Message from the Pastor

Yesterday we began a new series on faith alongside our celebration of World Communion. We looked at Luke 17:1-10 and considered whether or not we need more faith or to live out of the faith we already have, even when it feels too small to accomplish anything. In Drew Jackson's collection of poems entitled Touch the Earth, he shares that "every living thing was once a seed. This poem. That daisy. Faith. Small, yet determined to crack the unbelieving earth- dirt, like us." They say we have to start somewhere, and so on this journey of faith this month, why not start right where you are, with the faith you have been given?

What might it look like for you to live out this faith in the midst of the everyday right now? Small, everyday acts of faith that make room for the transforming work of God. David Lose says this might be "showing up for work and doing a good job. Listening when someone needs to talk. Getting the kids off to school. Sitting with someone in the cafeteria who looks like they could use a friend. Volunteering at a local homeless shelter. Voting even if the field of candidates seems discouraging. Balancing the books for your business or community group. Writing a thank you note to someone who has done a kindness. Cooking supper. Praying for a neighbor who is having a hard time. The list could go on. And that’s the point...Look, when we read the headlines and see news of more shootings, more injustice, more war, it can seem like there is no hope. Yet all around us signs of hope abound." This past week, I saw hope in the faces of fourth graders from Parks Elementary as they began to fall in love with art and trust their imaginations. One student came into Allyson's studio and gasped loudly and said "Yes!" Another student turned around and hugged Allyson before they walked out. A couple of weeks ago, a member came up to me and shared how they had received an answer to a long-held prayer request. Just this morning, I discovered we have continued to receive support for the installation of our church mural. Each of these are signs of hope to me that stem from everyday acts of faithfulness.

There is a beautiful piece at the end of Habakkuk where the author speaks of hope even when such a thing seems like a futile effort. Habakkuk 3:17-19 says:

"Though the cherry trees don’t blossom
and the strawberries don’t ripen,
Though the apples are worm-eaten
    and the wheat fields stunted,
Though the sheep pens are sheepless
    and the cattle barns empty,
I’m singing joyful praise to God.
    I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.
Counting on God’s Rule to prevail,
    I take heart and gain strength.
I run like a deer.
    I feel like I’m king of the mountain!" (Message Translation)

I don't have to tell you that life and the news has felt so heavy lately. I came across an article recently that described staying informed right now as staying awake during surgery. Thus, I am convinced that now more than ever we need to lean into everyday faithfulness and into being noticers of hope. Where are the spaces in your life right now that you notice hope springing forth? What are the pockets lined with hope that lead to cartwheels of joy?

In and through your everyday yet determined acts of good enough faith, hope grows. Kate Bowler reminds us that a good enough faith is one that keeps looking for beauty and truth and possibility. A good enough faith is stubborn enough to keep watch for cracks where life breaks forth. A good enough faith trusts that God can take whatever amount we have and mold it to fit whatever is needed in the moment. So keep choosing faithfulness my friends, and may each small, yet determined act crack the surface so life can break through.

Walking in faith with you,
Rev. Hannah

Lectionary Readings for October

Sunday, October 5 — World Communion Sunday
Lamentations 1:1-6
Psalm 137
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Luke 17: 5-10
Sunday, October 12 — Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
Psalm 66:1-12
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Luke 17:11-19
Sunday, October 19 — Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Jeremiah 31:27-34
Psalm 119:97-104 or Psalm 19
2 Timothy 3:14—4:5
Luke 18:1-8
Sunday, October 26 — Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Joel 2:23-32
Psalm 65
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Luke 18:9-14

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

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELONG

CANCELED — St. Luke, First UMC, and Calvary Episcopal invite you to a come and go Blessing of the Animals at the First UMC Greenspace on Monday, October 6, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. We will also be collecting donations of cat and dog food for the animal shelter at the event.

UNITED WOMEN IN FAITH – It’s that time again!! Time for the fall No-Bake Sale. The proceeds of this sale will be divided equally between the mission work of United Women in Faith and the St. Luke special account for White Christmas/Christmas in July. United Women in Faith will use the money for items in our budget such as Wesley Foundation, Helping Hands, the Community Centers in Mississippi and Zoe Ministries. The church’s White Christmas project sometimes needs extra funds to supply the needs and wants of the children we help through this program. Christmas in July uses the money to buy expensive items such as backpacks.

Church members and those who attend regularly will receive a letter and a stamped, addressed return envelope in early October asking you to give to the Fall No-Bake Sale. With prayerful consideration, decide what you can give and mail your check. If you prefer to give cash, you may give it to Jackie Pennington. Checks should still be made to St. Luke UMW. The No-Bake Sale end date is October 26.

United Women in Faith is grateful for the wonderful way we are supported by our church family. If you have questions about our mission work, please talk with President, Jackie Pennington.

