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St. Luke's Episcopal Church Newsletter
Thoughts and Prayer

"The Lord be in your heart and upon your lips..."

Thus begins the sacramental rite of the reconciliation of a penitent, also known as penance or confession. All in Christ's church are called to the ministry of reconciliation. As our liturgy explains, we exercise this through the care each of us has for others and through our common prayer when we assemble and publicly confess "those things we have done and left undone."

Those who repent may also confess their sins to God privately in the presence of a priest and receive the assurance of pardon and the grace of absolution. Only five weeks from now Advent begins. The season of Advent is a time of preparation and expectation for the coming celebration of our Lord's nativity, and in it we are reminded of the final coming of our Lord in power and glory.

I find myself each year approaching this time with care and personal reflection and I ask myself, "How can I best make ready to accept this precious gift?" This year, as you gear up for whatever Advent and Christmas 2020 holds for us, you may want to start afresh with the sacrament not many of us have ventured to take part in: reconciliation of a penitent. 

The rite of reconciliation (confession) will be offered on Tuesday evenings in November from 4:00 until 5:15 p.m. Please email Polly if you would like to reserve a time. This can take place in person at the church (with safe distancing) or virtually if you choose. 
 
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Cor 5:18)

Faithfully, 
Polly+
"Be Not Afraid". 

 Continuing the series of messages to us in this time leading up to the election, Bishop Kee reminds the faithful to be not afraid. I invite you to find time to watch and be inspired to stand up and shine the light of Christ. 


Click here to watch Bishop Sloan's October 21st message. (look for "Be Not Afraid"
Worship

Sunday, October 25th
 
Morning Prayer at 10:15 a.m. will be live-streamed as well as in person. 

Download the bulletin for this Sunday, October 25 here.
Go to our website to find the link to our online service.


Join us also online Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. for Evening Prayer via our Facebook page. You can find the evening prayer bulletin in the Notes Section of our Facebook page or by clicking here.
What are you thankful for? 

Our EYC is ready to paint pumpkins again! We'd love to include any and all things we have to be thankful for. Please add yours by clicking here!

 Families are invited to come paint pumpkins too, as family units. We'll have all the materials ready for you--you just show up and paint. Use the "thankful" google link above to reserve a time on Thursday, October 22nd for your family. 
ALL SOULS DAY

Commemoration of the Faithful Departed 

November 2nd is All Souls' Day when the church commemorates all the faithful who have departed this life in the past year. An extension of All Saints' Day, All Souls Day is for each parish to especially remember family members and friends.
If you would like to include a loved one who died in the last year (since November of 2019) please add the name(s) to the list in the parish office by contacting Margie Ford.
 

St. Luke's will celebrate All Soul's Day on Monday, November 2nd with a service online. Information on tuning in to this service will be sent next week. 
 Food Pantry

Next Pantry is on November 7th!

THANK YOU to those who've donated goods to the pantry coming up next month!! We have bushels of sweet potatoes and plenty of stuffing. We have pounds of butter and mac-n-cheese too. Now we need to complete the Thanksgiving dinner--please consider donating a turkey breast or a small sliced ham when you next shop. We are excited to share this holiday meal expenses with our pantry families in need.

Contact the church office about when you can drop off any items that need refrigeration. 
 
Christian Education
Reading the Bible through the lens of conflict
Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. on ZOOM

JOIN IN ANY SUNDAY!
Padraig O Tuama is a poet, theologian, and public speaker. He founded Spirituality of Conflict, a project devoted to exploring conflict in the gospels with an aim toward informing participants' encounters with conflict in their lives. Where do we see conflict in the gospel? Lots of places. Not all conflict is bad. Violent conflict is bad. Explore this course with your St. Luke's family and see how managing conflict can inspire humanity to improve the human condition. 

Meeting ID: 876 6518 3316
Passcode: 92020
THE BISHOP IS COMING DECEMBER 13TH

Please mark your calendars for December 13th--we're not sure what this service will look like, but even if the coronavirus is worsening and we are online only, Bishop Curry plans to be here. 

Classes are beginning on Zoom, October 26th at 6:30 p.m. to prepare anyone for confirmation, baptism, reaffirmation or just to learn more about the Episcopal Church, its faith and tradition. We'll meet Monday nights 10/26 and 11/2, 11/16, and 11/30, with an in-person (socially distanced) gathering closer to Dec. 13th.

Please call the church office to let us know you're interested or email Polly. Young persons preparing for confirmation will go to Camp McDowell November 6-8 for a weekend retreat. 
 
