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In this Week's Update:
Upcoming Worship
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
Upcoming Small Groups, Classes & Sign-ups
Daily Devotional |
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A Note from Pastor Bill
Dear St. Luke's Saints,
On Wednesday morning the Shepherds Hope ministry of free healthcare for the low-income uninsured had its annual "Call to Hope" breakfast fundraiser. Hundreds of caring individuals gathered to hear the miracle story of what we are doing to meet the needs of the uninsured in Central Florida. Even with a new healthcare reform bill having become law, it will be several years before we begin to see how effective it will be in ensuring that more of our neighbors are covered. In the meantime, and even after that, there will still be a need for Shepherd's Hope.
The theme this year was "The Power of One," and everyone who attended received a lapel pin with that slogan. It came attached to a card that had a great quote from an unlikely source, comedienne, Lily Tomlin: I always wondered why somebody didn't do something about that. Then I realized I was the somebody.
On Tuesday I was sweating it out on a much delayed flight, then an equipment change (airline speak for "This plane is so messed up we need to put you on another one!) and then storms in Atlanta that I was worried about even making it back home for the breakfast. I had been in Atlanta to emcee the Silver Anniversary of the Sherman Scholars program at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Twenty-five years ago Frank Sherman and his wife Helen made a multi-million dollar gift to Candler that established full scholarships for all of the three years of the cost of a seminary education. Today the fund is worth $16 million and 850 students have been recipients. We talked at the banquet about the power of one life to dramatically affect ministry in our United Methodist Churches.
Riding home from the airport last night I heard the news about the death of one of the great leaders of the Civil Rights movement in America, Dorothy Height. I had met Dorothy on the campus of Bethune-Cookman University several years ago. Looking radiant in one of her signature high-fashion hats, she spoke of her deep affection for Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune.
Dorothy Height was the President-emeritus of the National Council of Negro Women, which had been founded by Dr. Bethune. Like Dr. Bethune, Dorothy had worked alongside First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She was a key leader in the women's movement in the Civil Rights movement and was on the platform during the 1963 March on Washington when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his now famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Under Dorothy's leadership of the Council the first statue of a woman and a person of color was erected on public land in Washington, D.C. That person was Dr. Bethune. I met Dorothy when she came for the unveiling of another statue of Mary, this time on the campus of Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach.
Dr. Height was 98 years old when she passed away this week. A grateful country awarded her with 36 honorary degrees, The Presidential Medal of Freedom (1994) and the Congressional Gold Medal (2004). Ah, the Power of One!
This week is "Change the World Sunday," when the topic is "The Heart and Mind of an APP (Amazing Powerful Person)." Every single one of us has been given the power of the Holy Spirit to become God's best versions of ourselves. And our best versions always call out for the world to be its best as well. Not only that, we do something about it!
Read Romans 12:1-2 and Philippians 4:8-9 in preparation for Sunday. Claim the power of the one you are in the name of the One who is, was, and ever shall be!
With faith, hope, and love,
Bill
Follow me @ twitter: wmsbarnes
P.S. Don't forget after each worship experience, "The Me I Want to Be" by John Ortberg will be available for purchase for $10 in the Welcome Hall of building C. Please visit www.st.lukes.org/Easter for more information about the 5-week upcoming book study groups and to sign up on-line. There is also a $5 participant's book for those who are joining a study group. I hope you will take advantage of these great opportunities for continued spiritual formation outside of worship!
