Message from the Pastor

I Love St. Luke UMC Because...

What might your response be?

Not long after arriving here, my family and I were given t-shirts with the phrase I Love St. Luke UMC printed in bold letters across the front. As I have begun to make visits, I have enjoyed listening about your lives in and around Cleveland and how that has intersected with St. Luke. Some of you have invested many years at St. Luke, while others may just be discovering it. Whichever the case, I am inviting you to join me in the library for I Love St. Luke UMC Because sessions. You may choose to attend one to share or you may come to each one. It is up to you. During Wednesday evenings in September from 5:30-6:30 pm (a nursery will be available), I will be in the church library ready to listen to you. This will be a time of sharing what you love about the life of the church, areas of opportunity, and dreams for the future.This is a perfect time for long-time members and visitors alike to listen to one another. I hope you will make space for one or more of these conversations together.

Grace and Peace,

Hannah

Lectionary Readings for September

Sunday, September 3 — Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Exodus 3:1-15
Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45
Romans 12:9-21
Matthew 16:21-28

Sunday, September 10 — Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Exodus 12:1-14
Psalm 149 or Psalm 148
Romans 13:8-14
Matthew 18:15-20
Sunday, September 17 — Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Exodus 14:19-31
Exodus 15:1b-11, 20-21
Romans 14:1-12
Matthew 18:21-35
Sunday, September 24 — Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Exodus 16:2-15
Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45, or Psalm 78
Philippians 1:21-30
Matthew 20:1-16

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

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELONG

St. Luke youth are joining again this year with the youth of Calvary Episopal Church. Pastor Hannah and Vicar Les Hegwood of Calvary are leading the group, which has already enjoyed a pool party and a trip to an Emmet Till remembrance ceremony. Sunday afternoon meetings will alternate between the two churches. Be sure to check out the meeting schedule and see details about a fall retreat further down this page.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELIEVE

Everyone is invited to a World Communion Service hosted by St. Luke UMC and Calvary Episcopal Church on Sunday, October 1, at 10:30 a.m. at Dockery Farms. Invite a friend and bring a chair or blanket to sit on!

Sunday School is back and there’s a buzz about the church at 9:30! We have classes for all children age 3 and older as well as for younger and older adults. If your family has not yet developed the Sunday School habit, we invite you to bring your children for Bible stories, crafts, and fun (or to the nursery if they are younger) and to join one of the adult groups for an hour of lively discussion. You don’t have to be a Bible scholar already—we’re all learning together!

OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES

As part of our Adopt-a-School Missions, our Outreach Team is planning to lay pea gravel on the playground at Nailor Elementary School on Saturday, September 30, starting at 8:00 a.m. (rain date is October 7th). If you are able to help, please bring a shovel and sturdy rake. If you can operate a front loader and want to help, please let Susannah Wessel know. We’ve made such a big change at Parks Elementary; we hope this project will make a huge impact at Nailor, too. Please come if you can!

The United Methodist Men’s Annual Fish Fry will be held on Tuesday, October 10, from 5-7:00 p.m. in the First UMC Fellowship Hall. Tickets are $15 each (carry-outs will be available). Proceeds will fund community organizations. Please see Jim Shempert (The Pastor’s Wife) if you would like to purchase a ticket.

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.

St. Luke Members Recognized

Congratulations to Tricia Walker and Cade Holder, who were recognized recently at the annual Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber banquet. We are so proud that these members who are such a vital part of our church are also valued for their many contributions to our community.

Tricia received the Lucy R. Janoush Citizenship Award. She is a Grammy award winning singer/songwriter and founder of Big Front Porch Productions. She serves on the Chamber of Commerce Green and White Committee and the Tourism Board of Directors. Walker serves as the music ambassador for the City of Cleveland, leading the Deep Roots music initiative. Mayor Billy Nowell presented the award.

Cade was awarded the Outstanding Young Professional Award. She is the Director of Marketing and Patron Services at the Bologna Performing Arts Center but has served the Chamber in the past as a member of the staff as Director of Community Programs. Cleveland-Bolivar County Young Professionals president Caroline Alderson presented the award.

Tricia with a few St. Luke friends.

Cade volunteering at the Zoe Run.

I Love St. Luke Because…
w/Pastor Hannah

World Communion Service

Youth

The St. Luke Scene

Dates for your Calendar

September 4, Monday
—Church Office Closed for Labor Day

September 5, Tuesday
—UWFaith Grace Circle, 10:00 a.m. (Church Library)

September 6, Wednesday
—I Love St. Luke Because… w/Pastor Hannah, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
(Church Library)

September 9, Saturday
—Fellowship Hall Reserved by The Baileys, 12:00-4:00 p.m.

September 10, Sunday
—2nd Sunday Mission Project for Helping Hands
—Youth, 4:00 p.m. (Calvary Episcopal)

September 12, Tuesday
—United Methodist Men, 6:00 p.m. (First UMC)

September 13, Wednesday
—I Love St. Luke Because… w/Pastor Hannah, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
(Church Library)

September 17, Sunday
—Worship Team Meeting, 11:35 a.m. (Church Library)
—Youth, 4:00 p.m. (St. Luke)

September 18, Monday
—SPPRC Meeting, 5:00 p.m. (Fellowship Hall)

September 20, Wednesday
—I Love St. Luke Because… w/Pastor Hannah, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
(Church Library)

September 24, Sunday
—Youth, 4:00 p.m. (Calvary Episcopal)

September 26, Tuesday
—Finance Meeting, 5:30 p.m. (Fellowship Hall)

September 27, Wednesday
—I Love St. Luke Because… w/Pastor Hannah, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
(Church Library)

September 30, Saturday
—Nailor Elementary Project, 8:00 a.m. (Nailor Elementary)

October 1, Sunday
—World Communion Service, 10:30 a.m. (Dockery Farms)

October 10, Tuesday
—United Methodist Men Fish Fry, 5-7:00 p.m. (First UMC)

October 29, Sunday
—Charge Conference, 3:00 p.m. (Grenada First UMC)
—Fall Fest & Trunk-or-Treat (St Luke) -details to come

Memorials and Honorariums

By:

Jim & Loretta Burdine

By:

Betty Hunter

In Memory Of:

Marie Boswell

In Honor Of:

The Rogers Family

Attendance and Offering Report

September Birthdays

Jackie Pennington
Meredith Wessel
Adalyn Shempert
Patrick Wessel
Jim Burdine
Beau Bailey
Beverly Jacks
Michael Neal
Zane Hardy
Brent Rogers
Megan Munro
Sherry Jones

9/01

9/02
9/08
9/11
9/14
9/16

9/19
9/24
9/25
9/27

September Anniversaries

Brent & Claire Rogers
Hannah & Jim Shempert
Sean & Susannah Wessel

9/16
9/24
9/28

Contact Us

Newsletter Blog

September 2023

September 1, 2023St. Luke United Methodist Church

Message from the Pastor

Lectionary Readings for September