July 2026
St. Luke United Methodist Church
Message from the Pastor
St. Luke extends a warm welcome to Rev. Chris Young, who will serve us as interim pastor until a permanent appointment is made.
Rev. Chris has been the pastor of Cleveland First United Methodist Church since July, 2021. He has served United Methodist churches in Mississippi since 1993 and has served in a variety of towns and church settings. He is a 1990 graduate of Mississippi State University in Psychology, and a 1993 graduate of the Candler School of Theology at Emory University with a Master of Divinity degree. In addition to serving as pastor of Cleveland First UMC, Chris currently serves as Board chair of the Delta State Wesley Foundation, chair of the Mississippi Conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, on the statewide board for Methodist Senior Services, and as chaplain for the Delta Children’s Advocacy Center.
Chris and Becky have been married for thirty-six years. After retiring in May, 2022, after thirty-one years of teaching, Becky now serves as the Co-Director for the Sunny Seniors Memory Care Respite Program and works at Cotton Row Frame Shop. They have two children, David (33) and Sarah (30). David is married to Danielle, and they live in Starkville. David is an inventory forester with Weyerhaeuser and Danielle teaches Calculus III at Mississippi State University. Sarah is a speech language pathologist in Corvallis, Oregon.
Chris loves reading, walking, board games, rooting for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, going to shows at the BPAC and GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi, throwing the frisbee with his black Lab named Roman, and spending time with Becky.
He is passionate about the ministries of preaching and teaching, helping people deepen their relationship with Christ, and doing his part to improve the communities in which he lives.
We look forward to a fruitful relationship with Chris, one in which all parties grow in understanding what it means to be a church. We thank him most sincerely for his willingness to lead us in the coming months.
Lectionary Readings for July
Sunday, July 5 — Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
Psalm 45:10-17 or Psalm 72
Romans 7:15-25a
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30Sunday, July 12 — Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 25:19-34
Psalm 119:105-112 or Psalm 25
Romans 8:1-11
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23Sunday, July 19 — Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 28:10-19a
Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24
Romans 8:12-25
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43Sunday, July 26 — Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 29:15-28
Psalm 105:1-11, 45b
Romans 8:26-39
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
The Mission of St. Luke UMC is to be a Place to Belong, Believe, & Become Disciples of Christ
OPPORTUNITIES TO BELONG
On Sunday, July 12, our Youth will meet at First UMC at 5:00 pm to cook snacks and create flower arrangements for shut‑ins. All youth are invited and encouraged to come share in this meaningful time of service and fellowship!
UWFaith Grace Circle will not meet in July. The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, August 4 at 10:00 a.m. in the church library. Women who are interested in the work of this wonderful organization and who are not otherwise engaged on August 4 are invited to join us. We are always finished by noon, and sometimes earlier.
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 August!
OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES
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.
Worship Greeters are needed for the months of August, October, November, and December! A Greeter is a very important part of welcoming people to our worship service and helps by passing out bulletins and attendance forms, helping people in and out of cars (when needed), directing visitors to pews or various areas of the church, and helping in other capacities of the service. If you feel called to volunteer and would like to help, a signup sheet is available in the narthex or you may sign up by contacting the church office. If you need more info on what all being a greeter entails, please see Bob Card, Mike Gressett, Jim Shempert, or Al Williams.
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 arrangement, 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, be sure to inform them you would like them to last for two Sundays. Please see Melanie Williams or contact the church office for more info or to sign up.
Christmas in July Mission
It’s time for Christmas in July again, and this year we’re doing things a little differently. Instead of purchasing school supplies and backpacks for multiple schools, we’re focusing our efforts on Parks Elementary, our neighbor whom we’ve essentially adopted. Parks shared that they no longer need school supplies, as all public schools now receive funding for those items. What they do need are playground supplies—balls, sports cones, pickleball racquets, and other outdoor toys for that wonderful playground where many of us spent several summers spreading gravel in the low spots. So this July, instead of buying notebooks and markers, we’ll be receiving a special offering throughout the month. Once we see how much has been collected, we’ll order the playground equipment Parks needs. We’ve helped these children grow in reading and creativity; now we can help them stay active and healthy at recess. Offerings marked “Christmas in July” may be brought to the office or placed in the offering plate all month long.
DSU Wesley
Fundraiser
Spring Newsletter
Methodist Children’s Home
Click the link below to give to The Methodist Children’s Home.
https://www.mchms.org/donate-now
The Family of Beth Jacks
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 couple of years 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
Events in July
July 1-2, Wednesday-Thursday
— Art w/Allyson: Wickedly Creative Camp, 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
July 3, Friday
— Church Office Closed for 4th of July Holiday
July 8, Wednesday
— Church Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m. (Fellowship Hall)
July 9-10, Thursday-Friday
— Art w/Allyson: 3D Creature Feature, 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
— Art w/Allyson: Whimsy & Wild, 1-3:30 p.m.
July 10, Friday
— Church Office Closed
— Toddler Playgroup, 9-11:00 a.m. (PreK Room)
July 12, Sunday
— Second Sunday Mission for Helping Hands
— Youth: Cook, 5:00 p.m.
July 13, Monday - July 16, Thursday
— Art w/Allyson: Teen Art Camp, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
July 17, Friday
— Toddler Playgroup, 9-11:00 a.m. (PreK Room)
July 19, Sunday
— Finance Meeting, 11:35 a.m. (Fellowship Hall)
— Youth: Swimming, 5:00 p.m.
July 20, Monday - July 22, Wednesday
— Art w/Allyson: Build a Dream House, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
July 24, Friday
— Church Office Closed
— Toddler Playgroup, 9-11:00 a.m. (PreK Room)
July 26, Sunday
— Youth: Scavenger Hunt, 5:00 p.m.
July 31, Friday
— Toddler Playgroup, 9-11:00 a.m. (PreK Room)
Events in August
August 4, Tuesday
— UWFaith Grace Circle, 10:00 a.m. (Church Library)
August 9, Sunday
— Second Sunday Mission for Helping Hands
August 30, Sunday
— Worship Team Meeting, 11:35 a.m. (Church Library)
Memorials and Honorariums
By:
By:
Memorials for:
n/a
Honorarium for:
n/a
Attendance and Offering Report
June 7
June 14
June 21
June 28
Monthly Total
Monthly Budget
General Fund
$ 12,518
$ 1,741
$ 1,152
$ 758
$ 16,169
$ 20,834
Special
Fund
$ 130
$ 943
$ 0
$ 0
Sunday
School
9
4
7
8
Worship
39
47
25
35
Online
123
120
89
141
Special Offerings:
Christmas in July: Parks Playground Toys
$ 125
July Birthdays
7/01
7/03
7/05
7/07
7/09
7/12
7/15
7/17
7/26
7/27
7/29
7/31
Anna Melton
Elaine Lambert
Kelsey Smith
Trapper Bolden
Molly Bassie
Kolby Horton
Frances Tims
Debra Cole
Melanie Williams
Loretta Burdine
Larry Lambert
Bob Card
Rani Richard
Woody Earls
July Anniversaries
7/20
Jonathan & Hart (Rogers) Weaver