4-G FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP

Transcription

1 (USPS # ) Published weekly except Christmas by St. Luke UMC 1104 Second Ave.; Columbus, GA Postmaster: Send address changes to St. Luke UMC P.O. Box 867; Columbus, GA Telephone (706) Fax (706) Ministry Center (706) Prayer Room (706) stluke@stlukeum.com Website: ` Volume 51 November 15, 2015 No G FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP You certainly know it is fall in the South. There is a cool breeze in the air. Leaves are showing their colors. Football dominates the weekends. Geese are on their southerly migration. And most tellingly, churches everywhere are conducting their annual stewardship campaigns! There are many offensive approaches to church stewardship, which may be the reason so many church folks schedule vacations, elective surgery or even root canals during this time of year: anything to get away from all the hype. Let me share my hope and prayer for this season of stewardship in the life of St. Luke Church. I hope that this month of November will be a time of spiritual growth in discipleship for every person in our St. Luke family. I pray that you will join me in a 4-G approach to the issue of giving and financial support for the work of Christ. By that I mean an approach that is: Grounded in Grace. Guilt is a lousy trip! Coercion and manipulation have no place in Christian stewardship. Desperate gimmickry and slick campaigns are an insult to Christ. Our giving for the cause of Christ is grounded in the grace we have come to know through Christ. I pray that your decision to give would be a joyous celebration of the grace you have come to know and want others to know as well. Expressed in Gratitude. I pray that our pledges to give and our gifts will express a deep soulful joy for the gift of life made possible by Christ our Lord. If a gift is not given in gratitude, it should probably not be given. If you feel that someone has a hook in your pocket, the gift is not appropriately given. Let us give as an expression of gratitude to God from whom all blessings flow. Shown in lifestyles of extravagant Generosity. Giving reflects the nature of God. We give because we are created in the image of God, whose essential nature is giving. By God s grace we are hard wired to be social, compassionate, connected, loving and generous. God s extravagant generosity becomes a part our essential nature when we encounter the transforming grace of Christ. Committed to Growth in faithfulness. Growing in the grace of giving is part of the Christian journey of faith, a response Christian disciples offer to God s call to make a difference in the world. Growth in generosity enlarges the soul, realigns priorities, connects people to the body of Christ, and strengthens congregations to fulfill Christ s great commission. Why 4-G? So that St. Luke might experience strengthened connectivity with the presence of God and with the purposes of God in this world. And so that St. Luke may communicate more clearly the most important message to the world God so loved the world that God gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Robert Beckum rbeckum@stlukeum.com

2 ORDER OF WORSHIP The 10:55 a.m. service is streamed at and broadcast at WLTC Lite FM Broadcast live on WXTX Channel 54 at 11:00 a.m. November 15, th Sunday after Pentecost 8:25 a.m. & 10:55 a.m. Color: Green Invitation to Worship The Prelude... O Praise Ye the Lord!... S.K. Tucker (Bessie Howard Ward Handbell Choir) Call to Worship (10:55 a.m., Children s Choir)... An Attitude of Gratitude Hymn... How Firm a Foundation...Number 529 *The Affirmation of Faith... The Apostles Creed... Number 881 I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried, the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick*** and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic*** church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. *The Gloria Patri (Glory Be to the Father)...Number 70 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen, Amen. BHW Handbell Choir... Shall We Gather at the River...J.W. Klug The Pastoral Prayer (8:25 a.m.)...the Rev. Cindy Cox Garrard (10:55 a.m.)...the Rev. Brett Maddocks The Lord s Prayer...Number 895 Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. The Children s Sermon (8:25 a.m.)...the Rev. Cindy Cox Garrard (10:55 a.m.)...the Rev. Brett Maddocks After the 10:55 a.m. Children s Sermon, children who are in Kindergarten-5th grade are invited to go to Corner Kids for a time of extended worship. Parents pick them up in Stockwell Hall when this service is completed. *Hymn... Rock of Ages...Number 361 The Offertory Prayer...The Rev. Beckum Offertory (8:25 a.m., Matthew White)... Jesus, Lover of My Soul...C. Wesley/M. Hayes (10:55 a.m., Chancel Choir)... Great Is Thy Faithfulness...W.N. Runyan/C. Courtney *The Dedication of Offerings... The Doxology...Number 95 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen *The Written Word...II Samuel 24:18-25 (p. 288, OT in pew Bible) The Spoken Word... SOMETHING FOR NOTHING...The Rev. Robert Beckum *Hymn... I Am Thine, O Lord... Number 419 *The Benediction... Amen...Danish Postlude (8:30 a.m., Aesook Lim, organ)... Praise God, Praise Him...M. Burkhardt * Standing as able ** See Music Box *** quick means living ; catholic means universal, or the global Church

