St. Luke's Community Church
1140 S. McDuff Ave.
Jacksonville, FL 32205
(904)-389-7726
www.stlukescommunitychurch.org
ACT 29 E-NEWSLETTER
Volume 1, Issue 32 October 30, 2008
Sunday Worship 10:00am
Wednesday Bible Study 7:00pm
Meet This Saturday To Canvass Our Neighborhood For St. Luke's
THIS SATURDAY, November 1, we will gather at St. Luke's to distribute cards inviting people join us in Worship Services. Please join us at 10:45 A.M. in Twar Hall to receive materials and have prayer prior to our Community Outreach. We should be able to canvass the entire neighborhood within a short period of time. Please be prompt so you won't miss the group before they leave. Michael Vetrano is coordinating this outreach.
DON'T FORGET--TIME CHANGE THIS SATURDAY
Daylight Savings time ends this Saturday night, so set your clocks back one hour. Remember 'Spring forward, Fall back'
THANK YOU From Rev. Harvey
Thank you seems so inadequate to express my appreciation for the kinds acts, words of encouragement, and wonderful meals shared during Pastor Appreciation Month. When I thought you had really gone beyond yourselves you gave a luncheon in my honor and presented me with a Dell laptop computer! WOW! I was overwhelmed with your affection and kindness. It is truly my blessing and privilege to serve as your Interim Pastor. I feel so honored to be allowed to serve our Lord with such a great congregation.
from Rev. Harvey
World AIDS Luncheon
You are invited to attend the 7th Annual Community Awards Luncheon on Monday, December 1. This luncheon is held each year during the World AIDS Week activities in Jacksonville. Princess Kasune Zulu of Zambia will be the keynote speaker. It will be held downtown at the Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk. Ticket prices are $30 per individual or $300 for a table of 10. Call the church office or see Rev. Harvey so everyone from St. Luke's can sit together and possibly reserve a full table. The deadline to turn in your money is November 23. FYI- Next year's World AIDS Service will be held at St. Luke's in December 2009.
More 'NO on 2' Signs Available For Pickup
Equality Florida- Jacksonville office has more of the "Vote NO on 2" yard signs available for pick up. They will be out on the sidewalk by Twar Hall again. Please take as many as you will put out in your yards or take some to your neighbors.
Thanksgiving Mission Project
The annual Campus Crusade Here's Life Inner CIty Boxes Of Love Project is coming. All are invited to to go a training on Saturday mornings. Boxes of Love contain a complete Thanksgiving meal for a family of 4-6 people, a Bible and a gospel tract. Trainees will be able to pick up the Boxes of Love at no charge. Last year 99 churches and ministries participated in this. Call the church office if you would like more info.
A MONTH OF SAINTS
For those from liturgical backgrounds, Saturday, November 1, is All Saints Day. All of us have known, or have known of, people who lived so God-like that we considered them "saints." We will celebrate some of the great saints of scripture and contemporary history during the month of November with a 4-week series entitled "People Who Have A Heart Like God's," with foundational scriptures found in Hebrews 12:1-2 and Ephesians 2:1-6.
Sunday, November 2 - Abraham, Lot, Moses, and David
Guest soloist: Rev. Dr. John Hancock, Tenor Vocalist, singing "Thankful"
Sunday, November 9 - Jeremiah, Daniel, and Joseph Cardinal Bernadin
Guest musicians: Ned Green and Kathy Braswell, Harpists
New members will be received into fellowship during the service.
Sunday, November 16 - Esther, Deborah, Ruth, and Mother Theresa
Guest: Bruce Ross with Holiday Helpers, Guest Soloist: Harriet Sorenson
Sunday, November 23 - Christ
Not to be outdone, our Chancel Choir of "saints" will present a special "Service of Thanksgiving and Praise" on Sunday, November 30, featuring music, dramatic readings, scriptures, and congregational participation, as we celebrate the Season of Thanksgiving as a church family. Bruce Ross will be with us again to finalize the Holiday Helpers Campaign.
This will also be the First Sunday of Advent as we begin preparing our hearts for the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.God is giving us many opportunities for worship and for service. Invite your families and friends. Invite those you notice missing from services.
If you think November is packed with opportunities, just wait until December!!!
