The Bulletin for July 6th, 2008, is now available.
Opening Hymn:
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”
Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling; all thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation; enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe, thy loving Spirit into every troubled breast!
Let us all in thee inherit; let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning; Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty to deliver, let us all thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never, never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above,
Pray and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love.
Finish, then, thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee;
Changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Click here to download the PDF file (requires Adobe Reader) and join us for our 8:30 or 10:50 AM services on July 6th:
http://www.stlukesumc.org/bulletin/20080706_bulletin.pdf
Tags: News
The Epistle for July 1st, 2008, is now available. From Pastor Mark’s Epistle:
PASTOR MARK’S EPISTLE
Dear Friends,
It is rare and wonderful when we have both
Baptism and Communion, our two United Methodist
Sacraments, in one service. This will be the case
on Sunday, July 6, as we precede the Lord’s Supper
with baptizing young Nathan Joel Ryan.
This is so very special, not only for Beth
and Adam Ryan as parents plus all their family and
friends. It is also special from my perspective because
Nathan symbolizes for us “all God’s children”
as well as the special place in God’s plan held by
adoption ministry.
I hope you’ll be with us at this memorable
service, or with us “in spirit” if you cannot be present
physically. We will also give thanks for the
gift of freedom God gives us under the meditation
theme: “Captive or Free?”
Let us never take for granted the freedom
experienced through Christ as it impacts our city,
state, nation and world…..
In service, …Pastor Mark
P.S. Scripture: Genesis 1:1
Click here to download the July 1st, 2008, Epistle (PDF file; requires Adobe Reader):
http://www.stlukesumc.org/epistle/20080701_epistle.pdf
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The Bulletin for June 29th, 2008, is now available.
Opening Hymn:
“Since Jesus Came Into My Heart” v. 1-3
What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought since Jesus came into my heart!
I have light in my soul for which long I had sought, since Jesus came into my heart!
(Refrain)
Since Jesus came into my heart, since Jesus came into my heart,
Floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows roll, since Jesus came into my heart.
I’m possessed of a hope that is steadfast and sure, since Jesus came into my heart!
And no dark clouds of doubt now my pathway obscure, since Jesus came into my heart!
(Refrain)
Click here to download the PDF file (requires Adobe Reader) and join us for our 8:30 or 10:50 AM services on June 29th:
http://www.stlukesumc.org/bulletin/20080629_bulletin.pdf
Tags: News
The Epistle for June 24th, 2008, is now available. From Pastor Mark’s Epistle:
Dear Friends,
Well, it worked out OK so far. This morning,
(Monday, June 23) was my first day to ride my
bicycle to work at St. Luke’s. It’s five miles each
way, and takes about 38 minutes by the safe route
mapped out without using Poplar, Union or Central
(making strong use of Central Gardens, Chickasaw
Gardens, Joffre and East Buntyn neighborhoods).
Don’t worry! You can still call in any emergencies.
Thanks to generous members, I can borrow
a car; I won’t be bicycling to a home or hospital.
Why do this? Well, besides the symbolic nature
of it, here are some practical reasons:
1. This plan burns zero gasoline, avoiding
the carbon emissions I would otherwise
release into the atmosphere;
2. It contributes to fitness, no small matter
among us clergy; as a group, we are among
the most plagued by stress, obesity, high
blood pressure and bad cholesterol;
3. It enables me to “walk in the shoes” (or
ride, that is, empathizing with people who
do not have motor vehicles. In the hard
economic times, empathy is important, too.
In addition, we now have GEORGE GREEN
as our official Environmental Ministry volunteer at
St. Luke’s. George will be researching and recommending
lots of ways we can be more energy efficient
and set a good example of caring for this
Planet Earth God has given us. Be watching for
much more along these lines…
In service, ….Pastor Mark
P.S. Scripture: Genesis 1:1
Click here to download the June 24th, 2008, Epistle (PDF file; requires Adobe Reader):
http://www.stlukesumc.org/epistle/20080624_epistle.pdf
Tags: News
The Bulletin for June 22nd, 2008, is now available.
Opening Hymn:
“I Am Thine, O Lord”
I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, and it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith, and be closer drawn Thee.
(Refrain)
Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to Thy precious, bleeding side.
Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord, by the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, and my will be lost in Thine. (Refrain)
O the pure delight of a single hour that before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God, I commune as friend with friend! (Refrain)
Click here to download the PDF file (requires Adobe Reader) and join us for our 8:30 or 10:50 AM services on June 22nd:
http://www.stlukesumc.org/bulletin/20080622_bulletin.pdf
Tags: News
The Epistle for June 17th, 2008, is now available. From Pastor Mark’s Epistle:
Dear Friends,
We are really blessed at St. Luke’s with
opportunities to nurture children, youth and young
adults. There is plenty for the rest of us, too, but in
this week before Vacation Bible School and week
after our youth team’s return from the Appalachia
Service Project, let’s give thanks for all God is
doing among us. When Jesus said “Let the children
come unto me”, maybe He already had St. Luke’s in
mind!
