June 2025

May 30, 2025St. Luke United Methodist Church

Message from the Pastor

It is hard to believe summer is already here, with hotter days and longer nights. We are now in shorts and swimsuit season, or if you are like my youngest, the season of tank tops. Adalyn has entered her tank top era in our house. She somehow believes that tank tops will keep her cooler than a t-shirt. Not just any tank top, but one that I bought her last year that has since become her favorite. It is bright yellow and green striped with shiny turquoise lettering that says, "Live With Soul." She is so in love with this top that it barely makes it into the wash before she has grabbed it out of the dirty clothes, sprayed it with some refresh spray, and called it clean so she can shove it back over her head. It is becoming too small, but this doesn't deter her persistence in making her own fashion statement. Needless to say, there have been many days already where she has been living with soul around here.

When I originally bought the top, I did so because the phrase made me think of her, someone who lives fully and freely and unapologetically. Someone who lives with depth and purpose and passion.

As a community of faith, I have witnessed us live with soul this past month. We celebrated with high school seniors and gathered around tables of food for fellowship. We honored all of the women in our lives who have helped nurture us in the faith. We witnessed as young adults stood in front of us and made their decision to follow Christ and to join St. Luke. We baptized them and welcomed others into the fold of our church family. Then we celebrated more by singing our songs of our faith. We watched children giggle and squirm while making messes at VBS and have begun meeting for a new church mural project to be a source of bright hope and joy in our community. I am proud to be part of a community that lives with this kind of soulfulness.

What might it mean for you to live with soul this summer? Pastor and chef Alex Early gave a wonderful description of this in his cookbook/theology discourse Among the Pots and Pans. He was living his life but wasn't really present to it. He was going through the motions, but not really paying attention to them. And so, he began cooking with others, writing a cookbook about his experience of "showing up to the life you've been given, practicing being present, and finding your wealth in relationships."

Perhaps another way to ask whether or not we are living with soul is to ask, "how are you showing up to the life you've been given?" and "what is the wealth of your relationships?" or even "how does hospitality carve a pathway for living with soul?"

Beginning in mid-June and July, we will be exploring these and other questions together on Sunday mornings in a series called Summer Picnic: Lessons on hospitality and grace around the tables of our lives. Whether it is a picnic table, the breakroom table, the family reunion potluck, or the casual dinner party among friends, the gospel has something to say about the importance of hospitality. So, let's start setting our tables and pulling up chairs and continuing to ask God how we might live with soul.

Grace and Peace,
Rev. Hannah

Lectionary Readings for June

Sunday, June 1 — Seventh Sunday of Easter
Acts 16:16-34
Psalm 97
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
John 17:20-26
Sunday, June 8 — Pentecost Sunday
Acts 2:1-21
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Romans 8:14-17
John 14:8-17
Sunday, June 14 — Trinity Sunday / Father’s Day
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
Psalm 8
Romans 5:1-5
John 16:12-15
Sunday, June 22 — Second Sunday after Pentecost
1 Kings 19:1-15a
Psalm 42
Galatians 3:23-29
Luke 8:26-39
Sunday, June 29 — Third Sunday after Pentecost
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Luke 9:51-62

The Mission of St. Luke UMC is to be a Place to Belong, Believe, & Become Disciples of Christ

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELONG

United Women in Faith express a big THANK YOU for supporting our spring No-Bake Sale. Mission locally and globally will be supported through the Bake Sale donations of $1,235. The No-Bake Sale money supplements money pledged by members annually which is transmitted to the National UWFaith for improving the lives of women, children and youth.

UWFaith Grace Circle will meet on Tuesday, June 10, at 10:00 a.m. in the church library. Marilyn Steele will provide the program. Note the change of meeting from first Tuesday to second Tuesday.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELIEVE

St. Luke Sunday School has gone on summer vacation, except for the Coleman Class. Sunday morning services remain the same, however, so enjoy a little more shut-eye or an extra cup of coffee and then join your church family at 10:30 for worship. See you all in Sunday School in early September!

OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES

The Armstrong Family, who are a part of our St. Luke Family, will be moving later in June. If you’d like to send Josh, Megan, Austin, and Olivia warm wishes in their future endeavors, there is a card available in the narthex for you to sign. Please do so by June 15th so it can be presented to them before they move.

In the summer months, the DSU Wesley does not have their weekly worship service. Instead, they will be meeting students downtown at the Delta Dairy for a time of fun and fellowship. They are looking for sponsors for these meetings. The cost to sponsor one week is $100, and they are looking for 15 sponsors for the summer. If you’d like to help with one week, please let them know or donate by using one of these methods… donate by cash/check at 904 S. Court St, Cleveland; Venmo: @DSU-Wesley; or Cash App: $DSUWesley2.

Don’t forget that on the second Sunday of every month we collect bags of apples, jars of peanut butter, and also canned goods for the Helping Hands Ministry. That day is also our Dollar Sunday, when you are invited to drop a dollar or two into the basket in the narthex to help support our Compassion Fund, which the pastor uses at their discretion to help those in need.

The 2025 Flower Calendar is available on the bulletin board in the hallway across from the choir room. If you would like to help provide an altar arrangement sometime during the year, please look over the calendar, choose a date or two, and sign up. Your arrangement doesn’t have to be fresh flowers, it could be a lovely silk arrangements, or even a nice plant. If you sign up for two consecutive Sundays, we have a “flower fridge” where we can store your floral arrangement during the week and re-use them the second Sunday. If ordering fresh flowers from a flower shop, please specify you would like them to last for two Sundays. Please contact Sandi Melton (Flower Steward) or the church office to sign up or for more info.

Mural Project

Checks and/or cash, earmarked “Mural Project”, can be placed in the offering plate or dropped off at the church office. You can also mail your checks to St. Luke UMC, 1227 Deering St, Cleveland MS 38732.

Employment Opportunities

The Staff-Parish Relations Committee is searching for an employee to fill our Music Director position and would welcome help from the congregation in spreading the word.

As you know, Beverly Jacks has served as interim Director for the past year or so. She does a lovely job and has been happy to serve our church with her gifts, but she would like a break if a suitable person can be found to lead the choir. Previous experience in a church setting is preferred but not required. Salary will be negotiable.

Please share this information with any suitable candidates you know who might be interested in working at St. Luke. Any further questions may be directed to Rev. Hannah or to Lisa in the church office.