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Dear St. Luke’s Saints, We saw the funniest thing happen at one of the St. Luke’s Christmas Concerts earlier this month. When the WeeSingers (pre-schoolers) were singing their number they had to use jingle bells on circular leather straps. Lined up on the steps of the chancel in the sanctuary, they couldn’t have looked cuter! But during the song, a sweet little girl in the back row who was ringing her bells with determination whacked a little boy in front of her right on the top of his head. He squinched up his eyes, held back his tears, put his hand on the emerging bump on the top of his head, rang his own bells, and kept on singing right to the end. It was one of those Christmas memories never to be forgotten. He didn’t bring his hand back down until he was sure his co-singer above was done ringing (and whacking!). The Christmas story is one that blends sweetness with the tough times of life. Jesus is born in a Bethlehem because a Roman emperor has demanded a census that puts Mary and Joseph on the road. Jesus is laid in a manger because that’s the only “bed” available in the crowded town. Jesus becomes a refugee in Egypt when crazy King Herod sends his soldiers to kill all the little boys in Bethlehem. There is the singing of angels at the same time there is the pending brutality of swordsmen. You may be experiencing the same clash of opposites this week. “Heavenly Peace” is something you would pay for if you could buy it at the mall, where it seems you are living these days. And if the “herald angels” would deliver your Christmas greetings, you’d gladly pay for that as well. The insanity of Herod doesn’t even begin to compare to the insanity of buying, wrapping, giving, unwrapping, returning, and credit card minimum balance paying that the secular celebration of Christmas begets. Finally, we come to the moment that for most of us gives us what we are seeking through all of this: the touch of love and hope on Christmas Eve. Even for us who are leading worship numerous times on Preeve and Eve there are unique, inexpressible intimations of nativity: Jesus with us. We look forward to sharing these memorable moments with you, too. With faith, hope, and Christmas love, |
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School of the Arts Spring Registration
The Spring 2008 School of the Arts Class Schedule and Registration is now available on our website. Click here for more information.
How Can You Help???
We are almost at the end of our renovations to buildings A and B but have a few more items to complete. If you can assist with painting we sure could use your help. Our goal is to have the projected completed by January 12, 2008 so we can share this blessing with our many visitors during the Large Church Initiative Conference which begins January 21. We have a few classrooms that still need to be painted, some detail work to do down the hallways and furniture to be unpacked and loaded in. If you or your older teenage children are available during the holiday break we can supply you with a project. Please contact Kelly Smith at ksmith@st.lukes.org for more information or to sign up to help.
Campus Work Day
We will be holding a campus wide clean up/finish up day from 8:00 a.m. through noon on January 12. There will be many projects for all ages to assist with as we do the final sprucing up of our campus both inside and outside in preparation for the Larch Church Initiative Conference. Please contact Kelly Smith at ksmith@st.lukes.org for more information and to sign up. We need your help to make this conference a success and what a great way to demonstrate what St. Luke's is all about... being a family in Christ!
BodyBuilding receipts are reaching $4,000,000. It would be great to end the year with $4,000,000 paid on the pledges we made since the beginning of the campaign in 2006. Visit the BodyBuilding page for the most up-to-date total!
St. Luke's
Advent Worship
Satuday, December 22
HopeSpring Outdoor Candlelight Service:
Sunday, December 23 - Fourth Sunday of Advent
Sermon Series: "It's A Wonderful Life"
Sermon: "Trust It"
Traditional Worship: 8:00, 9:30, & 11:00 a.m. The Rev. Lee Ann Inman preaching in the Sanctuary
Contemporary Worship : 9:30 a.m. The Rev. Jenn Stiles Williams preaching in the Gymnasium
HopeSpring Worship: 10:00 a.m. The Rev. Gary A. Shockley speaking at the Bridgewater Middle School Campus
Sermon Series: "It's A Wonderful Life"
Sermon: "Treasure It"
Worship Times: 5:30, & 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Sermon Series: "It's A Wonderful Life"
Sermon: "Treasure It"
Children's Participation Nativity Pageant: 4:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Candlelight Worship: 5:00, 6:15, 7:30, 8:45, 10:00 & 11:15 p.m. in the Sanctuary
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© 2007 St. Luke's United Methodist Church at Windermere
4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Rd., Orlando FL, 32819
407-876-4991 • Fax: 407-876-6495 • www.st.lukes.org