June 2022
St. Luke United Methodist Church
Message from the Pastor
For my continuing education work, I’m studying the practice of spiritual direction, and recently I read portions of the book Tending the Holy: Spiritual Directions Across Traditions. One chapter that especially resonated with me was “The Spirituality of Nature and the Poor: Revisiting the Historic Vision of St. Francis.” In this essay, H. Paul Santmire relates the story of St. Francis and his conversion away from a sensuous lifestyle of carousing, consuming, and militarism. Francis made a radical change in his life because he heard the voice of Jesus calling him during a worship service, and he renounced his formal lifestyle before his bishop and his father (much to his father’s surprise). Though there’s a contemporary temptation to picture St. Francis as embodying a kind of escapist nature mysticism, St. Francis was in fact a preacher almost always interacting with the church and the poor. He was not a hermit. He participated in the Mass and Eucharist daily, and he promoted and produced nativity scenes, to dramatically communicate his understanding of a world in which God was incarnate. God’s peaceable kingdom had come, and we could participate in it. The tradition of constructing Christmas nativity scenes has flourished ever since.
Santmire describes the personal implications of this story for a Christian disciple and directee: We should attend to the eucharist regularly and not avoid Christian community. We should meditate on the crucifix (the image/icon of Jesus on the cross, which is common in Catholic churches). Such a meditation resonates with me, because I had a profound experience with a large crucifix in a Catholic church in downtown Sacramento, over 13 years ago, while at a youth ministry conference. Seeing this image of a publicly lynched peasant teacher, I rejoiced and cried that this was the image of God incarnate. God was here with us in our deepest pain, our greatest suffering. I wept at the violence humans are able to inflict upon one another, and I wept with gratitude that the Christian faith had found God in this place of weakness.
The key for our own spiritual practice, Santmire says, is not to leave Christ, St. Francis, or other luminaries like Mother Theresa or Dorothy Day up on a pedestal by themselves, doing work that we cannot imagine ourselves doing. Instead, we are to join Christ, join the poor, and join God in working for the peaceable kingdom. This means purposefully and deliberately using our resources for the poor and regarding all of our possessions as God’s property, held in trust for the poor and for God’s kingdom reality. I love Santmire’s idea that a spiritual director could embody a role similar to a sponsor in Alcoholics Anonymous: when I am tempted to purchase something unnecessary or luxurious for myself, my spiritual director (my sponsor helping me kick the habit of consumerism) could help me resist. There is much joy in escaping the rat race of perfectionism and consumerism, but it takes a leap of faith and it takes a belief that we can find the creator of the universe in our backyard, in our flawed churches, in the people around us, and in our bodies (not in power, prestige, or luxury).
Peace be with you,
Pastor Brad
Lectionary Readings for June
Sermon Series: The Life and Message of the Apostle Paul
Sunday, June 5 — Pentecost Sunday
1 Corinthians 13:1, 4-7, 13 — Paul’s Second Missionary Journey, Part 2Sunday, June 12 — Trinity Sunday
Acts 18:23, 19:1 — Paul’s Third Missionary JourneySunday, June 19 — Second Sunday after Pentecost
Acts 21:12-13 — Paul’s Death and LegacySunday, June 26 — Third Sunday after Pentecost
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 — Elijah is Taken Up to Heaven
The Mission of St. Luke UMC is to be a Place to Belong, Believe, & Become Disciples of Christ
OPPORTUNITIES TO BELONG
United Methodist Women is rebranding. After fifty years of being United Methodist Women, our name is now United Women in Faith. Are we still part of The United Methodist Church? YES. Is our focus still making better the lives of women, children and youth? YES. Will all that has been associated with United Methodist Women be replaced? NO. We are adding new and improved programs that will continue to nurture and challenge current members, but will also reach out to new members. We want to be more inclusive by changing current patterns that don’t meet the needs of many women.
Except for the name change, our purpose remains the same. United Women in Faith is a community of women whose Purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.”
Our new mission statement says: “United Women in Faith seeks to connect and nurture women through Christian spiritual formation, leadership development, creative fellowship, and education so that they can inspire, influence and impact local and global communities.”
