Voices from Our Church Family

Welcome to October, church family! I hope by the time this newsletter reaches you that the heat wave from this summer will have broken and we are beginning to feel the cooler winds of fall headed our way.

I have enjoyed very much Brother Chris‘ series on faith and works during this past season. His messages bring to mind the correlation between the agricultural season of harvest in the Delta and our collective call to “bring in the harvest.”

“Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'" — Matthew 9:37-38 (ESV)

In looking around each day, I see multiple opportunities for our faith to be put to work in the “fields“ of our community for the coming of the kingdom of God. Each of us has unique gifts and graces given to us by the Lord to use in the service of His kingdom.

One of the ways I have personally been encouraged in this is from a current television production called The Chosen (Some of you may know that I am a rabid fan of this multi- season, multi-episode show about Jesus and his disciples during his ministry on earth).

The creator and director of the show, Dallas Jenkins, is a follower of Jesus and a talented filmmaker. Several years ago, he was coming off of the disappointing failure of a film he produced when the seed of an idea for The Chosen was planted. With a minimal amount of resources, but a large amount of faith, he began the work of planting and nurturing and cultivating the idea. During a particular season of doubt, questioning whether he should go forward with his idea, he tells the story of receiving an email one morning at 3 AM from a fan of the show on the other side of the world, which simply read, “It is not your job to feed the 5000, but only to bring your loaves and fishes.” And that is what he began to do.

I am grateful for the many ways that I see our St. Luke family bringing their loaves and fishes as works of faith… the kitchen crew preparing meals, musicians leading us in song, trustees making repairs, teachers sharing lessons of the faith with young and old alike, our pastor bringing us the Word and hosting us at the Table, and so many more. I believe this is what harvesting looks like for our Beloved community, and I am grateful.

Tricia Walker
Lay Member to Annual Conference

Parable (Sheeps and Goats)

You got rich dirt and poor people
Rich dirt and poor people
Rich dirt and poor people
What the world we gonna do

You got five loaves and two fishes
Five loaves and two fishes
Five loaves and two fishes
Give the people something to eat

You got an extra room and the storm’s coming
An extra room and the storm’s coming
An extra room and the storm’s coming
Give the people a place to stay

If you know somebody locked up in prison
Know somebody locked up in prison
Know somebody locked up in prison
Visit with them once in a while

And if somebody’s sick in mind or body
If somebody’s sick in mind or body
If somebody’s sick in mind or body
Find a way to make them whole

If you do these things for the least of these
You do these things for the least of these
You do these things for the least of these
Then you’ve done done it to me

Jesus lives in the Mississippi Delta
Jesus lives in the Mississippi Delta
Jesus lives in the Mississippi Delta
And brother, that’s real good news

Lectionary Readings for October

Sunday, October 4 — Ninteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
Psalm 19
Philippians 3:4b-14
Matthew 21:33-46
Sunday, October 11 — Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Exodus 32:1-14
Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23
Philippians 4:1-9
Matthew 22:1-14
Sunday, October 18 — Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost
Exodus 33:12-23
Psalm 99
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Matthew 22:15-22
Sunday, October 25 — Reformation Sunday
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Matthew 22:34-46

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 – 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 Compassion Fund. 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.

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 November 1.

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.

UWIFaith Grace Circle will not meet in October. Our next meeting is Tuesday, November 3.

The UWIFaith Lunch Bunch will meet at noon on Wednesday, October 28, in the Fellowship Hall. Bring your lunch and drink, dessert will be provided. All women are invited for a brief devotion and fellowship!

Mark your calendar for a BBQ Supper on Sunday, October 18 at 5:30 pm. Come and enjoy great food and warm fellowship. If anyone can help with a dessert, please let Kay Daves know. Monetary donations (to help offset the cost of the meat) are welcomed but not required!