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Upcoming Worship
Sunday, April 25 - Fourth Sunday of Easter
Sermon Series: "The APP I want to Be"
Sermon: "The Heart and Mind of an APP: Change the World Sunday"
Scripture: Romans 12:1-2; Philipians 4:8-9
Traditional Worship: 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00 a.m. Dr. David Stephens preaching in the Sanctuary
Contemporary Worship: 9:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Rev. Jenn Stiles Williams preaching in the Gymnasium (9:30) & Attic (5:30)
POWERHOUSE Intergenerational Worship for Children and Families: 10:50 a.m. Rev. Beth Farabee-Puckett leading in the Gymnasium
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
| Change the World on April 25th | | | Event Date & Time: 4/25/2010 | | Make a difference by learning how to impact your community and the world through ministry and service. A churchwide Change the World event will be held April 24–25 to encourage members to
join with others in the community to make a difference locally and globally. For more information, visit – www.rethinkchurch.org/changetheworld Here at St. Luke’s we are living into the local-global commitment of this day by highlighting four new mission initiatives that need a unique kind of commitment for this new decade. On April 25 you will hear more about these ministries in worship and have a chance to attend open houses for each one between worship services. The new local initiatives include: Faith Re-Entry Enterprise/FREE and The Jobs Partnership-Parramore Initiative. New global initiatives include: Haiti Rebuilding and Church to Church Partnership in Ethiopia. | | More Information about this Event | | | Habitat Dedication on April 25th | | | Event Date & Time: 4/25/2010 2:00:00 PM | | Habitat Dedication in Winter Garden- April 25th at 2:00 p.m. St. Luke's Habitat for Humanity ministry will be dedicating their ninth home. Everyone is invited to this special celebration for the Andrews family located at 519 Bethune Ave, Winter Garden, Florida. Directions can be found on the link below. | | More Information about this Event | | | Blessing of the Animals | | | Event Date & Time: 4/25/2010 2:00:00 PM | |
The Blessings of the Animals is a fun, short worship experience celebrating God's creation through the special pets in our lives. Each pet will receive an individual blessing. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and animals need to be leashed or in a crate for their safety. This worship experience will take place Sunday, April 25th at 2:00 p.m. in the picnic area, south of Building C. Hope to see you there as we speak, bark, meow, chirp and hiss our praises to God! |
| 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
| CDC Carnival | | | | Reach: Child Development Center: CDC Carnival | | | Description: Supervise water slides and bounce houses for the CDC Carnival for an hour and a half. Two shifts, one from 5 -6:30 and another from 6:30 - 8
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 | | | PowerHouse Welcome Team | | | | Proclaim: PowerHouse Family Worship: The PowerHouse Grid | | |
Description: Welcome Team - Do you have the gifts of Hospitality - we need you to Welcome our families to PowerHouse.
- You would need to arrive at gym at 10:35am and serve until 11:00am.
- Families would stand in the lobby outside the gym to greet families and answer questions.
View and Sign-up for this Opportunity | | | PowerHouse Communion Serving Team | | | | Proclaim: PowerHouse Family Worship: The PowerHouse Grid | | |
Description: - We have four stations, all in the front
- Each station has two people
- A coordinator will call or e-mail you during the week to give you your station assignment
- The pastor will call the communion servers forward right after the communion prayer
- Go up on the stage and get the cup and bread
- Take it to your station
- As you serve adult...
View and Sign-up for this Opportunity | | | PowerHouse Offering Team | | | | Proclaim: PowerHouse Family Worship: The PowerHouse Grid | | |
Description: - At the end of the service, collect the offering from the baskets at both entrances - inside the doors of the gym lobby and inside the doors from the hallway across from the kitchen
- Put the offering in the bag and take it to the wall safe
- Families with children are welcome to serve on the Offering Team, but two adults must accompany the offe...
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
| The Me I Want to Be | | | | Guide: Spiritual Formation: Small Group Ministry | | | Description: Book study opportunity to do deeper into the Easter sermon series themes of "The APP I Want to Be."
View and Sign-up for this Class/Small Group | | | Budgeting - BUDGETING FOR LIFE CHANGES (4/22) | | | | Deploy: Resource Advocacy: Resource Advocacy | | | Description: This is the 4th FREE workshop in the BUDGETING & PERSONAL MONEY MANAGEMENT series. Topis such as how to budget for Marriage, New house,retirement, unemployment & separation/divorce will be discussed.
