"I was a stranger and  

you welcomed me."

During the season of Advent, from Sunday, November 30th through Sunday, December 21st, we will explore "The Stories of Jesus' Birth," at 9:00 a.m. in Board Hall with Father Michael.  

Matthew and Luke are the only two sources in the New Testament that tell the story of Jesus' birth, and though their accounts bear many similarities, each evangelist has his own distinct perspective and purpose for revealing how God came into the world.  We usually get these two separate stories blended in our minds.  Which account has the shepherds, and which one has the magi?   

We'll look at how and why each account is different, enhancing our understanding of these unique pieces of scripture as we prepare for Christmas.

The Anchorage Garden Club is sponsoring the Yule Log Lighting and Carol Sing at Hobbs Chapel on Sunday, December 7 at 6pm with the snow/rain date Monday, December 8 at 6pm. Be sure to bring candles and guards.

The Yule Lighting is an annual event that began in 1955. Bundled carolers met for the 'Christmas Tree Lighting' across from the post office. Years later, as popularity of the event increased, it was moved to Hobbs Chapel.

Be a part of a longstanding Anchorage tradition and join us for an old-fashioned, good time!

With combined efforts of the church and preschool, we have raised $600 for Wayside Christian Mission Thanksgiving meal by selling the preschool student's Turkey Art.  Thank you so much for all your help and support.  

The preschool will perform Christmas finger plays and seasonal songs December 10 at 6:00 in celebration of St. Nick Night.  Following the performance the preschool will host a reception and auction.  All money raised will be used to purchase educational toys from Kodo Kids (kodokids.com).  

The Preschool will be closed for the Christmas/New Year Holiday December 20-January 5.  

Thank you

A big "Thank You" to Joyce Day and Ainsley Thompson for all of the help with the Pancake Breakfast on November 16th.  We were able to raise over $200 towards our Christmas Outreach project and the preschool turkeys bought turkeys for the Wayside Christian Mission for Thanksgiving.  Thanks to all that supported this fundraiser event.   

Leading Youth at St. Luke's

It is amazing, on November 1st, I celebrated five years of working with the amazing, caring and great youth of St. Luke's.  It has been such a blessing and a truly life changing experience.  I believe it is good to periodically look back in order to create a forward vision.  Thank you for indulging me with a brief reflection on where we've traveled... 

Throughout the five years, we embarked on our first ever mission trip which ultimately led to an international mission trip that put many of our youth in spiritual leadership roles.  There were such fulfilling and growing experiences for our youth.  During these mission trips, our youth truly worked with and touched hundreds of people.  Locally, we connected with our community in outreach activities that ranged from a Christmas program at Resurrection Church to benefit the refugee community - volunteering at the Episcopal Church home - to helping our own St. Luke's community with moving heavy items and even some yard work.  We have participated in many fundraising walks - the Alzheimer's Walk; the Susan Komen- fighting for a cure walk and who can forget the Youth $100 Dollar Challenge - creating our own "Fr. Joe Family Walk and Wag" in Anchorage benefitting the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Organization.

In the summer of 2014, the youth worked and managed a very successful Vacation Bible School that the entire parish community supported in so many ways including fabulous meals and music! What a great event to have launched!  The youth held an annual dinner that all proceeds go to benefiting the All Saints Conference Center.  Additionally, the youth has helped larger organizations like the Heifer Foundation and to fight World Hunger with our 30 Hour Famine Overnight and sending monetary donations to both.

While service is extremely important, connecting with each other having fun is also an important part of youth group.  A strong bonding of our Youth takes place during fun events like our quarterly overnights, cookouts, bowling, laser tag, games night, trips to amusement parks, skiing, and youth Sundays to name a few.  We have connected with Episcopal youth from around the diocese by regularly sending a youth delegate to the convention, serving with other Episcopal youth at the Cathedral and participating in camp at All Saints.

Within the life of St. Luke's, you will regularly see many of our youth serving as acolytes.  Thanks to Peter Finnis this program is a strong and important part of our weekly worship.  To celebrate this service, a group of acolytes went to Washington DC this year for the National Acolyte Festival at our National Cathedral.  Our youth invested sweat equity in serving and in fundraising to create the above opportunities.  Without the parish support, none of the above could be possible.  So, my Heartfelt thanks to you, a generous parish family, for supporting our meals so that the youth could experience such a rich Spiritual journey!

