February 2024
St. Luke United Methodist Church
Message from the Pastor
As we enter February, we prepare to enter a new season of the church year known as Lent. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Interestingly enough, this year Ash Wednesday falls on Valentines Day. On the night we celebrate with roses and candy hearts, I invite you to come and join us for our Ash Wednesday service at 6pm in the sanctuary. This is a special service in which we will mark our foreheads with ashes as we remember our own mortality and God's great love for us.
Lent is a season marked by wilderness, fasting, prayer, and repentance. Like the cold winter landscape that has been around us, Lent is that time of year when we join Jesus in the wilderness and on the journey that ultimately leads to the cross. While Lent is designed to prepare us for Holy Week and Easter just as Advent prepares us for Christmas, I don't want us to rush past or skip ahead. As I mentioned last Sunday, let us take time to allow our souls to catch up with us. Let us take time to reflect and not shy away from what the wilderness areas of our life might have to teach us.
Isaiah 48:6-7 says "Now I am revealing new things to you, things hidden and unknown to you, created just now this very moment. Of these things you have heard nothing until now. So that you cannot say, Oh yes, I knew this.”
In her book A Different Kind of Fast, Christine Valters Painter reflects on this passage and says "Ultimately we fast so as to clear space within our minds and hearts and souls to await what holy newness is being revealed to us. God is at work moment by moment, bringing new life to birth in places we did not expect."
Lent is a time in which we make room for holy newness. What new thing might God be ready to reveal to you?
Grace and Peace,
Rev. Hannah
Lectionary Readings for February
Sunday, February 4 — Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Isaiah 40:21-31
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39
Sunday, February 11 — Transfiguration Sunday
2 Kings 2:1-12
Psalm 50:1-6
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Mark 9:2-9Sunday, February 18 — First Sunday in Lent
Genesis 9:8-17
Psalm 25:1-10
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:9-15Sunday, February 25 — Second Sunday in Lent
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Psalm 22:23-31
Romans 4:13-25
Mark 8:31-38
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 6, 10 a.m. in the church library. Melba Washington will lead the Call to Prayer and Self-Denial service. A special offering will be taken.
Through the Call to Prayer and Self-Denial service, we call upon one another to dive deeper into our faith and recommit ourselves to care for one another and all of creation and to seek justice and liberation. This call to prayer reminds us that the work of caring for God’s creation is part of our Christian covenant, and a way to honor our ancestors and care for our children and future generations.
To respond to this call, United Women in Faith has for decades led environmental and climate justice efforts. This service will highlight the work of the Just Energy for All campaign, which mobilizes members to tackle the climate crisis by reducing greenhouse emissions and supporting 100 percent clean, renewable energy, and a just energy transition. The special offering will support projects related to this campaign. As bold women in faith, we strive for self-renewal and the material and spiritual transformation of the world in Jesus’ name.
UWFaith Lunch Bunch will resume meeting in April. Lenten luncheons begin on February 21. Lunch Bunch members are encouraged to attend the Lenten luncheons held at First United Methodist Church at 11:45.
Grace Circle UWFaith meeting dates for 2024 are: February 6, March 5, May 7, July 2, September 3, November 5, December TBD.
United Methodist Men will meet on Tuesday, February 13, at 6:00 p.m. at 1st UMC for dinner and a program.
OPPORTUNITIES TO BELIEVE
Lenten activities and observances will begin soon. St. Luke will observe Ash Wednesday with a service on February 14 at 6:00 p.m. A nursery will be provided.
The Lenten Lunches begin this month at 1st UMC in their Fellowship Hall. These are lunch-time gatherings that feature a light lunch provided by different churches (donations collected go to a worthy cause), music and a devotional provided by different pastors, and an opportunity for fellowship. Please plan to attend on the Wednesdays during Lent. The doors open at 11:45 and the schedule follows: February 21 and 28, and March 6, 13, and 20.
OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES
Your whole family can share in a service opportunity on Sunday, February 4, from 3-5:00 p.m. at 1st UMC. We are joining with our sister church to for a Rise Against Hunger packing event. Together we will pack 25,056 meals in just two hours. Everyone is invited to come and participate, members of St. Luke, of 1st UMC, of another church, or of no church. All that is required is a wish to help people across the world receive a nutritious meal—eliminating hunger one meal at a time. If you are a student, this time definitely qualifies as volunteer hours.
Kitchen helpers are needed for the Lenten Lunch on February 21, when St. Luke will provide the meal. Please contact Kay Daves to see how you might help. The first Lenten Luncheon traditionally has the highest attendance, so we will need plenty of workers to serve everyone.
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 their discretion to help those in need.
Worship Greeters are needed for June, July, October, November, and December. 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, please contact Al Williams or the church office. A sign-up sheet will also be available in the narthex.
The new 2024 Flower Calendar is available on the bulletin board across from the choir room. If you would like to help provide an altar arrangement sometime during the year, please look over the calendar, choose a date or two, and sign up. We also have a “flower fridge” so you can sign up for two consecutive Sundays, store your arrangement in the fridge during the week and re-use them the second Sunday. Please contact Sandi Melton (Flower Steward) or the church office to sign up or for more info.
