St. Luke’s Community Church
1140 S. McDuff Ave.
Jacksonville, FL 32205
(904) 389-7726
www.stlukescommunitychurch.org
ACT 29 E-NEWSLETTER
Volume 2, Issue 1 January 7, 2009
Sunday Worship 10:00 am Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 pm
Hug-a-Bear Missions Outreach Program
Did you notice the cuddly stuffed animals scattered throughout the pews on Sunday? Did you get a chance to hug one and whisper a prayer?
Our Hug-a-Bear Missions Outreach program for those less fortunate at Shulzbacher Homeless Shelter and in nursing homes began January 4 and will continue until February 14 when we will distribute the stuffed animals as gifts. Please bring your gift teddy bears (or any stuffed animal of your choice) and place them on a pew to be hugged and filled with love. When you sit on a pew and discover a cuddly stuffed animal there beside you, give it a big bear hug, whisper a prayer for those less fortunate and/or ill who will receive the stuffed animal, and fill that animal with lots of love.
WORSHIP CHANGES
During the next few weeks you will see some changes in our worship “format” at St. Luke’s Community Church. Anytime any part of service becomes so routine it becomes a ritual of rote without our even thinking about what we are doing, saying or singing, it ceases to be worship. We want to be sure our worship experiences are new and refreshing. We are an intergenerational congregation of people from many different Christian worship traditions. It is the goal of the Pastoral Staff and Worship Coordinators to incorporate into the service elements to meet the worship needs of the congregation. You may see some frequent changes in the service. During the past 6 months we have changed our format for Communion 4 times in attempts to keep it meaningful to all congregants.
During the month of January surveys are being placed in every bulletin requesting you list 3 of your favorites from our hymnal and 3 sacred song not found in our hymnals. We will compile these and begin to work them into the services.
This past Sunday we made some changes in songs we have sung for “Call to Prayer” and for the “Gradual.”
Beginning this Sunday, January 11, you will see a change in our “Gathering Music.” We are blessed to have Rev. Frank Lowry playing the organ. Rev. Frank will continue to play his pre-service music beginning at 9:45 a.m. At 9:55 a.m. we will begin a new 10-minute portion of our service in which we will sing some of the more contemporary praise songs as a part of our “Gathering Music.”
24 Days until we
“Don’t go to church……”
That’s right – It is just 24 days until we begin our church development Faith in Action Program called “Don’t go to Church; Be the Church.” Drawing on the scripture found in James 1:22, “..be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only…” The program focuses on the early church as established by the apostles in the Gospel of St. Luke.
St. Luke’s Community Church will devote the entire month of February 2009 to learning to be better Christians and better witnesses as a church through in-depth studies of the Gospel of St. Luke. All sermons during February will be drawn from St. Luke. Our Wednesday evenings will be devoted to spiritual development as a Christian Community Church. We will begin every Wednesday evening with a fixed price dinner at 6:00 PM, so you will not have to go home after work, but just come to Twar Hall for a prepared meal. Following dinner we will remain in Twar Hall, and Bil Detore will lead an in-depth study of the founding of the Christian church and the responsibilities of the church. All attendees will have participant study kits available. The study will be interactive, not lecture, and designed to strengthen your spiritual life individually and collectively.
On Saturday, February 28, we will be “the church in action” when we host a health fair with healthcare providers, counselors, advisors, free health screening, and much more. This will be our February Outreach to the Community to demonstrate our Christian concern for our neighbors.
HUMAN RELATIONS SUNDAY – JANUARY 18, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009 is internationally known as Human Relations Sunday (formerly Race Relations Sunday) in many denominations. We will be honoring this event in our morning worship service. Bishop Valerie Williams of Sovereign Ministry will be our guest speaker. “Truth in Action” a drama group from Sovereign Ministry and the Praise Band from Sovereign Ministry will also minister to us during the service.
If you wish to be added to our prayer list, or know of anyone we should add to our prayer list, please call the church office or Rev. Harvey.
