Message from the Pastor

The man named his wife Eve because she is the mother of everyone who lives. The Lord God made the man and his wife leather clothes and dressed them. The Lord God said, “The human being has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil.” Now, so he doesn’t stretch out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat and live forever, the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to farm the fertile land from which he was taken. —Genesis 3:20-23

The story of Adam and Eve, found in Genesis chapter 2 and 3, is one of the most famous tales ever told. Even people who have never read the Bible or been to church know something of the story: God fashions a woman from the man’s rib, a talking snake convinces the woman to eat a forbidden fruit (which many people mistakenly assume to be an apple, though the scripture doesn’t name the fruit), and God shows up to dole out consequences.

It’s one of my favorite narratives, because in this ancient story we find a universal description of childhood and our growth to adulthood. Naive children are given basic rules to follow, but they do not. And when those rules are broken, consequences come their way. The consequence are fascinating though: The consequence that Adam and Eve are given is that they have to grow up. They have to raise their own children and provide their own food. They have to understand what it’s like to be God—creating new life and being responsible for it. The serpent was right: They became a bit more like God, because they were forced to become responsible. (As parents, they have to enforce rules, dole out punishments, and prepare children for adulthood.)

If we are fortunate enough to have nurturing parents and fortunate enough to live into adulthood, we all cross the same threshold as Adam and Eve: We work, and we care for others. We become like God, who worked and rested, and who cares for us.

One of my favorite lines in Genesis chapter 3 is when God sews clothes for Adam and Eve—clothes made from leather. When they realized they were naked, Adam and Eve had sewn their own clothes from fig leaves, but God provides them with something much more sturdy for the journey ahead—the journey into adulthood.

The story should prompt self-reflection, since it is a mirror of our own human experience:

What rules did your parents give you? Which ones did you break? What were the consequences of breaking the rules of your childhood (those of your family or those of your culture)?

What knowledge did your parents keep from you? Was this for the best, or was it a problem? What knowledge does your culture keep from you?

What are the most painful aspects of adulthood? (Death? Work? Childrearing?) What are the greatest blessings?

I thank God for the ways I’ve been prepared for adulthood, and I thank God for the wisdom I’m continuing to learn, usually through my mistakes. May we all continue to grow in our knowledge of good and evil, may we grow ever more mature in our responsibilities, and may we grow in our generous care for others.

Peace be with you,
Pastor Brad

Lectionary Readings for October

Sermon Series: Revival: The Birth of Methodism

Sunday, October 2 — Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Romans 4:3-8; 5:1-4
A Crisis of Faith: Georgia and Aldersgate
Sunday, October 9 — Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Ephesians 2:8-10
The Necessity of Grace: Bristol
Sunday, October 16 — Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
James 2:1-18; Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23
Works of Mercy: The Foundry, London
Sunday, October 23 — Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Matthew 5:10-12; Proverbs 31:8-9
Persevering to the End: City Road Chapel, London
Sunday, October 30 — Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost
James 3:13 - 4:3, 7-8a
The Spirit of Methodism in the Hymns of Charles Wesley

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

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELONG

The Church Council will meet Sunday, October 2, at 11:35 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. All interested church members are encouraged to come.

St. Luke’s Charge Conference with the District Superintendent will take place Sunday, October 2, at 3:30 p.m. at First UMC. Charge Conference is the meeting where we elect our church leaders, present our budget, and discuss with our DS our goals for the coming year. Members of the Church Council are especially encouraged to attend, but all church members are welcome.

UW in Faith Grace Circle will meet on Thursday, October 6, rather than the first Tuesday, in the church library at 10:00 a.m.

The Worship Team meeting has been rescheduled to Sunday, October 9, at 11:35 a.m. in the Church Library. If you can help in this area, please come. You are invited and welcome.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELIEVE

Pastor Brad has begun teaching a new Bible study which is a 7-week exploration of Genesis, titled Biblical Myths to Live By: Ancient Stories of Identity Formation. Rather than viewing these stories as historical accounts, he will invite us to consider them as myths designed to shape our human identities. The class will meet on Tuesdays from September 27 until November 8 , and you may choose to attend the noon - 1:00 p.m. session or the 7:30-8:30 p.m. session. Meetings will be in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome to participate, whether St. Luke members or not, actively religious or not.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES

World Communion Sunday is October 2 (Donations will be accepted throughout the month of October). Your donations support racial and ethnic students in achieving their educational goals and transforming communities. In 2021, World Communion Sunday offerings awarded 242 scholarships and grants. Your generosity continues to provide scholarships, grants, mentoring and training for leadership development. The needs exceed what we can fund, and your gifts can further growth and success.

Fifty percent of the offering provides scholarships for graduate students from the U.S. and other countries.
Thirty-five percent supports racial and ethnic scholarships for students pursuing ordained ministry (deacon or elder) and includes a mentoring program.
Fifteen percent funds Ethnic-In-Service Training Grant for leadership development, recruitment, training, and retention of ethnic United Methodist persons in leadership positions in every level of the church and its ministry.

The United Methodist Church, the world and our communities are in a time of transition. Now, perhaps more than ever, we are called to extend healing and hope which will guide us to becoming a new creation in Christ. Through our gifts and support, we can invest in talented, qualified students from around the globe to transform the world as witnesses for Christ!

