ACT 29 E-NEWSLETTER
Volume 2, Issue 3 January 21, 2009
ST. LUKE’S COMMUNITY CHURCH
1140 McDuff Avenue SouthwJacksonville, Florida 32205-7551
Phone: (904) 389-7726wFax: (904) 389-7626
stlukescc@bellsouth.netwwww.stlukescommunitychurch.org
Sunday Worship 9:45 a.m.
Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
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-
Worship Through Music
A Ministry
of
St. Luke’s Community Church
Presents
Danny Riddle
Christian Recording Artist
www.dannyriddle.com
Saturday, January 24
Danny Riddle will be featured in private concert at a catered banquet honoring our Chancel Choir, Media Team and Church Board.
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.
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.
“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.”
DON’T
GO
TO CHURCH.
____________________
BE THE CHURCH!
That’s right – it is only 10 days until we “Don’t go to church……” as we begin our church development Faith in Action Program called “Don’t Go to Church; Be the Church.”
James 1:22, “..be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only…” teaches us we are to be more than “pew-warmers.”
St. Luke’s Community Church will devote the entire month of February to learning to be better Christians and better witnesses as a church through interactive 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 prepared meal (entrée, 2 sides, dessert and drink for $5 per person) at 6:00 PM, so you will not have to go home after work, but just come to Twar Hall for dinner. Following dinner Bil Detore, Clerk of our Church Board, will lead an in-depth study of the founding of the Christian church and the our spiritual responsibilities, individually and collectively as the body of Christ we call the church. All attendees will have participant study kits available.
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.
If you have not ordered your campaign teeshirt see Rev. Harvey or call the church office this week!
NEW MEMBERS CLASS
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Following Morning Worship
Lunch Provided
Office Suite Conference Room
Second Floor, Educational Building
If you wish to be included in this class, please contact
Rev. Harvey or Stephen Jones or the Church Office
before Wednesday, January 21,
so we can properly prepare packets.
Our New Minister of Music
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.”
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.
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, Stephen Jones, Bil Detore, Debra Vasquez, Bernadette Stephens
Our Interim Pastor
Rev. Dr. Harvey Carr
Our Minister of Music
Tommy Strong
Our Extended Family
The family of Bill Strong, father of our Minister of Music. Bill passed away on Sunday, January 18, 2009.
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
Dennis Bohlke – Employment
Don’s Father
Ernestine Appleton (St. Vincent’s Hospital – Knee Surgery)
Norma Bishop (Pacemaker Implant)
Rev. Lee Carlton – Cancer
Lora Leatham – Incurable Brain Cancer
P.J. Britt – Follicular Lymphoma
Prudencia’s Aunt – Cancer
Rich Goicoechea – Emphysema
Rick
Robert Ford
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
CHILDREN’S CHURCH
Ms. Monique Baker, our Children’s Ministry Leader, directs our Children’s Church where our children have a grand time with Bible studies, videos, crafts and games designed to teach about God and the love of Christ.
They meet every Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. Two adults are present with the children at all times.
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.
Hug-a-Bear Missions Outreach Program
Ending February 14
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? Some congregants bring them to the communion rail for an extrablessing.
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.
Valentine’s Dinner/Show
Our annual valentine’s Dinner/Show will be held at 7:00 P.M. on Saturday, February 14, in Twar Hall. The dinner will feature Chicken Alfredo. Lillian and Chewy will perform. Admission will be $5 per person. Remember to also tip the performers, as they donate their tips back to the church.
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. 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.
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. February 6 it will be $45. Hotdogs and soft drinks are available for $1 each. Sue Birks, director of the Bingo, is requesting donations of small gifts as prizes Please see Sue if you can assist.
“Reflection” from Rev. Harvey
FAITH PRIDE
O Lord, my God, in Thee do I put my trust: save me from all those who persecute me, and deliver me.
– Psalm 7:1
Greg just could not believe his ears! His teacher had just asked the class if anyone belonged to a church youth group! How could she do such a thing?! Greg attended a church youth group faithfully, but he was too embarrassed to let any of his school friends know about it. Most of the kids in the youth group were considered to be freaks by the popular kids at his high school. He slowly looked around the room, and only a couple of the other kids were raising their hands. For a moment he hesitated before he slowly raised his hand. He was amazed when he realized that nobody laughed, and a couple of his school friends even showed interest in his church involvement. Greg began to wonder why he really had been afraid to identify himself as a Christian.
