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Upcoming Events

Saturday, December 10th:
ChurchMen's Breakfast at 9 am, Art Sale, Open to the Public 10 am 

Tuesday, December 13th:
Festival of the Senses presents ARMusica at 7 pm

Sunday, December 18th:
Greening of the church following the 10:30 service
Lessons and Carols Service, 6 pm

Evangelist
December 7, 2016
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From the Senior Warden

During this holiday season, I know we are all busy! However, ... the Advent study last Wednesday night was a perfect way to relax, get together, share a meal and learn something!!! Thank you Fr. Carey, for sharing not only your knowledge, but your enthusiasm! I am thankful to have you as our priest for so many reasons.

I would like to thank these wonderful people on our parish who have warm hearts and volunteered to help with the meal: Dawn Reynolds, Jason Reynolds, Valerie Smith, Sherry Furr, Rita Friend, Brouke Reynolds (and of course the youth who helped in assorted ways).  Your joyous attitudes make it fun to "work" together. Love you all!

Suzzette Patterson
Thank you for your help!

We would like to thank everyone for their help with the Advent Event we raised over $1,000 for ECW, African Team Ministries, Rice Depot and Camp Mitchell scholarships. Beatitudes raised close to $500 and Broken Pottery was well supported, too. 

We cannot do and create these events without all our selfless volunteers. Thank you for giving us your time and effort in making these projects happen.   

VESTRY NOMINATIONS

Have you ever considered running for vestry? Now is your chance! We are currently requesting names to be submitted for Vestry Nominations. You can email the names in to the church office or put them in the basket provided in the narthex. If you are submitting the names of others, please make sure you have their permission first.   

Art Sale this Saturday, Dec. 10th. 

St. Luke's is hosting an Art Show and Sale this Saturday, Dec. 10th from 10 am to 3 pm. It is open to the public. 

Christmas Poinsettias and Wreaths

To donate poinsettias or wreaths for the church please click here and complete the form. You can send in your check via PayPal or by sending your check to the office or placing it in the offering plate before Dec. 18. 

Advent Study 
Wednesdays in Advent
December 7th and 14th
 
5:45 pm: Simple Supper
6:15 pm: Advent Study
6:45 pm: Compline
 
Windows into Heaven: 
Praying with Icons
Throughout the centuries Christians in the east have written and used icons as a way of seeing a timeless God in a particular moment in time. Over recent years icons have come into a fuller use in the western Church. Special emphasis will be given to icons with Advent themes such as the Annunciation, Madonna and child. Join us for an interactive exploration of our faith using this most ancient and visual form of prayer.

FESTIVAL OF THE SENSES PRESENTS ARMUSICA IN A YULETIDE CONCERT

ARmusica will perform at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 13th. The program will feature Yuletide favorites with Julie Cheek on piano, Andrew Irvin, violin, Caleb Yu, violin, and Kelly Singer, soprano.  There will be a Meet-The-Artists reception following the program. Admission is free and open to the public.  For more information, please contact the church office at 501-753-4281.   
    25th Eleventh Step Serenity Retreat at Coury House Retreat Center Subiaco Abbey
 
"Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our Conscious contact with God"
"Our Inner  Pathways to our Higher Power"
                  The Rev. Joanna Seibert MD
           
(Bring a picture of yourself as a child)

When Friday evening January 13 -  Sunday noon January 15, 2017

Where :  Coury House, Subiaco Abbey, Subiaco, Arkansas
 
For Whom: Active members of 12 Step Groups

Cost :  Housing: Married couple $300
            Single person, private room $200
            Shared room (2 persons) @ $150               ea.

Retreat Fee: $25/person
 
Register by calling Coury House at 1- 479 - 934 - 4411,  mention Serenity Retreat or email couryhouse@subi.org

Send $50, nonrefundable deposit to: 
Coury House, Serenity Retreat,  405 N. Subiaco Avenue, Subiaco, Arkansas 72865

Call soon, space is limited to 30 rooms.

Ramblings From the Heart of the Junior Warden

Well, fellow parishioners, here we are again. It's the most wonderful time of the year. We are celebrating Advent, defined as the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. It's the arrival of Christ in our world! His birth! Christmas! The mere uttering of the word brings chills to many, myself included. It's the time of year that we draw our excitement from the looks and gazes of our children and grandchildren. It's one of the few times that we adults can be children, again, ourselves. It's a time of joy, peace and goodwill toward others.