3 OPPORTUNITIES OF THE WEEK Sunday, November 15 8:25 a.m. Worship Service (Sanctuary, Main) 9:00 a.m. Contemporary Service (MIN) 9:45 a.m. Sunday School/Youth Sunday School Assembly (The Corner, MIN) 10:00 a.m. Youth Sunday School (The Corner, MIN) 10:55 a.m. Worship Service (Sanctuary, Main) Broadcast over WLTC Lite FM Broadcast live on WXTX Channel 54 at 11:00 a.m. and at beginning at 11:00 a.m. 12:20 p.m. Worship in Spanish (Chapel) 2:00 p.m. Hispanic Fellowship (Stockwell Hall, Main) 5-7:00 p.m. Epic of Eden Bible Study (Discovery) Student Ministry: Middle School Crosswalk (LD, MIN)/High School (The Corner) Monday, November 16 10:00 a.m. Staff Meeting (Room 110, Main) 12 Noon SLS Board Meeting (SD, MIN) 2:00 p.m. Older Adult Council Meeting (SD, MIN) 3:30 p.m. SLS Praise Band Rehearsal (Stockwell Hall, Main) 4:00 p.m. International Friendship Ministry Meeting (SD, MIN) 5:30 p.m. ELC Board Meeting (Middle School Media Center) 6:30 p.m. Upward Basketball (Gym) 7:00 p.m. College Bible Study (The Corner) Tuesday, November 17 SLS Bookfair (MIN) 7:00 a.m. Men s Bible Study (SD, MIN) 9:30 a.m. Susan Graham s Bible Study (Meeting Room, MIN) 10:00 a.m. On-Site Respite (1021 Third Ave.) 10:30 a.m. Circle 2 (Room 110, Main) 11:30 a.m. Right from the Start (LD, MIN)/Civitan (SD, MIN) 6:30 p.m. 3rd Grade Girl Scouts (Meeting Room, MIN)/Upward Basketball (Gym) Wednesday, November 18 SLS Book Fair 8:30 a.m. Dads in Prayer (Youth Room, MIN) 9:35 a.m. Preschool/ELC Chapel (Sanctuary) 10:00 a.m. On-Site Respite (1021 Third Ave.) 10:30 a.m. Stay-at-home Moms Bible study (coley.mayne@googl .com for location) 11:30 a.m. Kiwanis (SD, MIN)/United Way Luncheon (LD, MIN) 12 Noon Preschool Board (Conference Room, Main) 1:15 p.m. Preschool Staff Meeting (Shaw, Main) 3:45 p.m. Middle School Guys and Girls Bible Study (Youth Room) 5:15 p.m. BHW Handbells 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Supper (LD, MIN)/Lay-Led Thanksgiving Service\ 6:30 p.m. Boy Scouts Pack 35 (Commons Area, Main) 7:00 p.m. Hispanic Praise Team Rehearsal (Chapel) 7:15 p.m. Chancel Choir (Music Suite) Thursday, November 19 8:45 a.m. Women s Bible Study-The Truth Project (Meeting Room, MIN) 10:00 a.m. On-Site Respite (1021 Third Ave.) 10:30 a.m. Preschool K-4 Thanksgiving Program (Shaw) 11:00 a.m. SLS Thanksgiving Luncheon (LD, MIN) 11:30 a.m. Exchange Club (LD, MIN) 12 Noon Women s Bible Study, The Creed (Conference Room, Main) Friday, November 20 8:35 a.m. Moms in Prayer (Corner Cafe) 11:00 a.m. SLS Thanksgiving Luncheon (LD, MIN) 5:00 p.m. D-NOW (MIN) Saturday, November 21 D-NOW (MIN) Main (main building, where Sanctuary is)/min (Ministry Center). Contact the Ministry Center for information about renting or reserving rooms. CAN HELP? you PHONE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED If you have 3-4 hours a month to volunteer and would like to be more involved at St. Luke, consider being a phone volunteer. Kym Harden (kym@stlukeum.com) will train you! WEDNESDAY FELLOWSHIP SUPPER November 18 - Ministry Center Program: Lay-led Thanksgiving Service Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The serving line is open until 6:30 p.m. Please make or cancel reservations by using the form below, by ing jwidener@stlukeum.com, or by calling before Monday noon. Menu: Roasted Turkey, Cornbread Dressing, Brussel Sprouts, Green Beans, Salad, Rolls and Pecan Pie. Name: Adults ($7.00) Children ($3.00) Daytime Phone: Permit ST. LUKE (552680) is published weekly except Christmas by St. Luke United Methodist Church, 1104 Second Avenue, Columbus, Georgia Periodical Postage entered and paid at Columbus, GA POSTMASTER: Send address changes to St. Luke, P.O. Box 867, Columbus, GA

