May 2024

May 2, 2024St. Luke United Methodist Church

Message from the Pastor

This week I joined together with a few others for a yoga class led by Erin Mulligan. The idea to invite Erin to lead us was born out of my January series on Sabbath in which we carve out intentional moments of rest and slowing ourselves down. Erin's voice and the music that was played created a sense of calm in the room as we were invited to pay attention to our breathing. Erin will be with us again on May 21st and June 25th and I invite you to join us.

Needless to say, I don't stretch regularly enough so when we first started, my body resisted the movements. My body didn't want to lean into something it wasn't used to. To my surprise, by the end of our time together, my body had slowly begun to ease into a more coordinated rhythm of movement and breath. Flexibility requires practice.

This Sunday we will celebrate our high school graduates with the text from John 15:1-8 in which Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches." Even more prevalent in these verses is the word abide. What word or image comes to mind when you think of abiding? What does it mean to abide in Christ, or to abide in God's love? How does the love of God then abide in you? St. Francis of Assisi said, "We should make a dwelling-place within ourselves where he can stay, he who is the Lord God almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." And like learning to measure our breath and be flexible, it takes practice. The nearer we draw to Christ; the more space Christ occupies within us. John Wesley described this as the love of God being shed abroad in our hearts.

I know we are in a busy season with the end of the school year and summer fast approaching, but I wonder what abiding might look like for you in this season of life. Where might God be inviting you to flex your spirit in ways you haven't before?

Now and all days, may we continue to lean into abiding in Christ together.

Grace and Peace,
Rev. Hannah

Lectionary Readings for May

Sunday, May 5 — Sixth Sunday of Easter
Acts 10:44-48
Psalm 98
1 John 5:1-6
John 15:9-17
Sunday, May 12 — Seventh Sunday of Easter
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Psalm 1
1 John 5:9-13
John 17:6-19
Sunday, May 19 — Pentecost Sunday
Acts 2:1-21
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Romans 8:22-27
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
Sunday, May 26 — Trinity Sunday
Isaiah 6:1-8
Psalm 29
Romans 8:12-17
John 3:1-17

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

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELONG

This year we have four St. Luke high school graduates who will be honored at a Graduate Reception/Potluck on May 5. They are Lindsey Mae Givens, Kolby Horton, Marianne Powell, and Patrick Wessel. If you wish to give these four a graduation gift or card, there will be gift tables set up in the Fellowship Hall for each graduate.

The UWFaith Grace Circle that was scheduled for May 7, has been canceled.

Vacation Bible School “Camp Firelight” will be held this year at St Luke on Wednesday, June 26 – Friday, June 28, from 5-7:15 pm. All kids entering 3k–6th grades for the upcoming school year are welcome! Registration is available online at www.stlukecleveland.com. Go to the “Children” tab and click on “Camp Firelight VBS 2024”, or scan the QR code in the VBS image below.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BELIEVE

Please join us for Sunday School on the last few Sundays remaining before we take our summer break. We have children’s/youth classes for pre-K through high school and there’s always something fun going on, from Bible stories to arts-and-crafts projects to songs and games. Our two adult classes follow the lectionary passages for each Sunday and lively discussions are the norm. Sunday School is a fundamental way to learn more about God’s world and our place in it, and YOUR place is in Sunday School. The Coleman Class will continue to meet through the summer, but the last Sunday School classes for children, youth, and the Young Adult class will be May 19. Sunday School will resume around September 8.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME DISCIPLES

The Women's Resource Center of Cleveland is holding their annual Walk for Life on May 4 at 8:00 a.m. and asked St. Luke to spread the word. We have several registration packets in the church office if you'd like to participate or support the Center. You may also register online at friendsofwrc@cleveland.com. For more information about the organization, you may visit https://wrcdelta.org/.

We will have a special offering during the month of May for Peace with Justice. Donations enables the United Methodist Church to have a voice in advocating for peace and justice through a broad spectrum of global programs. The special offering benefits peace with justice ministries in the annual conference and through the General Board of Church and Society. We achieve peace with justice efforts by working with the World Council of Churches, interfaith and ecumenical bodies, and secular organizations for social-justice policies and programs that seek the wholeness of shalom for all of God’s people. Your gift, joined with the gifts of others makes a significant impact in the lives of individuals and communities.

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.

Worship Greeters are still needed for the month of July. A Greeter is a very important part of welcoming people to our worship service and helps by passing out bulletins, helping people in and out of cars (when needed), directing visitors to pews or various areas of the church, and helps in other capacities of the service. If you feel called to volunteer and want to sign up, please contact Al Williams or the church office. A sign-up sheet will also be available in the narthex.

Altar Arrangements

If you would like to help provide an altar arrangement sometime during the year, please look over the flower calendar located on the bulletin board across from the choir room, choose a date or two, and sign up. Your arrangement doesn’t have to be fresh flowers, it could also be a 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. Please contact Sandi Melton (Flower Steward) or the church office to sign up or for more info.

VBS Camp Firelight

Meditative Yoga Class

Freedom Trail Revival Tour

You are invited to come and worship during the 2024 Freedom Trail Revival Tour! The Mississippi Annual Conference's End Racism For Good Committee is excited to announce a series of Spirit-filled worship gatherings in 2024 involving five local communities that will inspire all who long to end the sin of racism in our churches, our communities, and our state. We will worship together, deepen our connection with United Methodists and others across racial lines, and honor the pain and hopes of each community. It is our desire to listen to the Spirit together and go back to our communities with renewed energy and hope! Through worship, we aspire to awaken to our calling to be communities of courage and love that can bind us together as One. We hope you can attend one of the worship events nearest you - all events begin at 2pm: February 3 (Greenwood UMC); March 2 (Rust College); April 6 (Jackson); May 4 (St Paul UMC in Hattiesburg); and June 15 (Gulfside Assembly w/Bishop Lewis preaching).