Our inside-out habits: We pray. We study the Bible. We make friends. We tell our stories. We give ourselves away in generosity and service.
Friends, It's Fall Kickoff Sunday at St. Luke's! (Cheers from the crowd.) I hope you plan to be here. I am beginning a new sermon series aimed at building your life and your family on a solid foundation - "Starting with Middle C." Over the next three weeks, we will be going to the basics. Convictions - in what do you believe with all your heart? Commitment - for what are you willing to sacrifice? Community - with whom do you want to spend your life?
In addition, our children will be moving up to their new class grades. Our contemporary service will be moving into our newly remodeled Fellowship Hall (yay!).
But wait, there's more! We will all gather for an all church lunch from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. There are activities for the kids (and it's free!), just come on down after worship/Sunday school.
A PERSONAL PRAYER
God,
Sometimes I feel like I am being tossed and turned by the winds of the world. The television and internet bombard me with all sorts of options about what is good and right and acceptable. Friends and acquaintances are vehement in their beliefs about right and wrong, good and bad. And with the people I meet, everything is nuanced. Very seldom is there a simple answer to their struggles, their questions, their decisions.
But God, I thank you that I am convinced beyond a doubt that you love me unconditionally, and that Jesus demonstrated that love for me on the cross, and that God guaranteed our future in the resurrection. So God, in all times, good and bad, I will anchor my life in these convictions.
I heard again today, God, the great gospel anthem:
I realize that sometimes in this life
You're gonna be tossed by the waves
And the currents that seem so fierce
But in the word of God I've got an anchor;
And it keeps me steadfast and unmovable
Despite the tide
But if the storms don't cease
But in case the wind keeps on blowing, (in my life)
My soul has been anchored in the Lord
My soul has been anchored in the Lord
In the name of Christ, who holds me fast in his love, I pray. Amen.
(Listen to Douglas Miller sing "Anchored in the Lord" here)
SOME THOUGHTS TO SHARE
Last week, we heard a wonderful message from Dr. Maria Dixon Hall on building bridges across race and culture. If you weren't present, you can watch the sermon here. If it speaks to your heart, send it to a friend.
Men's Life begins this coming Wednesday, September 12 at 6:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Our topic this semester is The Passionate Jesus, and we will be discussing the personality of Jesus and how it differs from the Jesus we may have learned about in Sunday School. All men are welcome. You can sign up here.
The Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church Core Leadership Team invites you to attend Heart & Mind Listening Sessions. These listening sessions, approved by the body of the 2018 Annual Conference, are presented to help you to discern the issues before our February 2019 General Conference dealing with matters of human sexuality. These sessions invite you to engage in "Holy Conferencing" with guided discussions about the various plans before the General Conference. The session for our area will be held on Sunday, September 23, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at First UMC-Westchase, 3663 Westcenter Dr, Houston, 77042.
PRAYER CALENDAR
Sunday, September 9
God of forgiveness and power, Thank you for fresh starts and new beginnings. Work within me and this congregation that we might forget what lies behind and press forward toward the high calling you have for us. Make us a better reflection of your truth and grace. Amen. -Prayer by Dr. Tom Pace
Monday, September 10
God of all things good, open our eyes so that we might see the beauty that surrounds us. Open our minds so that we might seek to find higher, better thoughts. Open our hearts so that we might feel your great love. Let us see your kingdom here on earth. Amen.
Tuesday, September 11 - Patriot Day
Heavenly Father, we pray that you would be with all of those who serve as first responders and those who serve in the military. Protect them as they protect and care for us. Bless them and their families always. Amen.
Wednesday, September 12
Almighty God, you have blessed us each with unique gifts and talents to be used for your Kingdom. Unite us in your church to use these gifts and talents to show the world your love. Amen.
Thursday, September 13
Heavenly Father, we ask for the gift of your presence. We pray that your presence would be with us so that everyone we meet will see your love in us, will know that you are with us, and will want to come to know you also. Amen.
Friday, September 14
Omnipresent God, you see our actions, you know our thoughts, you hear our words, and you love us anyway. Create in us a desire to please you in all that we do, think, and say so that we may bear the fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Amen.
