Message from the Pastor

What are your resolutions for the new year?

The past couple of years, mine have been the same 5 goals: Exercise regularly, read at least 26 books (and I count long comic books & graphic novels), waste less time on the internet (easier said than done), eat more vegetables, and drink no alcohol.

I’ve done pretty well! I’m not shooting for perfection (and I certainly haven’t achieved it), but I’m just trying to cultivate good habits.

This year, I’m changing things up, at least a little bit:

First of all, I want to teach, preach, and listen well, giving consideration to each of my 3 main avenues of pastoring: Preaching, small groups, and one-on-one spiritual direction. I’ve planned my sermons out for the next six months, walking through Luke’s Gospel until Easter and then exploring the life and mission of the Apostle Paul. For the late summer and fall, I’m thinking of revamping a couple of old sermon series I first created in 2014: “The Most Important Contradictions in the Bible” and “Reconciling God, Science, & Nature.” I hope these sermon series can serve both long-time Christians, new Christians, and skeptics. Our church council leaders have discerned that they want the congregation’s ministries to continue nurturing our newest members, and I think that sermons that are accessible and outreach-oriented can help with that goal. As for a small group, I’d like to title it “Spirituality for Atheists and Unrefined Christians.” All too often, churches design ministries to only serve people who are already Christians and already church members. And we wonder why churches don’t grow! I want to find ways to offer Christian spirituality to as many people as possible, not just to long-time church members, though sometimes church members are the ones that need Jesus as much as any atheist does. (And that includes some pastors!)

Secondly, learn to cook more quick, healthy dishes. Lord knows if I’ll be able to somehow achieve the perfect trifecta of cheap, lazy, AND low-fat vegan cooking, but I’m going to at least try for something close. More soups, salads, and grilled veggies are on the horizon.

Thirdly, keep up my gym membership of 3 classes a week. It’s not as much as I might like, but it’s better than nothing!

Fourthly, play more guitar. When we were Christmas caroling at the nursing homes on December 19th, my fingertips were sore because I so rarely play my guitar! Time to build up those calluses and learn some new fingerpicking techniques.

Fifthly, I want to travel to see friends this summer and hike as much as possible. Thank goodness both Kathleen and I have flexible job schedules. We want to visit Idaho and northwest Arkansas. We’ve never been to either place, and they are calling our names.

Finally, I want to do as much as possible outdoors. We have such pleasant winters in Mississippi (at least when it’s not pouring down rain), and I enjoy taking my work out onto the church playground pavilion and enjoying the fresh air. Walking-based spiritual direction is something I’ll offer, and if the weather’s nice, small groups can be held outside.

So what about you? What is the Holy Spirit nudging you to do with this precious life you have? How will you use your gifts to serve others? How will you let go of expectations and remember people’s good intentions? How will you control yourself and let go of any desire to control others? How will you better love yourself, love God, and love others? Let me know.

Peace,
Pastor Brad

Lectionary Readings for January

Sermon Series: The Core Message of the Early Church

Sunday, January 2 - Epiphany of the Lord
Matthew 2:1-12 - Appearance of the Magi
Sunday, January 9 - Baptism of the Lord
Luke 3:15-22 - Jesus is Baptized
Sunday, January 16 - Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Luke 4:1-13 - Jesus is Tempted
Sunday, January 23 - Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Luke 4:14-44 - Jesus Returns to Galilee
Sunday, January 30 - Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Luke 5 - Jesus Calls Disciples and Begins to Heal

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

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELONG

United Methodist Men will meet Tuesday, January 11, at 6:30 p.m. at 1st UMC.

UMW Grace Circle will not meet in January but will resume with their February 1 meeting.

Mark your calendar to join us at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 23, for a Crockpot Cook-Off. Please bring your favorite soup, chili, or crockpot dish to share and we’ll see who’s our best cook this year.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELIEVE

The final Life After Loss Workshop, offered by Larry Lambert, is at 11:45 a.m. on Thursday, January 6, at Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church. The session is free and open to the public. Please contact Larry for more info. If you have a friend or loved one who may be struggling, please let them know about this opportunity.

