December 2021
St. Luke United Methodist Church
Message from the Pastor
A pastor-colleague of mine was once appointed to serve in a city outside of Anchorage, Alaska. In the height of winter, the days were only five and a half hours long. Even with a little light coming through about an hour before the sun rises and an hour after it sets, they experienced over sixteen and a half hours of darkness in the dead of winter.
He told me a story of a Christmas party they once had at the parsonage, when one of the visitors to his house turned off some of the lights as they left a room. His wife quickly stepped in, saying, “No! Keep the lights on! I want as much light as I can get this time of year.”
Amid darkness, we need light. Amid sadness, we need joy. Amid death, we need new life. Amid hatred, we need love. Amid hardened hearts, we need compassion and mutual understanding.
We have no reason to believe that Jesus was born in the wintertime. There was no snow on the ground in Bethlehem in late December, with its Mediterranean climate. But like the rest of us in the northern hemisphere, late December in the Middle East and Europe is when it gets darkest. Before Christianity emerged on the scene, people stepped into the darkness to celebrate life and renewal, with lights and harvest festivals, often in honor of regional gods.
Early Christian leaders choose this festive season as the best time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. In the late 200s or early 300s, December 25th became the official date of the holy day. A time of darkness deserves a festival of light, and Christians consider Jesus the greatest light of all—the embodiment of new life and love-in-action in a world of suffering and death.
With the passing of generations, one generation dies and another is born. In February of 1984, my great-grandfather, Jackson Millsaps Johnson, died, a few short months before I was born. In 2016, his daughter, my grandmother, died, just a few short months before my daughter was born. We live amid a cycle of death and new life, souls coming and going, like gifts being exchanged between the world and God. We keep the gift for a while, and then we give it back.
The best way to celebrate Christmas is to “keep the light on”—in your homes, with decorations of greenery, twinkling bulbs and candles—and in your hearts, holding fast to good memories of loved ones who have died—and treating all life as a sacred gift from God. Like any gift from someone we love—someone who loves us—we treat the gift of life with care, we use it wisely, and we pass it along to another person who needs it.
May you receive and give light, life, and love during this season of “keeping the lights on.”
Peace on earth, and goodwill to all,
Pastor Brad
Lectionary Readings for December
Sermon Series: The Core Message of the Early Church
Sunday, December 5 - Second Sunday of Advent
Luke 1:5-25, 57-80Sunday, December 12 - Third Sunday of Advent
Luke 3:1-20Sunday, December 19 - Fourth Sunday of Advent
Luke 1:57-80Friday, December 24 - Christmas Eve: Nativity of the Lord
Luke 2:1-20Sunday, December 26 - First Sunday after Christmas Day
Luke 2:21-52
The Mission of St. Luke UMC is to be a Place to Belong, Believe, & Become Disciples of Christ
OPPORTUNITIES TO BELONG
The children and youth will practice for the White Christmas program during the Sunday School hour on December 5. Parents, please have your kids at the church by 9:30 a.m.
All women of St. Luke & Boyle are invited to the UMW Christmas Party at noon on Tuesday, December 7, in the St. Luke Fellowship Hall. Bring a friend and join us for a brief Christmas program and a wonderful time. Please bring a finger food to share – small sandwiches, cheese ball, dips, cookies, candy, etc.
OPPORTUNITIES TO BELIEVE
The Young Adult Class has started an Advent Study that all adults are invited to attend. The text we are using is The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem, by Adam Hamilton. There will be five sessions, ending December 19, during the Sunday School hour, which begins at 9:30 a.m. The study book is available at Cokesbury and also as an e-book, for anyone who wishes to purchase it, but it is not necessary to buy or read the book in order to participate. Just show up!
Larry Lambert is offering a Life After Loss Workshop at 11:45 a.m. every Thursday, beginning December 2 and continuing through January 6, at Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church. The sessions are free and open to the public. Please contact Larry for more information. If you have a friend or loved one who may be struggling, please let them know about this opportunity.
OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES
This year the Methodist Children’s Home is designating November and December as their This Little Light of Mine Special Offering. 100% of the offering will fund programs helping children and families of MCH. Let’s help bring hope and the light of love into the lives of children who have been abused and neglected. Please give by December 12.
All the White Christmas ornaments, representing gifts for those in need, have been taken from the tree in the narthex. Thank you! When you purchase your gifts, please wrap them in white paper (tissue paper is fine), attach the ornament to identify the gift, and bring them to the White Christmas service December 5—or you may place your gifts under the narthex tree at any time. If you weren’t able to select an ornament or would just prefer to make a monetary gift, please mark your check “White Christmas.” Such gifts will be very helpful in fulfilling the wish lists.
The teachers at Parks Elementary are having a school-wide door decorating contest during the month of December. They are putting together a Christmas/winter themed gift basket for the winner and have asked for out help in stocking the basket. If you have items for the basket, please drop them off at the school by December 2. Thank you!
Mark Cummins and his family and friends are establishing a scholarship in memory of Mark’s late wife and our beloved St. Luke member, Cheryl. The scholarship will go to support teacher candidates as they complete their degree at DSU. To make a contribution, please designate your check for Cheryl Jackson Cummins Memorial Scholarship and send to DSU Foundation, c/o Mary Parker Janoush, DSU PO Box 3141, Cleveland 38733.
Upcoming Dates for your Calendar
December 5
—White Christmas Potluck 5:30 p.m. with Program Afterwards
December 12
—Lesson & Carols Service 10:30 a.m.
December 19
—Christmas Caroling, time to be determined
December 24
—Christmas Eve Service 5:00 p.m.
The St. Luke Scene
Memorials and Honorariums
By:
Kay Daves, Jay Hubbard
By:
Sean & Susannah Wessel
In Memory Of:
Sue Pearson
In Honor Of:
Gina Bailey
Attendance and Offering Report
Nov. 7
Nov. 14
Nov. 21
Nov. 28
Monthly Total
Monthly Budget
General Fund
$ 11,315
$ 2,529
$ 1,140
$ 338
$ 15,322
$ 19,911
Special
Fund
$ 50
$ 122
$ 68
$ 1,407
Sunday
School
13
20
15
20
Worship
48
42
41
50
Online
105
107
95
102
UM Student Day Special Offering $ 50
December Birthdays
Virginia Tardy
Billy Bassie
Leo Dean
Daniela Dahman
Sally Rogers
Bettye Johnston
Lindsey Mae Givens
Jim Tims
Billy Boswell
Mariane Powell
12/07
12/10
12/12
12/14
12/19
12/21
12/24
12/29
December Anniversaries
Neal & Sonya Anderson
12//15