Message from the Pastor

“What are you most thankful for, right now?”

This is the question I often ask in spiritual direction, near the end of my sessions, and I ask it to my daughter Edith nearly every time I put her to bed.

As I approach the end of my pastoral appointment to St. Luke and Boyle United Methodist Church, I’m asking myself the same question: What am I most thankful for, right now? (And pardon my ending these questions with a preposition: I believe it would be more grammatically correct to ask, “For what am I most thankful?”)

First, I’m thankful for the welcome I received at St. Luke and Boyle. Everyone was helpful during the transition four years ago.

I’m thankful for how easy it was to pivot during the Covid challenges. We began streaming on Facebook and haven’t stopped. We resumed in-person worship after a month or two, we stayed safe, and we got creative with how to do ministry outdoors.

I’m thankful for St. Luke’s willingness to serve Parks Elementary and Boyle’s willingness to serve Bell Academy. These were ways to better love our neighbors.

I’m thankful for the freedom I’ve had in choosing sermon topics and small group subjects.

I’m thankful for how Boyle has welcomed the members of Shaw and Linn Methodist Churches, after their closure. I’m thankful for how St. Luke has welcomed members of the recovery community and welcomed theological skeptics.

I’m thankful for our talented musical staff and volunteers at both churches. Because of the music, I get to worship alongside others instead of just leading it. I get to participate, instead of taking sole responsibility for every aspect of our worship hour.

I’m thankful for Lisa Horton, St. Luke’s hard-working secretary who handles so many different administrative tasks and generously prepares the bulletin for Boyle UMC.

I’m thankful for our meals together. I’m thankful for the vulnerability and honesty of my church members. I’m thankful for their generosity and kindness. I’m thankful for their faithfulness to their congregations and faithfulness to God.

Another question comes after the first: For what are you least thankful, right now?

I’m least thankful that we won’t see each other once I move, perhaps for a long time. It’s painful to form honest relationships and then leave. People have shown me and my family great love, and it’s a very real loss to not see these people often. Pastors have the benefit of walking into a fully-formed community, instead of having to find one or create one. Leaving a church feels like taking an organ out of the body: I’m the organ, and the church is the body. The church has nourished me and given me a role to play. Now, I’m leaving my home to find another.

The Christian Church is like a boat, with Christ at the rudder. We’re all in it together (so we might as well make the best of it). Another imagining might picture the Christian Church as many boats on the same river, flowing down to the ocean—many congregations of many sizes and shapes. Christ is the current pushing us all in the same direction. (We should take care not to collide too often.) As a Methodist pastor, I leave one boat and hitch a ride in another. This time of transition—swimming between the boats—feels a bit like Peter attempting (and eventually failing) to walk on water. I can’t do it without Jesus’s help.

I want to thank St. Luke and Boyle for being such lovely boats in which to journey, during these past four years. You are so gifted and gracious. May you continue to trust that Christ is shepherding you toward a great ocean of love.

Peace,
Pastor Brad

Lectionary Readings for June

Sermon Series ends June 11: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit in Your Life & Relationships

Sunday, June 4 — Trinity Sunday
James 1:19-21; Galatians 5:25-6:1 — Gentleness
Sunday, June 11 — Second Sunday after Pentecost
Luke 8:14; Titus 3:3-5 — Self-Control
Sunday, June 18 — Third Sunday after Pentecost
Matthew 9:35-10:23 — The Disciples are Commissioned
Sunday, June 25 — Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Matthew 10:24-39 — The Disciples are Advised

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 not meet in June. We will meet on July 11 (first Tuesday is a holiday). We will talk about candle burning which is extra giving for pledge in honor or in memory of individuals. Also, we budget for two mission minute persons; so be thinking about who you would like to honor.

UWFaith Lunch Bunch will meet at noon on Wednesday, June 21, in the fellowship hall. All women are invited. All of our teachers and those with flexible lunch hours are especially invited to join us. This is a time for us to share our joys and concerns – a time to get to know each other better. Bring your sandwich or salad and drink if you want something other than water. Dessert will be provided. Our Membership, Nurture and Outreach Coordinator, Elaine Lambert, may be out of town. If you have questions call Jackie Pennington, 662-719-5064.

United Women in Faith once again say a very big THANK YOU to all who gave to the Spring No-Bake Sale. The sale netted $1400. It supports many mission projects that help women, children and youth – some in our own community and some across the world.

Our custom at St. Luke is to recognize new births within our church family with a rose or other flower placed in the chancel. The Worship Committee invites you to let us know of the birth of a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild. Please call the church office with the information so we can commemorate the happy event and share the news with our whole church family.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELIEVE

St. Luke Sunday School has gone on summer vacation, except for the Coleman Class. Sunday morning services remain the same, however, so enjoy a little more shut-eye or an extra cup of coffee and then join your church family at 10:30 for worship. See you all in Sunday School in early September!

OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES

St. Luke continues to support Parks Elementary as an Adopt A School sponsor. This month we were asked by kindergarten teacher, Debbie Bullock, if we could pay for the painting supplies to paint her new classroom after she was asked to move from her former classroom. We offered to help paint, but her husband Sean insisted on doing the labor himself. We are glad we can do even a small part to help these hard working teachers.

Pastor Brad was asked by Todd Davis if St. Luke could sponsor 4 Okra Camp scholarships, so we donated $500 for these. This summer day camp is incredibly popular, and we are happy to help make it available for children who might not be able to attend otherwise.

Looking ahead to our Christmas in July project, we’re asking you to help in identifying a child or family that may need assistance with school supplies. It could be a family in your neighborhood, your child’s classmate, or if you’re a teacher, you may have a student in your class (or your school) 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 to add a family to the list or for more information. Let's help these children get the 2023-2024 school year off to a successful start with a back-pack full of supplies!

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 July. 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 Al Williams 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.

Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School will be hosted by and held at First United Methodist Church the week of June 19-22, from 4:00-6:00 pm. If you would like to volunteer to help with VBS, please contact Allyson Hardy.

To register your child/children entering 4K - 6th grade, please click this link…2023 VBS Registration — First United Methodist Church

The St. Luke Scene

Happy Birthday Potluck for Bette and Brad

Congratulations to Dyllon Martin, graduate of MSMS

Dates for your Calendar

June 4, Sunday
—Church Council Meeting, CANCELED

June 18, Sunday
—Father’s Day

June 19, Monday
—VBS, 4-6:00 p.m. (First UMC)

June 20, Tuesday
—VBS, 4-6:00 p.m. (First UMC)

June 21, Wednesday
—UWFaith Lunch Bunch, 12:00 p.m. (St Luke Fellowship Hall)
—VBS, 4-6:00 p.m. (First UMC)

June 22, Thursday
—VBS, 4-6:00 p.m. (First UMC)

June 27, Tuesday
—MS Annual Conference (Tupelo)

June 28, Wednesday
—MS Annual Conference (Tupelo)

June 29, Thursday
—MS Annual Conference (Tupelo)

June 30, Friday
—MS Annual Conference (Tupelo)

Memorials and Honorariums

By:

Frances & Jim Tims

By:

Jackie Pennington

In Memory Of:

I.N. Hart

In Honor Of:

Bette Simpson

Attendance and Offering Report

June Birthdays

Stella Perez
Chelsea Melton
Sandi Melton
Brittany Runnels
Gloria Cranford
Lauren Williams

6/02
6/15

6/21
6/26
6/29

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
6/04
6/05
6/17

6/18
6/21

Contact Us

Newsletter Blog

June 2023

June 1, 2023St. Luke United Methodist Church

Message from the Pastor

Lectionary Readings for June