4 Music Box Great Is Thy Faithfulness arr. by Craig Courtney The text for today s anthem can be found in the hymnal, page 140. WORSHIP IN SPANISH: 12:20 p.m. worship in Turner Chapel, The Rev. Dr. Ivelisse Quiñones, preaching, Esto es para Ti 2 Samuel 24:24-25; Marcos 12: CONTEMPORARY SERVICE (THE NINE): 9:00 a.m., Ministry Center, The Rev. Robert Beckum, preaching. ALTAR FLOWERS: The beautiful flowers in the chancel area are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Mrs. Mamie Moore by her daughter, Mrs. Kathy Riley, and family. OUR KNOWN SICK: Hughston (Northside): Susan Martin, 323. St. Francis: Jane Jones, PCN30. Hospice: Howard Jeff Bickerstaff, 2. CHRISTIAN LOVE AND SYMPATHY: To Mr. and Mrs. Greg (Kelly) Pridgen in the death of his father, Mr. Bobby Pridgen, Nov. 8, 2015 in Columbus. Greg and Kelly are in the Now Class. Their daughter Rachel lives out of town. Their son Keith is in college. WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: Sam and Brandilyn Edwards. Their children, Laney and Eli, are members. They come by transfer from another United Methodist Church. WELCOME VISITORS: We are glad to have you with us today! If you have any questions or need assistance with anything, please ask a church greeter or any member of the church staff. For more information about St. Luke, contact Brett Maddocks at or bmaddocks@stlukeum.com. Thank you for blessing us with your presence. DEPLOYED SERVICE PER- SONNEL Please keep the names of the deployed servicemen and servicewomen below in your prayers. St. Luke members are Nathan Hubbard and Andrew Santee. To add a name or update information, please contact Cindy Garrard. PASTOR ON CALL Thanksgiving Lay-Led Service Wednesday, November 18, 2015 Join us at 5:30 p.m. for a delicious meal and remain for worship and inspiration beginning at 6:30 p.m. from Mary Reed, Adleyn Scott, Larry & Jenine Caddell, Tim Joiner, & Patrick Graham. Adults $7, Children $3 jwidener@stlukeum.com PLEASE LET US KNOW: Due to HIPAA privacy regulations, hospitals cannot notify us if you are a patient. If you or a loved one have to go to the hospital, please do not assume that the church office knows. We would rather hear about something ten times than not at all! You may call the church at at any time or call the pastors at home! Thanks so much.