Our 2009 Church Board – Jerry Gardner, Chair; Stephen Jones, Vice-Chair; Bil Detore, Clerk and Risk
Management; Debra Vasquez, Bernadette Stephens
Our Interim pastor – Rev. Dr. Harvey Carr
Bill Kimak – (West Jax Rehabilitation)
Connie & Saundra
Don’s Father
Prudencia’s Aunt – with Cancer
Rick
Bill Solomon
Rev. Lee Carlton – Cancer
Ruth Hightower – Cancer
Barbara Stafford – Cancer
P.J. Britt – Follicular Lymphoma
Robert Ford
Lora Leatham – Incurable Brain Cancer
Chris Brevaldo – Employment
Rich Goicoechea – Emphysema
Our entire Church Family as we move into great spiritual opportunities in 2009.
Should you, or you know of any of our congregants or friends of the church who are hospitalized, please e-mail or phone the church office so that we can properly arrange for prayer and visitation.
St. Luke’s Prayer Warriors
(Available to provide you prayer and support)
Barbara Stump – Call Anytime. 272-6256 (Home), 318-4187 (Cell)
Don Green – Call Tues., Thurs. – Sat. After 7:00pm, Sundays – afternoon & evening, 772-8466 (Home), 881-5922 (Cell)
Angela Moody – 861-7533
Rev. Jack Inman – 672-9868
Dine Out on Sundays and the Church Gets Paid!!
Times Grill, 5149 Normandy Boulevard, 10915 Baymeadows Road, and 13500 Beach Boulevard, include our church in their Community Commitment Program. On Sundays, visit them for a meal and they will return 10% of each meal ticket back to the church. All you need to do is present your church bulletin with payment. They keep the bulletin as a record and send the church quarterly checks. Several of our congregants have been participating in this program the past 6 months, and we have received checks. Not to mention the food is good, the service is excellent, and the church gets paid for your dining out! The program is valid only on Sundays.
“Reflection” from Rev. Harvey
The Surprise of Generosity
“And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
--Matthew 2:11 (NKJV)
A little family lived way up in the mountains. There was the father, the mother, an older brother named John, a younger brother named Peter, and the youngest child named Gretchen.
This very poor family went to the little village shop a few days before Christmas. The children pointed out the toys they thought were especially wonderful. Gretchen saw a little blue teapot with a creamer, sugar bowl, two cups and two saucers that really caught her eye.
The day before Christmas, Peter thought he should get something for Gretchen. He took the one coin he had, went to the store and said to the shopkeeper, “What can I but with this coin?”
The shopkeeper showed him a little candy heart and Peter thought, “Gretchen will like that.” He bought it, took it home and secretly slipped it into her Christmas stocking.
John, the big brother, came home from a day of hard work and saw that there was a bulge in Gretchen’s stocking. He felt something in there and wondered what it might be. He put his hand in the stocking and pulled out the candy heart. It was chocolate! He smelled it, and without giving it a second thought, popped it into his mouth. Suddenly he felt terrible! He had eaten Gretchen’s Christmas present from Peter. What could he possibly do?
John ran to his room and emptied his bank. He took the coins and went to the village store and asked the shopkeeper, “What can I buy with these coins?”
The shopkeeper looked at the coins and replied, “Well, all I have left is that blue teapot with the creamer, the sugar bowl, the cups and saucers.”
So, John came home with the teapot, the cups, the saucers, the creamer and the sugar bowl, and he placed them in Gretchen’s Christmas stocking. The next morning when they opened the gifts, Peter could not figure out how the chocolate candy heart had turned into a teapot, cups, saucers, creamer and sugar bowl.
The truth of the story is this: If you give generously, your generosity will come back in bigger, far more beautiful ways. The joy of giving does work!
“Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting.”
-- Elizabeth Bibesco, British poet and author (1897-1945)
PRAYER:
“Lord, today I humbly accept the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. In loving response I give back to You my life – my talents, my time and my treasures to use as you choose in your Kingdom’s ministry.
