Hello, St. Luke Saints!

Here is your weekly update.
Sunday, November 18,  2018
10am Worship Service of the Word

26th Sunday after Pentecost
Pr. Paul White Preaching

Happy Thanksgiving!
This Week's Calendar  |  Financial  Information
upcomingUpcoming Events & Services

Welcome Visitors!
Join us each Sunday as we gather around Word & Sacrament. 
Stop by our visitors table for a free gift.  

We have a nursery for your young ones, and coffee is available in the Narthex.  
         And you are welcome to spend time during worship in our Pray Ground                with your Toddlers!

Thanksgiving Baskets

Thank you all food donors, basket deliverers, Confirmation Class and others who participated in the Thanksgiving Basket project. And a special thanks to Vikki Ernst for coordinating.

Family Promise Pecans are Here!

Pick up your order Sunday!
 
Christmas Poinsettias
poinsettias.jpg

We will take orders for poinsettias beginning Sunday through Dec. 2, just $8 per plant in honor or memory of loved ones!
 
Cherub Choir Sings Sunday

Our Cherub choir will sing for us this Sunday during worship.  Don't miss this sweet offering from our little Saints!  Thank you Jennifer and Maggie Carkeet for your commitment to them!
Sunday, November 18

9 am         Sunday School All Ages
10 am       Worship Service of the Word
                 Paul White Preaching
                 Cherub Choir Sings
3 pm         More Than A Meal
Advent Devotionals & Mason Jars

Pick up your Advent Devotion and Mason Jar this  Sunday after Worship! Readings and "tags" begin on December 2.  The jars will be explained in worship.  

Thank you T-2 Team for spearheading, assembly and printing, and all Saints who contributed their thoughts.  

Special thanks to Katie Mattison for her cover artwork.
Wednesday Night Activities November 21

 

There will be no Wednesday Activities next week.   The church office will be closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving.  Celebrate with friends and family!

Sunday, November 25
  • Christ the King Sunday
  • Worship Service of the Word, Paul White Preaching  10am
  • Budget Information Meeting, 11:15am
  • Sunday Funday!  11:15 am
St. Luke's Vision...

Seek God.  Serve Others.  Share Life.
 
announcementsAnnouncements
Budget Information Meeting

Plan to stay for a presentation and discussion of the proposed 2019 budget Sunday, Nov. 25th, after Worship.
Sunday Funday!

Sunday, Nov. 25th after worship (11:15 - 12:45pm), join with other couples with young children for a time of fellowship. Nursery provided. Contact Jennifer Wright with any questions (jennifer@stlukememphis.org).
Decorate for Advent

Friday, November 30th we'll join together at 9am to decorate the church for Advent.  You'll be provided a delicious lunch afterwards, so don't miss this fun time of fellowship.  
Ladies' Christmas Lunch and a Movie!


You are invited to join the Tuesday morning Bible study group for a viewing of The Nativity Story and lunch Dec 4 beginning at 10 am.  We will begin in the sanctuary with the movie, break for lunch and then finish the movie with a discussion to follow. 

Bring a dish to share and enjoy fellowship with family and friends while watching this classic holiday story of Mary, Joseph and the Christ child.  Our theme for the meal is "salads".

Please RSVP on the communication card, everyone is welcome.

Congregational Meeting

Our Semi-Annual Congregational Meeting will be held
Sunday, December 9 after the worship service. Annual Reports for 2018 will be available November 25th if you'd like to read one prior to the meeting.

Please plan to attend this important meeting!  We need your vote.

Christmas Cantata


Our Christmas Cantata will be presented December 9th and WE NEED SINGERS!

If you have always wanted to sing but have limited time to come and rehearse, this is just for you!

The rehearsal schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, November 28, 7pm
Sunday, December 2 after 10am service
Wednesday, December 5, 7:30pm

Please see Jacob Allen if you have any questions.
Consecration Sunday!

Last Sunday our special guest 
Ruthie Lentz of More Than A Meal gave an inspiring message, and we asked everyone to turn in your Estimate of Giving Card for 2019.  Thank you Dave and Susie Carlson for cooking, and the Church Council for serving our 
Celebration Luncheon meal!

If you haven't turning in your estimate of giving card, there will be some available Sunday, or email your intentions to patti@stlukememphis.org confidentially.
Food Pantry Needs

Thank you for your response to our request for food.  This week we gave away 17 bags of food to the needy because of your generosity.  

