Act 29 dec 24, 2008

CHILDREN’S CHURCH

Our children’s ministry meets every Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. and is directed by Ms. Monique Baker. Two adults are present with the children at all times. The children have a grand time with Bible studies, crafts and games designed to teach about God and the love of Christ.
Parents should bring their children to the Children’s Room located on first floor of the Educational Building (through the front gate and into 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. We still need Children’s Bible Story DVD’s for this ministry, like “Veggie Tales” that are available at Wal-Mart.
Keep watching ACT 29 and announcements in services for special events being planned for our children.

Søren Kierkegaard (b.1813, d. 1855), a theologian in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark, examined congregational worship in his writings. He suggested that most people view worship as if it is a theatrical performance – a drama. Based on this analogy, Kierkegaard noted that the most common perception in the church is that the leaders of worship are the actors in the drama. God then takes the job of prompter; with the congregation being the audience.
Kierkegaard suggested an alternative view! The prompter, instead of being God, are the worship leaders. The actors are the congregation. And therefore; God, not the congregation, is the audience! And thus, the drama of worship unfolds!
For Kierkegaard worship must not be understood as “the musicians and the preacher” putting on a show. Worship is not a stage performance. Worship is the community of faith, the congregation, coming together in anticipation of divine-human encounter. Worship is the time that the community of faith, the congregation, exalts and honors God.
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, realizing that every step of worship may not be that with which every congregant is most familiar.
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.
Worship begins with our Gathering Music at 9:45 a.m. with Rev. Frank Lowry, Organist, followed at 9:55 a.m. with a period of Praise singing. Music is not a tool to prepare us for worship – music is a part of worship. We should be prepared for worship when we arrive.

Sunday, February 1, 2009, Mr. Tommy Strong will officially join our staff as our Minister of Music. Tommy was guest instrumentalist (recorder and bassoon) and guest conductor for our Christmas Cantata. He has already begun meetings with pastoral staff and the church board in preparation for his ministry.
            Rev. Harvey states, “Tommy has a strong religious background and a sincere belief of God’s calling for him to move more deeply into Church Music Ministry. We have met and discussed areas of concern for spiritual development and musical development for our church. As we work together to expand our musical outreach, Tommy has some great ideas for musical development within our church. I look forward to our working together for the growth of Christ’s Kingdom inside and outside the doors of St. Luke’s Community Church. Tommy’s office will be located in Room 210 of the Office Suite, second floor of the Educational Building. Tommy’s joining us is indeed a blessing and an answer to prayer.”
Born in Kingsport, Tennessee, Tommy Strong has been a resident of Florida since the age of one.
            A 1982 graduate of Southeast High School in Bradenton, Florida, he graduated in the top 15% of his class. While in high school he chose music as his career and began formal music lessons on the bassoon and performed with his high school’s concert band, wind ensemble, orchestra, jazz band, and marching band of which he was drum major his senior year. He was a member of the Modern Music Masters Association (Tri-M), a music club for outstanding high school musicians. He was also a member of the West Coast Symphony’s Youth Orchestra program. He was chosen as 1st chair for the bassoon section for the 1982 Florida All-State Orchestra.   He was the first in the long history of his high school to receive the leadership and service awards for both band and orchestra.
            Tommy received his Associates in the Arts (A. A.) degree from Manatee Junior College in December of 1984. While attending MJC he was active in all musical ensembles (band, orchestra, jazz band, and chorus). His last semester at MJC Tommy was one of five students that earned the Music Performance Proficiency Award. He also performed with the Madrigal Singers during their annual Madrigal dinners as a vocalist and in the instrumental consort. In March of 1985 Tommy traveled with the Madrigal Singers on a trip to Europe where they performed at various venues throughout England, Belgium, and The Netherlands. Tommy’s most memorable performance was being able to play a flute solo in Westminster Cathedral in London.
            Tommy received his Bachelor of Music Education (BME) degree from Florida State University in 1988. While at FSU he performed with the concert band, symphonic band, wind orchestra, opera orchestra, marching band, and several smaller chamber music ensembles.
            Tommy’s first teaching position was music director at the Apalachicola Jr/Sr High School, in Apalachicola, Florida. He revitalized the school’s music department. Starting with a beginning band of 12 and a chorus of 6 members. These groups grew to 40 in the band and 30 in the chorus. He also established a marching band by his second year at the school.
            In August of 1990 Tommy moved to Jacksonville to be closer to his parents. He taught at Hilliard Jr/Sr High School for one year. He taught band classes and private instrumental lessons at many of the area private schools for about 6 years and during this time he began to perform with several of the performing ensembles in the area eventually giving up teaching to become a full time professional performing musician.
            He became a member of the First Coast Pops Orchestra (FCPO) in 1990, eventually becoming the conductor of FCPO, a position he held for 6 seasons. While conducting the FCPO he was asked to conduct two Broadway shows (Lil Abner and Gypsy) performed by the Youth at the Beaches Arts Guild (YBAG). In 1991 Tommy founded a woodwind quintet which was known as No String Attached. The ensemble performed in the Jacksonville area with most of the music performed having been arrangements written by him. Tommy has also performed with the Central Florida Orchestra in Ocala, the First Coast Wind Ensemble, in the pit orchestra for the First Coast Opera (Madam Butterfly and Pirates of Penzance), and the pit orchestra for Players By The Sea (Sweeney Todd). He currently performs with the Coastal Symphony of Georgia and the St. Augustine Community Orchestra where he has held the positions of Librarian, Personnel Director, and is currently 1st chair bassoon, section leader and the Associate Conductor. Tommy has also performed extensively with the Chamber Music Society of the Good Shepherd where he has performed on bassoon, contrabassoon, alto recorder, and flute. Tommy was also a vocalist in the chorus of The Church of the Good Shepherd for several years. Tommy is also currently performing with the University of North Florida Wind Ensemble. He plans to enter the UNF College of Music in the fall of 2010 to obtain his Master’s degree in conducting.
      On a more personal note, Tommy has a wonderful partner, Jim Worden, who supports and encourages all of his musical endeavors. On March 21st they will celebrate their 18th anniversary.
      Tommy hopes that his musical abilities and leadership will benefit St. Luke’s Community Church and the community and will be a blessing to everyone.