Worship Through Music
presents
Danny Riddle
Christian Recording Artist
www.dannyriddle.com
Danny Riddle’s music is loved by everyone. His style is primarily Southern Gospel, and he certainly knows how to sing that pure, southern gospel music! Danny delights audiences with one old familiar standard after another. Then he gives a twist by introducing his original compositions that range from his normal styling to contemporary. Audiences everywhere love Danny from the moment they lay eyes on him – he’s just one of those kinds of people! His endearing personality combined with his zeal and passion for the gospel makes his music and concerts a memorable time of fellowship in the gospel.
At the young age of eleven years old, Danny began a journey, a journey into the field of music ministry. Then, at the age of fifteen, after a bad experience with the church music director, his life started to unravel. Instead of giving in to despair, Danny prayed a simple prayer: “God, if you will give me a voice, I will sing for you.” God answered that prayer, and the doors quickly began to open for this young teenager striving to share the Gospel in song.
By his sixteenth birthday, he had already recorded his first single, which received extensive airplay throughout his home state of Florida. Following a guest appearance on a radio program, he was offered the opportunity to host a Gospel Music radio show. He faithfully accepted the challenge. The show was called “Reach Out.” This radio show was on the air for more than eleven years and was syndicated to several different radio stations across the country.
In his late twenties, Danny decided to leave the Christian Music industry to pursue other goals in life. A friend talked him into re-releasing several of his earlier recordings on CD. God began once again to work in Danny’s life. He later released “Old Time Religion,” a collection of many old-time hymns that Danny had always dreamed of recording.
Since then, Danny has released several recordings, including the projects, “In a Different Light", “You Raise Me Up” and the most recent recording "Here Today".
“I want my music, and more importantly my life, to inspire others to pursue a sincere relationship with the Lord,” Danny says. When all is said and done, he wants to be remembered as “the boy who sang his songs for Jesus Christ.”
Saturday, January 24, Danny Riddle will be featured in private concert at a catered banquet honoring our Chancel Choir and Media Team.
Sunday, January 25, 7:00 PM, Danny will be featured in a service of music in the sanctuary of St. Luke’s Community Church. A love offering will be taken for Danny’s ministry during the Sunday evening service. Following the service, a time of fellowship will be held in Twar Hall where you will; have the opportunity to speak with Danny and purchase his recording and artwork.
 FOOD PANTRY MINISTRY
Help St. Luke's do our part! PLEASE bring food items to donate and place them in the red bucket in the narthex or the shopping cart in Twar Hall. The food pantry is in need of toilet tissue, disposable razors, bar soap, bottled water, canned vegetables, canned meat, cereal, boxed meals, any non-perishables, etc.
Food given out on January 6: 46 bags (46 families, 148 people), 8 homeless bags, and 10 new clients were served.
WE ALWAYS NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS TO WORK WITH THE FOOD PANTRY ON TUESDAYS from 10:00am to Noon. St. Luke's co-sponsors with Trinity Lutheran Church @ the corner of McDuff and Park. St. Luke's also has volunteers that work at the food pantry. If you can help, see Michael Vetrano or call the church office.
CHURCH ANNIVERSARY
St. Luke’s Community Church’s 35th Anniversary will be celebrated April 25 and 26. We need volunteers to assist with planning of our celebration. If you would like to assist in this area, please see Michael Vetrano and Rev. Jack Inman as soon as possible.
ST. LUKE’S COMMUNITY CHURCH IN PRINT
Each month a ¼-page ad for St. Luke’s Community Church appears in the local monthly newspaper “Out In The City.” The cost of that ad is donated each month by one of our members leaving no cost for the church for this particular ad. We also have a free listing in the “Religious Services” section of the “Classifieds” page. Periodically, especially for guest artists and other special events, we place articles in other daily newspapers in Jacksonville and surrounding cities.
Does it work? We have received a number of calls in the church office as a result of the ads. People visiting the church for the first time have commented that they learned of the church through our ads.
We did place a full-page color ad in “Out in the City” for the holiday season. If you did not see it, you missed a great representation of our church and our Advent/Christmas services. We were the only church to place such an ad and only two other entities, University of North Florida and “Avenue Q”, placed full-page ads. Again, we received calls asking about our Christmas Eve Service and others who attended told us they learned about it through the ads.