5 Children s Ministry Nickie Tillery, Director of Children s Ministries, ntillery@stlukeum.com Corner Kids@The Nine in Stockwell Hall, K-5th grade. Corner Kids@11 in Stockwell Hall, K-5th grade. NO CHILDREN S CHOIR/DRAMA PRACTICE on November 18th. CONFIRMAtION If you are visiting and interested in your child going through Confirmation, please contact Rev. Brett Maddocks bmaddocks@stlukeum.com. Confirmation is offered for 6th graders. OUR CLERGY STAFF Rev. Robert Beckum, Senior Minister rbeckum@stlukeum.com Rev. Cindy Cox Garrard, Associate Pastor cindy@stlukeum.com Rev. Brett Maddocks, Associate Pastor bmaddocks@stlukeum.com Rev. Dr. Ivelisse Quiñones, Associate Pastor iquinones@stlukeum.com December First Saturday Register now by using one of the forms inside & returning to cindy@stlukeum.com or go to Registration deadline is Nov. 19th! If your class is working as a group, please let Cindy know that, too! Offerings to December First Saturday can be made by writing the check to St. Luke and marking it Dec. 1st Sat. Thank you and Merry Christmas! The St. Luke School Annual Fund Campaign bridges the gap between tuition revenue and the school s operating and facility expenses a gap that could otherwise be filled only by a tuition increase. Our goal this year is $150,000. The campaign runs from October 1 - December 31, 2015, but you have until June 30, 2016 to fulfill pledges made during that time. To make your gift, scan this QR code or go to givetostlukeschool. com. Thank you for your support!

6 Abiding Gifts If you wish to honor or remember someone, please attach to your check the name of that person and the address to which you wish the acknowledgement sent and mail or bring to the Church Office. Contact Albright Bridal Room: In memory of Mrs. Martha Helen Jones by Mr. and Mrs. William W. Whatley. Music Scholarship Fund: In honor of Dr. and Mrs. David Lewis by Mr. and Mrs. Doyle Register. In honor of the pianists who play prior to worship by Ms. Nancy Pedersen. In honor of the Crossroads Sunday School Class by Mr. and Mrs. Doyle Register. Samaritan Fund: In memory of Mrs. Miriam Watford by Mr. and Mrs. Doug Harvey. In memory of Mr. Jon Culbreth by Mr. and Mrs. Larry Cardin. Respite Care Fund: In memory of Mrs. Miriam Watford by Mr. and Mrs. William Montgomery. Memorial Maintenance Fund: In honor of Ms. Rose Pezzeti by Ms. Geraldine Reaves. December First Saturday: In honor of Thomas, Amanda, and Abigail Hill by Mr. Patrick Robinson. November IS MUFFIN MIX MONTH! Please bring your donations of muffin mix to the donation tubs in Stockwell Hall and the Ministry Center. SAMARITAN FUND: During October, we assisted 121 people with electricity, 8 with heating, 10 with water, 2 with prescription drugs, and 9 with I.D for a total of $ ADVENT DEVOTIONAL BOOKS Advent begins Sunday, November 29. Advent devotional books are available now. Please pick one up for your family when you come to worship! Pick up a CD of Old Gems in New Settings by our very own Chancel Choir of St. Luke. Cost: $10 Contact Doyle at dregister@stlukeum.com. -Respite Care- Caring for loved ones and caregivers. Diane Hett, Director of Respite Ministry, or dhett@stlukeum.com. What makes you happy? The field of Positive Psychology surveyed thousands to determine what contributes most to our sense of well-being. Findings show that it is not beauty, success, money or career, but the heart strengths of gratitude, hope, and the ability to love and be loved. In other words, our happiness is related to our relationships with others. The study found that volunteering generated more joy than any other activity because it combines a sense of accomplishment, social connection, and the chance to do something meaningful. We invite you to test this finding by volunteering with Respite Care. But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control Galatians 5:22,23 THE CORNER Jonathan and Lisa Moore, Directors of Student Ministries, jmoore@stlukeum.com WEBSITE: Check out these events and so much more at Time to sign up for DNOW.