THE EPISTLE
June 15, 2009to June 23, 2009
St. Luke United MethodistChurch1306 West Lynn Street
Austin,TX 78703
Sarah Currie, Pastor
E-mail:
Church Office: (512) 476-8164
E-Mail:
Web site:
+ Bill Yost as he recovers from knee surgery and who is still having health issues
+Dan Cooch, Martha Ramsay’s brother, with health problems
+ Martha Ramsay, and for her health
+ Manny Williams & sons,on the passing of Carli Williams, (wife & mother)—Sharmyn’s colleague
+ Jason Bishop, nephew of Sharmyn Lilly and his children, Benjamin& Chloe
+Maxand Marilil Rychlik
+Lucille and Walter Timberlake
+ Sarah Cooke
+ Cecil Hale
+Adam Hinman
+Lucille Barrick
+Frances Hall
Congratulations!
Jerry and BenitaSt. Clair
who were married 6/15/2009
DIRECTORY UPDATES Enclosed please find an information sheet for you to fill out and return to Dianna in the office.There will also be forms in the bulletins for next few weeks.
We’ve had so many changes and additions needed that we need to do another one—already!
And please note: We’re including birthdays this time, so make sure we have your birthday dates—year optional!!
Bridge Builders –
ARacial Reconciliation Ministry
Is hosting a gathering, “Can We Talk,”
on June 27th at6:30 p.m. atWesley UMC.
The meeting will feature a DVD called “Letters Across the Divide”
that focus on Pastor David Anderson,
and parishioner Brent Zuercherwho share anopen and frank correspondence.
There will be refreshments
and a discussion after DVD.
Hello, Friends!
I caught myself beginning to whine about the heat yesterday—as I was walking
“all the way” from the comfort of the air conditioned parsonage across the yard to the comfort of the air conditioned church—and something (God, maybe?) gave my consciousness a nudge—okay, it felt more like a swift kick to the conscience.
I have absolutely nothing to complain about—and there are people in our town, in our community, even, I have no doubt, in our neighborhood, who really are suffering in the heat—so what am I going to do about it? Today I’m going to go in search of the best deal I can find on box fans, buy as many as I can afford, and take them to the fire station in our neighborhood. And I’m going to call the Meals on Wheels folks, and see if they know someone in our neighborhood who’s without air conditioning. Then maybe we at St. Luke could put together some assistance for that one, perhaps in the form of a small window unit ac. In other words, today I need to practice what I preached on Sunday—I need to:
*show up for my life, and
*do something for somebody.
What’s Spirit up to with you today? Any nudges similar to mine?
What do you want to do about it? How can I help?
Those are the next questions I’d like
us to be asking ourselves and each other this summer, and in the months to come. Some of you have already seen a video being circulated throughout the United Methodist church, called
“RethinkChurch.”
It’s an inspiring set of images and suggesrions urging us to reconsider the meaning of church—to think of it more in terms of how we live our lives every day of the week, in service to others, in communion with others, in harmony with the planet, in ever-renewing relationship with the living Christ. “Church” becomes not a place with four walls where people go on Sunday, but a verb, a way of being, a lived reality that has healing, transformative capability in our lives and the lives of others. I know some of you live this way, already—and I also know that sometimes it’s easy for us to lose our center, and forget our foundation, when the daily frustrations and challenges crowd our consciousness.
That’s why I’m so grateful for the young ones coming along in our faith family, and for all of you who have been taking part with me and John in our church’s focused, intentional path of spiritual discernment. The young ones are open and upfront with their questions, their eagerness to learn, their desire to help, their willingness to serve. On Sunday we were blessed by the service of two newly initiated ministers of the Gospel, Sierra and Sebastian, who carried the light of Christ with both reverence and delight.
That’s all we have to do, each of us, today—just carry our little lights on out into our day, letting love and liveliness shine through, to shed a bit of light on somebody’s path.
So, what has Spirit been up to with you? What do you want to do about it? How can I help? How can we help each other?
I look forward to listening and learning, and to carrying the light with you this Sunday, and all our days to come.
Shalom,
Sarah+
!
This year’s Annual Conference was great. Our new Bishop is a very strong gentle kind-hearted individual, and he really comes across as someone who will do great things for the SWTX &
Rio Grande Conference’s.
This year was our 150th Anniversary. The topics were about how we as a church and
as Christians, how we can go
out into the world and help
those who need our support,
love, compassion, and just being ourselves as faithful, spiritual human beings.
There were many items that were brought to our attention.
One being, the “Nothing but Nets” organization which helps those in Sierra LeoneAfrica and other surrounding countries to help prevent the spread of Malaria. One net can help a family(four) for 4 years. It gives them a feel
of safety. This particular group touched me to the core of my being!
Others were how to reach out to those who do not necessarily need our physical help, but for those who may just need to have someone listen to what they have to say or just need to know that there are those people who wish to listen, encourage, share faith stories, lend a helping hand,
and help them to do the right things. I would like to conclude thatWe Can Do Something!!
Because it our duty as Christians.
We are not human beings on
a Spiritual path, but
We are Spiritual beings on
a Human Path!
And that we can not forget where we came from. Because as Christians we need to do what is in our hearts and our minds.
Because we are the people of:
Open Hearts
Open Minds
Open Doors
Which means we should welcome ALL who are in need to hear the Word.
As your Annual Lay Delegate
I want to Thank you for another year of service, and for being a Friend to all!
I look forward to hear what your needs are and to be there for you when I am needed.
Respectfully,
Dianna Ball- Soto