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Sunday, July 29 After a great deal of discussion and prayer by the Church Council and clergy leaders, the 5:30 worship service will be discontinued after July 29th. With the 4D vision in place, it is necessary to evaluate many areas of our ministry to ensure that they intentionally meet the needs of our current members as well as the needs of our community. For questions regarding this announcement please email Pastor Jenn Stiles Williams at jstileswilliams@st.lukes.org. View the Upcoming Worship Schedule or Listen to past sermons on our website: www.St.Lukes.org/Worship You can see more Upcoming News & Events on our website: www.St.Lukes.org/Events
Kingdom Building Now Serving: Volunteer Opportunities You can see more Volunteer Opportunities on the St. Luke's Kingdom Building website: www.St.Lukes.org/KingdomBuilding/NowServing
Disciple Building Growth Groups, Classes & Sign-Ups You can see more Growth Groups, Classes & Sign-ups on the St. Luke's Kingdom Building website: www.St.Lukes.org/KingdomBuilding/SmallGroups
Friday, July 27, 2012 Read: Find a good spouse, you find a good life - and even more: the favor of God! The poor speak in soft supplications; the rich bark out answers. Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family. Proverbs 18:22-24, The Message Think About: Can you recall a time when you have been strengthened through friendship? How did it make you feel? C.S. Lewis said, "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one." Twelve people met at the Orlando Airport for a mission trip. It would be the first time some of them would meet and a first mission trip for others. The week began with an orientation and overview of the project. At the first evening's meal, thoughts were shared. Looking back, the Holy Spirit's presence was obvious. The next day, one of the members prepared to return home because of the pain from grief that was overcoming their ability to function as part of the team. Eighteen months earlier, the member's spouse had been killed in a tragic accident. Grief from the loss was continuing to surface. They gathered for prayer and consolation, encouraging the member to remain. They took extra care to look after the team member. The grief eased and was more bearable through the loving support of others. The group shared another's burden. In the short time of the trip, four of the men who had just met grew a remarkable bond of friendship. Over hammers, nails, roofing materials and lumber, the four developed bonds like brothers. One would soon be moving away and was already regretting that he had never met the other three until the mission trip. The days together began with a devotional prepared by teams of two. Each devotional was more remarkable than the previous one. Gentle words shared from grateful hearts blessed breakfast gatherings. Everyone pitched in to prepare lunches, fill water jugs and load vans that would take them to the job site. They watched out for one another. God's favor embraced them. In the movie Men in Black 3, Agents J and K watched out for each other. Like the mission trip, they are on a specific assignment. They protected each other. Jesus gives us the assignment to love our neighbors as ourselves. "Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply." (Romans 12:9-10, The Message). Who are the people in my life that have loved me deeply and loved me into being? Who are the ones that have encouraged and affirmed me, and have laughed and cried with me? Who can I love into being? I observed a teenager extend loving hospitality to a new classmate that had transferred to her school. She encouraged the new classmate to shadow her. She was serving as family to one who was in a new environment. Who can I love today? Pray this Prayer: Holy One, give me your love to give to another. Teach me to be a true friend who sticks by another like family. Amen. Written by the St. Luke's Writing Team Having Trouble Viewing this Email? Click here to view it on our website. St. Luke's Weekly Update Main Page St. Luke's Weekly Update Archives Click here to be removed from the St. Luke's Weekly Update Click here to sign-up to receive the St. Luke's Weekly Update via Email © 2012 St. Luke's United Methodist Church at Windermere |
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