Opportunity for Community Outreach

Transcription

1 OCTOBER 2014 St. Luke United Methodist Church Opportunity for Community Outreach St. Luke is known as The Pumpkin Church around town. Let s build on that identity in a positive way within our community. Our very first Pumpkin Fest will be held on October 19 from 5-7 p.m. and looking for groups who want to host a booth or an activity. (The hosting group is responsible for the entirety of the booth.) Tiny pumpkin painting, cupcake walk, pumpkin hoop toss, the duck pond game, a maze or obstacle course are just a few of the ideas that have been gathered. If games are not something your group can rally around, a popcorn or snow cone stand would be a welcome addition. Other ideas are welcome as this event is open to your creative thinking! Please contact Susan Cutshall (scutshall@stlukeumc.org) or at and let her know how your group wishes to participate. Let s show our community that we are a church that is open to them! It is our hope that this event will grow each year! Health Expo 2014 Directors' Vision Volunteer Opportunities Pastor's Letter Notes & Updates Stewardship Update

2 October 2014/2 Health Expo Wednesday, October 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m. You are invited, and encouraged!, to attend the St. Luke UMC Health Expo on Wednesday evening, October 15 from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. Come have your meal at the usual Wednesday.comm dinner time from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m., then walk across the gym to the expo! (No classes this evening.) Fayette County Health Deparment nurses will be here to administer flu shots to adults and children. Please sign up at the Connection Center as soon as possible because we want to ensure there is enough vaccine for those who plan to get the shot. Diabetes information and blood sugar screenings (Kelli Henderson), hearing screenings (Dr. Keith lexander's colleagues) and Tara Stamper will present women's fitness (physical and spiritual). Cathy Greene will provide dental health information, Dr. Vogel will have information on podiatry and Denise Ockerman will provide information about ways to prevent falls. Fair attendees may register for a drawing for free Malone's and Olive Garden gift cards. Kaye Hughes will have a "Kid's Room" where she will focus on fitness and health for kids. Bill Hughes will provide information from ccessible Home Health Care. Robert Hughes, a pharmacist from Walgreens will answer questions about your medications and look at their compatibility. Dr. Jeff Rice will show us an Ideal Home Emergency Kit, and Ella Hunter will focus on mental health. Stephanie Freeman will be here with information from Baptist Neurology and Lydia Jacobs will offer information from Bluegrass rea gency on ging and Independent Living. Booths include nutrition (Jackie Walters), cancer information (Dr. Jay Hayslip), and Smart911 (come and see what this is all about). We will see all of you there! St. Luke Faith Community Health Team We'll also have The Germ Box from Baptist Health, important for preventing communicable diseases. We'll have blood pressure checks, oxygen level checks and much more!

3 October 2014/3 Looking Forward to 2015 St. Luke's Directors' Thoughts On Where Our Church Is Headed and How Each of Us Can Play a Role In Getting There. Have you been at St. Luke during VBS or Kids Café? Have you been here on a Wednesday evening? Have you seen the guests we have on Sunday mornings? Have you noticed the amazing things God is doing as more and more people see St. Luke as a place that truly cares about them? Now, we know this is challenging. But picture with us the future, the coming years as children, youth and people of all sorts come to know God through our love and ministries. Picture lives transformed, even lives of those already in our midst, as they grow deeper in their walk with Christ. God is showing us this is a real possibility! The ministry directors here at St. Luke have been hard at work planning and dreaming about St. Luke s ministries, where we have been, and where we feel God is leading as we look forward to 2015 and beyond, where God is already at work and we can join Him in His mission. Here are some of the things we ve been considering: How can we continue to expand missional communities? How can we do a better job of integrating those we reach into the life of St. Luke? In what ways can we enhance the focus, purpose and vision of our worship services? In what ways can we do a better job of communicating our vision and mission? There are many things to celebrate! St. Lukers have embraced God s call to be His people, and St. Luke s DN includes many important and unique characteristics: we reach people no one else reaches; we disciple people to Christian maturity; we are courageous and are willing to make bold decisions; we are unapologetically United Methodist; we are friendly and open; we do worship with excellence; we are a place of healing and wholeness; we have strong lay leaders. We also have powerful vision and mission statements. Our vision is "Jesus Christ in Every Life." Our mission is to know, love, worship and follow God and lead others to do the same. Knowing this is who we are, what does that say about where God is leading us? Can you picture our worship services growing and drawing more people to God? Can you picture more and more St. Lukers answering God s call to serve in our ministries? s we continue to develop more ways for people to connect in our fellowship, God s kingdom will continue to grow, and we will be fulfilling our vision and mission. s the ministry directors have been working together, we have proposed some goals that we believe will guide us in continuing to move forward in reaching people for Christ. These goals will stretch us, but we believe that with the support of the congregation, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, they are possible. Can you picture where St. Luke would be if we increased the number of volunteers by 20%? If we started 10 new missional communities? What if we integrated 300 new people into the life of St. Luke and had 400 first-time guests in our worship services? Can you picture 50 public professions of faith in Jesus Christ and 100% retention of new members? nd here s a big one think of all we could do if we were able to pay an additional 10% of loan principal in 2015, and continue to pay 10% per year so that it is paid off by 2025! Goals inevitably include numbers, but it s not just the numbers, but what the numbers reflect and how they will help move us forward, the things they will help us focus on, that we feel are important. We believe these goals are achievable, but they will stretch us. s we achieve these goals, the growth will be felt across all of our ministry areas, but it will take all of us at St. Luke, working together. Do you see this future also? We are seeking your feedback as we continue to seek God s will and discernment. Please share your thoughts with any of us, and please be in prayer with us as we look forward to 2015 and the coming years. In Christ, Nora Conner, Director of Ministries (Directors Team: Nora Conner, Mark Girard, Jeremy Buchanan, Susan Cutshall, Reid Buchanan, Jeremy rnold, Mark Walz)