United Women in Faith Grace Circle will not meet in October. The next scheduled meeting will be on Tuesday, November 4, at 10:00 a.m. in the Church Library. All women are invited to attend!

UWFaith Lunch Bunch will meet Thursday, October 23 at noon in the fellowship hall.

We will join First UMC and Calvary Episcopal on Sunday, October 26, from 3:30-5:00 p.m. for “United We Boo” Trunk-or-Treat. There will be games on the First UMC Greenspace and Trunk-or-Treating in the adjoining parking area. Each church is needing 5 trunks so if you can help with decorating your car trunk/tailgate, please contact Pastor Hannah or Brittany Dean. We will also be collecting bags of candy so if you can help with a bag or two, it will be greatly appreciated. A collection bin will be available in the narthex.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELIEVE

"For all the Saints who from their labors rest"
On Sunday, November 2nd we will celebrate All Saints Sunday together. This is a special worship service in which we remember and give thanks for those who have gone before us in the faith. During worship, we will acknowledge these individuals by saying their name, ringing a bell, and inviting a family member or friend to come and light a candle in their memory. If you have a loved one that has passed away during the past year and you would like to honor them by lighting a candle in their memory as their name is called, please contact Lisa at the church office. As we are celebrating All Saints, we invite everyone to bring a framed photo of his/her loved one for us to place around the sanctuary on this Sunday. This includes any significant saint in your life, whether the loss was within the past year or in years prior. If possible, please bring your photo to the church office the week before.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES

St. Luke once again will provide supper for the students at the Wesley Foundation on Wednesday, October 8. Please contact Kay Daves if you can provide a dessert or help serve.

St. Luke will host an AR Party at Parks Elementary on Friday, October 17, at 2:00 p.m. This party is to reward students for reaching or surpassing their Accelerated Reading goals. If you can help serve popsicles to those students, please contact Pastor Hannah.

The United Methodist Men’s Annual Fish Fry will be held on Tuesday, October 14, from 5-7:00 p.m. in the First UMC Fellowship Hall. Tickets are $15 each (carry-outs will be available). Proceeds will fund community organizations. Please see Jim Shempert (The Pastor’s Wife) if you would like to purchase a ticket.

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. A blue bin designated for Helping Hands is available in the narthex where you can place your food items. The second Sunday is also our Dollar Sunday, when you are invited to drop a dollar or two into the small basket in the narthex to help support our Compassion Fund. This fund is used by the pastor at their discretion to help those in need.

The 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.

Staff-Parish Announcement

The Staff-Parish Relations Committee has received a resignation letter from our beloved pianist, O’Hara Koerber. O’Hara has shared her wonderful talent with us for the past several years and our worship services have been elevated and enhanced as a result. Her last Sunday with us was September 28. Please join us in thanking her for her beautiful gift to us and in wishing her well.

The Committee will begin a search for a new pianist and will welcome any suggestions from the congregation.

More Opportunities to Help

Parks Elementary Partnership

1) PBIS Closet- Parks keeps a closet filled with goodies for students who do well with their positive behavior system. This includes items such as fidget toys, slime, and other small prizes. When the children meet their goals, they are able to shop this closet as a treat and means of positive reinforcement. You may contribute to this cause or purchase items and bring them to the church office.

2) Feminine Hygiene supplies- Parks has an area in the office dedicated to storing feminine hygiene supplies for girls who need them. Specifically, they try to keep a current stock of pads (no tampons please) and girls underwear in all sizes. You may bring these items to the church office as well.

3) Reading with students- Do you like to help students with their reading? If you had 1-2 hours a week to give during school hours, the students at Parks could use your help. Reading with students is a proven way to help raise their AR scores while also providing quality time with these children. If you are interested in this, please let Rev. Hannah know.

Women’s Resource Center:
Celebrate Life Banquet

Toddler Play Group

Art with Allyson

Hello from the Art Room at St. Luke!

What a blessing this space has been to me and to the children in the Art with Allyson After-School Art Program! It has been a “creative whirlwind”, in the very best way, since I was given the go-ahead in mid-July to begin my program here.

We currently have six full-scholarship students enrolled who were recommended by local teachers in the Cleveland School District. They are all thriving in class and attending regularly. In total, we now have just over 60 students, and my heart is so full working with them in this wonderful space.

I hope you’ve had a chance to see some of their artwork on display outside the art room! While I teach all ages, the largest group I work with are students in 4K–2nd grade. They are learning the elements of art—but even more importantly, they are learning to trust their own ideas and to have confidence in their creativity.

We’ve been very busy! Some recent highlights include a visit from the 4th graders at Parks Elementary. They will be returning soon to complete an art lesson inspired by Mississippi artist Walter Anderson as part of their MS Studies. Reverend Hannah assisted with this lesson, and we all loved seeing the children’s faces light up as they proudly shared their creations.