Saturday, September 15
Merciful God, help us to keep our eyes on you and not look back on sins of the past. Teach us to trust you and to fully accept your gift of forgiveness. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Fall Kickoff
September 7, 2018 • Dr. Tom Pace
Don't miss today
November 2, 2018 • Dr. Tom Pace
A PERSONAL PRAYER God of love, I have been thinking that today might be my last day on earth. Who knows what today, or tomorrow, or the next day will bring? I might have 10,000 days left in my life, and I might have just this one. I don’t want to throw today away or miss the experience of this hour or even this minute. And yet, I am always hurrying on to the next thing, always running from one thing to the next, living in tomorrow, regretting what I missed or did yesterday, reminiscing about the good old days, dreaming about the future, and griping about what is going on around me today. How sad to miss so much. You have prepared for me a table of experiences at which to feast, and you are willing to sit with me at that table, to join me in each of the experiences of my life. You want to laugh with me and cry with me and work beside me. Sometimes, I don’t even recognize that you are there. I find myself searching for you in my yesterdays and hoping for you in my tomorrows, all the while missing your presence in the here and now. I can’t be contented with yesterday’s glory. I can’t live on promises winter to spring. Today is my moment, and now is my story, I’ll laugh and I’ll cry and I’ll sing…. Today while the blossoms still cling to the vine, I’ll taste your strawberries, I’ll drink your sweet wine. A million tomorrows shall all pass away, ‘ere I forget all the joy that is mine, today. (Randy Sparks, New Christy Minstrels, 1963) Thank you God, for today. And open my eyes and ears and heart to your presence in this very moment. In the name of Christ, I pray… Amen. SOME THOUGHTS TO SHARE Thanks to all of you who last week made a commitment or recommitment of your life to Christ, and to his ministries in and through St. Luke’s. It was a wonderful worship experience for me personally, and I personally felt God’s challenge renewed in my life, hearing his call again to live my life and use my time and resources for his ministry. We currently have received 653 commitments toward our goal of 1320 for 2019. We are halfway there! If you are a member of St. Luke’s and have not had a chance to make your commitment, you can view some important information and make a commitment online here. We use all of the information to make decisions about ministries and projects we want to undertake, and we very much want this to be a time in which we are all working together to accomplish our goals. This Sunday, November 4, we begin a new sermon series titled “Stop It!” and talk together about slowing our lives down so that we can experience the presence of God. During the month of November, we will look at four habits that rob our lives of both meaning and joy and consider how we might replace them with something positive. We can stop running, avoiding, worrying, and grumbling, and replace those habits with experiencing, facing, trusting, and thanking. This Sunday is also All Saints Sunday, and at all of our morning worship services we will read the names of members of St. Luke’s who have gone on to be a part of the church triumphant over the past year, and give thanks to God for their witness among us. Please join us. We grieve the killings at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh last weekend. The loss of these wonderful people, the stories of whom are so touching and so human, wrench our hearts. And the loss is beyond that – the event further chips away at our own sense of security and the sanctity of our houses of worship. At St. Luke’s, we have a team continuing to improve and update our security plan, to help us all feel safe as we worship. Please be assured that we have four armed off-duty officers on campus every Sunday, and our staff has been trained in security response. Last January St. Luke’s sponsored active shooter response training for our congregation conducted by Stephen Daniel of the Houston Police Department. This training was extremely well received by our congregation, and it remains available on our website. We encourage every member to watch and share this link with loved ones, so we can all learn how to best respond if faced with such a situation. Watch the video and read the handout here. For information, contact Jack Vaughan or Dr. Linda Christians. PRAYER CALENDAR Sunday, November 4 Lord, thank you for the many blessings that you bestow in our everyday lives. Help us to see you in the minute details of each day and use our gratitude to shape how we see things. Fill us with a gracious heart so that we can then turn around and be a blessing to others. Amen. -Prayer by Rev. Thomas Harper Monday, November 5 God, we are very thankful for the St. Luke’s Day School and the teachers, parents, and staff as they work diligently to raise up our children in grace, faith, and love. Amen. -Prayer from Koinonia Tuesday, November 6 Heavenly Father, we are thankful for our church, its staff, and the ministers. We are also thankful that we live in a country where we can worship freely as we wish unlike many other Christians around the world. We pray for them also. Amen. -Prayer from Koinonia Wednesday, November 7 God, thank you for the students at St. Luke’s. Thank you for their energy, excitement, and desire to know you more. I pray that you guide them in their Faith Journey and continue to mold them into disciples as they grow. Amen. -Prayer by Colby Biberstein Thursday, November 8 Dear Father, Thank you that your plans for me are good. I am so glad that you are my Father and I am thankful that, because of this, I can always trust you to take care of me. Thank you that I do not have to struggle and worry about things that are beyond my control because you always have my back! Amen. Friday, November 9 We thank you, Lord, for the gift of family, friends, and for all those who love and support us through our ups and downs, who help us in our times of need, who celebrate with us in times of joy. Please bless them, Lord, as they have blessed us with their love. Amen. Saturday, November 10 Heavenly Father, Thank you so much for this beautiful time of year. Thank you for family and friendships and time together to celebrate all that we have. Bless all who come to St. Luke’s and help them to feel your love. Amen. -Prayer from Koinonia
Glorifying God in Generosity
October 28, 2018 • Elizabeth and Ross King
My grandfather had a tradition of giving a gold dollar to every young child he saw for almost twenty years. While this could be embarrassing when he would interrupt a dinner out to give coins to complete strangers, it was wonderful to see the joy he had in his heart every time he gave one away, especially to a child at church. Most Sundays, Granddad stood at the back of the church, collected the offering trays and counted the money. He would be overwhelmed when he would come across one of those gold dollars that a child had donated. His generous gift was returned with selfless giving to Christ and nothing could make him prouder. It was his example I wanted to follow with my own generosity. Ross and I both grew up attending church and giving weekly offerings based on the example set by our families. While our small gifts as children may have not made a large impact on the church, it created a habit that we continue now. We try to instill those values in our children from an early age so that they may understand the importance of a generous heart. We’ve been members of St. Luke’s since moving to Houston and have gotten involved with The Hub Sunday School class, multiple small groups, volunteering with Student Ministries and other service projects. Our two year old loves her Sunday School class, and we know our two week old will benefit from Children’s Ministries for years to come. Through these programs we’ve made many close friends and mentors and grown in our faith. These ministries mean so much to us, and we know they are only possible because of our church’s generosity. When we think of glorifying God in generosity, we aspire to use our gifts as a way to fulfill God’s mission on earth. It is amazing how our contributions, no matter how small, can become life-changing in God’s hands. From Sunday worship to service projects around Houston and the world, the incredible gifts from St Luke’s members are transforming lives.