4 October 2014/4 Upward Basketball & Cheerleading Is Just round the Corner The start of our Upward season is right around the corner and we have a great opportunity for volunteers to help fulfill our mission of Jesus Christ in Every Life. Please keep in mind that it does not matter if you may have lived your entire life loving sports or you know nothing about sports. Either way, we have a place for you to share your gifts and talents. Upward is designed to be a team effort of people coming together to share the love of Christ with children and their families. vailable Volunteer Opportunities Coaching basketball or cheerleading, refereeing, scorekeeping, assisting with evaluations, doing half-time devotions, being a greeter, working concessions set-up/clean up, game day promotions, assisting league director, coordinating the award celebration, helping with set-up or clean-up or delivering registration forms to local schools. If interested in signing up or if you have a question, please contact Ed Towle at or etowle@stlukeumc.org. Sign-up sheets are posted at Connection Center. Important Dates Registration Begins October 8, 2014 (Registration fee $75, includes complete uniform for both basketball and cheerleading.) Evaluations November 18 & 20, 6-7:30 p.m., November 22, 9:30-11 a.m., 2014 Referee Clinic November 19, 10-11a.m., 2014 Basketball Practice Begins December 29, 2014 First Game Saturday, January 17, 2015 Picture Day January 31, 2015 ward Celebration March 6, 2015 Last Game March 7, 2015

5 October 2014/5 Pumpkin Patch-October 5 The pumpkins are coming on October 5! Each year SLUMY does a month long fundraiser that helps make everything we do throughout the year more affordable for the youth of our church and community. There are several ways you can help to make this year s pumpkin sales a successful fundraiser. First, you can help us unload the pumpkins! They will be arriving on October 5 at 4:30 p.m. In the past, we have been able to time their arrival right after the 11:10 worship service, but this year the truck will get here around 4:30. We need as many people as possible to help unload and set up the patch. Second, you can buy your pumpkins at our patch, and tell all your friends to buy their pumpkins at St. Luke. Third, you can volunteer to work at the pumpkin patch. We ask parents of youth to work at least one shift per child they have in the youth group, but you do not have to have a youth to work a shift. There is a shift sign up board in the connection center. Thanks in advance for making this year's pumpkin fundraiser a success!

6 October 2014/6 Letter from the Pastor Discussing Our Church-Wide Study and Living Out Our Faith In the Coming Season of Commitment Through Serving and Giving. We are in the midst of our church-wide study of The Wesleyan Way: Faith That Matters. It is an excellent study and a great reminder why we are a United Methodist Church. In today's culture the major denominations have been in steady decline for a number of years. Some of our United Methodist Churches have tried to run from our Wesleyan Heritage. They have taken United Methodist out of their name and branded themselves as such things as a "Community" Church. That is too bad because in truth our Wesleyan Heritage is exactly what the church "experts" say that the church needs to be a religion of the heart where faith matters in mission and service in the community. During the month of October, my messages are going to focus on having a faith that matters as witnessed to by our acts of service and love in our church, and community and world. That's our Wesleyan/United Methodist Heritage. Those of you who have been around St. Luke very long know that we usually tie our church-wide study to a time of commitment to service for the coming year. We have traditionally sent out commitment sheets which listed most of the ministries of the church and asked you to indicate which of those ministries you wanted to be a part of in the coming year. This year we are going to do it a little different. We simply want to know where your passion lies where you think the exercise of your faith can make a difference. We will insert in the bulletin each week a commitment card that will simply ask you where your passion for service lies. The hope is that the church-wide study and the companion worship on Sunday morning will allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you and help you shape your call according to your gifts. For instance, if your passion and gifts lie in working with children, then put that on the card and the Children's Ministry Team will be in touch and work with you to channel your faith into ministry and service that matters in the area of children's ministry. Or if your passion and gifts lie in worship, as you indicate that, the Worship Team will be in touch to help you channel your passion into faith and service that matters. Or perhaps you have a passion for ministry in an area that the church is not yet involved in. Let us know what that is and we will work together to make your faith matter and in the process reach persons that the church is not yet reaching. t the conclusion of each worship service during October, there will be an invitation for those who are ready to share their passion to bring their cards forward and lay them on the altar. On November 9, we will conclude all of that with a covenant service in which we will covenant together to make our faith matter in our community and beyond. We are envisioning a church where everybody is practicing a faith that matters. nd so I call us all into a month of prayer and study through which God can reveal to us where we can serve with great love and passion. Imagine the power of a church where every person is exercising a Faith That Matters. During the coming weeks, you are invited to join us as we covenant together to do just that. In his June presentation to the Kentucky nnual Conference, Pastor dam Hamilton of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City indicated that recent studies have shown that there are a significant number of members of the United Methodist Church who, for one reason or another, have never been baptized. cting upon that information, Pastor Hamilton offered a Baptism service for members of his church who had not been previously baptized and was surprised by the large number of persons who responded. On November 9, we will be concluding our Faith That Matters study with a Covenant Service at the three morning services in which we will have an opportunity to renew our membership covenant (or enter into that membership covenant for the first time). s part of that service, we will be remembering our Baptism. However, if there are those adults who have never been baptized, whether you are a member of St. Luke or not, you are invited to come that day for Holy Baptism. What a special day it promises to be. If you would like to be baptized on that day, please let Pastor Mark know as soon as possible. lso, Pastor Mark will be offering a one time class on the meaning of Baptism during Wednesday.comm on Wednesday, October 29 for those who are interested in being a part of this special Covenant Sunday.