The normal cost for the full-page color ad would have been $568, but because of our monthly ads, we were able to purchase the ad for $289. If you would like to help defray the cost of this one-time ad, please mark an envelope as your contribution being for advertising. We currently need $139 to cover the balance of this advertising cost.
LET’S DO THE DAILY DEED
As Margaret Chambers said, “Small deeds become large action!” As a member of our Food Pantry team, Margaret sees first-hand every week the need sin our city and community. She also experiences the blessing of having people tell her how much the food pantry ministry touches their lives. She knows that our church’s ministries did make a difference in 2008 and will continue to do so in 2009.
Many people in our city are in need of things other than just food. We all have “junk” around the house just collecting dust, and we complain about it but let it remain. Why not let your junk become someone’s treasure? Why not be a blessing to someone in need by recycling your “junk” to someone who is looking for that very thing? Margaret has provided us with two websites: www.freecycle.org and www.groups.yahoo.com/groups/Jaxfreecycle/ as ways you can reach out and touch someone’s life by donating your unused treasures to someone in need. Check out this program and get involved on a local level.
CARING FOR THE CAREGIVER
Caregiving can be an often lonely, exhausting and frustrating role, but can also be filled with delight and satisfaction. The trick is how to find the balance. To give caregivers the practical information they need to help take care of themselves and their loved ones, please plan to attend:
Saturday, January 31, 2009
8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Mary L. Singleton Senior Center
150 E. First Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32206
Adult Home Care Available
Home care for your loved one is available. To register for the workshop and to arrange for home care please call Nikki Tubig at 904-807-1225 by Monday, January 19.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
8:30 – 9 a.m. Registration
9 – 9:55 a.m. Opening Session “Caring for the Caregiver”
Concurrent Workshops
10 – 10:45 a.m. Preservation of Assets, Physical Aspects of Caregiving, or Compassion Fatigue
10:50 – 11:35 a.m. Advance Directives, Fall Prevention, or Choosing Assisted Living or Long Term Care for
Alzheimer’s Patients
11:40 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. Complimentary Lunch and Vendor Fair
Concurrent Workshops
12:30 – 1:15 p.m. Long Term Care Insurance, Challenging Behaviors, Hospice Care for Alzheimer’s Patients
1:20 – 2:00 p.m. Keynote Speaker: Carol O’Dell,Author of “Mothering Mother”
Presented by:
  
 
HOSPITALITY TEAM WISH LIST
If you can donate or help with any of these items, see Jerry Gardner or any Board Member. Please help out with any of these items needed to improve our kitchen area.
 Commercial Cook top/Oven
 New Faucets (needed 2)
 A/C Unit for Kitchen (currently NO VENTILATION) prefer 200 volt unit due to size of kitchen
FUN AND FELLOWSHIP
The first and third Friday night of each month we gather for BINGO, FUN, FELLOWSHP and PRIZES !! For a $5 donation you will get to play from 7 to 9 p.m.! $5 is added to the 50-number-cover-all when there is no winner. The cash grand prize continues to grow until it is won. January 16 it will be $40. Hotdogs and soft drinks are available for $1 each.
First Coast Pride
Volunteer Meeting for First Coast Pride will be Tuesday, January 123, 7:00 p.m. at Christ Church of Peace, 1240 South McDuff Avenue. This is a great chance to make new friends, get involved, and make a difference. For more information contact Aaron Solomon at 1-888-411-6482, extension 703.
 HIV TESTING CLASSES
We are working to greatly improve and expand our HIV Testing and Counseling Ministry in January. Presently, we are in need of more counselors who can assist in this ministry. Training requires attendance of 3 days of classes (24 hours total). Because you will be working with the church test site, the normal fee for the classes is waived. If you are interested to assisting us, please speak with Herb Smith (891-2082) or Rev. Harvey so that we can get you registered.
