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ACT 29 E-NEWSLETTER December 10, 2008 |
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 38 December 10, 2008 Sunday Worship 10:00 am Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 pm
THANK YOU A very special “thank you” to the eight people who ministered in the name of Christ and our church on Sunday by going to St. John’s Horizon House, and assisting with decorating for the holidays, enjoying the holiday treats and the holiday dinner. A number of the residents expressed their appreciation for your coming and helping them to “get into the Christmas Spirit.” You’re the best!
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008
We welcome
JOSEPH – THE HUSBAND OF MARY as portrayed by Rev. Lee Weaver United Methodist Pastor/Evangelist/Veteran of Dramatic and Musical Theater Radio and Television Personality
He is hunched, a man in his autumn years. As he approaches, you can see that he has some difficulty moving. He does not appear to be a wealthy man, but something in his eyes tells you that he is pleased with his lot. His name is Joseph – and he is a very proud father. He speaks lovingly of how he met Mary and how he knew “She was the one.” With great joy he recalls their trip to Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve. Awed, he explains how he discovered that his own boy was “born to set our people free.”
With Joseph you’ll go to Jerusalem, to Egypt and to the Bethlehem stable, joining the angels, the shepherds and the Wise Ones for the very first Christmas.
A love offering will be taken for Rev. Weaver during the service.
Please note: Videographers will be videotaping Rev. Weaver’s presentation this Sunday. We have been assured congregants’ faces will not be included in the video.
THIS WEEKEND -- “DECEMBER: A HOLIDAY FRUTCAKE” The annual holiday concert by First Coast Chorus, “December: A Holiday Fruitcake”, will be Friday, December 12 and Saturday, December 13 at 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday Matinee, December 14 at 3:00 p.m. All performances will be at Riverside Baptist Church, 2650 Park Street (corner of King and Park). See Gary Genson for tickets.
HOLIDAY HELPERS Holiday Helpers will be returning this Sunday, December 14, to collect the gifts for the children chosen for the Holiday Season. They will then be using Twar Hall on December 17, 18 and 19 for the purpose of wrapping gifts for the children. The Holiday Party for children affected and effected by HIV/AIDS will be on Saturday, December 20.
Annual Poinsettia Sale As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we invite you to add a special touch to our sanctuary’s decorations by sponsoring a poinsettia plant. Poinsettias will be placed in the sanctuary December 14 – 28. Following the Christmas Eve service, you may take the plant(s) home to enjoy. Any plants still in the sanctuary following the December 28 service will be distributed to friends and members of St. Luke’s who are unable o attend services. Suggested donation is $10 per plant. All profits from sale of the poinsettias will go to the General Fund of the church. This Sunday will be the last Sunday to purchase a plant. Please complete the form you will find in your bulletin or call the church office to order a plant in honor/memory of a loved one.
“FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS” LUMINARIA 2008 St. Luke’s Community Church will be participating in the Riverside Avondale Preservation Luminaria 2008 “Festival of Lights” as we have done in previous years. The Luminaria Festival of Lights will be Sunday, December 21, 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. The sidewalks will be lined with luminaries and Christmas music will be played in our sanctuary for any who wish to come inside to listen and reflect. The association is requesting assistance in preparing the luminaria kits. Scheduled times to assist are Saturdays, Dec. 6, 13, and 20 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Sundays, Dec. 7, 14, and 21 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. Kits will be assembled in back of Riverside Avondale Preservation’s Buckland House at 2623 Herschel Street. Chocolate chip cookies and water will be provided. It is not necessary to remain a full day when you volunteer. If you wish to assist with assembling kits, please call the church office and speak with James or Rev. Harvey.
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE Our annual Christmas Eve Celebration service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 24, in our sanctuary. Clergy, congregants and/or choirs from St. Anthony’s National Catholic Church, Christ Church of Peace and Sovereign Ministries will be joining with us in this service of celebration. The service will include carols, scriptures and communion with the presentation of “Ring the Bells,” a Christmas cantata featuring combined choirs, soli, and dramatic readings. Our annual Christmas Eve Offering this year will be taken for St. John’s Horizon House, our local Supportive Living Housing for people with HIV/AIDS. We encourage you to invite your friends and families to join us as we celebrate the birth of Christ, Our Savior.
