Message from the Pastor

I keep thinking about the radical meaning of Christmas: God is in our flesh.

There is no divine being some far distance away (at the north pole, for example). Instead, early Christians seemed to slowly realize that God was truly present in the body of a Jewish rabbi who traveled around a backwoods region north of Jerusalem, before being killed by the Roman government for being a threat to the “peace” of the empire. God was in his body. His Body was God’s Body.

Furthermore, the Christians realized that we could be like Jesus. He wanted us to follow him, to imitate his example, and to follow his instructions. In doing so, as the epistle of 2nd Peter says, we “may share the divine nature and escape from the world’s immorality that sinful craving produces.” The author continues: “This is why you must make every effort to add moral excellence to your faith; and to moral excellence, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, endurance; and to endurance, godliness; and to godliness, affection for others; and to affection for others, love.”

There is no real difference between something natural and supernatural, something sacred and profane. We’re all made up of the same thing (energy), dependent on an underlying creative reality (aka God). In other words, Christians realized that we are already like God, at least in part, and Jesus has invited us to follow him so that we might become God-in-full. We are already made up of “godstuff” and our calling is to bring that into a full expression of love.

As Jesus says in Matthew’s Gospel: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” John Wesley told his listeners that Jesus would not tell us to do something that was not possible. Jesus believed we could be as complete in showing love as God is complete in showing love to all people, equally.

Jesus said “Follow me” about 25 times in the 4 gospels, with at least 55 other instances where the writers describe people following Jesus. Following was the normative action of disciples. (Believing/trusting was simply a necessary prerequisite. It’s not emphasized in the same way as following is emphasized.)

In following Jesus, we become more perfect, more divine, more fully realizing our divine nature. God is in our flesh.

A final scene from John’s gospel (chapter 10) illustrates the potential controversy that such incarnational statements might stir up:

The religious opposition circled around Jesus and asked, “How long will you test our patience? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Jesus described his relationship to his “sheep” who listen to his voice, then concludes with “I and the Father are one.”

The religious opposition picked up stones in order to stone him. Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of those works do you stone me?”

The religious opposition answered, “We don’t stone you for a good work but for insulting God. You are human, yet you make yourself out to be God.”

Jesus replied, “Isn’t it written in the Law, I have said, you are gods? (Psalm 82:6) Scripture calls those to whom God’s word came gods, and scripture can’t be abolished. So how can you say that the one whom the Father has made holy and sent into the world insults God because he said, ‘I am God’s Son’? If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me. But if I do them, and you don’t believe me, believe the works so that you can know and recognize that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

In other words, look at what I’m doing: God is in my flesh, and I am in God. There is no separation. We are gods.

This intertwining of humanity and divinity expands to include us, as Jesus makes clear in his prayer in John 17: “I pray they will be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. I pray that they will also be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me… I’m in them and you are in me so that they will be made perfectly one… I’ve made your name known to them and will continue to make it known so that your love for me will be in them, and I myself will be in them.”

So this is my invitation, to myself and everyone, this Christmas: Can we realize that there is no substantive difference between us and God? Such ideas run counter to our segmented categories. We’ve been taught to break everything up into its separate identities: human vs. divine, natural vs. supernatural, etcetera. Frankly, we’ve been taught that it will be a struggle to find our way to God. We’ve been taught that God is difficult to find, contact, or feel.

The Christian message upended such divisions. It realized that, instead, God is close. God is here. God is in our human flesh. The question is not whether we will contact God, because God is already here. The question is whether we will enjoy our interwoven relationship with God, our “partaking in the divine nature,” and complete our faith with the full expression of God’s love.

Merry Christmas. There are fewer barriers between you and God than you might think. Indeed, there are none. As John Wesley said on his dying day, “The best of all is God is with us.”

Peace,
Pastor Brad

Lectionary Readings for December

Sermon Series:

Sunday, December 4 — Second Sunday of Advent
Matthew 3:1-12, 11:3-11 — John the Baptist
Sunday, December 11 — Third Sunday of Advent
Lessons & Carols Cantata
Sunday, December 18 — Fourth Sunday of Advent
Matthew 1:18-25 — Joseph
Sunday, December 24 - Christmas Eve - Nativity of the Lord
Luke 2:1-20 — Mary, Mother of God
Sunday, December 25 — Christmas Day
John 1:1-14 — The Word Became Flesh

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

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELONG

United Women in Faith invite all women of St. Luke to a celebration of Christmas on Tuesday, December 6, at 5 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Tricia Walker with open the evening with some Christmas songs. Pastor Brad will have our program, and I’m sure it will be as meaningful and fun as the one he did in 2019. Members of Lunch Bunch and Grace Circle are asked to bring finger foods. We will provide childcare for both nursery age and elementary age children. Please refer to the letter St. Luke women received for info about arranging for childcare. If you have questions, call or text Jackie Pennington.