It is amazing what commitment will do
October 26, 2018 • Dr. Tom Pace
A PERSONAL PRAYER Jesus, This Sunday, I will recommit my life to being your follower. I pray that you will show me the steps I need to take to follow you. You know my desire to live the way you taught us to live. You know my desire to be an instrument of your love. But too often, my desire remains just that – a desire only. I know what I am to do, but I don’t do it. Forgive me. Fill me with your Spirit that I might walk the walk, one step at a time. Show me what is the next best step for me; then give me the courage to commit to that step and take it. And then, O God, let me take another and another and another, persevering in faithfulness. When I fall short and fail, draw me gently back to that journey, knowing you will not abandon me no matter what. You promise me that I will be blessed if I will just give it a try. Amen. SOME THOUGHTS TO SHARE This Sunday is Commitment Sunday at St. Luke’s. In our morning worship services, we will have a time of recommitment of our lives to following Christ and advancing his Kingdom. If you are a member of St. Luke’s, you should have received a packet titled “Glorifying God through Generosity.” Inside is a booklet with some important information and a commitment card to support St. Luke’s ministries in 2019. You can also look at the information and make a commitment online here. Please take a look, and prayerfully consider your giving to St. Luke’s in the upcoming year. We use all of the information to make decisions about ministries and projects we want to undertake. This Sunday, we will dedicate those commitment cards at the altar in all of our worship services. If you are not ready to make a financial commitment, or have done so online, please come to worship anyway and let this week be a time for a commitment or recommitment of your life. I believe that commitment will make all the difference. This Sunday, we conclude our series of sermons “Show Me: the Letter of James,” with a message called “Be A Doer.” We will consider how important it is to actually take some action as Christians. If you are ready to take some action, here are some important possible ways to serve. Click here and scroll down. This Sunday night, October 28, at 5:00 pm in the Sanctuary, Jim Roman, St. Luke’s new associate organist, and his wife Grace, will present their recital of “And Music Shall Untune the Sky.” (This was postponed a few weeks ago when the organ was out of commission!) It’s free, with a goodwill offering that benefits Friends of Music. PRAYER CALENDAR Sunday, October 28 Heavenly Father, Scripture tells us that you have great plans for us, but sometimes we choose a different path. Forgive us, Father, when we fail to do what you have called us to do. Help us to learn from our past mistakes, and give us the courage to step out in faith to follow the path you have laid out for us. Strengthen us to move out of our comfortable habits and to make the most of the opportunities that you place before us. Amen. Monday, October 29 Loving God, we spend a lot of our prayer time telling you our needs for ourselves or for others. Today, I am going to spend time being still and listening for your voice. Speak to me, O Lord. Amen. Tuesday, October 30 Almighty God, we sometimes get weary and overwhelmed with the things of the world. Give us your strength and power to make a difference, and renew our spiritual fervor each day. Amen. Wednesday, October 31 Heavenly Father, we pray that you would protect us from the evil in the world. Help us to seek you and your ways, and help us to always look for ways to make the world a better place. Amen. Thursday, November 1 Heavenly Father, I come to you in thanks for all your blessings, the ways you love us, your mercy, and the gift of your forgiveness. I am thankful for your unconditional loving kindness. Father, please give me the insight and awareness to find you in each of my days. In your Holy name I pray, Amen. -Prayer from Koinonia Friday, November 2 Dear God, thank you for all the blessings that you provide to us every day. It is through the sacrifice of your Son that we are able to find grace and forgiveness in you. Thank you for this church and the people who attend it. The people and the church make a huge difference in the lives of people. Please open our minds and soften our hearts so that we might be more in touch with your will. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. Saturday, November 3 Heavenly Father, we thank you for the abundant blessings we enjoy in America. We thank you for freedom, opportunity and the ability to worship you. We ask for wisdom and your guidance that we may make the most of these blessings. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.