Let’s take a look at some of the changes.
Why change the name? For one thing, it’s 50 years old. In our 150-year history we’ve had at least 25 names. No one knows what changes are coming to The United Methodist Church. Churches who leave the denomination may have UMW groups who want to continue doing the work of the organization. The more inclusive name will let them feel more welcome. It will also be more welcoming to women in other denominations who don’t have similar groups and to women who are committed to issues like climate change, but who are not part of a church.
There are four ways to be a member of United Women in Faith.
1) Join or remain in an existing local group like our St. Luke Grace
Circle/Lunch Bunch.
2) Gain easy online availability to member resources nationwide.
3) Create or join a district group in your workplace, community center, college
or town.
4) Join via the new All Access Membership by going directly to the National
website, becoming a member and expressing the interests that you wish to
be involved with to inspire, influence and impact.
Your giving can now be targeted for a specific area that you choose.
1) Where it’s needed most
2) Social action and justice work
3) Spiritual growth and nurturing opportunities
4) Education and leadership development
5) The Legacy Fund, to support our endowment.
We at St. Luke are examining changes that need to be made to be more inclusive. For example, our meeting times do not work for employed women. In the next few weeks our current members will be reaching out to have conversation with non-members about United Women in Faith and get your ideas about how we can meet your needs. If you would like to be engaged in conversation, contact Jackie Pennington, President, jackiebill@tecinfo.com or any member of Grace Circle. Go to the National website for more information - uwfaith.org.
Faith, Sisterhood, Action – these words have always been the core of who we are and what we do as United Women in Faith. Change is only to share this with more women.
UNITED WOMEN IN FAITH BELIVE LOVE IN ACTION CAN CHANGE THE WORLD!
OPPORTUNITIES TO BELIEVE
As we have for the past several years, St. Luke folk will take a break from Sunday School for the summer. The last classes met May 22 and Sunday School will resume August 14. The exception is the Coleman Class, which has decided to continue to meet. There will be a nursery worker for the morning worship hour, 10:30-11:30 am.
The Sunday we resume will be Promotion Sunday and the children will gather in the sanctuary during Sunday School time to be led to their new classes by their new teachers. We will have the Blessing of the Backpacks, to support our kids as they return to school, during morning worship. That evening we will have our annual Back-to-School cookout with outdoor fun and games.
We have wonderful Sunday School teachers and it’s important to give them a well-deserved break. At the same time, we encourage everyone to continue to be consistent in church attendance when you’re in town, even though you’re not having to get up to come to Sunday School!
Grace Circle will meet on June 7, 10 a.m. in church library.
OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES
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 drop a dollar or two into the basket in the narthex to help support our Compassion Fund, which the pastor uses at his discretion to help those in need.
Vacation Bible School will be hosted by and held at First Presbyterian Church the week of June 26-30, from 4:30-7:00 pm. Children going into 4k up to 7th grade for the upcoming school year are welcome!
In preparation for our Christmas in July project, please help us identify a child or a family who may need assistance obtaining school supplies. It could be a family in your neighborhood, your child’s classmate, or, if you are a teacher, a student in your class or your school—any situation 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.
We will have a special offering this month for Peace with Justice. Donations for this special Sunday support programs and ministries to educate, equip and mobilize actions in support of identified Economic, Health, and Gender Justice Priorities. Each Annual Conference has a Peace with Justice Coordinator developing local social justice ministries. Fifty percent of the offering remains in your annual conference to support this ministry. We achieve peace with justice efforts by working with the World Council of Churches, interfaith and ecumenical bodies, and secular organizations for social-justice policies and programs that seek the wholeness of shalom for all of God’s people. Your gift, joined with the gifts of others makes a significant impact in the lives of individuals and communities.
Worship Greeters are needed for September - December! 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 areas of the church, and help pass the offering plates, please contact Bobby Horton or the church office.
The Flower Calendar is available on the bulletin board across from the choir room. If you would like to help provide an altar arrangement sometime during the year, please look over the calendar, choose a date or two, and sign up. We also have a “flower fridge” so you can sign up for two consecutive Sunday, store your arrangement in the fridge during the week and re-use them the second Sunday. You can contact Sandi Melton (Flower Steward) or the church office to sign up and for more info.
