Message from the Pastor

Back to School Again,

It is that time of year again. School is about to begin. You can feel it in the air. I am reminded of the Tom Hanks quote from the movie You've Got Mail in which he writes "Don't you just love New York in the fall? It makes me want to go buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address." We definitely haven't reached the fall temperature zone yet, but we are surrounded by school supplies.

This Sunday, August 6th, we will celebrate the beginning of another school year. During children's time, all children and teachers are invited to come to the front of the sanctuary where we will bless all backpacks and briefcases (lesson plans too if you'd like).

My two girls are preparing to start school next week as I know some of you are. Many of my colleagues from seminary are already back in school working through various doctoral programs. I remember while I was in seminary feeling that the more I learned, the less I knew. What do I mean?

The nearer I drew to God, the more I realized I was only scratching the surface. As Leonard Sweet says, “The greater the amount of knowledge you accumulate, the bigger your island gets, but the greater the shoreline of the unknown becomes. In short, the more you know, the more you know you don’t know.” Perhaps it is meant to be like that in our life of faith. We are never really meant to leave the "classroom" of the feet of Christ. Psalm 25:4-5 says "Make me to know your ways, O Lord: teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long."

This Sunday as we all prepare for another year either in school or around it, let us all be mindful of our own lifelong learning. May each of us desire to have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to fully know what discoveries God may have in store for us this year.

Grace and Peace,
Hannah

Lectionary Readings for August

Sunday, August 6 — Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 32:22-31
Psalm 17:1-7, 15
Romans 9:1-5
Matthew 14:13-21

Sunday, August 13 — Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b
Romans 10:5-15
Matthew 14:22-33
Sunday, August 20 — Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 45:1-15
Psalm 133
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
Matthew 15:10-20, 21-28
Sunday, August 27 — Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Exodus 1:8 – 2:10
Psalm 124
Romans 12:1-8
Matthew 16:13-20

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

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELONG

Mark your calendars for our Back-to-School Cookout on Sunday, August 13 at 5:30 pm. We hope you can join us for friendly fellowship and yummy burgers and hot dogs! Invite a friend or two! If anyone would like to bring homemade ice cream for everyone to enjoy, please let Kay Daves know.

UWFaith Lunch Bunch will meet on Wednesday, August 30, at noon in The Warehouse for a “Dutch Treat” lunch. All women who have a flexible lunch hour are invited to join us for this time of getting to know each other better. Most of you probably have a support group of some sort, but church support groups such as Sunday School and Lunch Bunch are special. You won’t be asked to make any big commitment. Please come. If you have questions, call Elaine Lambert or Jackie Pennington.

UWFaith Grace Circle will NOT meet in August. We will meet September 5.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELIEVE

A few of our Sunday School classes have taken a summer break, but it’s time to get back in the SS routine! The Young Adult class, the Youth class, and the PreK-elementary classes will start back on Sunday, August 13. Sunday School starts at 9:30 and we hope to see you all there!

3K-1st Grade Class: Austin Armstrong, Beau Bailey, Anton Dahman, Leo Dean, Adalyn Shempert, Landon Steele
Teachers: Julianne Bailey, Allyson Hardy, Claire Rogers, Lauren Williams
Location: former NCP room, next to Fellowship Hall

Elementary Class: Faulkner Bailey, Kathryn Martin, Polly Sheets, Kenley Shempert, June Williams
Teachers: Megan Armstrong, Kay Daves, Melanie Earls, Sally Rogers, Brittany Runnels, Elaine Lambert (sub)
Location: Art Room, on hall leading to Fellowship Hall

Youth Class: Daniela Dahman, Isabella Givens, Lindsey Mae Givens, Zane Hardy, Marian Powell, Hugh Sheets, Patrick Wessel, Wyatt Williams
Teachers: Brittany Dean, Megan Munro
Location: Youth Room, west Education Wing

Young Adult Class: Teacher: Frances Tims
Location: Room 15, west Education Wing

Coleman Class: Teacher: Bob Card
Location: Room 17, west Education Wing

OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES

Thank you to all who helped with the Christmas in July mission! Your efforts helped a total of 16 children in our community receive school supplies. Plus, $115 was collected to help provide school supplies for the children at the Methodist Children’s Home. Thank you for making such a difference for children whose parents are unable to buy all the supplies needed and for giving those children confidence to start the school year off in the right way.

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 is used at the pastor’s 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.

Back to School Cookout

The St. Luke Scene—more from VBS

Dates for your Calendar

August 6, Sunday
—”Blessing of the Backpacks” during the Worship Service
—Church Council Meeting, 11:35 a.m. (Fellowship Hall)

August 8, Tuesday
—United Methodist Men, 6:00 p.m. (First UMC)

August 13, Sunday
—Sunday School Kick-Off
—2nd Sunday Mission Project for Helping Hands
—Back to School Cookout, 5:30 p.m. (Fellowship Hall)

August 20, Sunday
—Youth Kick-Off, details to come

August 30, Wednesday
—UWFaith Lunch Bunch, 12-1:00 p.m. (The Warehouse)

Memorials and Honorariums

By:

Billy Boswell; Frankie Brewer; Brewer Hutchinson; Dillard & Sandi Melton; Melba Washington;
Sean & Susannah Wessel

By:

Carol Tatum; Sean & Susannah Wessel

In Memory Of:

Marie Boswell

In Honor Of:

Bobby & Kay Horton

Attendance and Offering Report

August Birthdays

Bobby Horton
Lyndell Dilly
Beau Melton
June Williams
Claire Rogers
Trevor Runnels
Austin Armstrong
Jim Shempert
Melba Washington

8/02
8/04
8/05
8/06
8/17
8/24
8/25
8/27
8/28

August Anniversaries

Beverly & Mike Gressett
Al & Melanie Williams

8/09
8/22

Contact Us

Newsletter Blog

August 2023

August 1, 2023St. Luke United Methodist Church

Message from the Pastor

Lectionary Readings for August