Freedom Trail Revival Tour
You are invited to come and worship during the 2024 Freedom Trail Revival Tour! The Mississippi Annual Conference's End Racism For Good Committee is excited to announce a series of Spirit-filled worship gatherings in 2024 involving five local communities that will inspire all who long to end the sin of racism in our churches, our communities, and our state. We will worship together, deepen our connection with United Methodists and others across racial lines, and honor the pain and hopes of each community. It is our desire to listen to the Spirit together and go back to our communities with renewed energy and hope! Through worship, we aspire to awaken to our calling to be communities of courage and love that can bind us together as One. We hope you can attend one of the worship events nearest you - all events begin at 2pm: February 3 (Greenwood UMC); March 2 (Rust College); April 6 (Jackson); May 4 (St Paul UMC in Hattiesburg); and June 15 (Gulfside Assembly w/Bishop Lewis preaching).
The St Luke Scene—Crockpot Cook-Off January 28
The St. Luke Fellowship Hall was the scene for the 4th iteration of the Crockpot Cook-Off—a creation of former pastor Brad Corban, who liked to eat. The rules are fairly simple—you make your best dish and, if it’s not actually a crockpot recipe, you put it in a crockpot before bringing it to the church. Desserts are exempt from the crockpot requirement because, well, we want a lot of desserts, too.
Non-cooks who have just come to graze go up and down the serving line getting a taste here and a taste there, and then going back for more. The chefs do their best to curry (heh) favor, smiling and visiting, explaining their concoctions, offering fancy condiments and garnishes and even, in one recent case, a rather grand golden tablecloth set-up. Some people will do anything to win. When all appetites have been sated, the diners deposit tickets in bowls in front of each crockpot or dessert, indicating their choices.
This year, after very vocal correction—more than once—from the audience, the directors of the cook-off, Pastor Hannah and Kay Daves, announced the winners. In third place and winning the “bronze” spoon was Josh Armstrong, for his creamy shrimp and crab bisque. Second place, with the “silver” spoon, went to Frances Tims, for her smoked salmon chowder. The grand prize, the really fancy really gold trophy and spoon, went to the Pastor’s Wife, Jim Shempert, for his crawfish and sausage chowder. Sally Rogers, of course, won dessert honors for her much-loved rum cake.
This reporter believes it’s worth noting that, with the exception of the dessert category, the prize winners are all members of the Young Adult Sunday School Class. So—a Sunday School Sweep!
Thank you, Brad, for establishing this wacky tradition, which we have embraced completely. It’s a wonderful time of fellowship when the smack talk and laughter never end.
Upcoming Dates for your Calendar
March 5, Tuesday — UWFaith Grace Circle, 10:00 a.m. (Library)
March 6, Wednesday — Lenten Lunch, 11:45 a.m. (First UMC)
March 10, Sunday — Second Sunday Missions for Helping Hands
— Finance Meeting, 11:35 a.m. (Fellowship Hall)
March 12, Tuesday — United Methodist Men, 6:00 p.m. (First UMC)
March 13, Wednesday — Lenten Lunch, 11:45 a.m. (First UMC)
March 17, Sunday — Church Council, 11:35 a.m. (Fellowship Hall)
March 20, Wednesday — Lenten Lunch, 11:45 a.m. (First UMC)
March 24, Sunday — Palm Sunday Potluck & Easter Egg Hunt, 11:35 a.m.
March 28, Thursday — Maundy Thursday Service, 6:00 pm (St Luke UMC)
March 29, Friday — Good Friday Service, 6:00 pm (First UMC)
March 31, Sunday — Easter Morning Service
Memorials and Honorariums
By:
John & Sharon Aguzzi; Don Conger; Kay Daves; Lisa & Shaun Horton; Elaine & Larry Lambert; Dillard & Sandi Melton; Jackie Pennington; Carol Tatum; Frances & Jim Tims; Al & Melanie Williams
Memorials for:
Bobby Horton
Attendance and Offering Report
Jan 7
Jan 14
Jan 21
Jan 28
Monthly Total
Monthly Budget
General Fund
$ 12,806
$ 2,013
$ 357
$ 1,028
$ 16,204
TBD
Special
Fund
$ 270
$ 1,015
$ 0
$ 100
Sunday
School
26
27
0
26
Worship
54
55
5
47
Online
86
132
284
162
Special Offerings:
United Methodist Human Relations
$ 50
February Birthdays
Chris Powell
Brittany Dean
Rick Torgerson
Laura Bassie
Carol Tatum
Beverly Card
Roy Jacks
Lisa Horton
Shaun Horton
Allyson Hardy
Lillie Dean
Witt Runnels
Kevin Vickers
2/02
2/09
2/14
2/18
2/19
2/20
2/21
2/22
2/25
2/26
2/27
2/29
February Anniversaries
n/a