REPORTER Epiphany is celebrated Prayer of the Day for Epiphany.

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1 REPORTER Epiphany is celebrated on January 6. It is the day following the 12th day of Christmas and is considered in some countries the day for giving gifts. This tradition is based on the story in Matthew of the three magi (or kings) visiting the child Jesus at his home in Nazareth. Since we won t be having an Epiphany service this year due to the 6th falling on Saturday, we encourage you to read the story in Matthew 2:1-12. This reading proclaims that even as a young child, Jesus is recognized as a king of the Jews who has significance for the entire globe. Even the sky shows new light. Not only Jews, but also people from other religions see God s light in Jesus. Christians have seen their gifts to the poor and to the church as like the gifts of the magi. Prayer of the Day for Epiphany. Almighty and ever-living God, you revealed the incarnation of your Son by the brilliant shining of a star. Shine the light of your justice always in our hearts and over all lands, and accept our lives as the treasure we offer in your praise and for your service, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

2 Another calendar year has flown by and I continue to be thankful for your partnership in the gospel. The call committee continues to search for the next pastor at St. Luke s. When you see them thank them for their work. They have been busy even during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Thank you for your cards and gifts at Christmas. Doug and I are grateful for the many kindnesses you have shown us this year. Wishing you a blessed New Year! Pastor Mary New Adult Sunday School Class: From Jesus to Constantine The Christian church has been the most powerful institution in the history of Western civilization. Yet the Christian movement did not start out as a culturally significant phenomenon. It began in a remote part of the Roman Empire as a small, lower-class group of followers of a Jewish apocalyptic preacher, crucified as an enemy of the state. For more than a century, the Christian church was virtually unknown among the political and cultural leaders of the Western world. How did Christianity grow into such an enormously influential institution from such humble beginnings? Please join us to learn more about the early Christian Church, From Jesus to Constantine, beginning Sunday, January 7 at 8:45 A.M. in the Adult Classroom. Class will be led by Larry Wecsler. We look forward to seeing you there. 2

3 What about inclement weather this winter? If worship is cancelled on a Sunday due to snow or ice, we will post the info on our website and our Facebook page. We will also notify both channel 4 and channel 5 about the cancellation. If possible we will also send out an blast. So you have options to check on the status. In case the weather is such that you don t feel safe driving, just stay home and be safe! The men s breakfast will be held on January 27th at the Hilton Garden Inn on 190 just east of Waterview Drive at 8:30 a.m. Two people are needed to deliver Meals on Wheels the first Tuesday of every month. The route is in Richardson between Arapaho and Campbell and Coit and Central and takes about 1 hour to complete. Please contact Anne Eckholm at or anne@eckholm.net with questions or to volunteer. St Luke s will host a MOSAIC Birthday bash on January 20th. Please contact Liz Bakken if you are interested in being part of this event. New tile floors have been installed in the kitchen and the women s restroom in the north hallway. They were installed by Your Flooring Solutions out of Rowlett. If you know anyone who is interested in having new flooring of any kind, they will give you a $250 discount certificate if we send them a recommendation. 3

4 Women of St. Luke s HAPPY 2018!!! Mark Allan Powell will explore what Biblical stories mean to people around the world in a four session winter Bible study entitled Multiple meanings: Learning from other interpretations. Powell, a professor of New Testament at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, has taught at seminaries in Estonia, Russia and Tanzania. He edited the HarperCollins Bible Dictionary and has written more than 100 articles and 25 books on the Bible and religion. The January Bible study for Mary Ruth and Rebekah circles begins with the first lesson, Washing hands with distant hearts (Mark 7:1-12). In this session, we explore interpretation from the perspective of the disciples, Pharisees and Jesus. The study may be found on page 20 of the January/February Gather magazine or may be downloaded at gathermagazine.org. The Leader s guide follows the lesson. *Note February s lesson is also found in this issue (pg. 30). JANUARY ACTIVITIES January 3: Activity Day, 9:00 am in the Gathering Area. Come join in as we continue to work on Quilts, layettes, school and health kits for Lutheran World Relief. There is work for women able to stand, and work for those who need to sit. January 9: 10:00 am - Mary Ruth Circle will meet at church in the adult classroom. Hostess: Frieda Chyn, Study Leader: Eileen Larsen. 1:30 pm - Rebekah Circle members meet at church in the adult classroom. Hostess: Rita Humphrey, Study Leader: Shirley Sigler. **These two Circles use the Bible study found in the Gather magazine. January 13: 9:00 am - Sarah Circle meets in the Church Conference Room. Study Leader: Carol Brant. The Bible study will be Christian Fasting from The Thoughtful Christian. January 27: Leadership Team Meeting, 9:00 am in the adult classroom. Hostess: Barbara Tate, Devotions: Frieda Chyn. All women of St. Luke s are invited and encouraged to come. Please feel free to join any of the circles at any time. 4

