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Learning, Living, Loving: United in God’s Steadfast Love
The Journey December 2018/January 2019
Inside this Issue:
Message From the Pastor….2 St. Luke Info……3
St. Luke News…..4-5 Announcements…6 Prayer List, Birthdays….7
Thanksgiving!!...8,9
December Calendar and Sunday Servants……10,11
January Calendar and Sunday Servants……..12,13
Deadline…….14
December 2, 10am
Hanging of the Greens
Note time change for service
2
Recognizing Christ in Advent
I struggled with this particular newsletter article. I sought to say something meaningful about
the seasons of Advent and Christmas, with hopes that my words might even be inspirational.
All my words failed. The truth is, as much as I love both Advent and Christmas, this year it has
been a struggle for me to shift into that kind of holiday happy, with its requisite dancing sugar
plums, hot cocoa, and Elf-on-a-Shelf antics. Even watching Frosty the Snowman did not help.
Simply put, my family and I have experienced a challenging few months. I know we are not
alone in this reality, as many of you find yourselves in the midst of your own loss and struggle.
As I often do when I need help finding clarity, I turned to the words of Thomas Merton, who
seemed to be able to articulate far better than I what I had hoped to say personally. So, I share
his words with you, praying that you find the same comfort and clarity in them that I found.
We must remember that Christian optimism is not a perpetual sense of euphoria, an indefectible
comfort in whose presence neither anguish nor tragedy can possibly exist. We must not strive to
maintain a climate of optimism by the mere suppression of tragic realities. Christian optimism
lies in a hope of victory that transcends all tragedy: a victory in which we pass beyond tragedy
to glory with Christ crucified and risen…
But the Church in preparing us for the birth of a “great prophet,” a Savior and a King of
Peace, has more in mind than seasonal cheer. The advent mystery focuses the light of faith up-
on the very meaning of life, of history, of man, of the world and of our own being. In Advent we
celebrate the coming and indeed the presence of Christ in our world. We witness to His pres-
ence even in the midst of all its inscrutable problems and tragedies. Our Advent faith is not an
escape from the world to a misty realm of slogans and comforts which declare our problems to
be unreal, our tragedies inexistent…
But the fact remains that our task is to seek and find Christ in our world as it is, and not as it
might be. The fact that the world is other than it might be does not alter the truth that Christ is
present in it and that His plan has been neither frustrated nor changed: indeed, all will be done
according to His will. Our Advent is a celebration of this hope. – Thomas Merton, excerpts
from the essay “Advent: Hope or Delusion?”
Regardless of where we find ourselves during this season, let us come together this Advent to
cling to and celebrate the hope that we have in Christ Jesus.
With Advent Hope,
Pastor Robb
3
Vision: The Story of God Changing Lives
Mission: Learning, Living, Loving:
United in God’s Steadfast Love
Church Location:
1748 Brannan Road
McDonough, GA 30253
Worship Service
Sunday:
9:40 am Sunday School
11:00 a.m. Worship (With Holy Eucharist)
Office Hours
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday-Thursday
To Reach us:
Phone: 678-432-0845
E-mail [email protected]
Website: www.storyofgod.org
Pastor:
Rev. Dr. Robert Harrell 678-432-0845 Church Office
or
404-625-1994 cell
e-mail: [email protected]
Church Secretary
Susan Sparrow 678-432-0845 or
678-778-0568 cell
e-mail: [email protected]
Council meetings are open to all members of the
congregation. If you would like to address the council,
we ask that you let the President, Andrew Grunzke,
know in advance so we can put it on the council
meeting agenda.
COUNCIL MEMBERS 2018
Member Phone
Andrew Grunzke…….President......904-806-0191
Shane Honig …..Vice President ….. 913-706-9511
Kelly Williams …..Secretary …..….909-567-9467
Mark Rettig...........Treasurer …..….770-789-8405
Krista Crews………………….……..404-859-6652
Mary Beth Egas………………..….….770-471-2198
Tony Kelley…………………………...770-471-5002
John Shaw.....................................…770-946-4187
Mary Shulak………………………...770-898-0937
4
5
Octoberfest 2018
Special Thanks to
John and Vickie
for hosting this
fun filled event.
Pictures by John Shaw
6
Monthly Low Mass and Lunch
A Low Mass is a Divine Service of Holy Communion that is spoken rather than chanted, and
often has no hymns. Starting on August 15, St. Luke will be celebrating a monthly Low
Mass, followed by a bring-your-own-lunch time for fellowship afterwards. This will not only
offer additional time for worship and fellowship on weekdays but will also give us an
opportunity to learn about some of the various feast days that appear on our liturgical
calendar that may not otherwise be observed. The service itself will last about 30 minutes.
The liturgy used for this service will be from the venerable Common Service Book of 1917.
Many will appreciate the classic language and style of the liturgy.