We are not asking you to commit to being members of UWFaith (though that would be wonderful). We just want to celebrate this wonderful season of the year with all women in our church family. You may think that you don’t want to add one more thing to what is probably already a busy December, but I promise that you will feel better when you go home than when you came. There is just something about a supportive community of women that lifts our spirits. Put the date on your calendar now! December 6, 5 p.m.

UWFaith Grace Circle will NOT meet on January 3, 2023.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELIEVE

Stories of angels abound in the Bible but it’s at Christmas time that our imaginations conjure up white-robed beings with gossamer wings, strumming lyres and singing heavenly songs. For a different perspective, please consider attending the Young Adult Sunday School class Advent study “The Angels of Christmas: Hearing God’s Voice in Advent.” You are welcome whether or not you are a class member.

The 4-week study will be on November 13 & 20 and December 11 & 18. We will meet during the regular Sunday School period, 9:30-10:15 a.m., in the Young Adult room in the west educational wing.

The book is by Susan Robb and is available at Cokesbury and on Amazon, but you need not purchase or read the book to attend. Just join us!

OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES

There’s still time to take ornaments from the White Christmas tree in the narthex and purchase gifts for local children and nursing home residents. Take as many of the ornaments as you can, buy the gifts listed, wrap them in white (tissue paper is fine), and attach the ornament to each gift. If you prefer to make a monetary donation, just mark your check or cash envelope “White Christmas.” Such gifts will be very helpful in fulfilling the wish lists. Bring your gifts and join us at our White Christmas Potluck on December 4 at 5:30 pm. The children and youth will entertain us after the potluck with a program where the gifts will be presented and blessed. If you’re not able to make it to the White Christmas events, you can drop your gifts off at the church office on Monday, December 5.

If you’d like to go Christmas Caroling, we’re meeting in the St. Luke parking lot at 1:45 pm on Sunday, December 18. We’ll go to Indywood at 2:00 and Azalea Commons at 3:00. Join us if you can and help bring cheer to some senior citizens who will really appreciate it!

Many thanks to everyone who helped in the “hanging of the greens.” Our sanctuary looks beautiful in its Christmas finery, and it was fun, wasn’t it? It will all have to come down and be packed up for next year on January 8, so please keep in mind that we will need your help then, too.

The months of November and December have been designated for the Methodist Children’s Home “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 a little light of love into the lives of those children who have been abused and neglected. Deadline to give is December 11.

United Women in Faith along with the EPHFIC Woman’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 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.

Worship Greeters are needed for next year! A Greeter is a very important part of welcoming people to our worship service and helps by passing out bulletins, helping people in and out of cars (when needed), directing visitors to pews or various areas of the church, and helps in other capacities of the service. If you feel called to volunteer and want to sign up, a sign up sheet will be available in the narthex before/after worship service, or you can contact Bobby Horton or the church office.

If you would like to help deliver our “Second Sunday” mission project food items to Helping Hands next year, please contact Lisa in the church office to sign up. Drop off times for Helping Hands are Wednesdays or Fridays between 9:00 am and noon.

The 2023 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 or for more info.

The St. Luke Scene

Horton & Midlick Wedding

Dates for your Calendar

December 4, Sunday
—White Christmas Potluck, 5:30 p.m. (Fellowship Hall)
—White Christmas Program, immediately following Potluck (Sanctuary)

December 6, Tuesday
—UW in Faith Christmas Party, 5:00 pm (Fellowship Hall)

December 11, Sunday
—Lessons & Carols Service w/Cantata, 10:30 a.m.

December 12, Monday
—Coleman SS Christmas Party, 6:oo p.m. (home of The Cards)

December 18, Sunday
—Christmas Caroling, 2:00 p.m. (Indywood)
—Christmas Caroling, 3:00 p.m. (Azalea Commons -formerly Providence)

December 24, Saturday
—Christmas Eve Service w/Communion, 5:00 p.m.

December 25, Sunday
—Christmas Morning Service, 10:30 a.m.

Memorials and Honorariums

By:

Cynthia Belenchia, Jackie Pennington, France & Jim Tims

Keith & Leslie Griffin, Frances & Jim Tims

Alice & Lynn Ackerman, Alton & Kathy Lewis

In Memory Of:

Bob Norton

Nancy Taylor

Beulah & Gene Lewis

Attendance and Offering Report

December Birthdays

Virginia Tardy
Billy Bassie
Leo Dean
Daniela Dahman
Sally Rogers
Lindsey Mae Givens
Jim Tims
Billy Boswell
Mariane Powell

12/07
12/10
12/12
12/14

12/21
12/24
12/29

December Anniversaries

Neal & Sonya Anderson

12/15

Contact Us

Newsletter Blog

December 2022

December 7, 2022St. Luke United Methodist Church

Message from the Pastor

Lectionary Readings for December