Welcome, visitors! There is a visitor card in the pew rack; if you’d like a call this week, please fill out the card and give it to the pastor or place it in the collection plate.
Welcome, children! Our nursery is located upstairs. Just follow the signs. Mrs. Fatu Colley is in charge of the nursery. The nursery is available from 10:45 until 12:15. Parents can take their infants, toddlers, and younger preschoolers to the nursery at any time during the service.
Children ages 4 and up usually go to Sunday School after the children’s story, and meet their parents or adult relatives after Sunday School in the Wesley Room for refreshments. Until Cherise & Heather return from their mid-year break, the children will be under Fatu’s care in the nursery.
Volunteers-In-Mission participants! A reminder that the $300 deposits were due by 12/31 in the church office.
When it snows… When it snows during the week we follow DCPS closings, or just call the church to hear a message. When it snows on Sunday we always have church for those who can be here.
2nd Grate Patrol Offering today. Our monthly Grate Patrol Offering supports the purchase of groceries and supplies to make 150 bag suppers for people living on the street. Since last Sunday’s offering was stolen, we will have a second offering for the work of the Grate Patrol today.
We still need one more participant on the grocery-buying end of the Grate Patrol. There is a standard list of supplies and groceries so you don’t have to think, and all purchases are reimbursed. For details contact Julie James, Grate Patrol coordinator.
Today – Baptism of the Lord. We remember Christ’s baptism and our own. This service will include an invitation to renew our baptismal vows.
Today – farewell for Susan Ciccotti during coffee hour
Children’s Choir begins again today after church. For more information see Deke..
Today -- Leadership orientation meeting after coffee hour, for all members of the 2004 leadership roster (child care provided).
January 18th – The Rev. John Rottenberg will be our guest preacher. John’s project group will meet with him after coffee hour that day.
January 18th – Volunteers-in-Mission Cuba Trip meeting after coffee hour.
January 18th – Newcomers’ Orientation after coffee hour. Tour of the church and a chance to ask whatever you want. Whether or not you are planning to join St. Luke’s on January 25th, this orientation is a good way to meet people and find out what’s happening.
Shelter Dinner Opportunity January 18th. A group of church members and friends provides dinner for the Shelter residents on the third Sunday of every month. If you’d like to be a part of this enjoyable and rewarding experience, contact Nikki Parker or Cory Scott at nicoleparker555@hotmail.com and scott@urbanretail.com
New members to be received January 25th
New members will be received into the congregation during worship on January 25th. On the Sunday before, January 18th, there will be an orientation after coffee hour for those who plan to become members. If you are thinking of becoming a member, please let Anne know.
Thanks to all who delivered poinsettias to our home-bound elderly and bought Christmas gifts for our Shelter residents. You helped bring Christmas!
St. Luke’s web site is always current! Check it out at www.saintlukesmethodist.org. Thanks to Derek Willis for making this happen.
Church directories are available. Pick one up in the Wesley Room after church.
Put yourself on the map. We now have a map on the wall in the Wesley Room so that we can see where everyone is from and also the places we all keep in our hearts. Please add your places during coffee hour today.
The Tuesday evening study group is sharing various readings that have meaning for our individual journeys. The readings are available on Sunday before Tuesday (in the Wesley Room) or by fax. If you don’t pick up the reading today, contact the church office to get it by fax. We meet 7:30-8:30 in Anne’s office (rear office entrance).
Visions of India’s Villages: Paintings by Supti Sen
The exhibit in the Narthex Gallery features the work of one of our own parishioners, Supti Sen. Supti was born in Calcutta, India. After completing a master’s in science, she taught herself how to paint. Supti has traveled to many places in India, including the villages of the Himalayan region, where she found the inspiration for the landscapes that will be on display. To Supti, these scenes depict the true nature of India’s villages. Supti also is accomplished in embroidery, and one of her embroidered pieces is on display.
