Message from the Pastor

When you donate to the church, where does the money go?

Of course, most of it goes to pay for the creation of worship services, with their sermons, music, and prayers (all neatly outlined with a printed bulletin, prepared by our excellent secretary, Lisa Horton). It goes to ensure that people are visited at home and in the hospital, given spiritual counseling, and taught the core convictions and applications of the Christian faith. It ensures that our building is clean and well-maintained—a building we use for prayer, potlucks, birthdays, baby showers, mission teams, rehearsing anthems, and communion with God.

Beyond that, there’s so much mission work that we fund with our general budget, and I thought I’d share with you a couple of ministries we’ve recently funded.

In January, we donated $2,300 to Rise Against Hunger, to buy bulk food that was packaged at First UMC Cleveland in January. I saw many of you there, and I was so happy to be at a table with my daughter Edith and my neighbor Joyce Kennedy. The young and the old came together to serve others.

This week, we just donated $1,000 to Delta Grace, a multi-denominational, faith-based organization (founded by two United Methodist Churches) that matches mission teams with those in need of home repairs. This particular donation will fund a “alternative spring break” for Mississippi Wesley Foundation College Students. Because most college students do not have the funds to pay full price for their stay at Delta Grace, their fee is reduced, and the rest is fundraised. This year they are expecting around 75 students, including students from Delta State's Wesley Foundation. Our funds will buy materials for their mission project, which will provide safe, sanitary, and secure housing for the elderly, disabled, and others who do not have the means to have adequate living conditions in the Delta.

Finally, I’m especially excited about some community outreach that is being coordinated by Wade Overstreet and Cade Holder. Their committee has ordered St. Luke t-shirts in multiple sizes for our members to wear to community events. We expect these shirts to arrive by February 10, and to then distribute to our members. The committee is also sponsoring tickets for church members and those they invite to attend the Delta State vs. Mississippi College men’s basketball game on Saturday, February 18, at 4 pm. The deadline to request a ticket from the church office is Monday, February 13.

These outreach events are designed to promote our ongoing interaction with the community, so that we can build relationships with people outside of the church and let non-religious and nominally religious people know about the spiritual growth opportunities available at St. Luke.

These ministries, done alongside sincere worship, small-group discipleship, and fun fellowship, make me proud of our life together as a church family.

Peace,
Pastor Brad

Lectionary Readings for February

Sunday, February 5 — Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Matthew 5:21-30 — Anger
Sunday, February 12 — Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
Matthew 6:25-34 — Fear
Sunday, February 19 — Transfiguration Sunday
Matthew 5:38-48, 7:1-5, 12 — Unconditional Love
Wednesday, February 22 — Ash Wednesday
Matthew 6:1-21 — Generosity, Prayer, & Fasting

Sermon Series: The Christian Art of Facing Death and Living Life

Sunday, February 26 — First Sunday in Lent
John 2:1-11 — The Wedding at Cana

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

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELONG

UWFaith Grace Circle will meet on Tuesday, February 7, 10:00 am in the church library. Melba Washington will lead the Call to Prayer and Self-Denial service. A special offering will be taken.

Gifts to A Call to Prayer and Self-Denial 2023 will directly support United Women in Faith’s racial justice work, which is helping to create a more equitable society. Your gift supports both our campaign to interrupt the school-to-prison pipeline and our long-standing work building members’ capacity to implement the Charter for Racial Justice at all levels of the organization. In giving, you are showing your support for United Women in Faith’s long-standing commitment to advance racial justice in the church and in the world.

United Women in Faith presented five Special Mission Recognition certificates and pins on January 29 to Megan Munro, Melanie Earls, Susannah Wessel, Josh Armstrong and Megan Armstrong. A $40 gift to mission was given for work with women, children and youth in honor of each person for their service to St. Luke and our community.

The St. Luke Community Events Committee has tickets available for the final Delta State men’s basketball game on Saturday, February 18. We want to attend as a church family and invite friends and potential members to join us. Tipoff is at 4:00 pm at the Walter Sillers Coliseum. Tickets for members and guests are complimentary – we just want a good crowd! Please email office@stlukecleveland.com by Monday, February 13, if you, your family, and guests plan to attend so we can secure the correct number of tickets in time.

A Pancake Luncheon is scheduled for Sunday, February 19, immediately following worship service. Mark your calendars and invite your friends to join us for some yummy pancakes and fun fellowship!

