St. Luke's Weekly Update March 17, 2010

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In this Week's Update:

Worship

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

Upcoming Small Groups, Classes & Sign-ups

Lenten Daily Devotional

A Note from Pastor Jenn Bill Barnes

Greetings People of the App's,

Hope this finds each of you preparing for our Congregational Challenge for the week! Remember you are supposed to be working toward carving out 24 hours of rest, delight, play and worship for this coming Sabbath. What do you need to be preparing in order to enjoy Sabbath from Saturday sundown to Sunday sundown? I'm getting ready myself and looking forward to what has become a great day of play for me and my family! But I'm also going to use it as a day to rest up for the next congregational challenge that comes with the next APP. Because this challenge comes with a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. But first, let me share this story with you.

A couple of weekends ago, John and I went to run an errand and left the kids with a sitter. We had just spoken with them about the need for everyone to pitch in with chores in order to keep our family running smoothly and to have time to play and relax together. When we got home from our errand, we found the house was picked up, the kitchen was gleaming and even the floors were clean. Instantly, we began to thank the sitter, who informed us she had nothing to do with it. Apparently Sam, our 5 year old, decided to call a family meeting. The three kids came together and came up with a name for the group: US - the United Siblings. During the US meeting, they assigned roles (leader, note-taker, and job maker) and then they assigned chores for the day. Each of them had a chore to clean the house, and they worked together to make sure everyone was finished by the time we got home. First of all let me say, I cried because of my great pride in their leadership and organizational skills. The org chart they created sent me over the edge of excitement, I must admit. But I also cried because they understood the power of their team work and the importance of serving their parents in a way which made our lives easier.

This week we will tackle the APP of Service. The amazing, powerful practice of service gets to the heart of one of humanities greatest struggles: the struggle of pride. The practice of Serving another, like Jesus, requires humility. To serve in the footsteps of the Messiah who took off a towel, wrapped it around his waist, and then washed the dirty feet of his followers - even the one's who would betray him and deny him, requires a sense of humility which takes PRACTICE. John Ortberg writes in "The Life You've Always Wanted", "Indeed, humility involves a Copernican revolution of the soul, the realization that the universe does not revolve around us." The greatest way to move from our pride into the grace of humility is through the Discipline of Service.

So here's the BHAG!!! Can we get 600 people to serve in just 6 days?

Is it possible to mobilize 600 people in just 6 days to download into their hearts the humility of Christ by utilizing the APP of Service? Sunday in worship we will study the story from Matthew 26 of the amazing woman who performed the loving service of anointing Jesus with her precious bottle of oil. It's a moving story of one who was willing to pour out all she had in service to Christ. Are you willing to follow in her footsteps? You can sign up now for the 6 Days of Service at www.st.lukes.org/SixDays or you can come hear more about it during worship.

See why you need those 24 hours of Sabbath rest? God has something amazing in store for us if we are up for the challenge. 600 people in 6 days - I say "Bring it ON!" Here's to the US - the United Servants of St. Luke's!!

Grace and Peace -
Jenn

Upcoming in Worship

Sunday, March 21 - Fifth Sunday of Lent
Sermon Series: "There's an APP for That! (Amazing, Powerful Practice)"
Sermon: "Service"
Scripture: Matthew 26:6-13
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 (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

Gym Closed March 27 - April 6

	Event Date & Time: 3/27/2010
	The gymnasium will be closed from Saturday, March 27th until April 6th for Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter worship. The gym will reopen with normal business hours on Tuesday, April 6th.
	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

West Orange Daily Bread-Thursday

	Deploy: Missions: West Orange Daily Bread
	Description: West Orange Daily Bread Program (WODB) is a part of the Christian Service Center of Central Florida, Inc. Serving the Ocoee area, WODB provides a the homeless and hungry of our community with a hot and nourishing meal throughout the year. St. Luke’s provides volunteers to serve and clean up the noon meal Tuesday through Thursday on the third full w... View and Sign-up for this Opportunity

Coalitioon for the Homeless - Cooks on 3/20/10

	Deploy: Missions: Coalition for the Homeless
	Description: We need 7 cooks to help us prepare meals at the Coalition Homeless shelter on March 20th. The group meets at St. Luke's Fellowship Hall at 12PM for post assignment and carpooling. View and Sign-up for this Opportunity

Coalition - Cooks on 3/20/10

	Deploy: Missions: Coalition for the Homeless
	Description: We are still looking for 7 cooks to help prepare meal at the Coalition for the Homeless. The group meets at St. Luke's Fellowship Hall to get position assignment and carpool. The Shelter is located at 639 W. Central Blvd. in Downtown Orlando. View and Sign-up for this Opportunity