We can still use more food, so p lease bring if you are able: cereals, peanut butter, canned meats, soups, vegetables, fruits, macaroni and cheese. Thank you!
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If so, you're missing out on some news from St. Luke!  Click "View entire message" on your email for the entire publication to be loaded.  If you don't see the "Calendar" you don't have the whole thing!!!
Tidbits of the (last two) weeks!

November 11:
Ding Dong the witch ISN'T Dead! Thank goodness!!! Our Savannah Hughes
played the Wicked Witch of the West in Arlington High School's "The Wizard of Oz." You would recognize those gorgeous blue eyes, but not her black hair and green face! Well done, Savannah! A star is born!

Welcome home, Janet MacNair and her grandson, Parke! We were thrilled to see a familiar face, on Sunday. Come back any time!

Many, many thanks to Susie and Dave Carlson for all their hours of hard work, putting on our Thanksgiving feast! While they quietly give so much time and talent to St. Luke, you should hear them rock out in the kitchen! Whew! It's wonderful and we thank them so much for all the love they give to us.

Ruthie Lentz and Dr. Earl Donelson graced us with their presence, on Sunday, and Ruthie shared a special message during the service and then showed us how " More Than A Meal" works at Grace St. Luke's, downtown. Now that you know how it all works, please consider sharing in this fun ministry. Your T-2 team will give you extra credit! See Ruthie's notes, below...

Consecration Sunday: Ruthie Lentz spoke to us about our pledges as a response to our blessings. Grace St. Luke's outreach to the Memphis community means making Christ known to others, not just to their congregation. They began "More Than A Meal" by learning how Idlewild Presbyterian Church fed the homeless downtown. All the planning, serving, cleaning, etc. takes forgiveness, courage, understanding, patience, and many more elements of the soul. Through this mission, they learned honor and respect for folks who were different than their worshipers. There were, indeed, limitations and that was acknowledged, but they chose addressing hunger and learned from that, that those "different" people weren't different, after all! Ruthie reminds us that our time is God's time. Every week brings a new lesson and the more we do for others, the more it becomes a part of our nature. The commitment grows. Many thanks, Ruthie! We are privileged to help serve in your ministry!

Wedding bells will ring, this Saturday, for Sophia and Tyler. We wish them every blessing and a happy life together. What a wonderful time for the two families. Happy day!

November 4 (note:  these "upcoming" events have passed!)
Gobble, Gobble: next Sunday, Nov. 11 is the deadline for bringing items for the Thanksgiving baskets. This is a wonderful ministry so please consider donating some items for these folks.

If you have a couple of hours open, Tuesday morning, Nov. 6 is Election Day, please vote and come help welcome our community outreach to voters at St. Luke. We'll be their hosts and provide coffee, juice, and goodies and send them on their way. Don't forget to vote, on Tuesday!

All Saints Sunday: we remembered those saints who have gone to the church triumphant, Bonnye, Nancy and John, with the lighting of candles. Paul Wright and Dave Carlson spoke about giving time and talent, as well as financial support, all of which comes from God first. Paul told us that time and talent are gifts given to us by God for us to share. Our T-2 team will assist by defining the opportunities that are out there for us. We have a focus on the local level: Thanksgiving baskets, SOS, Trunk or Treat, Habitat for Humanity, Jazzercize, etc. On the regional level, we support the global church, Southeastern Synod, the Burundi family, Mission Jamaica, etc. Our missions are in place, available for all volunteers. Paul challenges each and every one of us to find an opportunity at St. Luke to support.

Dave Carlson spoke about financial stewardship: Jesus Christ has the greatest potential to change the lives of people. The church is the body of Christ and it, too, has the potential to improve and enrich people's lives. Stewardship enables the church to do what God calls it to do - to help people and to serve Christ. Good giving habits are intentional; they are something one decides to do. The goal of Christian stewardship is the faithful management of all that God gives, so that He can transform us spiritually and to reach out to others with His transforming love. Jesus said." Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Paul Wright's Message:  Our time and talents are gifts to us from God that are not to kept for ourselves but for the use of serving others. Here at St. Luke we have so many opportunities to serve the community. Globally we have Mission Jamaica. Nationally we have the ELCA's Churchwide Assembly and the National Youth Gathering. Regionally we have Synod Assembly, Lutherock / Lutheridge / Lutheranch, and All-Tennessee Youth Gathering. Locally we have everything from Food 1st Sunday to More-Than-a-Meal, Family Promise, Asha's Refuge, Thanksgiving baskets, Habitat for Humanity, Service-Over-Self (SOS), Angel Tree, Lifeblood/Vitalant and the list goes on. I challenge all of the St. Luke Saints to be mindful of the opportunities in your daily life to serve others by using your gifts of time and talents. Do not allow fear or your age prevent you from using those gifts for the benefit of others.