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. Elder Valerie Williams of Sovereign Ministry will be our guest speaker. Also worshipping with us from Sovereign Ministry will be Truth in Action, a drama group; Sovereign Praise and Worship Team (praise band); and Deacon Mykee Brown, Interpretive Dancer.

We will be holding a New Members Class for those interested in membership with St. Luke’s Community Church. The class will be held following the morning service on Sunday, February 1. We will meet in the Office Suite Conference Room, second floor of the Educational Building. A light lunch will be served. If you wish to be included in this class, please see Rev. Harvey or Stephen Jones ASAP so we can properly prepare packets.

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.

               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.

That’s right – It is just 17 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.

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? One “cowboy bear” was brought to the communion rail by one of our congregants for blessing.
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.

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. The food is good and plentiful, the service is excellent, and the church gets paid for your dining out! The program is valid only on Sundays.

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
Barbara Stafford – Cancer
Bill Kimak – (West Jax Rehabilitation)
Bill Solomon
Brantley Nelson (ICU at Mayo, Seizure Disorder Resulting in Severe Brain Damage)
Chris Brevaldo – Employment
Connie & Saundra
Don’s Father
Rev. Lee Carlton – Cancer
Lora Leatham – Incurable Brain Cancer
P.J. Britt – Follicular Lymphoma
Prudencia’s Aunt – Cancer
Rich Goicoechea – Emphysema
Rick
Robert Ford
Ruby Thompson (Family of Terri Satterwhite)
Ruth Hightower – Cancer
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 Tue., Thurs. – Sat. After 7:00pm, Sundays – afternoon & evening, 772-8466 (Home), 881-5922 (Cell)
Angela Moody – 861-7533
Rev. Jack Inman – 672-9868

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed. --Psalm 2:2
Just reading a newspaper or watching a newscast can be a terrifying experience these days. The horrors of our modern world are mind-boggling. We search for some shred of sanity, and we find almost none. World leaders appear to be bent on destruction, and our voices simply aren't heard. It has ever been thus. In the time of King David, in the time of our Lord, Jesus Christ, in many times since, the rulers of the world have given little heed to the teachings of God or the concerns of His people. For this reason, we, as Children of God, need to hold fast to our faith and spread God's Word wherever and whenever we can. The only true stabilizing force we have in this life is the Word of God. God's Word will be our shield and our strength in the most troubled of times. Turn to it daily, and you will be renewed.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, calm my soul, place Your peace within my heart, and be a source of sanity in my life. When things look most dismal, shine Your light upon me. Amen.

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 13: 21 bags (21 families, 67 people), 4 homeless bags, and 2 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.

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.

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.

Margaret Chambers said, “Small deeds become large action!” As a member of our Food Pantry Team, Margaret sees first-hand every week the needs in 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. (Margaret also assists with our Boxes of Love Thanksgiving meals program and helps direct our Hospitality Team.)
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.

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

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”

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

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.

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.

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 Tue. & 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

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 img 32_5

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…

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.

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.