Donations needed For These Areas
+Trash Collection Fee- annual fee of $172.49 is coming due to the city.
+St. Luke's Ad for Out In The City- $299 full page color ad for the December issue for all our Advent events. This is a discounted price from the normal $568.
+Postage Stamps- for the church office
The Quilt Project Moves To St. Luke's
The Quilt Project's NE Florida Chapter has relocated to St. Luke's! The local chapter stores and cares for a certain number of panels which are part of the AIDS Quilt Project. Their new home is in one of the offices upstairs. Call the church office if you like to sew and would like to volunteer for this organization
.
Information Available
We have booklets on UCC and info on ICCC available in Twar Hall on the side table. The congregation will vote on what path St. Luke's will take since we are no longer a part of MCC. No date for this decision has been made yet. Take time to read up about these options.
Transportation Needed To Attend Church
A person needs transportation to be able to attend Sunday Services at St. Luke's. The person lives north of Orange Park, off 103rd Street & Firestone Road. If you can be an angel and help out some or all weeks, please see Rev. Harvey or call the church office.
-REMINDERS-
Fall Barbeque- Saturday, Nov. 15 at 6:30pm. Church will provide BBQ Chicken, Dessert, & Drinks. Please bring your favorite dish to share. $5 tickets are available now. See Hospitality Team.
Bingo Night- Each month on 1st & 3rd Fridays at 7:00pm @ Twar Hall. 20 Games with $5 donation for all 20 cards. Hot dogs and soft drinks will be available for $1 each.
Wednesday evenings- Join us at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary. PLEASE join us and bring your Bible.
Choir Practice Every Sunday 9:15am and 11:45pm. See any choir member or Rev. Harvey to join up!
Board Meeting- 2nd Sunday each month at noon in Twar Hall.
RISEN CHRIST BOOKSTORE- Open every Sunday following Worship.
New Members Class- Saturday, Nov. 1 at Noon. See Stephen Jones or Rev. Harvey to sign-up.
Congregational Meeting- Our annual Congregational meeting is coming Sunday, November 23. Other important dates leading up to our annual meeting: 11/02- DEADLINE to turn in application to run for the Board, 11/09- FORUM to discuss proposed 2009 budget, by-law amendments including the church name change, Board candidates, etc.
Check out our new web site for a Calendar of Events: www.stlukescommunitychurch.org
CHILDREN'S CHURCH 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 the children.
We still need Children's Bible Story DVD's for this ministry, like "Veggie Tales" that are available at Wal-Mart.
PRAYER LIST
Remember them in your prayers.
Bill Kimak (West Jax Rehabilitation)
Jean Levy (Heartland on Wells Rd.)
Don Green- home recovering
Carmen Santos -recovering at home from knee replacement
Valencia, Alice's partner -knee replacement
Michael Mundy, Gary DeBusk's former partner- non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Connie & Soundra
Don's father
Prudencia's Aunt with cancer
Rick
Bill Solomon
Rev. Lee Carlton- cancer
Ruth Hightower - cancer
Barbara Stafford- cancer
PJ Britt- Follicular Lymphoma & upper respiratory infection
James Creekmore
Margaret Chambers
Should you, or you know of any of our congregants or friends of the church who are hospitalized, please email 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(H), 318-4187(C)
Don Green- Call Tue., Thurs.-Sat. after 7:00pm, Sundays- afternoon & evenings 772-8466(H), 881-5922(C)
Angela Moody- 861-7533
Rev. Jack Inman- 672-9868
FUNDRAISING AND RISEN CHRIST BOOKSTORE NEWS
Drop in the Bookstore (located on the far side of the courtyard)- home crafted bath salts are available, as well as books, devotions, rainbow stickers, and other items.
Name the COOKBOOK CONTEST has been decided!! The name for the cookbook has been chosen! St. Luke's Family Favorites. Robert Woodward will help design the cover. We hope to have it completed by the holidays. Ernestine is also collecting your recipes, especially Vegetable recipes are still needed. Make sure your favorites are included!!
