St. Luke's Weekly Update December 2, 2009

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In this Week's Update:

HopeSpring Update

Worship & Advent This Week

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

Upcoming Small Groups, Classes & Sign-ups

Christmas Chains Daily Devotional

A Note from Pastor Bill Bill Barnes

Dear family in faith,

This week in worship the Dickens' Christmas Carol introduces us to the ghost of Christmas Past and the theme of illumination. Looking as if he has a head of flickering light, the ghost takes Scrooge back in time.

I had my own yearly glimpse of Christmas past when I opened the boxes containing my outside decorations last Sunday evening. Back when the kids were young and I decorated the parsonage in Turnburry as if it were part of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights at Hollywood Studios, I always made lighting diagrams that I placed in the boxes for storage. Every year when I would start the hours long task of hooking everything up, I was always surprised and grateful to find that the Bill of the previous Christmas had cared enough about the Bill of the current Christmas to label everything!

But that was then and there. Here and now that "scroogey" Bill from Christmas past just throws the lights in the tub with no diagrams or plans and lets the Bill of Christmas present fend for himself. One of the things this Bill has never understood is how perfectly good strings of lights stored carefully inside an air-conditioned room can all go bad in 11 months. They work fine when you put them away but inevitably half of them don't light the next year. What's up with that? Ah the challenges of illumination at Christmas.

But as usual, I digress. This Sunday in worship it is Zechariah the father of John the Baptist who speaks so passionately as he prophesies about light:

By the tender mercy of our God
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death

Scrooge was sitting in the darkness of the shadow of death. It was the slow death of a heart getting colder and colder and eyes of compassion getting dimmer and dimmer. The illumination of the flame of the Ghost of Christmas Past was so bright Scrooge tried unsuccessfully to extinguish its light. But not before he had truly seen himself.

Read chapter two of the story. Read Malachi 3:1-4 and Luke 1: 67-79. For the next three Thursday night studies of Exegesis (6:30 pm in the sanctuary) we will be studying the Nativity narratives in Luke and Matthew. Join us.

And if you missed the time for the "Homeowners Facing Hardships Presentation" it is tonight at 6:30 p.m. in C208.

With faith, hope, love and a whole lot of light. (Just check my Twitpic of our house)

Bill
Follow me @ twitter: wmsbarnes

HopeSpring Logo
HopeSpring Update

Greetings all,

We had a great worship experience last Sunday celebrating our "Go and Do" outreach into the community. Several meaningful stories were shared and there is no doubt there are lives that were touched in ways we will never know. We also took the opportunity to organize for our new "growth group" format that will take us through the Advent season. Along with some joyous music, we will be using our Sunday time together to meet around tables to discuss the Charles Dickens classic "A Christmas Carol" and how this timeless story can shape our discipleship during this holy time of year. If you were not able to be with us last week, don't worry, we have empty chairs at every table just waiting for you to come and fill them up! This Sunday we will be looking through the eyes of the Ghost of Christmas Past at some of the choices Scrooge made in his life. I hope the examination of these choices will lead to some interesting and challenging conversations about our own choices as followers of Jesus.

Before I wrap this up, I want to remind you a few important events:

The encore presentation of the Homeowners Facing Hardships happens tonight on the St. Luke's campus at 6:30 pm in room C208-210. This educational seminar will include presentations with experience in the fields of law, finance, and mental health.
There's a middle and high school student night of fun planned on Sunday December 13th! Please meet at HopeSpring at 5:30 pm for a scavenger hunt at Fowler Groves. We'll be back by 7:30 pm for pick-up.
Many of you who live in the Horizon West area should have received notification of the Public Hearing for the Stillwater Crossings & Center Bridge PD Amendment on Tuesday, December 15th at the Orange County Commission Chambers, 1 Floor County Administration Center, 201 S. Rosalind Ave at 2:00 pm. If your schedule allows we encourage you to attend to support the changed planned urban development and zoning guidelines that will be advantageous to the future permanent site for HopeSpring.

Hope you are having a great week and as the Christmas decorations and lights go up around our homes and in our neighborhoods may we remember who is the true light of the world and shine for Him!

Blessings,
Pastor Beth

Upcoming in Worship & Advent

Wednesday, December 2- Advent Night of Hope
7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall - A service of evening prayer will be offered, followed by a time of fellowship to lighten dark days.

Sunday, December 6 - Second Sunday of Advent
Sermon Series: "ReThink Christmas"
Sermon: "The Spirit of Christmas Past"
Scripture: Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 1:67-79
Traditional Worship: 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00 a.m. Dr. William S. Barnes preaching in the Sanctuary
Contemporary Worship: 9:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Rev. Jenn Stiles Williams preaching in the Gymnasium

POWERHOUSE Intergenerational Worship for Children and Families: 10:50 a.m. Rev. Beth Farabee-Puckett leading in the Gymnasium

Global Fair Trade Market with Ten Thousand Villages
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in the Welcome Hall, Building C

HopeSpring Sunday Gathering

Topic: Worship Celebration
St. Luke's at HopeSpring: 11:00 a.m. at the HopeSpring Campus

View the Advent Schedule on our website: www.St.Lukes.org/Advent

View the Upcoming Worship Schedule or Listen to past sermons on our website: www.St.Lukes.org/Worship