Join us along with First UMC and Calvary Episcopal on Sunday, October 25 at 3:30 p.m. for our “United We Boo” Trunk‑or‑Treat on the First UMC parking lot. Enjoy an afternoon of games, treats, and festive fun for all ages. Each church is asked to provide five decorated trunks, so if you can help by decorating your car trunk or tailgate, we would love to have you participate. We also need: 6 boxes of Capri Suns, 3 dozen cupcakes, and candy and small prizes for the games. A collection bin will be available in the narthex for game candy and prizes. Please let Claire know if you can help with decorating a trunk or with providing Capri Suns or cupcakes. Monetary donations may be made payable to St. Luke, noted “Trunk‑or‑Treat”, and placed in the offering plate.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELIEVE

"For all the Saints who from their labors rest"
On Sunday, November 1st, we will gather for All Saints Sunday, a special service where we remember and give thanks for the members of our church who have gone before us in the faith this past year. During worship, we will speak each name, ring a bell, and invite a family member or friend to come forward and light a candle in their memory. If you have a loved one—whether they passed away this year or in previous years—and you would like to honor them by lighting a candle, you will have the opportunity to do so during the service.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES

The United Methodist Men’s Annual Fish Fry will be held on Tuesday, October 6, 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. To purchase a ticket, please see Jim Tims or stop by the First UMC office.

St. Luke once again will provide supper for the students at the Wesley Foundation on Wednesday, October 14. Please contact Kay Daves if you can provide a dessert or help serve.

Worship Greeters are needed for the months of October and November! 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 or Al Williams.

Don’t forget 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 to assist members in need with medical bills, utility expenses, and other urgent needs.

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.

BBQ Supper

Kairos Outside Central MS

Kairos Outside is a ministry designed for the wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, grandmothers, and any other female relative or partner of men and women who are incarcerated. So often, they are “doing time” right along with their incarcerated loved one.

Kairos Outside is set up as a Weekend Retreat to help strengthen the family unit and encourage small support groups. Two weekends each year provide a secure place for up to 32 women to share their struggles. We invite them into a Christian Community that cares about them and their needs.

Kairos means God’s Special Time and, in the lives of these women, we know it will truly be a Special Time. We ask for your support and participation, for our weekend of October 2-4, 2026.

Below are a few ways that you can show your support for the upcoming weekend. Contact Debra Cole for more information or to offer your help.

1. Volunteering to work in the background as support staff or serve on the kitchen and prayer team (men are welcome to volunteer).

2. Providing individually wrapped snacks (chips, crackers, nuts, raisins, cookies, cakes, etc.); personal-sized bottled water or canned sodas (any variety/brand).

3. Providing financial assistance to cover the cost of the program.
Sponsor a guest (whole weekend) for $200 or donations in any amount will be appreciated

Deadline to sign up, drop off donated items, or monetary donations is Monday, September 28. Please make checks payable to St Luke with “Kairos” on the memo line, place it in the offering plate or bring to the church office.

DSU Wesley Foundation

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 Lisa in the church office.

The St. Luke Scene

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Events in October

October 2-4, Friday-Sunday
— Kairos Outside Weekend Retreat (Camp Wesley Pines)

October 8, Thursday
— Toddler Playgroup, 9:30-10:30 a.m. (Preschool Room)

October 11, Sunday
— Second Sunday Mission for Helping Hands
— Charge Conference, 3:30 p.m. (Revels UMC, Greenville)

October 14, Wednesday
— Provide Supper for Wesley Students, 6:30 p.m. (Wesley Foundation)

October 15, Thursday
— Toddler Playgroup, 9:30-10:30 a.m. (Preschool Room)

October 18, Sunday
— BBQ Supper, 5:30 p.m. (Fellowship Hall)

October 22, Thursday
— Toddler Playgroup, 9:30-10:30 a.m. (Preschool Room)

October 25, Sunday
— Trunk-or-Treat, 5:30 p.m. (First UMC Parking Lot)

October 29, Thursday
— Toddler Playgroup, 9:30-10:30 a.m. (Preschool Room)

Events in November

November 1, Sunday
— All Saints Service, 9:30 a.m.

November 3, Tuesday
— UWIF Grace Circle, 10:00 a.m. (Church Library)

November 8, Sunday
— Finance Meeting, 11:30 a.m. (Fellowship Hall)

November 22, Sunday
— Decorate St Luke for Christmas -NO Sunday School

November 26, Thursday
— Thanksgiving Day

Memorials and Honorariums

By:
Jackie Pennington

Stacey Lampkin; Linda Smith

Jackie Pennington

By:
Betty Hunter

Memorials for:
Don Blackwood

Beth Jacks

Jennifer Martin

Honorarium for:
Mary Lynne Weaver

Attendance and Offering Report

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Newsletter Blog

October 2026

October 1, 2026St. Luke United Methodist Church

Voices from Our Church Family

Lectionary Readings for October