5 Booksome Ladies The Booksome Ladies will meet on Wednesday, January 17 th at 9:30 a.m. in the Adult Classroom. Our book for discussion is One Man s Wilderness by Sam Keith, a remarkable true story of solitary life in Alaska. It is the recounting of the adventures of Richard Proenneke from his own journals and photographs, and the firsthand knowledge of his subject and the setting by Sam Keith. It is a tribute to a man who carved his masterpiece out of his dream to live in a remote and beautiful part of Alaska and be content with his own thoughts and company. Proenneke found the perfect spot by a pristine lake, built a cabin by himself with tools he had made, and lived there over thirty years to become a part of the country. This book is a simple account of the day-to-day explorations and activities Proenneke carried out alone, and the constant chain of nature s events that kept him company. This book is an awardwinner and was made into a beautiful documentary, Alone in the Wilderness, by PBS-TV. The few amazing photographs in this little volume were taken by Proenneke and are a wonderful example of his appreciation of creation and its beauty. Since we will be choosing books for the coming months, please bring along your suggestions. Happy New Year, Martha Eastwood Our annual congregational meeting will be held on Sunday, January 28, right after worship. All annual committee reports should be in to the office by January 8. 5

6 The members of St. Luke s and their families that are being prayed for during the month are listed below. FAMILY OF ED SOBEY CORINNE PERKINS BEA ORGISH MARGARET FREEMAN HOWARD SCHEIB BEN HONG DICK MINER PHIL HOUSTON MILDRED PLISKAL RITA HUMPHREY ROSE LITTLE & FAMILY EMILY EASTWOOD DAVID REED SCOTT REEDY BETTY HOFFMAN Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving. Psalm: 95:2 We welcome prayers for all. However, please let us know when your name should be removed from our list. Thank you. Our appreciation to the members of St. Luke s Prayer Chain for their constant and faithful prayers. Betty Kennedy, Prayer Chain Chairperson

7 James and Joy Dukowitz Seth and Anne Eckholm Gary and Elizabeth Bakken Carol Lysen 1-04 Michael Packer 1-07 Frieda Chyn 1-09 Corinne Perkins 1-10 Ann Wecsler 1-14 Brent Sonntag 1-22 Amy Dunn 1-23 Courtney Sigler 1-30 Note: If you have an anniversary or birthday this month and your name is not on our list, please call the church office and give us the information for our records. Thank you. 7

8 NETWORK OF COMMUNITY MINISTRIES Ingathering days are the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. Items always needed are: peanut butter, jelly, canned meats and vegetables, canned fruit, soups, paper products, personal hygiene products. Please place items in the cart marked Network in the Gathering Area. The Reporter Published for and by St. Luke s Lutheran Church Next deadline Jan 15 gail@stlukeslutheranchurch. org All members of St. Luke s are invited to submit articles of interest for publication in THE REPORTER. Articles may be submitted in written form using WORD format or electronic form. Please include your name and phone number. Articles should be no longer than 250 words. Those over 250 may need to be edited. St. Luke s Lutheran Church Interim Pastor Rev. Mary Kaiser Administrative Assistant Gail Johnson Director of Music Ministries. Dale Dietert Council Members President, Shirley Sigler 2/ Vice President, Tim Wegener / Secretary, Anne Eckholm 9/ Treasurer, Tom Petersen 9/ Financial Sec., Carol Lysen /233/6585 Christian Ed.. Emily Hoffman / Evangelism, Carol Rizzo / Congregational Life, Jerold Plumb...9/ Congregational Resources, Gail Johnson.9/ Indoor Property, Jerry Zimmerman Outdoor Property, Ralph Rizzo / Worship & Music, Frieda Chyn / Service Outreach, open Youth, Emily Hoffman / Contact Us: marykaiser82@yahoo.com gail@stlukeslutheranchurch.org ddietert@mail.smu.edu Phone: Sunday Schedule Worship at 10:00 a.m. Sunday School at 8:45 a.m. Phone number: