April 2015 - St. Luke`s United Methodist Church

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Newsletter April 2015
Fishin’
for a Mission!
Over the weeks of Lent we have lingered with Jonah on his roundabout way to Ninevah. Along with our reluctant prophet, we have experienced fear, flight, storm, and time in the belly of a really big fish! Why was Jonah so reluctant to carry the Word
of God to Ninevah? Well, sadly, the answer is easy . . . he was fonder of his dislike than of the Lord’s salvation. He didn’t want to
share the call to new life with his old enemies.
In this modern age, we Christians are seeking to overcome a Jonah complex, one that makes us reluctant witnesses,
whether near or far. Easter is the Season of sharing the Good News of God in Jesus Christ, and if Jonah could do it, with the help
of a whale, then so can we . . . even with the help of our own whales! And yes, I do mean, those really big fish!
As we’ve studied Jonah, whale images have been showing up all around church. Downstairs in the basement, where the
common room is very dark, a big bright turquoise ocean has arrived, and our artist in residence, Ms. Louise Stephens, is painting
Jonah and the Whale! On the walls and in the bulletins you will see whale cutouts. Rumor has it that Pastor Lisa has even been
wearing whale hats in church, and giving them out to the children! Best of all, in our showcase, there are whales, so that we can
be not reluctant, but eager, prophets, willing to spread the Good News of God!
So, on Palm Sunday, we went Fishin’ for a Mission, an offering of a whale for us to take home, in return for a Lenten
sacrifice of resources and love, giving of what we have, so that those who do not have much, may know the Good News of God
in abundance! Thanks to all who would encircle the globe in God’s love, even as the whales encircle it with their journeys!
If you have not yet been Fishin’ for a Mission, there’s still time! All funds donated go to our United Methodist mission
mainstay: The World Service Fund. It reaches out the world over in Christ’s name, doing four things: fighting poverty, fighting
deadly diseases, raising up Christian leaders, and founding new faith communities.
What did our Lord say?
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the
sheep.”
Thanks be to God for the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ. And now friends, in this Easter Season, let us be busy in mission
and ministry, for we have “a Whale of a Tale” to tell of God’s Love! Easter Blessings,
Pastor Lisa
Signs of ( NEW ) LIfe...at
St. Luke’s Church
Don’t these photos just make you wish
you were their age again? Our fabulous
youth—getting ready to jump for joy at Sky
Zone, and having a snowy mountaintop
experience at Eagle Eyrie! The youth are
busy in mission and fellowship and ministry
in our midst. The group is remarkable. .
.you just couldn’t find a nicer gathering of
young people. We are blessed as they grow
in our midst, and as four of them go through
confirmation, with the others serving as their
mentors. Especially, we uphold our confirmands: Riley Beeckler, Sydney Kaeser,
Wesley Pritchard and Joshua Sykes, and
we anticipate their confirmation on Mother’s
Day, May 10th, with great joy!
Every single baptism is a marvelous declaration of God’s love! Nothing
we can do makes us worthy of the gift of Baptism. It is God, in his generosity and
Grace toward us, who gives us this sacrament through Jesus Christ. So we come
with thanksgiving, as we and those we know, are baptized. On Easter Sunday
this sacrament will be received by three persons, and adding to the joy of the day,
those three are a father and his two sons: Clay Morris, and his sons Colton and
Austin. For them, for Rebecca, and for all their family, it will be a wonderful time of
proclaiming the Love of God in their lives. We give thanks to God for this special
celebration of the sacrament.
What newness in our musical ministries this year! With our Palm Sunday
Cantata, we asked the Lord to do a new thing, that all might share in this musical
declaration of God’s saving love. Our chancel choir, the bell choir, and the children’s choir, all added their talents to this service of praise and thanksgiving. We
are so blessed by our Director of Music, Sandra Mauney, and her dedicated choir;
Donna Miller and her bells, growing in skill; and the children, whose exuberance
teaches us all about the joy of God’s Kingdom!
Upcoming in the Light of
the Resurrection:
April 12: A Hymn Sing—be thinking of your favorites!
April 26: Pastor Lisa teaches confirmation; Ray Kyle preaches
May 3: Youth Sunday
May 10: Mother’s Day and Confirmation Sunday, reception to follow
May 17: Anniversary and Preschool Sunday at 10 am.
Guest Preacher: Claudia Stallings
11 am cold covered-dish meal
11:30 am old-fashioned games and petting zoo!
May 24: Pentecost
May 31: Mission Emphasis Sunday
June 7: Graduate Recognition Sunday
Thought to ponder: “Don’t miss worship at
St. Luke’s, ‘cause you never know what you’ll
miss!”
Youth: Have you signed up?
It is time to reserve your spot on our summer
trip to Lake Junaluska, June 14-18th! Please
see Stacy immediately if you want to go!!!
Lake Junaluska is not just
for Youth!
Thanks to Sandra Mauney, a team
of adults will participate in the Junaluska
“Music and Worship Arts” Week from June
21-26th! This is an intense week of studying and experiencing and sharing the best
our denomination has to offer in singing,
drama, bells, dance, and all other aspects
of worship! Our prayers are with those who
prepare for this wonderful week apart!
Upcoming Mission Emphasis Sundays
May 31: Belmont Food Pantry
July 12: Imagine No Malaria
Don’t’ miss’em!
A New Beginning
Some years ago, St. Luke’s participated
regularly in CARITAS, providing shelter for the homeless in Richmond through the use of the church
building for a week. Our old sewer system needed
$160,000.00 worth of updating before we could restart this wonderful mission work under our own roof.
With that accomplished, it is time to make sure that
the investment brings its intended spiritual return.
CARITAS will be with us August 22-29. You
are invited to be part of the team, planning, supporting, preparing, volunteering.
David Hay, assisted by his lovely and very
organized wife Laurie, will head our CARITAS team.
David would like to find among the first volunteers
those who are willing to stay overnight at the church,
to make sure the night is quiet and that any needs
which arise are addressed.
If you are able to commit to one overnight at
the church between Aug. 22nd and the 29th, please
see David. Two volunteers are needed each night,
and cots will be provided. Just bring your sleeping
bags!
Let us all be in prayer, as we begin anew, in
this promising new beginning!
A Shout-Out!
Here’s a Shout-Out to some special people who
are busy helping with the ministry and facilities of St. Luke’s
UMC: to Wilmer Downs and Clinton Gary, who have been
deep in mud clearing drain fields for our gutters; to Ray
Jenkins and the Trustees for overseeing replacement of
our gutters; to Becky Jenkins, artistic consultant on worship, children’s church, and more; to Andrea Brown and the
Worship Committee for all their preparations for Holy Week
and today’s luncheon, and to Louise Stephens, our artist-inresidence who is painting our “Jonah and the Whale” mural
downstairs, to brighten things up!
Here’s a Shout-Out to the best staff a pastor could
ever have, from Pastor Lisa to a dedicated, talented and
always-positive team: Shirley Gary, Sandra Mauney, Michele
Hart, and Margaret Anderson! There’s also our anonymous
artistic consultant who, while she isn’t staff, might as well
be . . . Same goes for our anonymous audio-visual expert
who, while he isn’t staff either, works long hours for us . . .
Here’s a Shout-Out to our amazing in-residence
graphic artist Richard Jenkins, whose talents can be seen
not only in this newsletter but also on our new website:
www.stlukesumconthehill.org
Upheld in our Prayers
We hold our confirmands in our prayers:
Riley Beeckler, Sydney Kaeser, Wesley Pritchard and Joshua Sykes.
Stu Creasy
Brian Kaeser
Stephen Burnett
Nancy Ladd
Joshua Myers
Larry Johnson
Rachel Lewis Marynell Kloss
Kenny Sadler
Opal Holshouser
Eden Kloss
Morgan Russell
Ron Halloran
Sharon Efird
Leslie Myers
Marie Goodwyn
Charles & Era Bell
Marilyn Hardin
Muffin Morris
Morris Brown
Laura Patterson
Rosemarie Adkins
Florence Smith Savanna Anchel
Julie Leechalad
Clayton Litten Don, Kerry, Brian Myers
Karen & Reg Whitton
Louann & Drew Benton
Bobby & Thelma Edwards
Rose & Carlton Hudson
Daniel & Sarah Salisbury
Our Military
Sean Hall
Aaron Frankey
Robbie Bowen Josiah Johnson
Here’s a ShoutOut to our preschool staff,
who came running to help
Pastor Lisa get our “I am
the Vine and You are the
Branches” confirmation art
on the wall! It took several
talented women who were
not afraid of step stools
or heights, nor Lisa’s new ideas, to get our Jesus Vine up in the
hallway!
Here’s a Shout-Out to Brandon Myers, Chris deKrafft,
and Ray Kyle who have been supporting the confirmation process
by their teaching, in the case of Brandon and Chris; and preaching, in the case of Ray! This has enabled our confirmands to
share in the lessons and conversations that are a part of delving
deeper in spirit, and for Pastor Lisa to be free to teach confirmation, rather than preach, on select Sundays.
Last but not least, a Shout-Out to our great youth leader
Stacy Pritchard and all her unofficial, but extremely dedicated
support staff—the parents of our youth, along with Brandon and
Chris! It’s an awesome team! Preschool News
Upgraded Gutters
Birthdays
Anniversaries
Our mural is well
under way! Visit the
basement and see the
beginning stages of our
Jonah and the Whale
Ocean scene. We are so
blessed with the beautiful
artistry and talent of Louise Stephens of Wee Brit
Murals (photo). She is a
former elementary school
teacher and is excited
to include the preschool
children, and Sunday school children as well, in
some hand print sea creatures to give it a personal
touch! We would also like to thank Barefoot painting for their extraordinary generosity. They not only
donated the paint for the entire base coat of the
mural, but also primed and painted all three walls for
us at no cost! We will unveil the finished mural on
May 17th at Preschool Sunday.
The preschool children have been Fishin’ for
a Mission! They have been bringing their coins in to
fill our Mission Jug! We are thankful for the opportunity to teach them about giving to others in need.
April 1
April 2
April 3
April 4
April 6
April 7
April 10
April 12
April 13
April 14
April 15
April 16
April 17
April 21
April 23
April 24
April 26
April 28
Emmett Jones
Roland Fussell
Jimmy Worner
Wayne Jenkins
Ruth Wickstrom
Stella Jones
Rebecca Grubbs
Susan Reed
Andrew Gold
David Wellman
Stephen Burnett
Holly Phillips
Roger Ball
Ray Jenkins
Richard Jenkins
Clayton Litten
Shirley Gary
Karen Myers
Vernon King
Chris Bowen
Jane Barto
Keith Miller
On January 24, 2015 approximately 320
feet of copper gutter and downspout was stolen
from the Church. St. Luke’s was one of 5 local churches to have copper gutter stolen. The
thief was arrested as he was leaving St. Luke’s
and pleaded guilty in Chesterfield County Court
on March 5. With the insurance settlement we
received and additional Church funds, we are
replacing most of the Church gutter system with
aluminum gutter and downspouts, and wrapping
the fascia and roof rakes with aluminum trim. Work
started on March 24, and should be completed
by the 2nd week in April. This work upgrades our
gutter system and will reduce our maintenance
long-term. Also, to prepare for the new gutter system, we looked at the underground piping system
that carries water from the gutters away from the
Church structure. This evaluation revealed several
blocked drains and needed drainage improvements
in some areas. Although we would have preferred
that the gutters hadn’t been stolen, the end result
of this incident is that we will be in better shape.
Praise God!
April 18
April 20
April 22
April 27
Wilmer & Phyllis Downs
Wayne And Doris Jenkins
Woody And Debbie Smart
Mike and Jennifer Pavlansky
April, 2015
Wednesday, Apr. 1
Friday, Apr. 10
Thursday, Apr. 2
Sunday, Apr. 12
10:00 am
Susannah Wesley Circle
CALENDAR
9:00-12:00 Noon
Quilting Group
Friday, Apr. 3
7:30 pm
Good Friday Service
(Hymn Sing)
9:30 am “The Hill”
9:40 am Sunday School
11:00 am Worship
12:00 Noon Trustees
Meeting
4:00 pm Youth
Sunday, Apr. 5
Monday, Apr.13
7:30 pm
Maundy Thursday Service
(Easter)
7:00 am Sunrise Service
7:30 am Breakfast
9:30 am “The Hill” (Communion)
9:40 am Sunday School
11:00 am (Communion &
Baptisms) Worship
NO Youth
Monday, Apr. 6
OFFICE CLOSED
4:45 pm
Safe Haven
7:00 pm
Boy Scouts & Cub Scouts
Tuesday, Apr. 7
7:00 pm
Adult Handbell Practice,
Newcomers Welcome
Wednesday, Apr. 8
10:00am
Young at Heart
7:00pm
Cub Scouts-Basement
Thursday, Apr. 9
6:30 pm Girl ScoutsBasement
6:30-7:15 pm
Children’s Choir
7:00 pm NAMI
7:30 ppm
Chancel Choir Practice
7:00pm
Cub & Boy Scouts
Tuesday, Apr. 14
9:30 am Minister’s
Meeting
7:00 pm Adult Handbell
Practice – Newcomers
Welcome
Thursday, Apr. 16
6:30-7:15 pm
Children’s Choir
7:00 pm
NAMI
7:30 pm
Chancel Choir
Sunday, Apr. 19
9:30 am “The Hill”
9:40 am Sunday School
9:40 am Confirmation
Class
11:00 am Worship
12:00 Noon Staff Parish
Committee Meeting
4:00-5:30 pm Youth
Monday, Apr. 20
4:45 pm Safe Haven
6:30 pm U.M. Men
7:00pm Cub & Boy Scouts
St. Luke’s seeks to be a spiritual
community where all God’s children experience Christ’s love and
redemption and where we share
this through worship, fellowship, education and mission for
the community and the world.
Tuesday, Apr. 21
7:00 pm
Adult Handbell Practice
Newcomers Welcome
Thursday, Apr. 23
6:30 pm Girl ScoutsBasement
6:30-7:15 pm
Children’s Choir
7:00 pm NAMI
7:30 pm Chancel Choir
Friday, Apr. 24
9:00-12:00 Noon
Quilting
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, Apr. 26
Ray Kyle Peaching,
Myers Family, Music)
9:30 am “The Hill”
9:40 am Confirmation Class
9:40 am Sunday School
11:00 am Worship
12:00 Noon Administrative
Council
12:00 Noon Youth, Bowling
after church – bring a brown
bag
May 3rd – Youth Sunday
May 10th –Confirmation Sunday &
Mother’s Day - 11:00 am
May 17th – Preschool SundayCasual/Old Fashioned Field Day,
games & Lambeth Zoo, Claudia
Stallings preaching. Beginning of
our summer schedule for worship –
one service at 10:00 am
Monday, Apr.27
6:30 pm
U.M.Men
7:00pm
Cub & Boy Scouts
Tuesday, Apr. 28
June 7th- Graduate
Sunday
7:00 pm
Adult Handbell Practice –
Newcomers Welcome
Thursday, Apr. 30
6:30-7:15 pm
Children’s Choir
7:00 pm
NAMI
7:30 pm
Chancel Choir
Pastor
The Rev. Lisa Sykes
Sandra Mauney
stlukespastor@verizon.net
Shirley Gary
Church Secretary
stlukesumc@verizon.net
Ray Jenkins
Superintendent of
Sunday Schools
Music Director
Margaret Anderson
Financial Secretary
Michele Hart
Preschool Director
director@stlukespreschoolva.com
www.stlukesumconthehill.org