About St. Luke’s Choir. The St. Luke’s choir rehearses every Sunday morning at 9:30 am. The St. Luke’s choir seeks to strengthen our worship by encouraging congregational singing, by honoring the varieties of the congregation’s faith heritages and traditions, and by embracing new ways of discovering God’s presence in our lives, through worship that is vibrant and alive. You don’t have to be able to read music to be a part of St. Luke’s choir. We keep it simple. For more information, contact deke@saintlukesmethodist.org.
St. Luke’s Shelter is a ministry of St. Luke’s church. The Shelter, which is located in the church, provides a small group of homeless men with a secure residence for up to six months. The Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place refers residents to the Shelter. The Shelter operates every night of the year. The dinner meal is provided 365 nights of the year by neighbors, members of nearby churches and synagogues, and several Wisconsin Avenue restaurants and grocers.
St. Luke’s Shelter Next Step Kitchen is a new program of St. Luke’s Shelter and St. Luke’s Church. Next Step Kitchen will provide job training in restaurant skills for 6-8 homeless men and women in a 12 week course, with the course to be offered 4 times yearly. The program will be located downstairs in the St. Luhke’s kitchen. For more information, please consult the St. Luke’s Kitchen Notebook on the information table in the Wesley Room, or Susan Keenan, Executive Director, susan@nextstepkitchen.org.
Combined Federal Campaign. St. Luke’s Shelter/Next Step Kitchen is now a part of the Combined Federal Campaign. The CFC # is 7940.
Yoga classes. A practice of breath and posture that helps integrate body and soul. Beth Sworobuk leads yoga Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the sanctuary balcony, 9:30-11:00 am. Classes are half-price for church members and friends. Contact bethsworobuk@aol.com for more information.
Wednesday evening prayer. A time for sharing, reflection and prayer. In the Chapel, 7:30-7:45 pm.
Joys and Concerns…
For the thief who stole last Sunday’s collection
For Dorothy Preston’s upcoming job interview
For Sylvia Zulu’s colleagues Priscilla and Marcia, in the death of their parents; and for Hope in her husband’s illness; and gratitude for the congregation’s prayer during Ian Zulu’s recovery
For Kaou Kassambara’s sister’s new baby, born with kidney problems
Don Scroggin shared the experience of returning to Oklahoma with his son to visit his elderly mother and reflecting on what it means eventually to lose the position of being someone’s child.
For Nancy’s friend Margie’s son Glen
For Curt’s friend Ben, undergoing chemotherapy
The joy of Darryl’s mother visiting from Florida
Penny shared her joy of God’s continual care
For Arthur and Shirley Henderson
For peace and for members of the military, for contract employees, and for the people of Iraq
For Kim and Robbie, whose baby is due in January
For Beth and DJ, whose baby is due in early March
For Carrie and Bob, whose baby is due in May
For our Volunteers in Mission team as it prepares for the trip to Cuba in August 2004
For the community of St. Luke’s Shelter.
For Wings of Hope Orphanage in Haiti
For those living with HIV/AIDS
For our members who are unable to attend because of their health: Margaret Roberts, Jeanne Goss, Vernon Thomas, Lucille Dade, and Dorothy Bowers.
Sermon copies for the hard of hearing can be picked up every Sunday in the narthex. Each week’s sermon is also available on the web.
Our Mission Statement
St. Luke’s United Methodist Church seeks to serve the community’s spiritual and physical needs. We are a small congregation dedicated to creating an atmosphere of inclusiveness in which all feel welcome to worship. At. St. Luke’s, we try to follow the example of Christ’s ministry and teaching by sharing our building, our time and our prayers in many community partnerships. We embrace new ways of giving thanks and work to teach the joy of God’s grace to all whom we can reach.
We follow in the Wesleyan tradition in our belief that “scriptural holiness entails more than personal piety; love of God is always linked with love of neighbor, a passion for justice and renewal in the life of the world.”