This month, we’re diving into all things fall! From leaf prints and spooky haunted houses to owls and pumpkins—it’s one of my favorite seasons to create with children. I hope you’ll take a moment to check out their fall artwork soon to be displayed in the hall. Families are also invited to come view even more student work during our “Cocoa and Creativity” night on December 11th, a special evening to celebrate our young artists and enjoy hot cocoa together. It will be a wonderful opportunity for parents and families to see the children’s creativity on full display as we wrap up our first semester at St. Luke!

I’m also looking forward to bringing a small “traveling art project” to United We Boo, and to hosting an Art Night for the church on December 14th, inspired by Reverend Hannah’s Advent series.

For adults, I’ve published a Save the Date calendar for joyful, hands-on art workshops—some of which are family-friendly and open to all ages. Please feel free to reach out with any questions. St. Luke members can also use a special 25% off coupon code for upcoming workshops!

A heartfelt thank you to my church family and to Reverend Hannah for welcoming so many from the community into our building through art. I’m also excited, like many of you, to see the mural take shape. I know my students will be inspired watching it come to life!

Finally, I want to thank everyone who contributed to my classroom wishlist. Your generosity, whether through household items or art supplies, has helped us get off to a wonderful start. I’m still sorting through donations but have already been able to use so many of them. It’s no surprise that St. Luke members came through in their usual generous fashion! I don’t know who donated the two IKEA children’s easels, but what a fantastic gift!

Thank you again, church family. I am so grateful for this collaboration and for the love and support you’ve shown.

Artistically Yours,
Allyson Hardy

If you’d like to help by donating items to Allyson Hardy’s afterschool art classes, please see the flyer below on what’s needed. You can also contact Allyson at the number listed on the flyer for questions or for more info. When purchasing from the Wishlist, please add your name and contact (cell number) in the “notes section”.

Click this link to access the Amazon wishlist: Art with Allyson Amazon wishlist

Mural Project

Our Mural Design Committee has chosen an artist and design and is in the process of having the design approved by the City of Cleveland. Hopefully it will be approved soon so we can move on to the next phase of the project and begin painting. If you’d like to help with a monetary donation for our Mural Project, checks and/or cash (earmarked “Mural Project”) can be placed in the offering plate, dropped off at the church office, or mailed to St. Luke UMC, 1227 Deering St, Cleveland MS 38732. You can also scan the QR code to make an electronic donation (click on the donation button under Other Designated Gifts, fill in your info, and be sure to note “Mural Project”).

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.

The St. Luke Scene

Parks 4th Grade Class at Art with Allyson

Events in October

October 5, Sunday
— World Communion Service, 10:30 a.m. (St Luke Sanctuary)
— BBQ Luncheon, 11:35 a.m. (Fellowship Hall)
— Youth, 5:00 p.m. (First UMC)

October 6, Monday
— Blessing of the Animals - - - CANCELED DUE TO RAIN

October 8, Wednesday
— Provide Meal for Wesley Students, 6:30 p.m. (Wesley Foundation)

October 9, Thursday
— Toddler Play Group, 9:30-10:30 a.m. (Preschool Room)

October 10-12, Friday-Sunday
— Kairos Outside Weekend Retreat (Camp Wesley Pines)

October 12, Sunday
— Second Sunday Mission for Helping Hands

October 14, Tuesday
— Reading Group, 2:00 p.m. (St. Luke Parlor)
— United Methodist Men Fish Fry, pickup 5-7:00 p.m. (First UMC)

October 16, Thursday
— Toddler Play Group, 9:30-10:30 a.m. (Preschool Room)

October 17, Friday
— Parks AR Party, 2:00 p.m. (Parks Elementary)

October 19, Sunday
— Youth, 5:00 p.m. (First UMC)

October 23, Thursday
— Toddler Play Group, 9:30-10:30 a.m. (Preschool Room)
— UW Faith Lunch Bunch, 12:00 p.m. (Fellowship Hall)

October 26, Sunday
— United We Boo, 3:30-5:00 p.m. (First UM Green Space)

October 30, Thursday
— Toddler Play Group, 9:30-10:30 a.m. (Preschool Room)

Events in November

November 1, Saturday
— Community Outreach: Visit to Indywood, 1:30-3:00 pm

November 2, Sunday
— All Saints Remembrance Service, 10:30 a.m.
— Charge Conference, 3:00 p.m. (First UMC)
— Youth, 5:00 p.m. (First UMC)

November 4, Tuesday
— Grace Circle, 10:00 a.m. (Church Library)

November 9, Sunday
— Finance Meeting, 11:35 a.m. (Fellowship Hall)
— Youth, 5:00 p.m. (First UMC)

Memorials and Honorariums

By:
Frances & Jim Tims

By:

Memorials for:
Gnana Packiam

Honorarium for:
n/a

Attendance and Offering Report

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October 2025

October 6, 2025St. Luke United Methodist Church

Message from the Pastor

Lectionary Readings for October