The workshops are open to both members of St. Luke's and people in the community. You can take advantage of our Thursday evening dinner (starts...
View and Sign-up for this Class/Small Group | | | The Me I Want to Be | | | | Guide: Spiritual Formation: Small Group Ministry | | | Description: A book study opportunity to go deeper into the themes of the Easter sermon series, "The Me I Want to Be."
View and Sign-up for this Class/Small Group | | | Budgeting - STICKING TO YOUR BUDGET IN AN EMERGENCY (4/28) | | | | Deploy: Resource Advocacy: Resource Advocacy | | | Description: This is the third FREE workshop in the BUDGETING & PERSONAL MONEY MANAGEMENT series. The workshops are open to both members of St. Luke's and people in the community. You can take advantage of our Thursday evening dinner (starts at 5:30pm) for $5/person or $15/family and head on to the workshop. Notes from previous workshops which you might have mi...
View and Sign-up for this Class/Small Group | | | Budgeting - TALKING MONEY WITH CHILDREN (5/6) | | | | Deploy: Resource Advocacy: Resource Advocacy | | | Description: Are children part of the money-discussion in your household? How can ensure your children's happiness by teaching them to be good stewards of money? Are your children ready to be financially independent? You can take advantage of our Thursday evening dinner (starts at 5:30pm) for $5/person or $15/family and head on to the workshop.Invite friends an...
View and Sign-up for this Class/Small Group | |
April 22, 2010
Read: For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Proverbs 2:10-11
Think About: In "The Shack" Paul Young writes, "the one who knows me best, loves me most." That's pretty telling. I, of course, took that as a mighty affirmation. All that I am, all that I have done, all that I try to hide is an open book before God, and yet, in spite of it all, God loves me better and more than anyone, including my parents, my husband, and my kids. In light of that, why wouldn't I trust God to have my best, long term interests at heart? Why wouldn't I trust God to, as the hymn goes, to "mold me, make me and use me?
As well as God knows me and loves me, wouldn't the reverse be true? The more I know of God, the more I love him. So, study is a path to wisdom, knowledge, discretion, and understanding. That's all well and good, but I may not study or learn the way everyone else does. Still, I am compelled to learn more about this God who loves me.
When I was in high school, my solid geometry teacher seated us alphabetically in rows. I sat behind a guy who slept through the class every day. Yet, when we took tests, he aced every one! Certainly our styles of learning differed. He knew numbers; I knew words. Did he find God in formulas, as I found God in verses?
Our study focuses on the 'Me I Want to Be' and through it we can discover our learning styles and our pathways. Each of us probably has a good idea of the best ways we acquire knowledge and study techniques that work for us. We are individuals, and we learn differently. We experience God in a variety of ways and the monvee.com website will help us focus on who we are. Locate the card in the back of the book to find your code, log on to monvee.com and take the survey.
Begin to recognize just who you are and how you are wired. The God who made you wants you to increase in wisdom and knowledge, to understand more deeply, and to learn using your own styles. Figure out where and how you best experience God.
Personally, I am part lemming. I have this imbedded desire to get to the ocean. Fortunately, I don't jump off a cliff, but the rhythm of the tides, the power of the waves, and the enormity of the sea speak God to me.
Where is your space? Remember, we are all different and you might not be a nature lover at all. Perhaps you see God best when you are serving a meal to the homeless, or in worship, or alone in a quiet space. Go ahead; take the survey to enrich your personal spiritual journey.
Pray this Prayer: Lord God, I want to know you better in order to trust you more. Give me an understanding of how you created me to help me find my path to you. I want to know you so intimately that when you speak, I know your voice and follow. Amen.
You are invited and encouraged to share your thoughts, feelings and experiences with the spiritual practices at the Easter Devotional Blog. We are on this journey together and your words may help another along the way.
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4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Rd., Orlando FL, 32819
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