In addition to ASP and VBS, St. Luke’s is
hosting summer sessions of our Day School and
Challengers programs. The Recreation Department
just celebrated with baseball teams and is taking
sign-ups for soccer. And note this: many, many
children are among the growing number of families
fed through our Food Pantry, Saturday Suppers and
Sunday Breakfasts.
Speaking of Sundays, nobody loves and
cares for youngsters more than our youth and
children Sunday School teachers. The nursery is
getting crowded! Word and Wonder and young
choirs are blossoming, and there’s much more.
Meanwhile, exciting plans continue in our
hopes to reach the “missing generation” of younger
adults, ages 18-30. The “300 Group” is seeking
creative approaches toward our new next-door
neighbors in The Stratum — their move in is just
about fifty days from now! Our “3rd Worship Service”
team is prayerfully developing elements of an experience
that will inspire new discipleship.
Pray for all these young people and all who
seek to encourage and mentor them in the image
of Jesus Christ. May we all also stay “forever
young” in our meditating, thinking and doing for
Him!
In service, …Pastor Mark
Click here to download the June 17th, 2008, Epistle (PDF file; requires Adobe Reader):
http://www.stlukesumc.org/epistle/20080617_epistle.pdf
Tags: News
The Bulletin for June 15th, 2008, is now available.
From the Doxology:
Praise God from who all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Click here to download the PDF file (requires Adobe Reader) and join us for our 8:30 or 10:50 AM services on June 15th:
http://www.stlukesumc.org/bulletin/20080615_bulletin.pdf
Tags: Bulletin
The Epistle for June 10th, 2008, is now available. From Pastor Mark’s Epistle:
Dear Friends,
Even though compacted into 2 1/3 days instead
of 3, Annual Conference ‘08 in Jackson got lots of good
things done. Please read the series of articles Janie
and Bob Hendrix and I are writing as a report. We are
grateful for our delegates’ attendance as well as the 22
who came over on Tuesday for the official recognition of
Galloway UMC’s merger with St. Luke’s.
What a wonderful “Hospitality Day”on Sunday,
the 8th! We thank all those who made it special, particularly
our brand new members.
This coming Sunday, the 15th, we celebrate
Father’s Day and also begin 7 weeks of “Camp Meeting
Days” in worship. You are encouraged to dress informally
and to enjoy a wealth of “ole time” music as
we persevere through a hot summer with undiminished
faith. See you!
In service, ….Pastor Mark
Click here to download the June 10th, 2008, Epistle (PDF file; requires Adobe Reader):
http://www.stlukesumc.org/epistle/20080610_epistle.pdf
Tags: News
The Bulletin for June 8th, 2008, is now available.
From the Call to Worship:
CALL to WORSHIP (from Psalm 86)
God is great and does wondrous things.
Teach us your way, O God.
God helps and comforts us.
God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger
And abounding in steadfast love and mercy.
Come and worship God.
Click here to download the PDF file (requires Adobe Reader) and join us for our 8:30 or 10:50 AM services on June 8th:
http://www.stlukesumc.org/bulletin/20080608_bulletin.pdf
Tags: News
The Epistle for June 3rd, 2008, is now available. From Pastor Mark’s Epistle:
Dear Friends,
By the time you read this, we will be just about
finished with another session (the 169th in history) of
the Memphis Annual Conference. We should be thankful
for our St. Luke’s delegates / alternates this year,
Bob & Janie Hendrix, David Smith and Evelyn
Brady. We are hopeful that new directions in
conference ministry coordination and realistic
budgeting will be among the marks of accomplishment
in 2008.
Meanwhile, let’s all realize that, at root, the
solution to our problems is spiritual, not political. The
deepening of prayer disciplines and intentional growth
we have seen at St. Luke’s surely must be on the right
track. May this good news spread!
Here is one special cause I want to lift up: in
memory of the late Mickey Carpenter, victim of a tragic
fishing accident in April, donations are being raised for
the Dream Farm project in Africa that was visited personally
by Mickey and his wife (now widow) Marcia. This
work addressing hunger and self-sufficiency is a great
beacon of hope. We will let you know more details soon.
Let’s enter the new United Methodist year in
tune with our global theme, “A Future with Hope”…
In service, ….Pastor Mark
Click here to download the June 3rd, 2008, Epistle (PDF file; requires Adobe Reader):
http://www.stlukesumc.org/epistle/20080603_epistle.pdf
Tags: News