UWFaith Lunch Bunch will resume meeting after Easter. Lenten Luncheons begin on March 1. Lunch Bunch members are encouraged to attend the Lenten Luncheons.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELIEVE

We will observe Ash Wednesday with a service on February 22 at 6:00 p.m. This will be a joint service with the congregation of Boyle UMC and will take place at the church in Boyle.

Lenten Luncheons are scheduled at noon on Wednesdays beginning March 1-29 at First UMC. Enjoy a meal with other churches and a short worship service. There is no cost for the meal, but a love offering for charity will be taken up each week if you’re able to give.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES

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. There is a need at this time for juice boxes/pouches and Applesauce Squeeze packs. Granola bars and other similar snacks are not needed now. All items must be packaged for individual servings. Please bring your items and place in the basket in the narthex. 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 May-July, October, and November. 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 is available in the narthex, or you can contact Bobby Horton or the church office.

Please consider signing up to help provide altar arrangements for our chancel area. Only one arrangement is needed, and you may choose to have a fresh arrangement from a florist, flowers from your garden, artificial flowers or greenery, or a potted plant. You may join with another person or family to help manage the expenses. Many arrangements will last for a week if stored in the "flower fridge" in the old kitchen, so please consider signing up for two Sundays in a row and plan to recycle! The Flower Calendar is available on the bulletin board across from the choir room. Please look it over and choose a date. You can contact Sandi Melton, Flower Steward, or the church office for more information.

Kairos Outside Central MS

Kairos Outside is a ministry designed for the wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, grandmothers, and any other female relative or partner of men and women who are incarcerated. So often, they are “doing time” right along with their incarcerated loved one.

Kairos Outside is set up as a Weekend Retreat to help strengthen the family unit and encourage small support groups. Two weekends each year provide a secure place for up to 24 women to share their struggles. We invite them into a Christian Community that cares about them and their needs.

Kairos means God’s Special Time and, in the lives of these women, we know it will truly be a Special Time. We ask for your support and participation, for our weekend of March 31-April 2, 2023.

Below are a few ways that you can show your support for the upcoming weekend. Contact Melba Washington or Deb Cole for more information and to offer your help.

1. Volunteering to work in the background as support staff or serve on the kitchen and prayer team (men welcome).

2. Providing new twin-size sheet sets; a new towel set (towel, washcloth, hand towel); large bags of chocolate candy or hard candies; snacks (chips, crackers, nuts, raisins, cookies, cakes, etc., 2-liter sodas of any variety/brand); homemade baked goods are also welcome.

3.    Providing financial assistance to cover the cost of the program.
a.      Sponsor a guest (whole weekend): $100 (or any portion)
b.      Sponsor a guest’s lodging (1 night): $20
c.      Sponsor a guest’s meal (1 meal): $10

Deadline to sign up, drop off donated items, or monetary donations is March 26. Please make checks payable to St Luke with “Kairos” on the memo line, place it in the offering plate or bring to the church office.

The St. Luke Scene

Brittany Runnels Baby Shower

Dates for your Calendar

February 5, Sunday
—Church Council, 11:35 a.m. (Fellowship Hall)

February 7, Tuesday
—UWFaith Grace Circle, 10:00 a.m. (Church Library)

February 14, Tuesday
—United Methodist Men, 6:00 p.m. (First UMC)

February 18, Saturday
—DSU Basketball Game, 4:00 p.m.

February 19, Sunday
—Pancake Luncheon, 11:35 a.m. (Fellowship Hall)

February 22, Wednesday
—Ash Wednesday Service, 6:00 p.m. (Boyle UMC)

Memorials and Honorariums

By:

In Memory Of:

n/a

Attendance and Offering Report

February Birthdays

Chris Powell
Brittany Dean
Neal Anderson
Rick Torgerson
Laura Bassie
Carol Tatum
Beverly Card
Roy Jacks
Lisa Horton
Shaun Horton
Allyson Hardy
Lillie Claire Dean
Kevin Vickers

2/02
2/09
2/12
2/14
2/18

2/19
2/20
2/21
2/22
2/25
2/26
2/29

February Anniversaries

N/A

Contact Us

Newsletter Blog

February 2023

February 2, 2023St. Luke United Methodist Church

Message from the Pastor

Lectionary Readings for February