Christian Women's Job Corps has been housed and supported by First Baptist for many years. Several CWJC volunteers, teachers and staff are members at FBC!  
CWJC's primary fundraiser, Circles, is November 2 and you are invited to be a part! This year Circles is a FREE and Virtual Event featuring Becca Stevens, Founder and President of Thistle Farms in Nashville. Becca is world-renowned for her work to provide women survivors the time and space for transformative, sustainable healing from trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. FBC member and CWJC graduate, Jessicah Odongo will share her testimony.
All registrations before October 16 are eligible to win one of over 20 door prizes, including a $150 Thistle Farms gift basket. Get your FREE ticket and learn more about the ministry of Christian Women's Job Corps at www.cwjc.net. 
Diocesan News

THIS FRIDAY, October 23rd!
12:00 to 4:00

ECW Live-Streamed Video Fall Conference

Invitation to the Table:  Finding Your Place

Midday Prayer Service with Homily by The Rt. Rev. Kee Sloan

Speaker: The Rt. Rev Glenda Curry

Workshop:

Spiritual Practices for Our Life in Christ led by Rev. Mary Catherine Akamatsu, Metagem Institute

The workshop will explore four types of spiritual practices as well as our tendency to prefer certain types of practices and how we can use our preferences for growth in our relationship with Christ.  We will use the Metagem Institutes’s Spirituality Types Practices Indicator (STPI)   A link to complete the assessment will be emailed and results provided to you at the workshop.

We will conclude with a short business meeting.  All are invited.  There is no charge for the conference.  Donations can be made to ECW programs by going to ECWGive. Please designate your gift to the ECW.

To register and receive all materials for the conference,  email Linda Kennedy.

The Commission on Spirituality and the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama 
present 
Pre- Advent Reflection with 
Rev. Julia Gatta. 
"The Grace of Advent in Time of Pandemic" 
November 21, 9 am-10:45 am

REGISTER HERE

Mother Gatta is a professor at the School of Theology at Sewanee.
Many people in EFM are familiar with Mother Gatta and her latest book,
Life in Christ. 

This will be a virtual event.

Cost is $10. 


Please encourage friends to join us!
Pastoral Care Note
Dear ones, If you are going into the hospital, have need of prayer or counsel, or have a family member unable to attend church or you are unable to attend, please contact The Rev. Polly Robb at 256-520-7211 or call the church office at 256-574-6216 and leave a message. 
 
Polly would also love to schedule a porch visit if you'd like. Just give her a call or send her an email. 
What's Happening at St. Luke's

 

Sunday, October 25
9:00 am - Christian Formation
10:15 am - Morning Prayer

Tuesday, October 27
6:45 pm - Last session of The Road Back to You Book Group Study (on Zoom)
7:00 pm - AA Meeting (Basement)

Wednesday, October 28
10:00 am - Last session of The Road Back to You Book Group Study (on Zoom) 
10:00 am - Painting Class (Bradford Hall)
5:30 pm - Evening Prayer (live on Facebook)
6:00 pm - EYC

Thursday, October 29
7:00 pm - AA Meeting (Basement)

Saturday, October 31
5:30 pm - Compline for ALL HALLOW'S EVE

Sunday, November 1
9:00 am - Christian Formation
10:15 am CST - All Saint's Day Worship with our brothers and sisters at the National Cathedral, The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry preaching
11:30 am - Coffee and Conversation

Monday, November 2
5:30 pm - Celebration of All Souls Day (live online)

 
Our prayer list: 
Our parishioners: Brevy and Kathy Cannon, Sherry Holland, John Robinson, John Will White, Linda Wangbickler, Bob Brown, Bob Word, and our parish loved ones and friends: Brad Yates (Bob Yates' brother), Mack Cox, Tommy Watts and family, Alan Davis (friend of Ann Moody), Richard Caldwell, Carolyn and Wayne Staton (Tim Haston's mother and step-father), John Gerlach (Joe Gerlach's brother), Lannie Bryan (Melody Reed's dad), Mike Porter (Everett Reed's uncle), Cindy Crump (Jean Duke's sister), Jameson Wangbickler (son of Jim and Linda Wangbickler), Charlotte Talley (friend and neighbor of Stan Schmoller), Cherri Baker (friend of Tim Sanders), Ruth Hamer (friend of Joyce Morriss). 
 

TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST:
PROPER 25
Sunday, October 25


ALMIGHTY AND EVERLASTING GOD, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen. 
 
 
The lectionary readings can be found here: 
 SCRIPTURE READINGS for SUNDAY,  October 25

First Lesson: Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Psalm: 90:1-6, 13-17
Second Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
The Gospel: Matthew 22:34-46
 
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