Pastor Brad’s sermon series for early January will be The Core Message of the Early Church. Upcoming scriptures to be covered are—January 2: Matthew 2:1-12 and January 9: Luke 3:15-22.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES

St. Luke will be serving a hot chocolate bar to the students at Parks Elementary who met their Accelerated Reading Goal on Friday, January 7 at 1:45 pm. If you would like to help serve, please contact Susannah Wessel.

Many thanks to all who shopped and contributed monetarily to our White Christmas project. Even during this particularly stressful year, your generosity allowed us to provide Christmas cheer to 12 residents in two nursing homes and to 7 families with 14 children. We all have so much to be thankful for and we are blessed to be able to share our good fortune with members of our community who have less.

Worship Greeters are needed for April—December of this year. If you can help welcome people to the worship service, pass out bulletins, help people in and out of cars, direct visitors to pews or various ares of the church, please contact Bobby Horton or the church office.

The Flower Calendar for 2022 is available on the bulletin board across from the choir room. We need your help to provide altar arrangements throughout the year. Please look over the calendar, choose a date or two, and sign up. You may contact Sandi Melton, Flower Steward, or the church office for more info.

The Finance Committee will meet on January 16 in the Fellowship Hall following the worship service.

The Worship Team will meet on January 30 in the church library following the worship service.

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

January 2
—Take Down Christmas Decorations at St Luke, 11:35 a.m.

January 23
—Crockpot Cook-Off, 6:00 p.m.

The St. Luke Scene

White Christmas

Coleman Class Christmas Party

Memorials and Honorariums

By:
Randolph Blakeman, Jim & Loretta Burdine,
Robert Clark, Cleveland State Bank Employees,
Lyndell Dilly, Melanie & Woody Earls, Kathryn &
Steve Edwards, Jessie Fly, Dennis & Mary Jean Gates, Will Gates, Anne & Robert Gathings, Debbie & Robert Heslep, Lisa & Shaun Horton, Lee & Marion Jordan, Joyce Kennedy, Elaine & Larry Lambert, Carol & Charles McAdams, Duke & Jane Morgan, Ann & Charles Nored, Jackie Pennington, James Potts, Carol Jean & Martin Ricker, David & Linda Seyfert, Ruth Seyfert, Bette Simpson, Linda Smith, Carol Tatum, Todd Tauzin, Frances & Jim Tims, Marty & Sherry Tubbs, David Wages, Charles Warren, Melba Washington, Sean & Susannah Wessel

Kay Daves, Peggy & Pemble Davis, Debbie & Robert Heslep, Lisa & Shaun Horton, Elaine & Larry Lambert, Jackie Pennington, Frances & Jim Tims, Melba Washington, Sean & Susannah Wessel

Bette Simpson

Stacey Lampkin

Harvey & Kay Chatham

By:
Debbie & Robert Heslep

Louise Garrett

Angela Walker

In Memory Of:
Sue Pearson

Mary Dalton

Took Mason

Edith & William Boswell, Sr.

Beulah & Gene Lewis

In Honor Of:
Beverly Card

Frances & Jim Tims

Tricia Walker

Attendance and Offering Report

Methodist Children’s Home Special Offering $ 60

UMCOR: Kentucky Tornadoes $ 190

January Birthdays

Anton Dahman
Jamie Dahman
D.D. Hardy
Vicki Hartley
Betty Hunter
Sean Wessel
Mae Givens
Beth Jacks
Adam Williams
Shana Bolden
Carol McAdams
O’Hara Koerber
Polly Sheets
Isabella Givens
Kay Daves

1/05

1/08

1/09
1/16
1/18

1/20
1/23
1/24

1/25
1/28

January Anniversaries

Billy & Marie Boswell
Jim & Loretta Burdine

1/09
1/30

Contact Us

Newsletter Blog

January 2022

January 4, 2022St. Luke United Methodist Church

Message from the Pastor

Lectionary Readings for January