Upcoming Events

You can see more Upcoming News & Events on our website: www.St.Lukes.org/Events

More Than A Christmas Carol

	Event Date & Time: 12/13/2009
	Join us December 12th & 13th at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. (both nights) for St. Luke's Christmas Concert, More Than A Christmas Carol. Invite your friends, family and neighbors for an inspiring start to the Christmas season. Tickets are available in the Welcome Hall for our upcoming Christmas Concerts as well as during the week at the reception desk. Tickets are free and you are welcome to request as many as you like, but only take what you need so that we can accommodate everyone who would like to attend one of these concerts. If you find you have tickets that will be unused, please return them, as we often have waiting lists for concerts.
	More Information about this Event

Kingdom Building Now Serving: Volunteer Opportunities

You can see more Volunteer Opportunites on the St. Luke's Kingdom Building website: www.St.Lukes.org/KingdomBuilding/NowServing

Habitat Installing Trusses Sat. Dec. 4th

	Deploy: Missions: Habitat for Humanity
	Description: Join the Habitat Team to install trusses at 519 Bethune Ave, Winter Garden, Florida. WORK DAYS: •Hours: Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. sharp to 3:00 p.m. •Clothing: Wear closed-toed shoes and comfortable, modest clothes. •Coffee & Snacks as well as lunch will be provided. •Instruction briefing will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m., if you arrive lat... View and Sign-up for this Opportunity

Habitat Fescia & roof decking installation Sat. Dec. 11

	Deploy: Missions: Habitat for Humanity
	Description: Join the Habitat team to help in installing fescia & roof decking at 519 Bethune Ave, Winter Garden, Florida DETAILS OF WORK DAYS: •Hours: Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. sharp to 3:00 p.m. •Clothing: Wear closed-toed shoes and comfortable, modest clothes. •Coffee & Snacks as well as lunch will be provided. •Instruction briefing will begin prompt... View and Sign-up for this Opportunity

Coalition Cooks Sat., Dec. 19

	Deploy: Missions: Coalition for the Homeless
	Description: The next mission to the Coalition Center is Dec. 19th. Come and make early Christmas dinner special for the residents. Meet at St. Luke's Fellowship Hall at 12:00 noon to get position assignment and carpool to the Center. View and Sign-up for this Opportunity

Coalition Servers Sat, Dec 19th

	Deploy: Missions: Coalition for the Homeless
	Description: Make this early Christmas dinner special for the residents of the Center by serving dinner. Servers meet at 5:00PM at St. Luke's Fellowship Hall to carpool to the Center. If you prefer to meet the team at the Center, the address is 639 West Central Blvd in downtown Orlando. View and Sign-up for this Opportunity

Vacation Bible School 2010 - Preparation

	Guide: Children's Ministries: Children's Ministries Help
	Description: VBS 2010 Are you ready to feel the spray on your face as sails snap overhead and you experience the deep, rolling waters of God's love! VBS 2010 - High Seas Adventures - Exploring the Mighty Love of God. The children will learn that God's love is true, comforting, surprising, life-changing, and is for everyone! We will start cutting, and pr... View and Sign-up for this Opportunity

Kingdom Building Small Groups, Classes & Sign-Ups

You can see more Small Groups, Classes & Sign-ups on the St. Luke's Kingdom Building website: www.St.Lukes.org/KingdomBuilding/SmallGroups

Advent Conspiracy

	Guide: Spiritual Formation: Small Group Ministry
	Description: This Advent study shows participants how to substitute consumption with compassion by practicing four simple but powerful countercultural concepts: worship fully, spend less, give more and love all. Christmas can still change the world when you, like Jesus, give what matters most- your presence. Book Study with Pastor Beth: Beginn... View and Sign-up for this Class/Small Group

December 2, 2009

Read: Luke 21:35-36
"But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties, drinking and shopping. Otherwise that day is going to take you by complete surprise, springing on you suddenly like a trap for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere at once."

Think About: Mouse traps are hideous inventions. Granted, they work if peanut butter is the bait. Anything else and you'll be singing the old song, "The mouse took the cheese, the mouse took the cheese, hi ho the merry-o; the mouse took the cheese." The danger seems to be more to the trapper than the trappee, death of mice not withstanding, of course.

It takes a steady hand and strong nerves to load the bait and set the trap. One slip might result in a broken finger or a pretty good indentation, a black and blue bruise, and even more colorful language! Then comes the attempt to set down the trap without springing it. The worse part of the process is hearing the snap and imagining the sight. A heretofore unsuspecting furry creature, going about its search for food is suddenly squished to death. Opened mouth and dangling tongue leave no doubt. Life is gone.

The Bible warns us of equally sudden surprises. Prophets had long spoken of a coming Messiah, but few hearers held their breaths and watched the skies. Store countdowns warn us of the days remaining until Christmas, but we still scramble on December 24th. Through ghostly visitations Dickens warned Scrooge by reminding him of past deeds of his misspent life. For us and for him, there will be an accounting. The trap is set.

Respond/Write: Some lessons are hard; experience is a tough teacher. We get very few do-overs, and regrets begin to weigh us down and paralyze us. Hear this; Jesus has come to set you free. Say it, repeat it, and believe it. You are free.

Pray: Find a place to be alone. Whisper, "I am free." Say it louder, and louder. Keep repeating it. Sing it! Yell it! Get up and move. Walk around the room, skip, and dance. Practice being free. Now, go outside and live it.

Share: On the St. Luke's campus, read a worship guide and a place to serve in your "free time." Call Joline at 407-876-4991, ext. 264 and get connected in service. Come to the Joy Center and sign up for Coalition in April, May or June, when they need you even more! On the HopeSpring campus, pray for the people you met in your new growth groups last Sunday. Write one of them a note of encouragement as we begin this special season.

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© 2009 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 • www.HopeSpringFL.org