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St. Luke's Episcopal Church Newsletter
Thoughts and Prayer

Advent’s Prayer

 

This season is waiting for you –
to welcome you in to the warmth
to settle your soul
to light a fire within you. 
 
You, too, are waiting –
for healing and wholeness
for compassion among neighbors
for understanding in differences.
 
Take your time this Advent to savor the sounds of the season – 
the crackle of a fire
dough being mixed and kneaded
well-worn pages of your bible turning. 
 
Take your time to see the gifts of the season – 
lights twinkling, rays of hope 
songs and stories shared over the computer
the words of the bible in the early morning. 
 
Take your time to touch this season –
the warmth of your children’s hands
fresh baked bread
candles being lifted into the night. 
 
Take your time to taste this season –
cookies and bread
hot cider and hot chocolate
a meal delivered by a friend. 
 
Take your time to feel this season – 
hope tinged with doubt
uncertainty laced with belief
joy intermingled with sadness. 
 
The season is waiting for you –
brimming with God’s goodness
for us
for the world
given in peace. 
Amen.  

by Kimberly Knowle-Zeller

 
Worship


 Sunday, December 13 is
The Third Sunday Of Advent


 

By now, hopefully you've heard that we have postponed the bishop's visit. We look forward to setting a new date to celebrate our confirmands with our bishop when we can gather safely in person! This Sunday Holy Eucharist is online at 10:15 a.m. Don't forget to pick up your home communion kits at the church. (see information below)

Download the bulletin for this Sunday, December 13 here.
Go to our website to find the link to our service on YouTube. 

Join us also online THIS ADVENT on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. for Advent Evening Prayer via our Facebook page. You can find the evening prayer bulletin by clicking here.
Holy Eucharist Communion Kits

While we are unable to gather for the Eucharist this coming Advent and Christmas seasons, we invite everyone to join in communion. Here's how: Please come by the church each week to pick up your communion kits.

The kits contain consecrated bread and wine for you and your family to share during our online service. Pick yours up in the church narthex (entryway) from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. starting Wednesday of each week. 

We will also have bulletins for you to pick up, in case you don't have a printer at home.
St. Luke's will have online only services for December and January. 

With COVID-19 cases rising and flu season arriving, it seems prudent to make the hard decision to move all services online for the time being. We will be live-streaming our services, with only musicians, reader, and clergy present.

I know this is a disappointment for many, as it is for me. However, we have done so well in keeping the virus at bay in our parish and it makes all the sense in the world to keep it that way. 

We will still celebrate CHRISTMAS EVE service, (though not in person) and we hope you and yours will join our St. Luke's family online. We have wonderful music planned, including a guest trumpet player and our marvelous soloist, Patricia Kennedy. 
 
Meet the Bishop on Zoom

Join your parish family in saying hello to Bishop Glenda Curry at Coffee and Conversation Sunday, DEC 13th at 11:30 a.m.  

Bishop G wants to meet the family of St. Luke's.
Please mark your calendars NOW so that we have a good showing for our new bishop.

Zoom meeting number for Coffee and Conversation:
350 995 392
The Passcode is 450060
You may also click this link  to enter the meeting. 
 
NEW community event at St. Luke's
St. Luke’s Presents 

"An Advent Journey"
Reflecting on the Nativity of our Lord
through Art and Scripture
 
Begins this Sunday, Dec 13th from 1 pm - 7 pm 
other times the gallery is OPEN are: 
Friday, Dec. 18th from 12 pm - 3 pm 
Sunday, Dec. 20th from 1 pm - 7 pm
Wednesday, Dec. 23rd from 4 pm - 7 pm

 
St. Luke’s invites the community to a gallery-style, indoor walking reflection featuring custom artwork telling the Christmas story. View the wonderful work of local artists, including Bill Strain and Sonya Clemons, who have offered their time and talent to depict the story of the Nativity as Luke’s Gospel tells it. 
 
This will be a free, safe, socially distanced walk-through tour, with several open days/times for folks to come, bring their family, and ponder their own preparedness for Christ’s coming.

With paintings, sketches and sculpture, you won’t want to miss this journey through Advent! Look for the announcement on our website and Facebook Page and share this event with your friends. A postcard is coming your way soon. Pick up a few extra postcards in the church office to pass on to friends and neighbors.
Financial News
Dear St. Luke's,

As the 2020 year comes to a close, St. Luke's is making its budget to plan our ministry for the coming year. We need everyone's help to make this next year fruitful. Those of you who have yet to make a pledge, please know we understand! 2020 has presented so many challenges for families and churches alike, but we press on knowing God is calling us to pray and
worship, proclaim the Gospel, and promote justice,
peace, and love. There is still time to consider prayerfully your pledge to be a part of this ministry. Pledge cards are available online on the Giving tab, and by contacting the office directly by phone or email  

Year-to-date giving statements are being mailed. Upon receiving, please look over your statement, and let us know if you have any questions about your giving before the end of this year. 
 