Next Sunday is our Consecration Sunday at St. Luke. Plan on having a very special meal of thanks with your family of saints. Ruthie, from More Than A Meal will be with us and we will show you how we feed the folks who need a great meal. It's a wonderful experience and is the perfect expression of Thanksgiving. The Carlsons will cook and your council will serve you. Come and enjoy!
Save the Dates!

Nov. 21   No Wednesday Night Activities

Nov. 25   Budget Information Meeting
Nov. 30   Decorate for Advent
Dec. 2     First Sunday in Advent
Dec. 4     Ladies' Christmas Luncheon & Movie
Dec. 5     Wednesday Advent Services Begin
Dec. 9     Christmas Cantata
                Congregational Meeting
Dec. 16   Brunch in Bethlehem
Dec. 24   Christmas Eve Services 7 & 11pm
Organ Update

We have a "loaner" organ to tide us over until ours is repaired and upgraded.  Tentative plan is for our organ to arrive sometime in December.  
Flowers for the Sanctuary

If yo u are interested in placing altar flowers during a worship service this y ear, sign up on the board in the hall outside the office.  Just $25 per arrangement.  

Also, the Eternal Candle is available in memory of your loved ones for $5.
Facilities Maintenance Log 

We have a log book available in the office for you to note any maintenance needs you come across in the church!

In Mac's mailbox (our Sexton) is a binder called
"Facilities Maintenance Log".  Inside you can write what the issue is, where it is, who reported it and the date.  Mac will check to see if there are needs he should attend to, and note when they are completed.

Thanks for helping keep St. Luke "spiffy"!
financialFinancial News

St. Luke Financial Snapshot - through October 31, 2018
 
      Actual
      Budget
REVENUE
    (in Dollars)     (in Dollars)
   Current Giving
              330,099            350,000
   Other                  18,818              19,395
Total Revenue                348,917            369,395
   Expenses                357,257            369,341
Surplus                ( 8,340) 
                    54
     
CASH
   
   Total                  98,211  
   Designated Funds
                 55,935  
Net Available                  42,276  
     
MORTGAGE
   
Balance at 1/1/2018               144,097    
Balance at 10/31/2018                 96,508    



October Giving
      26,614
    35,000
October giving was the lowest vs. budget this year.
It marks the 4th month of below budget giving.


Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  2 Corinthians 9:7
 
Summer time is here and the 'giving is easy!" Please remember your generous gifts to support all the ministries at St. Luke.
 
Additional ways to make your offering an act of worship:

QR reader.
Use your smart phone to make your offering. Download a reader app like ScanLife and you can automatically log on to an easy pay site for St. Luke.  The QR code is printed on your church bulletin.  So now we know what you're doing when those phones come out while the offering plate 
is being passed!
 


 
Automatic debit. 
 Sign-up for Simply Giving through Vanco at
 and your contributions will be   
 automatically deducted as you direct.  
                                        Click HERE to sign up!



Create a Lasting Legacy  
Remember St. Luke 
in your Will.

financialCalendar
This Week's Calendar - November
17 Sat.
5:30 pm
Sophia & Tyler's Wedding
18 Sun.
9:00 am
10:00 am


3:00 pm
Sunday School - All Ages
Worship Service of the Word
Paul White, Preaching
Cherub Choir Sings
More Than A Meal
19 Mon. 5:15 pm
Jazzercise
20 Tues. 5:15 pm
Jazzercise in CFC
21 Wed. No Wednesday Activities
22 Thur.
Thanksgiving Day - office closed
23 Fri. 6:30 am
Men's Bible Study
24 Sat. 7:15 am
Jazzercise
25 Sun.
9:00 am
10:00 am

11:15 am

3:00 pm
Christ the King Sunday
Sunday School - All Ages
Worship Service of the Word
Paul White Preaching
Budget Information Meeting
Sunday Funday!
Girl Scouts
St. Luke Lutheran Church | 756-8850 | stlukememphis.org

Keep checking your email for St. Luke news! If you know someone who is not on our emailing list and you know they would like to be added, please feel free to email Patti Calvert or Jennifer Wright. We will make sure to add them!

 

Patti Calvert

Church Administrator

patti@stlukememphis.org

 

Jennifer Wright

Coordinator of Youth and Family Ministries

jennifer@stlukememphis.org

 

Jacob Allen

Music Director

jacobgallen@gmail.com


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