The United Methodist Men’s Annual Fish Fry will be held on Tuesday, October 11, from 5-7:00 p.m. in the First UMC Fellowship Hall. Tickets are $15 each (carry-outs will be available). Proceeds will fund various community organizations. Stop by the office at St. Luke or First UMC if you would like to purchase a ticket.

United Women in Faith – It’s that time again!! Time for the fall No-Bake Sale. The proceeds of this sale will be divided equally between the mission work of United Women in Faith and the St. Luke special account for White Christmas/Christmas in July. United Women in Faith (formerly United Methodist Women) will use the money for items in our budget such as Wesley Foundation, Helping Hands, the Community Centers in Mississippi and Zoe Ministries. The church’s White Christmas project sometimes needs extra funds to supply the needs and wants of the children we help through this program. Church members and those who attend regularly will receive a letter and a stamped, addressed return envelope in early October asking you to give to the Fall No-Bake Sale. With prayerful consideration, consider what you can give and mail your check. If you prefer to give cash, you may give it to Jackie Pennington or any member of Grace Circle. Checks should be made to St. Luke UMW. The No-Bake Sale end date is November 6. United Women in Faith are grateful for the wonderful way we are supported by our church family. If you have questions about our mission work, please talk with President, Jackie Pennington.

United Women in Faith along with the Ephfic Women’s Club is asking members of St. Luke to bring breakfast/snack items for children of our school district. The goal is to get enough items to share with schools in the district so that children will not go hungry. Some children, even though eligible for free breakfast, do not get to school in time for breakfast. We all know that hungry kids do not learn as well as those with full stomachs. The following items or similar items are needed: Apple sauce squeeze packs, juice boxes/pouches, Nutrigrain bars, Pop Tarts, Granola Bars, Cereal bars, Mini Muffin packs, cereal cups, chewy bars. All items must be packaged for individual servings. Bring food items throughout October to church and place in the bin in the narthex or take to the church office. If you have questions, contact Megan Armstrong, Julianne Bailey or Jackie Pennington.

Don’t forget that on the second Sunday of every month we collect bags of apples, jars of peanut butter, and also canned goods 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.

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 in October or November, 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 Sundays, 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.

Parks Playground Project Workday—Oct. 15

Things are looking a little different on the playground at Parks Elementary these days. We are so excited to be able to complete our commitment to the school to lay pea gravel under two swing set areas as well as the jungle gym area. We will need lots of spreaders to finish the job, so we have asked First Baptist Church to help us since they are also an Adopt A School Partner with Parks. If you are able, please grab a shovel and sturdy rake and join us Saturday, October 15, on the playground starting at 8:00 a.m. We will have water and donuts out there for the volunteers. This project will make such a huge impact on our neighbors, so please come if you can!

DSU Wesley Foundation Event

Extra Table’s 4th Annual
Empty Bowls Event

Zoe Ministries 5th Annual
“An Evening with Zoe”

Upcoming Dates for your Calendar

October 2, Sunday
—Church Council Meeting, 11:35 a.m. (Fellowship Hall)
—Charge Conference, 3:30 p.m. (First UM Church)

October 4, Tuesday
—Bible Study, 12:00 p.m. (Fellowship Hall)
—Bible Study, 7:30 p.m. (Fellowship Hall)

October 6, Thursday
—UW in Faith: Grace Circle, 10:00 a.m. (Church Library)

October 9, Sunday
—2nd Sunday Mission for Helping Hands, 10:30 a.m.
—Worship Team Meeting, 11:35 a.m. (Church Library)

October 11, Tuesday
—Bible Study, 12:00 p.m. (Fellowship Hall)
—United Methodist Men Annual Fish Fry, 5-7:00 p.m. (First UM Church)
—Bible Study, 7:30 p.m. (Fellowship Hall)

October 15, Saturday
—Parks Elementary Playground Project, 8:00 a.m. (Parks Playground)

October 18, Tuesday
—Bible Study, 12:00 p.m. (Fellowship Hall)
—Bible Study, 7:30 p.m. (Fellowship Hall)

October 25, Tuesday
—Bible Study, 12:00 p.m. (Fellowship Hall)
—Bible Study, 7:30 p.m. (Fellowship Hall)

October 30, Sunday
—Fall Fest and Trunk-or-Treat -details to come

November 1, Tuesday
—Bible Study, 12:00 p.m. (Fellowship Hall)
—Bible Study, 7:30 p.m. (Fellowship Hall)

November 6, Sunday
—All Saints Sunday Remembrance, 10:30 a.m.
—Evangelical Covenant Mission Work Group arrives (St Luke SS Wing)

Memorials and Honorariums

By:

Class of 57 Cleveland High, Peggy & Pemble Davis, Scott & Teresa Eggers, Bill Evans, Brad & Mellany Evans, Frances & Jim Tims

In Memory Of:

Charles Dalton

Attendance and Offering Report

October Birthdays

Wade Overstreet
Beverly Gressett
Libby Bassie
Will Dean
Susannah Wessel
Bertha Neal
Robert Norton

10/14
10/16
10/18
10/25
10/26
10/28
10/31

October Anniversaries

Allyson & DD Hardy

10/22

Contact Us

Newsletter Blog

October 2022

September 30, 2022St. Luke United Methodist Church

Message from the Pastor

Lectionary Readings for October