July 2023
St. Luke United Methodist Church
Message from the Pastor
My family and I are delighted to be in Cleveland and begin worshipping and serving with you on Sunday, July 2nd. We have already gotten to experience your generosity and are overwhelmed by your kindness. We have met some of our neighbors and of course the local resident mosquitoes. I cannot wait for you to meet my husband Jim who dubs himself "the pastor's wife." He loves to assemble things for our girls, hike alongside me in the wilderness, and drink ridiculous amounts of coffee each day. We have been married 12 years this September. Then there is my oldest daughter Kenley (9). She is an avid reader, a Taylor Swift fanatic, and loves to think outside the box. Adalyn is our youngest (3) and she is playful, mischievous, and thinks that Playdoh and markers should be applied to every surface.
I am delighted to be appointed to serve as your pastor. During this Annual Conference, I will be ordained as an Elder in Full Connection with the UMC.
The name St. Luke UMC is dear to me as I grew up at St. Luke UMC in Tupelo before serving on staff years later. One of my passions in ministry is encouraging others to fully live into God's calling on their lives in their everyday setting. I am honored to come alongside you as we continue to live into what it means to belong, believe, and become disciples of Christ.
Lectionary Readings for July
Sunday, July 2 — Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 22:1-14
Psalm 13
Romans 6:12-23
Matthew 10:40-42
Sunday, July 9 — Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
Psalm 45:10-17 or Psalm 72
Romans 7:15-25a
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30Sunday, July 16 — Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 25:19-34
Psalm 119:105-112 or Psalm 25
Romans 8:1-11
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23Sunday, July 23 — Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 28:10-19a
Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24
Romans 8:12-25
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43Sunday, July 30 — Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 29:15-28
Psalm 105:1-11, 45b
Romans 8:26-39
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
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 Grace Circle will meet on Tuesday, July 11, at 10:00 a.m. in the St. Luke Library.
United Women in Faith Lunch Bunch will meet on Wednesday, July 26, at The Warehouse. All women who are free between the hours of 12:00-1:00 p.m. are invited. We’ll have friendly fellowship while enjoying our lunch and then end with a short devotional.
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
Our Christmas in July tree is up in the narthex! Please take as many ornaments as you can from the tree and help purchase school supplies for families in need. All those notebooks, markers, and backpacks add up, and we can help lighten the burden for some families while getting their children off to a good start in the new school year. Please attach the ornaments to the supplies (you can gather them in shopping bags) and place them under the tree anytime in July or bring them to church on July 23, when we will have the “Blessing of the School Supplies.”
There are always many ways to help when a pastor moves on to another church and a new pastor comes to St. Luke. In anticipation of the arrival of Pastor Hannah and her family, our people put together an impressive “welcome wagon pack” of easy-to-serve food and snacks, plus essential household goods for the first few days. Several members volunteered to greet them when they arrived and others offered to help unload and unpack boxes. What was really impressive was that, on very short notice, a group of St. Luke worker-bees showed up to help with housecleaning. Many, many thanks to everyone who had a part in making “moving day” as stress-free as possible. This is what a church family is about!
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.
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.
The St. Luke Scene
Vacation Bible School at 1st UMC—Faulkner and Friends
St. Luke joined with 1st UMC, 1st Presbyterian, and Calvary Episcopal Churches June 19-22 for Vacation Bible School. The theme was “Food Truck Party: On a Roll with God,” and children from all four churches plus their friends enjoyed stories, drama, games, crafts, and singing. Many thanks to Allyson Hardy for coordinating our part in this adventure and for her many helpers from St. Luke, not the least of which was Kay Daves, who supervised the supper on our night.
Just be aware—this was practice for the next time St. Luke is due to host VBS! Fortunately, we are in good hands on that score.
Dates for your Calendar
July 2, Sunday
—Christmas in July Mission Project Begins
July 3, Monday
—Church Office Closed for 4th of July Holiday
July 4, Tuesday
—Church Office Closed for 4th of July Holiday
July 9, Sunday
—2nd Sunday Mission Project for Helping Hands
July 11, Tuesday
—UWFaith Grace Circle, 10:00 a.m. (St Luke Library)
July 23, Sunday
—Christmas in July Mission Project Ends
w/Blessing of the School Supplies, 10:30 a.m.
July 26, Wednesday
—UWFaith Lunch Bunch, 12-1:00 p .m. (The Warehouse)
Memorials and Honorariums
By:
Beth, Cookie, & Glenda Boswell; Patti & Billy Boswell II; Kay Daves; Lisa & Shaun Horton; Elaine & Larry Lambert; Jimmy Langston; Glenda Looney; Jackie Pennington; Brenda & Jason Priest; Linda Smith; Carol Tatum; Frances & Jim Tims; Al & Melanie Williams
In Memory Of:
Marie Boswell
Attendance and Offering Report
June 4
June 11
June 18
June 25
Monthly Total
Monthly Budget
General Fund
$ 12,356
$ 748
$ 1,824
$ 985
$ 15,913
$ 21,125
Special
Fund
$ 740
$ 2,351
$ 300
$ 270
Sunday
School
12
10
13
13
Worship
62
41
57
38
Online
75
74
107
89
Special Offerings:
UM Peace with Justice
MS Annual Conference Offering
$ 50
$ 160
July Birthdays
Florence Jo Corban
Anna Melton
Elaine Lambert
Julianne Bailey
Kathleen Corban
Trapper Bolden
Molly Bassie
Kolby Horton
Frances Tims
Glynn Neal
Debra Cole
Edith Corban
Melanie Williams
Megan Armstrong
Loretta Burdine
Larry Lambert
Bob Card
Rani Richard
Woody Earls
7/01
7/03
7/05
7/06
7/07
7/08
7/12
7/15
7/16
7/17
7/22
7/26
7/27
7/29
7/31
July Anniversaries
n/a