After Advent and Christmas comes a new year. This is the last time I can give you all a Christmas address as a Vestry member and your Junior Warden and the next to the last address, period. (is that applause I hear in the background?!?!?) With the new year comes hellos to new additions to the Vestry and goodbyes to members who have been on the Vestry for the past three years. My three years on the Vestry have been wonderful years with no major controversies and no tumultuous meetings! I haven't always voted yes, in the spirit of transparency, but I have always brought your opinions to the forefront and shared them with the committee. I have, heavily, relied upon many of you for help with projects around the church and I cannot tell you how grateful I am for that help. I have, in fact on many occasions, felt that I have been your Junior Warden in name only. I will, certainly, name those who have made my job much easier in my final address.

You may be asking "why is he rambling about Vestry matters at Christmas time?" The reason is I want you to consider running for Vestry. Four of us will be leaving which means St. Luke's needs four of you to step up and seriously give thought and prayer to becoming Vestry members. This year both Senior and Junior Wardens are leaving the Vestry. I am leaving the Vestry in good hands and will not be missed as long as dedicated others agree to give of their time and energy. That's the way it's supposed to be. That is the way it will be. I ask you to prayerfully consider running and then DO IT! St. Luke's needs you to be the voice! Know that I and any former or current member of the Vestry will help you in any possible. RUN!

Finally, as you know, our attendance has noticeably decreased. If you know someone, some family that has in the past attended regularly and you are now missing their presence I encourage you to pick up your phone and call them. "Hey, I've missed seeing you!" "Wow, St. Luke's just isn't the same without you there!" "The pew where you sit has been cold and dark lately!" Maybe not quite that dramatic buy you know what I mean. I realize that some have gone on the "bigger and better" things but, perhaps, some haven't considered how much th ey are really missed. A simple phone call, card or email can let someone know that St. Luke's is a better place with them inside. If you are reading this and haven't been to St. Luke's in a while, I miss you! St. Luke's misses you! Our house is not a home without you! And, by the way, bring a friend when you come back! It's always easy to come back home. Trust me, I know. I left St. Luke's for a period of time. When I returned it was as if I never left. I was home. I am home. Consider coming home to St. Luke's and please know this: I love you all!


Merry Christmas!

Curtis

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

Sunday, December 18th at 6pm: Christmas Lessons and Carols, Saturday, December 24th at 5pm: Family Eucharist with Christmas Pageant, 11pm: Choral Eucharist with Organ Prelude at 10:30pm, Sunday, December 25th at 10am: Simple Eucharist with Carols and Piano
It's time for the Churchmen's Breakfast

Please join us in the Parish Hall Saturday, December 10th, at 9:00am, for a great meal and fellowship.

We are going to have Michael Marion, Manager of Verizon Arena, North Little Rock as the speaker after our meal. He will be discussing what plans are in the works at Verizon Arena for this year and next year. Please bring a friend if you can.
FORMATION

Dec. 4th -18th
How to Read the Bible
There are two categories of people who read the Bible: those who read for spiritual encouragement and knowledge, and those who study it from an academic point of view. Is there a way to bridge the gap and benefit by the best of both worlds. This perspective on Bible study is sorely needed, especially here in the Bible belt. The study will be based on material from the book by the same title  by Harvey Cox, Harvard Divinity School professor.
 

Children's Formation: Pageant practice will begin Dec. 11 in the church.
Presiding Bishop to Visit Little Rock

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will visit Little Rock the second weekend in December to take part in a conference hosted by the Clinton Presidential Library. While in town, he will preach at the 10:30 a.m. service at Christ Church on Sunday, Dec. 11.
Prayer List
Anne Gontermann, Helen Snipan, Nina Goins, Betty Miller, Chris Mikesell, Louis Jenkins, Gloria Holst, Bill Shepherd, Kailyn, Marilyn Gay, Christine Startz, David Martin, Bernice Carrigan, Steve Fanning, Jill Cox, Gene Cox, Jennie Martin, Carle, Paula Kalina, Becky Simpson, Mary Schultz, Dan McKee, Sarah, Betty, Lindsay, Travis, Sue Burford, Wilma Stone

Special Concerns: For all the men and women of our Armed Forces, especially Justin, Joshua, Tim, Matt, Doug, Brian Mahoney, Brian Mennes, Frank Tate, Alex Schimelpfening, David Liem, Justin, John Landis, Lucas Kunce, David Jackson