IHN/Family Promise

	Deploy: Missions: Interfaith Hospitality Network
	Description: Interfaith Hospitality Network/Family Promise is a Central Florida organization dedicated to helping families get back on their feet. They provide Case Management and local churches provide shelter and hospitality. Up to four families who currently do not have a home will be staying at our church March 21-28. We need 50-60 volunteers to make this ... View and Sign-up for this Opportunity

UMW Crafting-Monday Evening

	Deploy: UMW: UMW Events
	Description: Come create crafts for the UMW Holiday Bazaar. Proceeds from this November event go to missions in our community and through our mission partners. It takes dedicated volunteers many many weeks to make these wonderful crafts. We are looking for some crafty people to join us this week. New people are always welcome. We will make creations for two hou... 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

Dinner 3-25-2010

	Support: Culinary Services: Thursday Night Dinners
	Description: Baken Chicken, Parsley Potatoes, Veggie, Salad, Roll, Drink and cookie View and Sign-up for this Class/Small Group

Budgeting - THE BASIS OF BUDGETING (3/25)

	Deploy: Resource Advocacy: Resource Advocacy
	Description: The basis of budgeting What is budgeting? Where are you financially, where do you want to be and how do you get there? Keeping track of your money What do the records tell you? This is the second free workshop in the BUDGETING & PERSONAL MONEY MANAGEMENT series. You can take advantage of our Thursday evening dinner (starts at 5:30pm) fo... View and Sign-up for this Class/Small Group

Deploy Leader Learning Community-April Thursday Night Class

	Deploy: Missions: Mission Small Groups
	Description: Through these discussions we will explore the concept of dignified interdependence, get to know others who serve through Deploy ministries, learn more about our work together, and gain new tools for our ministry. Your Deploy Staff would like to lift up the challenge of having EVERY Deploy leader be a part of this discussion in 2010. This is the... View and Sign-up for this Class/Small Group

Delicious Bible Stories

	Guide: Children's Ministries: Small Groups
	Description: Delicious Bible Stories – Everyone loves a good story, and everyone loves to eat. Delicious Bible Stories combines the two with fun and exciting results. Families (geared for families with children five and up) are invited to be part of a popular “cooking show” as various guests from the Bible come to share their stories and their delicious reci... 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

March 18, 2010

Read: Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone... Matthew 14:22-23

Think About: The verses you just read from the Gospel of Matthew are found in between two famous Bible stories: the feeding of the five thousand and the impetuous disciple, Peter, who nearly sinks trying to walk on the water to Jesus. In both of these stories the power of Jesus is palpable. Hungry people are fed both physically and spiritually through their connection with Christ, and yet through this action of taking time away from the crowds and the disciples, we see that even Jesus recognizes his need for time alone. Time to renew himself and his connection with his Father through prayer, meditation, quiet, and rest.

Depending on your personality type this idea of time alone or "solitude" could sound very appealing or absolutely dreadful. However, like most things in life the healthiest spiritual rhythms can be found in balancing things like time with others and time by yourself. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a great German theologian of the early 20th century, writes in his classic book, Life Together:

Let him who cannot be alone beware of community... Let him who is not in community beware of being alone... Each by itself has profound pitfalls and perils. One who wants fellowship without solitude plunges into the void of words and feelings, and one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self-infatuation, and despair.

Therefore, we must follow the example of Jesus and seek out the re-creating stillness of solitude if we want to be with others meaningfully, and we must seek the fellowship and accountability of others if we want to be alone safely.

As we are quickly coming to the end of our focus on the Amazing, Powerful Practice of Sabbath, I hope we will take the need for solitude in our lives seriously and make some intentional attempts to incorporate it into our routines. Whether it's a few minutes in the morning with a cup of coffee before the family gets up, a lunch break with just you and your thoughts instead of a co-worker, or a day or longer set aside for reflection, it will make a positive difference. Thomas Merton, another great theologian of the 20th century writes: "It is in deep solitude that I find the gentleness with which I can truly love my brothers. Solitude and silence teach me to love my brothers for what they are, not for what they say." May it be so for us.

Practice: If planning for an extended time of solitude seems daunting, there are resources available to help. Feel free to contact Pastor Beth at bfarabeepuckett@st.lukes.org to get started.

Pray this Prayer: God of sound and of silence, help me to find and take opportunities in my day to be alone with you. May these times renew and refresh me so I might be more ready to be your humble and powerful servant. Amen.

You are invited and encouraged to share your thoughts, feelings and experiences with the spiritual practices at the Lenten 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
407-876-4991 • Fax: 407-876-6495 • www.St.Lukes.org