CHRISTMAS CANTATA
This year's Christmas Eve service will feature the Christmas Cantata "Ring the Bells." We are inviting anyone, male and female, who wishes to sing in the cantata to join us for the presentation. We especially need more females to sing. Rehearsals have already begun at 11:45 every Sunday in the sanctuary. We will also need some dramatic readers --Zacharias, Mary, One of the Shepherds, Simeon, One of the Wise Ones. All readings are very short, but will need to be memorized and spoken in dramatic manner. Please see Rev. Harvey if you wish to participate as a singer or a reader. The community is being invited to join us for this special Service. The choir from Sovereign Ministries will be performing with the St. Luke's choir.
CHANCEL CHOIR
The Chancel Choir is still looking for more members, especially female voices. We rehearse at 9:15 AM and 11:45 AM on Sundays. See Rev. Harvey or any choir member for more information.
FOOD PANTRY NEWS
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. Be a blessing to someone in need! THANK YOU to Riverside UCC for donations to the food pantry and also everyone at St. Luke's that has donated.
Food given out on Oct. 21: 38 Bags to families and 15 Bags to "NEW " clients, also 8 Homeless bags (totaling about 61 bags in ALL).
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.
The food pantry is in need of toilet tissue, disposable razors, bar soap, bottled water, canned vegetables, canned meat, cereal, etc.
-RECYCLE ALUMINUM CANS-
Bring them to the barrels in the courtyard under the stairs. 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.
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.
+ First Aid Kit
+ 2 or 3 100ft extension cords
+ commercial cooktop/oven
+ new faucets (need 2)
+ A/C unit for kitchen (currently no ventilation) prefer 200 volt unit due to size of kitchen
+ need donated commercial refrigerator repaired
+ supplies to build a pantry wall like 2x4's, sheet rock and concrete screws, etc.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sovereign Ministry Fashion Show & Dinner- Saturday, 11/01, at 6:00pm. Adults as well as children will be in the fashion show. Sovereign Ministries' Transgendered Ministry is holding this event in St. Luke's Twar Hall. $10 Tickets may be purchased at the door. All are invited to attend.
HIV Testing- 1st & 3rd Sundays of each month @ St. Luke's Sacristy 1:00-3:00pm
AA- Meetings held in the "Freedom Ministries" room (2nd floor) every Tue. & Fri. at 7:00pm
SLAA- (Sex & Love Addicts Anonymous) Meets every Mon. and 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
PFLAG- Meetings held the 3rd Thurs. of the month, 7:00pm @ CCOP
OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
10/07 Tim Edwards
10/09 Bil Detore
10/11 Ken Horton
10/20 Prudencia Fray-Savage
10/30 Tracey Chandler
If your special day isn't listed above, please email Stlukescc@bellsouth.net
Want to add something in our web site's calendar of events?
Email stlukescc@bellsouth.net
DEVOTIONAL- Accepting Yourself
"Love others as much as you love yourself."- Matthew 22:39
Only by loving yourself in a healthy way, can you love others the way God intended. When you don't love yourself you live with insecurity, and you keep looking to others for approval. When you don't get it, your self-worth shrivels. As a result, you live far beneath your potential. YOU are the only person you can't get away from, so unless you learn to accept yourself, you'll be miserable. Stop and think about the last time you were around somebody you didn't enjoy being with - how did it feel?
Whether good or bad, you project onto others the thoughts and feelings you have about yourself. So if you want people to think well of you, have a good opinion of yourself - one that's based on God's Word and nurtured by the right relationships. No question, the Bible cautions us about having an overinflated opinion of ourselves. But don't go to the other extreme! Living with continual self-rejection is an open invitation to Satan, who is always "sneaking around to find someone to attack" (1 Peter 5:8) Don't play into his hands!
Paul writes: "Nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature" (Ro 7:18). That means the good qualities you do possess, are evidence that God is at work in your life. So be sure to acknowledge them. The Bible says, "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." (2Co 4:7). Instead of focusing on your flaws and feeling bad about yourself, recognize the "treasure" of God's presence, power, and potential that lives within you, and build on it.
- taken from The Word For You Today devotional
To submit something for the ACT 29 e-Newsletter email stlukescc@bellsouth.net
++ Interpretation for the deaf available during Sunday Worship Service.
++ Children's Ministry available during Sunday Worship Service.
GOD IS LOVE. Whoever lives in love lives in GOD, and GOD in them.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out all fear.
1 John 4:16b, 18
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 Samaritions.
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.St. Luke's Community Church
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