Our Kwanza (African spelling) service will be held on Sunday, December 28, during our morning worship. Ms. Tracey Chandler is coordinating this service. If you would like to participate in the service, please see Tracey ASAP so that we may finalize it.
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 Ministries will be our guest speaker. A drama group from Sovereign Ministries will also minister to us through a dramatic skit during the service.
Hug-a-Bear Missions Outreach Program Our Hug-a-Bear Missions Outreach program for those less fortunate at Shultzbacher Homeless Shelter and at nursing homes begins in January and continues until February 14 when we will distribute the teddy bears as gifts. Please bring your gift teddy bears and place them on a pew to be hugged and filled with love. When you sit on a pew and discover a cuddly teddy bear there beside you, give it a big bear hug, whisper a prayer for those less fortunate and/or ill who will receive the bear, and fill that teddy bear with lots of love.
SUNDAY FELLOWSHIP TREATS Each Sunday following services we gather in Twar Hall to share together a time of fellowship. During the holiday season we are inviting everyone to bring a favorite holiday treat to share with our church family. Please see one of the Hospitality Team to sign-up to bring a treat to share!
FREE STUFF IN THE BOOKSTORE!!!! Thanks to everyone for making our clearance sale a sucess! If anyone would like MCC memorabillia from past years it is available free of charge at the bookstore. Please stop in at the Risen Christ Bookstore after services in December and take a look at our stocking stuffers! The magic gloves sold quite well last Sunday. See Bernadette or Ernestine with questions.
DONATIONS NEEDED FOR THESE AREAS >Trash Collection Fee- annual fee of $172.49 is coming due to the city.
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 Need donated commercial refrigerator repaired
FUN AND FELLOWSHIP Friday night, December 19, join us for BINGO, FUN, FELLOWSHP and PRIZES !! For a $5 donation you will get to play from 7 to 9 p.m.! The cash grand prize continues to grow and is now at $30. Hotdogs and soft drinks are available for $1 each.
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.
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 First Coast Chorus - “December: A Holiday Fruitcake”, will be Friday, December 12 and Saturday, December 13 at 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday Matinee, December 14 at 3:00 p.m. All performances will be at Riverside Baptist Church, 2650 Park Street (corner of King and Park).
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.
Prayer List Remember them in your prayers. Bill Kimak – (West Jax Rehabilitation) Jean Levy – (Heartland on Wells Rd.) John Ferguson – (Heartland on Normandy Blvd.) 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 & 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 & Upper Respiratory Infection Robert Ford Lora Leatham – Incurable Brain Cancer Chris Brevaldo – Employment Martin Smellie – Death of his sister, Eula Moore in Jamaica Many people are suffering with respiratory problems due to the inclimate weather and a virus.
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
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
Paul Bickerstaff Quasha Brown
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
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. The food pantry is in need of toilet tissue, disposable razors, bar soap, bottled water, canned vegetables, canned meat, cereal, etc. Food given out on December 9: 49 bags (49 families, 155 people), 13 new clients and 6 homeless people 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.
-REMINDERS- 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 Bible Study- Join us at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary. PLEASE join us and bring your Bible. Choir Practice Every Sunday 9:15am. Cantata Rehearsals are Thursday at 7:00 pm. 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.
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 children. We still need Children’s Bible Story DVD’s for this ministry, like “Veggie Tales” that are available at Wal-Mart.
“Reflection” from Rev. Harvey A Joyous Exclamation "For my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared before the face of all peoples." - Luke 2:30 (NKJV) W. Clement Stone said, "The greatest power available to man is the power of prayer." These are the words of an extremely successful business man. He had learned there can be no ultimate solutions to any of our problems unless we are in tune with God's Spirit.
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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