for August
Sermon Series: The Core Message of the Early Church
Sunday, August 1 - Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Ephesians 4:1-16Sunday, August 8 - Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Ephesians 4:25 - 5:2Sunday, August 15 - Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Ephesians 5:15-20Sunday, August 22 - Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Ephesians 6:10-20
Sunday, August 29 - Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
James 1:17-27
The Mission of St. Luke UMC is to be a Place to Belong, Believe, & Become Disciples of Christ
OPPORTUNITIES TO BELONG
My heartfelt thanks to my St. Luke family who so generously contributed towards the ’surgery' and ‘healing’ of one of my closest friends, my 1981 Guild D-45 acoustic guitar. The guitar is now safely home and happy to be working again in the service of Music. Thank you all so very much.
Here are a couple of photos if you’d like to see the before and after…I plan to write a blog post about the guitar soon…the ‘surgeon’ is Greg Krochman of Classic Ax….thanks! -Tricia
Get out your biggest casseroles and plan to join us for a Potluck Fellowship Luncheon after the worship service Sunday, August 15. We always have lots of delicious food and, of course, a great time together.
United Methodist Men will meet at 1st UMC Tuesday, August 10, at 6:30 p.m.
The next meeting of the Church Council will be Sunday, August 22, in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the worship service.
UMW Grace Circle has changed the date and place for our next meeting to August 10, 10 a.m. in the fellowship hall. Pastor Brad has invited Lisa Pinkerton, Director of Community Engagement for Zoe Ministries, to be our guest speaker to share about this important ministry.
ZOE is a Greek word found in the New Testament meaning "Life". Zoe Ministries shares LIFE through CHRIST to orphaned and vulnerable children through strategic orphan care initiatives. They also facilitate clean water wells, secure housing for widows, education enhancement, food security, and income generation in Kenya.
Zoe Coffee Co began out of a desire to make a global impact for the gospel of Jesus Christ right from our hometown of Cleveland, Mississippi. Profits made by Zoe Coffee Co go directly to the mission field in rural Kenya, digging water wells, building widow homes, and facilitating community enhancement programs through Zoe Ministries.
Centrally located in the heart of downtown Cleveland, this space provides so much more than coffee to the local community. Our building holds office space for Zoe Ministries while also serving as a safe gathering place for small groups, church meetings, and student study sessions.
Zoe Coffee Co also holds a free-standing prayer chapel where visitors are encouraged to pray for the ministry in Kenya as well as the local community. Our prayer is that this coffee shop not only enhances the work taking place internationally, but also benefits the community of Cleveland as well.
All women are invited to join us on Tuesday, August 10, in the fellowship hall to learn more about Zoe Ministries.
OPPORTUNITIES TO BELIEVE
A few of our Sunday School classes have taken a summer hiatus, but it’s time to get back in the SS routine! The Young Adult class, the Youth class, and the 5K-lower elementary classes will start back on Sunday, August 15. (The Coleman class and the Upper Elementary class have been meeting.) If your class is resuming, we need you there!
OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES
As part of our Mission Outreach with Parks Elementary, we will be providing lunch for the teachers on Wednesday, August 4, from 11-12:00. If you would like to help serve, please contact Susannah Wessel or Pastor Brad.
Thank you to all who helped with the Christmas in July mission! Your efforts helped a total of 14 children in our community receive school supplies. Plus, $270 was collected to help provide school supplies for the children at the Methodist Children’s Home. Thank you for making such a difference for children whose parents are unable to buy all the supplies needed and for giving those children confidence to start the school year off in the right way.
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.
Memorials and Honorariums
By:
Sue Pearson
Gloria Cranford
In Memory Of:
Barbara Hederman
Bonnie Horton
Attendance and Offering Report
July 4
July 11
July 18
July 25
Monthly Total
Monthly Budget
General Fund
$ 10,079
$ 8,431
$ 1,362
$ 1,345
$ 21,217
$ 19,911
Special
Fund
$ 125
$ 1,375
$ 145
$ 170
Sunday
School
5
8
8
10
Worship
35
43
59
51
Online
145
155
137
85
Christmas in July: Methodist Children’s Home $ 475
August Birthdays
Bobby Horton
Lyndell Dilly
Beau Melton
June Williams
Marie Boswell
Claire Rogers
Trevor Runnels
Austin Armstrong
Mary Dalton
Melba Washington
8/02
8/04
8/05
8/06
8/17
8/24
8/25
8/26
8/28
August Anniversaries
Beverly & Mike Gressett
Carol & Charles McAdams
8/09