Mississippi Blood Services Needs Your Help
For many years St. Luke UMC has hosted a blood drive, but in recent years the attendance has been low. This year there will not be a blood drive at St. Luke, but you are encouraged to give if you can, recruit others to give, or make a financial contribution.
There is a Mississippi Blood Services drawing station in Cleveland, #101B, 609 US 61 (across the highway from C-Spire). For questions call 662-441-2870. To schedule an appointment call 601-368-2673 or go to the MS Blood Services website - msblood.com. They are open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 5; and on Thursday from 10 to 6. The website has information on the different ways of giving. You can even fill out the questionnaire ahead of time. To donate blood, you must be healthy and feeling well, be at least 110 lbs. and at least 17 years old (or 16 with parental consent). See the website for more info on who can and cannot give blood.
In Mississippi, hundreds of pints of blood are needed every day. That means: friends, your spouse, your children, your children’s friends, coworkers, fellow church members, fellow teammates, even YOU are a probable recipient of the blood resources of Mississippi Blood Services. The fact is, with this kind of demand, every one of us knows someone, or will meet someone, who will need blood.
For example, a patient who has suffered injuries in an automobile accident requires an average of 50 units of blood. A cardiovascular surgery may require anywhere from 2 to 25 units of blood. A cancer patient will often require up to 8 units per week. When you donate blood, you are giving someone a second chance.
Another way to help is to make a financial contribution. Charitable Contributions can be mailed directly to MS Blood Services at 115 Tree Street, Flowood, MS 39232 to the attention of Lisa Kirkpatrick or you can donate online through Pay Pal or using a debit or credit card.
Upcoming Dates for your Calendar
June 5, Sunday
—Church Council, 11:35 a.m. (Fellowship Hall) — CANCELED
June 7, Tuesday
—UWF Grace Circle, 10:00 a.m. (Church Library)
June 26, Sunday
—Vacation Bible School, 4:30-7:00 p.m. (First Presbyterian Church)
June 27, Monday
—Vacation Bible School, 4:30-7:00 p.m. (First Presbyterian Church)
June 28, Tuesday
—Vacation Bible School, 4:30-7:00 p.m. (First Presbyterian Church)
June 29, Wednesday
—Vacation Bible School, 4:30-7:00 p.m. (First Presbyterian Church)
June 30, Thursday
—Vacation Bible School, 4:30-7:00 p.m. (First Presbyterian Church)
The St. Luke Scene
Confirmation of our newest members, Wyatt Williams and Hugh Sheets.
Honoring our Graduating Seniors: Neely Anderson, Eliza Hardy, Carlie Rogers, William Wessel
Memorials and Honorariums
By:
Lisa & Shaun Horton, Frances & Jim Tims
Joyce Kennedy, Lisa & Shaun Horton
In Memory Of:
Hugh HolderCummings
W.C. Ray
Attendance and Offering Report
May 1
May 8
May 15
May 22
May 29
Monthly Total
Monthly Budget
General Fund
$ 12,386
$ 1,827
$ 1,898
$ 948
$ 1,547
$ 18,606
$ 20,872
Special
Fund
$ 150
$ 1,152
$ 545
$ 10,213
$ 120
Sunday
School
16
19
27
20
10
Worship
37
67
65
50
41
Online
94
93
91
69
51
Special Offerings:
United Methodist Native American Ministries
$ 150
June Birthdays
Betty A. Hill
Stella Perez
Charles McAdams
Chelsea Melton
Sandi Melton
Taylor Anderson
Brittany Runnels
Gloria Cranford
Lauren Williams
Will Jacks
6/01
6/02
6/03
6/15
6/19
6/21
6/26
6/29
6/30
June Anniversaries
Brad & Kathleen Corban
Melanie & Woody Earls
Chris & Julianne Bailey
Beau & Chelsea Melton
Candy & Kevin Vickers
Josh & Megan Armstrong
Bob & Florence Jo Corban
6/01
6/05
6/17
6/18
6/21