Good Thoughts
Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see-I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"
Luke 2: 9-14 VESTRY of St. Luke's Gary Dunwoody Senior Warden Dan Dennis Junior Warden Becky Terry Clerk Sally Lumpp Treasurer Class of 2009 Debi Fricks Gary Dunwoody Dan Dennis Class of 2010 Sherry Furr Gay Hensley Carmen Quinn Jerry Hodge Class of 2011 Jason Reynolds Pat Loomis James Terry Ed Seward ---------- + ---------- CHURCH HOURS Monday thru Friday 9 to 5 Friday, closed for lunch 12-1 Closed for the upcoming holidays: Friday, Dec. 23 Monday, Dec. 26 Friday, Dec. 30 Monday, Jan. 2
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Carey's Conversations
"Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?" Luke 15.4
I had yet another great conversation this week with four-year old Avery, this time while practicing for the Christmas Pageant. In addition to his shepherd's costume he was also donning an orange hardhat with a light on the front, similar to the ones West Virginia coal miners wear. I brought up the subject of shepherds and why they might need lighted hard hats in their line of work. He replied that this could help them to "find the sheep in the dark;" once again - what a challenge from such a small young boy! That is exactly what Christ - The Light of the World, did by coming to earth. "The light has shined in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it." In our dark world the light is still shining in the lives of God's people both great and small. I hope you will make every effort to come to our Christmas Eve services this year. Avery and Company will be featured in the Christmas Pageant at the 5 o'clock service and beautiful carols and profound lessons will be featured at the 11 o'clock service (midnight mass). Come - see the Light for yourselves!
Yours in Christ,
Carey+
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Christmas Outreach news from St. Luke's
St. Luke's men loaded four cars and one truck filled to the brim with gifts and gift cards on Wednesday afternoon to four families with 22 children and their parents at Ridgeroad School. See their picture on Facebook and here in the Evangelist.
Join St. Luke's on Facebook and send information to your friends about our New Years, Christmas, and Christmas Eve services.
Wanda Dunwoody and Suzette Patterson are taking a huge number of mittens and hats from our mitten tree over to St. Francis House this week.
Our children collected $361 from their cookie and ornament sale for Sheila, our retired nursery worker who is very ill. Becky Rice and Jenny Heard will be visiting with Sheila this week.
Tommy Williams, Valerie White, Gay Hensley, Jeannie Fry went to Park Hill Christian Church to load Christmas baskets there.
Remember that our ushers will be giving out New Testament Bibles to visitors at St. Luke's on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. If you bring a visitor, make sure they receive their Bible.
Thank you to so many people at St. Luke's who have made a difference in Christmas for so many others.
Looking ahead
Over the holidays, look through your closets for used coats. We will be doing a coat drive for St. Francis House in January.
We are planning to sell African team ministry jewelry in February whose proceeds go to the poor in Kenyon.
Joanna Seibert and Carmen Quinn
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From the Organ Bench
I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Blessed and Merry Christmas. The services this Christmas Eve will be unlike any you have experienced at St. Luke's. The children have been working on a pageant that tells the story of the Incarnation. It proves to be a fun and engaging pageant by the children and parents.
At the 11 pm service, we will hear readings of the prophecy and Incarnation of the birth of Jesus, interspersed with carols and hymns, followed by sharing in the Eucharist together. Of particular note is the anthem at communion.
The anthem is a setting of O Magnum Mysterium by Robert Sieving. The text is from the matin verse from Christmas. The English words are as follows:
O great mystery,
And wonderful sacrament,
That animals should see the new-born Lord,
Lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
Was worthy to bear
Christ the Lord!
Alleluia!
There is so much for which to be grateful. I hope we all can take the time to share with God our thanks for the many blessings we have been given.
Merry Christmas!
Michael
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PRAYER LIST
Carolyn Ford, Jim Howell, Katherine Herring, Rhonda Herring, Annette Gerace, Suzi Martinka & family, Cory Moses, Louis Jenkins, David Jenkins, the blessings of family, Kendall, Diane Faust, Laura Dues, Pete Caro, Lawson Anderson, Maynard Gontermann, Sheila Crim, Tim Woods, Mike Roh, Vince Roh, Bobbi West, Jamie Poole, Kate Toepfer, Valerie Baker, Pat Loomis, Nicholas, Martha Stroope, Mary Jo Ring, Kathy Rose, Lorraine Furtick, Dona Monnikendam, Thalia, Parker, Kathy, Christina, the Ruttinger family, Sarah Keeler, Lisa Williams, George Cline, Jim Ellwager, Hannah Brown, Bernice Carrigan, the Acord Family, and the Gontermann Family.
Special Concerns: All of the men and women of our Armed Forces, especially Mark, Jake, Justin, Bret, Joshua, Mark, Tim, Matt, Doug and Lance.
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DOK PRAYER CARDS FOUND IN PEW RACKS |
During the Advent and Christmas season, St. Luke's Daughters of the King anticipate our Savior's birth and follow his teachings to pray for those in need. Please write any requests for yourself or others on prayer cards found in the pew racks. Place the card in the white box on the shelf inside the church entrance. All requests will be held in confidence.