7 October 2014/7 Church Community Blessings Thank You Notes and Congratulations to Our St. Luke Family You may never know all the lives you've touched through your generous gifts during your lifetime. You are acting as God's instrument to meet the needs of ministers, missionaries and Christian workers. It is clear that you take seriously God's desire for us to be good stewards of His resources. Thank you so much, The Mission Society Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church is pleased to recognize St. Luke United Methodist church for its covenant support of the Global Ministries missionary community. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples. (Psalm 96:3) Thomas Kemper General Secretary General Board of Global Ministries Congratulations to James Southworth for becoming an Eagle Scout! This is an incredible accomplishment and your St. Luke family is so proud of you.

8 October 2014/8 Updates Upcoming Opportunites for Fellowship & Study and Important Need-to-Know Housekeeping Tips Wednesday.comm Update On Wednesday, October 15 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., there will be a Health Expo organized by the St. Luke Community Health Team. dditional information can be found on page 2. Please stop by and take advantage of this wonderful opportunity that has been made available to us. Beginning on Wednesday, October 22 from 6-7 p.m., our Prayer Coordinator Jenna Buchanan and Margie McKinley will be starting a new prayer study on healing and wholeness. They will utilize the book nointed to Heal, which emphasizes partnering with the Holy Spirit in the healing of spiritual, emotional and physical hurts. United Methodist Women United Methodist Women are growing. We will now have two circles. new daytime circle will meet on the second Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. The next meeting will be on Octber 9 at 10 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. Call Sandra Price ( ) or Doris Thornton ( ) for more details. Recycling Notes St. Luke is an environmentally friendly church. We recycle, and we do not use Styrofoam. Please do your part and recycle all paper bulletins included. lso recyclable are empty pizza boxes, empty soda cans and bottles, empty juice bottles and jars and empty water bottles. ll cardboard and pasteboard (cereal type) boxes go into the blue containers. Let s fill up the Rosies each week! Thanks for your help! The evening circle will meet on Monday, October 6 at 6 p.m. and take the St. Luke bus to Nathaniel Mission. Dr. Kathy Goodwin, the new pastor will give us a tour of the facility and speak to us about the Mission and moving into the future. Call Kathy Silberman ( ) for more details. Pick a time convenient for you and come and join us. Kitchen Update s you get the opportunity to use our wonderful, state-of-the art kitchen facilities, please be aware of guidelines that need to be followed for safety and to insure that everyone's kitchen experience is enjoyable. Please review all of the information posted on the kitchen walls. If you have questions or need assistance learning to use any of the appliances, please call Gil or Connie Rouse ( ), Sue nn Breeze ( ) or Kathy Fitzgerald ( ). They will be more than happy to assist you.

9 * Emphasis Budget Needs for ugust, 2014 $ 121, Total Income for ugust, 2014 $ 112, Deficit for the month ($ 8,589.37) Budget Needs Year-To-Date (as of 8/31/2014) $ 847, Total Income Year-To-Date (as of 8/31/2014) $ 754, Deficit for the year ($ 93,514.25) Total Income Year-To-Date (as of 8/31/2014) $ 754, Expenditures Year-To-Date (as of 8/31/2014) $ 823, lms Donations ugust $ 4, Methodist Home (5th Sunday offering) $ 1, Mortgage Balance (as of 8/31/2014) $2,974, *(Total Income includes contributions, building use fees and Kroger card receipts.) The measure of a life is not its duration, but its donation. Peter Marshall ( ), former U.S. Senate chaplain Thanks to those who responded to the need to "catch up" in our giving. Your response allowed us to have a strong September, but we are still behind for the year as we move into the very busy last quarter of the year. Please continue in your efforts and if each of us could step up our giving just a little ($5-10 a week) through the rest of the year, we can finish the year in a way that brings glory to God and His church. Our giving to the church is a part of exercising a Faith That Matters.