I look back over five years and am proud of where we have traveled together.  After much praying and consideration, I am ready to hand the baton to the next youth leader of St. Luke's.  Effective January 1, 2015, I resign as the Youth Minister of St. Luke's.  I cannot thank you ALL enough for the support and encouraging words over the years.  Together, we have indeed changed lives!  I will be working with Fr. Michael over the coming weeks to make sure we continue to provide a firm foundation for our youth.  I appreciate your continued prayers as we transition this important ministry.  God bless you all, Melissa

Christmas Outreach

Christ Church Cathedral serves a monthly breakfast to the needy community on the first Sunday of every monthly.  Over the past two years, the youth of St. Luke's have gone to Christ Cathedral to help serve this breakfast to the needy community.  They serve a very nice breakfast to about 100 to 125 people monthly.  After our most recent visit, many of the youth were amazed to see so many familiar faces.  The youth thought need was a temporary state of being.  For this reason, the youth has selected this community to bless as our Christmas Outreach project this year and would like ask for your support.

The youth of St. Luke's is leading the effort to provide a special Christmas Breakfast to this community on Sunday, December 21.  Our youth has fundraised to collect money to purchase the food needed for the breakfast but here we need your help - we would like to provide each member of this community with a special Christmas blessing.  We are partnering with the Cathedral community and youth groups of St. Matthews, St. Thomas, St. Paul's and St. James to join us.  We are trying to fill 125 gift bags to include:

• Brand New Christmas Cards with stamped envelopes 
• Socks
• Chap Stick
• Homemade holiday treats
• McDonald Gift Cards
• Holiday Candy

We have added snowflakes to the Christmas tree in Board Hall and encourage all families to take one, or two, or three, or...??  to help support our Christmas Outreach.  We will put all Christmas Blessing Bags on December 19 and 20th so would need all donations are due by Thursday, December 18th.  There will be a collection box in Board Hall to place your donations.  Thank you for your consideration of supporting this very worthy Christmas Outreach project.  We appreciate your prayers and support. 

Youth Schedule

Sunday, December 7th - meet at the Hobbs Chapel, Anchorage for the distribution of holiday cookies to Anchorage community.  Joel Layton will serve as the leader this night and will have the cookies that the youth will distribute.   All youth are encouraged to attend and help pass out cookies.

Sunday, December 14th - Lyman House 4 to 5 pm - work on Christmas outreach project

OVERNIGHT CHANGE:  Moved from Friday, December 19th to Saturday December 20th.

Saturday, December 20th -  Winter Overnight - meet at the Lyman House at 5 pm.  Wear your ugly Christmas Sweater, a prize will be given for the ugliest sweater.  We will have a special holiday dinner, gift exchange for those that signed up in advance, and prepare the Christmas Blessing Bags for our Christmas Outreach.  Other holiday festive events are planned!

Sunday, December 21st - rise and shine early!  Be sure to bring a change of clothes and your special Santa/Festive Hat.  Head to Cathedral at 6:30 am for setup and cooking.

December 21st Pick up time is estimated at noon at the Lyman House.

Monday, December 29th - Christmas Break outing.  Details tbd - watch for text with updates.

Melissa Ackman

502-500-3064 

Anchorage Presbyterian would like to invite you to a Community-Wide Chili Dinner.   From 4:30 to 6:00pm on December 7, you are invited to a community wide chili dinner hosted by their youth group.  

There will be crafts for the children and good fellowship for all. Please bring friends and neighbors and have some dinner before heading over to the Anchorage Yule Log Lighting and Carol Sing.  

Dine in or take out is available. Tickets are $5.00 a person and can be purchased in the APC church office or by contacting loriedavenport@me.com.   

Thank you in advance for your support of Anchorage Presbyterian youth group!

Please Join "Reflections", With Special Guest Violinist, Scott Moore, In Celebrating Its Annual Lessons And Carols Service On Saturday, December 20th At 5:30 pm.  

With Many Lighted Candles Creating A Warm And Friendly Environment, Nine Appropriate Lessons Will Be Read, Each Paired With Either A Congregational Hymn Or A Specially Selected Piece Presented By "Reflections". To Help Reinforce The Advent Season's Theme Of Faith, Hope And Expectation, Music Selections Will Range From English Carols To Ballads To Up-Beat Contemporary Numbers. Additionally, Some Of The Songs Will Give An Added Perspective To The Readings That Are Sure To Be Meaningful.  

Scott Moore's Violin Accompaniment To Guitars, Keyboard, Bass And Soft Percussion Will Further Enhance The Arrangements.  

Please Join Us At St. Luke's Episcopal Church In Anchorage, Kentucky At 5:30 pm. This Special Service Is Very Appropriate For A Variety Of Ages, So Bring The Family, Neighbors And Friends.

SEE YOU AT 5:30 PM ON DECEMBER 20TH !!!!

This year we will continue our tradition of decorating the church for Christmas with memorial poinsettias. The cost this year will be $7.35 per plant.

Contributions for the special Christmas music may be given as memorials as well.