WORLD AIDS WEEK COMMITTEE
Looking for a way to be involved in community events and know that your contribution counts? The 2009 World AIDS Week Committee will hold their monthly planning meeting in Twar Hall at St. Luke’s Community Church. The meeting is the second Tuesday of each month at noon. A light lunch is served. The organizational meeting for teams will be Tuesday, January 13, 2009. The 2009 World AIDS Week Memorial Service will be held at St. Luke’s Community Church. If you would like to be a part of this team, see or call Rev. Harvey ASAP.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
HIV Testing – 1ST and 3RD Sundays of each month @ St. Luke’s Sacristy 1:00pm – 3:00pm
AA – Meetings held in the “Freedom Ministries” room (2nd floor) every Tues. & Fri. at 7:00pm
SLAA – (Sex & Love Addicts Anonymous) Meets every Mon. & Thurs. evening at 7:00pm in the “Freedom Ministries” room (2ND floor)
Retired & Plus 60 Club – Meets the 2ND Thurs. every month at 2:00pm in Twar Hall
PFLAG – Meetings held 3RD Thurs. of the month 7:00pm @ CCOP
 RECYCLE ALUMINUM CANS
Bring them to the barrels in the courtyard under the stair. Drink cans, vegetable cans, etc. are all great to bring, but please rinse them out so they don’t attract ants. Proceeds go to help our Hospitality Team provide refreshments and supplies to run our kitchen. Many thanks to all who contribute cans.
 JANUARY BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES 
Don Rull and Robert Woodward’s Anniverary
- 1/5 Eric Rivera
- 1/10 Michelle Robinson and Starlett Gibson’s Anniversary
- 1/11 Ernestine Appleton’s
- 1/17 Barry Snyder
Candis Scott
Sue Schlegel
- 1/19 Dominique Joyne
- 1/20 Jerry Gardner
- 1/25 Pat Farrar
- 1/26 Ray Kelly
- 1/30 Jonathan Teeter
If your special day is not listed above, please e-mail stlukescommunitychurch@gmail.com
Want to add something to in our web site’s calendar of events?? E-mail stlukescommunitychurch@gmail.com
REMINDERS
Bingo Night- Each month on 1st & 3rd Fridays at 7:00pm @ Twar Hall. $5 donation for all cards played 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Hot dogs and soft drinks will be available for $1 each.
Wednesday Bible Study- Join us at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary. PLEASE join us and bring your Bible.
Choir Practice Every Sunday 9:15am. See any choir member or Rev. Harvey to join!
Board Meeting- 2nd Sunday each month at noon in Twar Hall.
RISEN CHRIST BOOKSTORE- Open every Sunday following Worship.
Potluck – Every fourth Sunday. In Twar Hall, bring a dish to share…
Check out our new web site for a Calendar of Events: www.stlukescommunitychurch.org
 FLOWERS FOR SANCTUARY
A very special “thank you” to Miguel Portillo and Saul Eck for the beautiful flowers placed on the dais each Sunday. If you would like to provide flowers for services, you may call one of our members, Robert Wheeler at American Beauty Florist, 388-0094, or you may call the florist of your choice.
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
Monique Baker is heading up our Children’s Ministry. Parents should bring their children to the Children’s room off the courtyard and sign them in before going to the Worship Service. We need more adults on the Children’s Ministry Team. If you can take a Sunday to help out with the children please let Monique know. Two adults will be present at all times with children. We still need Children’s Bible Story DVD’s for this ministry, like “Veggie Tales” that are available at Wal-Mart.
What’s in a name?
St. Luke’s – The name “St. Luke’s” was chosen as our name in 1984 because Saint Luke was the only Gentile writer of the Bible. He was a physician and patron saint of healing. St. Luke’s Gospel is the Gospel of women, gentiles, prodigals, and Samaritans.
Act 29 Newsletter - Saint Luke also wrote the book of Acts, and it’s the New Testament book that records the history of the birth and growth of the church. The Book of Acts ends rather abruptly in the 28th chapter, but the history and growth of the church continues. Our e-newsletter strives to tell that continuing story of church growth and so the name Act 29 was chosen. St. Luke’s Community Church might be considered the 29th act in the drama of God’s redemption.
-Reprinted from Act 29 Newsletter November 1985-
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