There are certainly a lot of people in this world who will not understand our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. They will ridicule us, persecute us, and cast us aside. That does not justify our excuses for hiding our faith. Jesus said we are to shine as a light in this world, a city set on a high hill. If we are proud of our faith, we will find that God will give us special strength to stand up in the face of ridicule. The Scriptures say that if we are proud of being a Christian, then Christ will be proud of us; but, if we are shamed of being a Christian, then He will be ashamed of us!
Prayer:
Lord, You are the brightest light shining in my life. Help me to reflect Your light in all that I do and say. Save me from persecutors, and enable me to be everything that You want me to be. Amen.
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. The Saturday evening dinner will feature a Polynesian Review. If you would like to assist in this area, please see Michael Vetrano and Rev. Jack Inman as soon as possible.
 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 20: 44 bags (44 families, 104 people), 3 homeless bags, and 3 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.
DAILY DEEDS FOR THOSE IN NEED
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.
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
 HIV TESTING 
We presently offer HIV testing the 1st and 3rd Sunday afternoon of every month. We are working to greatly improve and expand this Outreach Ministry. We would like to be able to offer testing a minimum of 2 days during the week as we have had requests for city residents for testing during our regular weekday office hours. We also are often offering testing in our venues in our city. 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 in being an active part of this ministry, please speak with Herb Smith (891-2082) or Rev. Harvey so that we can get you registered.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH GROWTH
The needs for our Food Pantry continue to explode! As the economy has worsened, we have seen the numbers of people needing assistance skyrocket. Our church responded tremendously in November and December with contributions of food as we began dedicating your weekly donations to God at the time we dedicated our tithes and offerings. The need has not diminished; it has only grown!! Continue to bring your donations each Sunday, place them in the collection tub in the narthex, and we will continue to dedicate them to God as we reach out in the Name of Christ to those in need. With the growth of our Outreach Ministries to the city we are seeing great response.
On February 28, we will have a wonderful opportunity to meet the needs of hundreds of people in our city when we host our Health Fair. You can speak with any of the Church Board, or Church Staff, or Rev. Harvey about participating in this remarkable event.
The Northeast Florida Chapter of the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt was requested to vacate the premises where they were located as the space was needed. They are now located on second floor of the Educational Building in the room next to the Office Suite Conference Room. If you would like to assist with the Quilt or make panels in memory of someone, please contact Rev. Harvey so that he can refer you to the proper people.
The 2009 World AIDS Week Committee is being hosted for their monthly meetings in Twar Hall and our church will host the World AIDS Day Memorial Service on December 1, 2009. Rev. Harvey has been an active member of this committee for several years. If you wish to be a part of this ministry see Rev. Harvey.
Northeast Florida AIDS Network (NFAN) has moved their monthly client luncheon meetings to St. Luke’s Community Church. Their luncheon meetings are held the last Friday of each month in Twar Hall.
Holiday Helpers contacted us in December when they suddenly found they were not being permitted to use facilities they had used in previous years for the receiving and wrapping of gifts for the 300-plus children they assist each Christmas, children who are affected and effected by HIV/AIDS. We were able to assist them and they have voted to move their “holiday operations” to Twar Hall.
Community Review Panel of River Region Human Services, holds a monthly luncheon meeting at 2055 Reyko Road to discuss and implement activities to meet the needs of those less-fortunate in our surrounding area. Please see Rev. Harvey if you are interested in serving with him as a representative of our church.
Interfaith-Based Advisory Group meets quarterly at 2055 Reyko Road for a luncheon meeting. This group is composed of faith leaders in our city seeking ways to meet the social needs of our community, as well as promote HIV testing and education and other health issues. Rev. Harvey has been a member of this group for several years and has transferred his membership to the church. The church has 2 additional voting seats available on the group. If you are interested, please see Rev. Harvey.
Minority AIDS Coalition meets monthly for a luncheon meeting at 2055 Reyko Road. This ministry works throughout the area to educate and test for HIV/AIDS. Rev. Harvey, a member for several years, is seeking someone to assist with this program.
Christ taught us to show our Christian love and reach out in His name to those in need, those who are hurting. We are called to be more than “pew-warmers.” It has been proven that churches who only look inward and do no reach outside the doors of their churches eventually implode. God is opening doors for us to reach out and touch lives as never before.
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 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
 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
- 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
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.
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