We will again be hanging eleven large wreaths inside the church on the stone walls between the windows. Through the kind generosity of Paul's Fruit Market in Middletown, they are contributing their extra large fresh Fraser Fir wreaths to us for a special cost of $75 each. We hope parishioners will help subsidize this decorating effort by donating a wreath, or part of one, in memory of, or in thanksgiving for a loved one.

Special envelopes are available at the church entrances for parishioners to use for their desired memorial, which can then be placed in the collection plate during the offering. Your check can also be dropped off at the church office anytime M-Th. between 9am and 3pm. The DEADLINE to receive all memorials is Monday, December 15.

Please be sure to indicate if it is in memory of or in thanksgiving of someone, and list their names clearly. Your name and your dedication will be listed as usual in the bulletins for the Christmas Eve services. DEADLINE is Monday, December 15. St. Luke's thanks you!

Join us to celebrate worship at other Episcopal Churches in and around Louisville. Many of the churches are historical. In most of the churches, old and new, are traditional red doors which symbolizes that all who enter will find sanctuary and safety of body and spirit. Each has a prominent cornerstone with inscriptions. Many are Gothic architecture using stone building material which is used for Anglican churches in England including stained glass windows.

We are visiting St. James Episcopal Church in Shelbyville Sunday, December 14th, for the 10AM service followed by lunch at the Science Hill Inn. We will carpool for those interested.

For a reservation contact:

Celeste Phillips @ e-mail: annecelestep@yahoo.com 

                             Phone: 843-509-7976

Anne Willis @ e-mail: annewillis66@gmail.com 

                               Phone: 502-245-8065

Please mark your calendar now to come help us decorate the church for Christmas.

Decorating the church, (wreathes, steps, altar and chancel area), will take place on Saturday, December 20 at 9am.

While you are marking your calendar, we will be un-decorating the church after the 10am service on Sunday, January 4.

Thank you for your participation in all of these events. As always, many hands make light (and quick) work!

DID YOU KNOW?

By Patti LaMontagne

Did you know that when you donate clothing to Goodwill you can help the clients at EACM.  This is how you do it:

1. When you bring your clothing donations to the Goodwill ask for Inter-Agency Partnership Receipt for EACM (you make have to ask several people as they are not always informed of the process)
2. Send that receipt to the church office.
3. Our EACM representative (Al & Velda Seiferheld) will take the receipts to EACM and their clients can use the vouchers to purchase clothing that they need.

In addition EACM will take children's clothing (up to size 5T) directly at their location at John Knox Presbyterian Church, 9104 Westport Rd. Their phone number is 426-2824.

Also please keep in mind donations to their food pantry.

If you have any questions about the clothing donations you can contact Patti LaMontagne at 253-0601

Items Needed

Baby Wipes

Diapers

Cereal / Oatmeal

Canned Fruit & Vegetables

Peanut Butter

Macaroni & Cheese

Rice / Beans

Canned Tuna Fish

Personal Care items

Toiletries

Laundry detergent

Ramen Noodles

Toilet Paper

Shampoo

Canned Meat

Spaghetti

Pasta Sauce

Hand Soap

Boxed or Canned Potatoes

Biscuit or Muffin Mix

Soup

St. Luke's has placed a box labeled for EACM  

under the table in the ambulatory (ramp entrance).

If you have any questions, you may either contact  

Al & Velda Seiferheld at 425-7243 or call the church office at 245-8827.   

You may also contact Eastern Area Community Ministries

http://www.eacmonline.org/  

Lord, we pray for the hope and strength they need;

Bless these for whom we pray with returned good health.

*Our church family in need of immediate prayer or healing... Mack Day, Ewing Hardy, Eloise Yartz, and those you wish to add...

Our church family who remain in our concern... Gene Bechtel, Sissy Wessel Gies, Linda Ridoux, Shirley Rivers, Dan West, Margaret Williams, and those you wish to add...

Extended family and friends ... Dorothy Parker, and those you wish to add...

Those serving in our military...Robert Bott (Julie Parrott's nephew), Ross DuFrene (Stettenbenz' cousin), Matt Groves, Steve & Bianca Hill (Linda Diaz' son & daughter-in-law), Charles Keaton (Marilyn DeSpain's grandson), Cody Layton (James Layton's cousin), Jimmy Lilly (Thad Kelly's brother), Matthew & Ashlee Miles (John Ridoux's nephew), Seth Monroe (James Layton's cousin), K. Adam Paris (Susan Bell's nephew), Brian Quinn, Dr. Gina Salisbury (Linda Diaz's daughter), Blake Settle (Richard Wheeler's cousin), Casey & Alex Snipes (the Bechtel's grandsons), Frank Whitworth (Richard Wheeler's godson), and those you wish to add...

Updated 11/26/2014

You may view a weekly updated list on our website, click here