Advent Book Study
 
Advent Book Study continues with
Madeleine L’Engle’s book, Miracle on 10th Street. 

Please join us during Advent for reflection, fun and fellowship, Zoom style, on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. or Sundays at 9 a.m.

For more information go on our website or click here

Our zoom meeting information is here: AdventBookStudy

Meeting ID: 821 5121 9663
Passcode: 2021

Outreach Ministry
A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE
who gave some much needed FOOD relief to community members in need during this crazy year 2020. St. Luke's gave out over 2700 bags of groceries this year and we could not have done this without all the donations, shoppers, baggers, and hosts. 
Three times Jesus tells Peter, "Feed my sheep," and Peter began the work of the Church. Well done St. Luke's and friends! Well done. 
Love through Local Christmas Charities


St. Luke’s has adopted 4 families with children (11 children in total) as well as 4 elderly/disabled persons for the holidays. 

We have parishioners shopping but could use a few more volunteers, especially some gift wrappers! If you can lend your skills to this, we will direct you to the gifts already purchased and ready for "a wrap". Nancy Gauldin is heading up this effort, so please let her know if you are able to help! 

We are still accepting monetary contributions to support this outreach mission. Please note "Christmas Charities" on your donation.
In the NEWS. . .
In case you missed this last week, meet our new seminarian, Mike Harber: 

Hello, I was born in Memphis, TN but grew up in Montgomery, AL. I graduated from The University of Memphis in 1989, married my high school sweetheart, Elizabeth (from Mt.Meigs, AL), and was commissioned in the U.S. Navy. I was designated as a Naval Flight Officer and served in various assignments both carrier-based and ashore as well as one year with the U.S. Army in Baghdad. I retired after 23 years active service in 2012 and we moved back to Alabama near where we grew up. 

We currently live in an antebellum home in rural Macon County where we have a garden, a small orchard, and 11 chickens. My side hobby is also unintentionally feeding the occasional coyote so the chicken number varies from time to time. Elizabeth is a sixth grade English teacher in Montgomery St. James School where she attended K-8 and where her mother taught kindergarten. 
We have two adult children. Our daughter, Christine, is married to Kramer, an active duty Sailor based in San Diego and our son is an active duty Cavalry Scout based near Tacoma, WA and is married to Liv. I look forward to getting to know you all very soon!
Lessons and Carols 
from Sewanee--The University of the South

This year's Festival service of Lessons and Carols is offered virtually. As a gift to all those who love to enter this season with the stories and songs of our Christian tradition, Sewanee has recorded this year's festival.

"May this film be a message of hope for you and your families during this season.
God with us…then.  Now.  Always."

The service is still available for viewing by visiting their website on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m.

Click Lessons and Carols for the link
What's Happening at St. Luke's

Pick up your home communion kits in the church narthex (aka entryway) each week Wednesday -Saturday between the hours of 8 and 5. 

Sunday, December 13
9:00 am  - Christian Formation - Advent (on Zoom)
10:15 am  - Holy Eucharist (online)
1:00 pm - 7:00 pm - The ADVENT Journey. In Bradford Hall and the Church nave. Walking art gallery. (see above for more information)

Tuesday, December 15
7:00 pm - AA Meeting (Basement)

Wednesday, December 16
10:00 am - Advent Book Study (on Zoom) 
10:00 am - Painting Class (Bradford Hall)
5:30 pm - Evening Prayer (live on Facebook)

Thursday, December 17
7:00 pm - AA Meeting (Basement)

Friday, December 18th 
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm - The ADVENT Journey In Bradford Hall and the Church nave. Walking art gallery. (see above for more information)
 

 

Birthdays This Week:

Colleen Cantrell  12/15    Peggy Gschwind  12/17          

     
Watch over your children, Colleen and Peggy, O Lord, as their days increase; bless and guide them wherever they may be.  Strengthen them when they stand; comfort them when discouraged or sorrowful; raise them up if they fall, and in their heart, may your peace which passes understanding, abide all of the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


Our prayer list: 
Our parishioners: Carol, Stan, JP and Emily, Brevy and Kathy Cannon, Bob Brown, Sherry Holland, John Robinson, John Will White, Linda Wangbickler, Bob Word, and our parish loved ones and friends: 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), Lannie Bryan (Melody Reed's dad), Mike Porter (Everett Reed's uncle), 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), Julia Brown (friend of Stan Schmoller), Sissy McDowell (Joyce Morriss' niece), Daniel Major (Mark Major's son and family). 
 
We pray for the repose of the souls of 
Dawson Beaird, nephew of Robert Dawson, Darlene Spence (Vipond), aunt of James Wangbickler, and Ellen Walker, aunt of Polly Robb.
May they rest in peace and rise in glory. 

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Sunday, DECEMBER 13


Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us: through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. 
 
The lectionary readings can be found here: 
 SCRIPTURE READINGS for SUNDAY,  December 13

First Lesson: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm: 126
Second Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28
 
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