Psalm 4:1 Answer me when I call to you my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer. [A psalm of David]
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19th SERENITY RETREAT AT COURY HOUSE CENTER SUBIACO ABBEY
"Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God"
Centering Prayer and the 12 Steps led by The Rev. Carey Stone
When: Friday evening January 13- Sunday afternoon January 15, 2012
Where: Coury House, Subiaco Abbey, Subiaco, Arkansas
For Whom : Active members of 12 Step Groups
Cost: Housing: Married couple $215, Single person, private room $170, Shared room (2 persons) @ $120 ea. Retreat Fee: $50/person
Register by calling Coury House at 1- 479 - 934 - 441 mention Serenity Retreat or email [email protected]
Send $75, nonrefundable deposit to:
Coury House, Serenity Retreat,
405 N. Subiaco Avenue
Subiaco, Arkansas 72865
Call soon, space is limited to 35 rooms.
Sponsored by Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas
Recovery Ministries
Contact Joanna Seibert at 501-425-8525 or [email protected] for more information
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Interfaith Event
Join us for a landmark event, as representatives of the Christian, Jewish, Islamic and Buddhist faiths
teach how their respective religions engage in
silent, contemplative prayer. The workshop will be
held from 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. and is designed for
people of all stages of experience in meditative
prayer. The cost is $25. Specific contemplative
prayer techniques will be taught, and there will be
two opportunities to practice contemplative prayer
in the Arkansas House of Prayer.
For people further in their meditation journey, the
Rev. Susan Sims Smith will offer a dinner and new
teaching to deepen the journey from 6:30 p.m.-
8:30 p.m. The cost is $20 for dinner and the evening
class, or $15 for participants in the Interfaith Prayer
Workshop.
Sunday, January 15,2012
1:00 pm-5:00 pm
Workshop: $25
6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Dinner and Deepening work for experienced meditators: $20
St. Margaret's
Episcopal Church
20900 Chenal Pkwy
Little Rock, AR
For more information call 602-570-4226,
email: [email protected]
or upload the brochure: Interfaith Event
Sponsored by Arkansas House of Prayer, the
Interfaith Center of the Institute for Theological
Studies at St. Margaret's (ITSSM) and St.
Margaret's Episcopal Church.
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EPIPHANY HAPPENINGS
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Sunday Classes
Adult and Young Adult and Children classes 9:15
Adult Class: After Christmas we will continue with "Monumental Tombs in the Time of Jesus". Don't wait to join us in our continuing adventure; we will hold a seat just for you next Sunday, starting at 9:25 a.m.
Special Events:
Mon. nights
Evening Prayer 5:30 in the chapel
Wed. nights in Advent.
Evening Prayer 5:30 in the chapel
Children's program by Becky Rice and Jenny Heard.
Children and Youth Wed. night program in Craft Room led by Becky Rice and Jenny Heard:
December 21 - Cookies and cocoa and make Christmas cards for homebound. If you know of anyone who would like to receive one of their cards, please email the name and address to [email protected].
Outreach
This is the legacy of our patron saint, evangelism. There are so many ways we are doing this at St. Luke's.
Our ushers will also be handing out New Testament Bibles from Cokesbury to all our visitors this Sunday and during the Christmas season. If you bring a visitor, make sure they receive one of the Bibles.
Christmas Eve
5:00 Christmas pageant and Holy Eucharist
10:30 Wassail in the Parish Hall
11:00 Service of Lessons and Carols and Holy Eucharist
Christmas Day
One service at 10:30 am.
2012
Epiphany
Sundays
Inquirer's class: Jan. 8, 15, 29, Feb. 5, 12 ...Six sessions
Young Adult and Youth and others
Youth and those considering confirmation or anyone who would like a refresher on what it means to be an Episcopalian will join young adults for Inquirer's Class at 9:15. Those attending the class who have been confirmed may be sponsors and may be received.
February 19: Bishop Benfield's visit: adults, young adults, youth meet with the bishop.
No formation on December 25 and Jan. 1
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SERVICE OF HOLY BAPTISM |
There will be a service of Holy Baptism on Sunday, January 8, 2012 at the 10:30 service. Anyone desiring baptism or if anyone knows someone who desires to be baptized, please contact the Church office, 501.753.4281 or [email protected].
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CHRISTIAN FORMATION
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Classes are Sunday mornings at 9:15 am.
2011-2012 Christian Education Classes
3 year olds: Brouke Reynolds, Guide
Paula Benson, Assistant
Catechesis I: Beth Maze, Guide
(4-6 year olds) Paula Volpe, Guide
Martha Cross, Assistant
Catechesis II: Ginna Simmons, Guide
(7-9 year olds) Ellen Moses, Assistant
Catechesis III: Kimber Barber-Fendley, Guide
(10-12 year olds) Laura Woford, Assistant
Teenager: Wanda Dunwoody, Co-teacher
(13-18 year olds) Suzette Patterson, Co-teacher
Adult class: The adult class will resume their DVD presentation from the Great Course, The Holy Land Revealed with Professor Jodi Magness: What Archeology Reveals About the Holy Land
Young adults: Deacon Joanna will lead the class with Meditations on Advent, Christmas, Epiphany on Advent 4.
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Nursery Care is provided for all activities on Sunday mornings.
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Year-End Giving
In order to be in compliance with the Internal Revenue Service, any contributions which donors wish to be credited to their 2011 tax year must be received in the church office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 29 th,or postmarked no later than December 31,2011. Contributions received after this date,regardless of the date on the check, must be reported as 2012 contributions. Giving is not about how much tax we pay or do not pay. However, the government has sought to encourage Americans to give to their churches and charities by making contributions tax deductible for those who itemize their donations. Why not take advantage of this wonderful provision ?
Happy Holidays and great blessings for a New Year,
Daniel R. Dennis
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