St. Luke United Methodist Church 1306 West Lynn Street s1
THE EPISTLE
Jan.12, 2009 to Jan.19, 2009
St. Luke United Methodist Church 1306 West Lynn Street
Austin, TX 78703
Sarah Currie, Pastor
E-mail:
Church Office: (512) 476-8164
E-Mail:
Web site: www.stlukeumcaustin.org
+ Norma Wood’s sister, suffering complications after surgery
+Barbara Schwab’s sister-in-law Diedre, with lung cancer
+ Delores Pasley, mother of Diana’s sister-in-law, with congestive heart failure
+ Alfred and Louise Schmitz
+ Lucille and Walter Timberlake
+ Adam Hinman
+ everyone at Oak Run apts, & all displaced by a fire
+ Joe Soto and the Oak Run maintenance staff for the loss of their maintenance & pool shop in the fire
Happy Birthday To:
January 12, Bob Newell
January 13, Nancy Quick
January 15, Bill Dorman
January 16, Max Rychlik
January 17, Kristen Word
January 25, James Silver
Ben Quick
Tom Word
Homeless Kits need the
following items:
breakfast, cereal and fruit bars,
small bottled water, travel size toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, deodorant, socks, and gloves-- also please include
chap-stick—thanks!
We are looking for folks to serve as Sunday morning greeters and hosts of fellowship time. Call the office or sign up downstairs on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall.
Dancing the days,…
Hello, Friends!
On Sunday we celebrated Jesus’ baptism, his calling and anointing by God, his conscious choice to accept that calling, and claim his true identity as the most human of holy men, the most holy of human beings.
Jesus was unique, and he sets the bar impossibly high, it may seem to us mere mortals. Yet throughout his teachings there runs this urgent, insistent, tough and tender theme:
I’m showing you who you really are.
God is doing a new thing in you.
The kingdom of God is within you.
You can do great things, too.
Just keep Love at the center.
Nothing can kill Love.
You are Love’s perfect instrument—
Just like me.
Be who you really are.
This coming week we have a momentous, never-to-be-duplicated opportunity to channel that Love, claim that promise, embrace that calling for ourselves, our faith community, our nation and our world.
All we have to do is remember who we really are—creatures emanating from the heart of a Creator whose essence is Love.
On Monday, our president-elect has asked us to do something, to commit ourselves to service in our community in a new and deeper way.
I’m going to march, and join our Bridge Builder friends at Wesley UMC
(see the announcements in these pages).
On Tuesday I’m going to call Mathews Elementary, and see if they need me to volunteer for an hour once a week as a mentor, a reading buddy, or another kind of companion for one of the beautiful kids in that population.
On Thursday or Friday I’m going to volunteer at Hope Food Pantry.
My plan this new year is to tithe my time, to give at least four hours a week to the community in service beyond the church. In the scheme of things it’s not much, but if we all do just a bit, and if we all embrace the spirit of service and sacrifice called for by our new president, I have no doubt that our nation will shine, our people will thrive, and the world will benefit in remarkable, healing ways.
I hope you’ll come to worship with me on Sunday, and hear once more some words of inspiration from leaders past and present.
I hope you’ll join with me in claiming this new year as a beautiful launching ground for a newly conscious, newly dedicated, newly hopeful journey as followers of Jesus’ loving, life-giving way.
I look forward to journeying with you this Sunday, and all our days to come.
Shalom,
Sarah+
Let there be
peace 0n earth,
and let it begin
with us!
Human Relations Sunday
is January 18. Come for
worship at 10:50 am, for inspirational readings in the tradition of Dr. King.
Join members of Bridge Builders
for the march from the Capital to Huston Tillotson, starting at 10 a.m. Then come for lunch and
Conversation at Wesley UMC,
1160 San Bernard St.
Contact Karol McMahan for more info—217—2282.
Sara Hickman
and Elizabeth Wills
“Sisters in Song”
Here at St. Luke UMC
Sunday evening, January 18
6 – 8 pm
Tickets are $15; a percentage
will benefit our ministries.
Spread the word!
Other Dates to Remember:
Thursday, Jan. 15—Trustees, 7 pm
Friday, Jan. 16 and 17- Sarah, Dianna,
and Gale, will be in San Antonio for
the Holy Boldness Academy
Tuesday, Jan. 20—Denim Dames & Dudes, 7 pm
(a brainstorming/planning session—everyone is welcome)
Friday, Jan. 30— Capital Outing
Denim Dames & Dudes,
Everyone interested in touring the Capital, please meet at St. Luke at 9:30 a.m. We will lunch at a local restaurant and be back at St. Luke by 3:00. Everyone is welcome! You may reach Lisa Adkins at 282-1763 who is the contact person
Scripture Readings
Sunday, Jan. 18
1 Samuel 3: 1-10, 11-20
Psalm 139: 1-6 13-18
1 Corinthians 6: 12-20
John 1: 43-51
Sunday, Jan. 25
Jonah 3: 1-5, 10
Psalm 62: 5-12 or 787
1 Corinthians 7: 29-31
Mark 1: 14-20
MY JOB WORKSHOP
AUSTIN DISTRICT LEADERS’ TRAINING
Saturday, Jan. 24
9 am-12:30 pm
Manchaca UMC
1011 FM 1626
Manchaca, TX 78652
Workshops include:
*Creating a Culture of Growth
*Developing the Next Generation of Leaders Today
*Introduction to SPRC
*Introduction to Trustees
*Introduction to Finance
*Christian Giving in Economic Uncertainty
*Personnel/HR Practices for the Local Church
*Healthy Leadership in an Age of Anxiety
All are welcome—no preregistration necessary.
For more info., contact
Rachel Wright at or 444-1983
A note from Sarah about this:
I really hope we have a good showing from St. Luke —call me if you are interested, or have any questions!
Robert Schase, author of
Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations,
will be leading a workshop on the book Saturday, Feb. 21, at University UMC, 5084 DeZavala Rd., in San Antonio. Calll Lynette Ramon at 210/408-4515 or email her, for more info.
Online registration is available on the conference website, www.umcswtx.org
We’re starting a book group
on Thursday, February 5,
7 pm, at the parsonage,
1613 W. 14th.
Our first book:
Gilead,
by Marilynne Robinson
We hope to meet monthly.
Let Sarah know if you’re coming, and be thinking about another book!
NEW GROUPS BEGINNING
DURING LENT—SIGN-UPS
STARTING SOON!
We’re undertaking a study of Robert Schnase’s book, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations.
Groups will meet for one hour during the five weeks of Lent, beginning Sunday, March 1.
Group times are:
Sunday morning, 9-10 am
Sunday evening, 6-7 pm
Wednesday, noon-1 pm
Wednesday, 6-7 pm
Contact the office, or call Sarah, to order your copy of the book,
@$15 per issue.