Schedule:
Thursday, December 13, 12:15: St. Lucy, Martyr
Dates to remember:
December 2: 10am Hanging of the Greens, Joint Service
December 5,12, 19 6:15pm Soup Supper and Advent Vespers
(Worship at 7:00)
December 8: Christmas Craft Fair
December 9: Congregational Meeting, Council Election
December 13 Low Mass 12:15
December 24: 7pm Christmas Eve Service
December 30: Service of Lessons and Carols
Souper Bowl Sunday: February 3
7
Members in the
Armed Services
Adam DeWitt,
USMC
Mallory Gourley,
Navy
Ongoing Requests
Bob Owen
Gloria Simpson
Morgan
Jordan
Rebecca
Members
Carol Elrod
Heather Norton
Sierra Norton
Charlotte
Mary Shulak
Pastor Robb and family
Friends and
Family
JT Whited
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
If your birthday is not an-
nounced in the monthly News-
letter, it could be because we do
not have your information in the
church records.
If you would like your birth date
to appear in the monthly Jour-
ney, please fill in the infor-
mation provided below and re-
turn it to the church office.
Name ___________________
D.O.B.
Month_____ Day____
Year_____
December Birthdays
Matthew Kelley 3
Steven & Thomas Gourley 8
Tony Kelley 10
Beverly Adair 11
Dory Harrell 19
Barbara Little 22
Judy Barkdoll 24
Ron Brauer 26
Asheton Harrell 26
Rose Denzin 28
Mallory Gourley 28
January Birthdays
Paul Adair 3
Larry Egas 7
Paul Egas 19
Sue Murray 24
Mike Hoover 25
Pastor Robb 28
Rebecca Grunzke 29
Joe Murray 31
8
Thanksgiving Food Project Results
$3,623.05 total cost
131 people fed, 1 shelter, 25 families
48 total volunteers 326 volunteer hours
$900.00 raised by annual yard sale
$250.00 Thrivent Financial Grant
$922.00 food donated
$1,051.05 donated by St. Luke members
$500.00 donated by ELCC members
Thank you!!!!
9
“Birthday in a Bag” ministry
Members and friends can purchase basic supplies such as cake mix, icing,
candles, crepe paper, balloons, small plates and napkins and place them in a
Birthday bag. Bags will then be donated to A Friend’s House and given to a family
with no means to celebrate a birthday.
Burial Plots Available
St. Luke owns two burial plots in Sherwood Memorial Park on Tara Boulevard in
Jonesboro that we are offering for sale. If you or someone you know are interested
in these plots, please contact Pastor Robb for more information.
Are You Staying Connected?
St. Luke operates a webpage, a Facebook page, and a Twitter feed, all of which
provide congregational news, upcoming events, and items of interest.
Take advantage of these resources!
Web: www.storyofgod.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Luke-Lutheran-Church/
Twitter: @StLukeLutheran1
St. Luke’s third “Backpack Blessing” of the 2018-2019 school year will be
Friday, December 21. On that day, 12 food insecure children from a local elemen-
tary school will be given backpacks full of nutritious food to supplement the
school lunches they will miss when schools were closed December22-January 8.
Many thanks to everyone donating money or bookbags for this ministry
project. We know that St. Luke makes a difference in these children’s lives.
If you would like to support this ministry, we are still looking for families to
donate $10.00 per month to “Backpack Blessings.”
10
December 16 A
Assisting Minister Debbie Lundell
Lector Joe Lundell
Crucifer
Acolyte
Counters Mike Adair and Beverly Rettig
Ushers Team 3
Greeters Andrew Grunzke and Debbie Lun-
dell
Clean Up Joyner/Kelley
USHERS
Team # 3
Mike and Linda Hover, Ed and Judy Joyner,
Mike and Beverly Adair and Dave Barkdoll
December 2 D
Assisting Minister Cindy Gourley
Lector Andrew Grunzke
Crucifer Thomas Gourley
Acolyte Benjamin Mason
Counters Paul Egas and Jim Sease
Ushers Team 3
Greeters Jim Sease and Rose Denzin
Clean Up Barkdoll/Egas
December 9 E
Assisting Minister Mark Rettig
Lector Conrad Busch
Crucifer
Acolyte
Counters Vickie Pace and Judy Barkdoll
Ushers Team 3
Greeters Tony Kelley and Dona Curtis-Thomas
Clean Up Sparrow
December 30 F 5th Sunday
Assisting Minister Barbara Little
Lector David Ludley
Crucifer
Acolyte Benjamin Mason
Counters Barbara Little & Ron Brauer
Ushers Team 3
Greeters Mark Rettig and Linda
Hoover
Clean Up Sparrow
December 2018
Sunday Servants
December 23 B
Assisting Minister Kelly Williams
Lector Dave Barkdoll
Crucifer
Acolyte Paul Egas
Counters Paul Egas and Jim Sease
Ushers Team 3
Greeters Judy Joyner and Linda Hoover
Clean Up Little/Pace/Adair
11
December 2018
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25 Christmas
26
27
28
29
30
31
Hanging of
the Greens
Service
10am
2nd Sunday
in Advent
Council
Election
12:15
Youth 12:15
3rd Sunday
in Advent
4th Sunday
in Advent
1st Sunday
after
Christmas
5th Sunday
Fellowship
Christmas
Eve
Service
7pm
Men of
McDonough
9am
Christmas
Craft Fair
10am
Men of
McDonough
9am
Men of
McDonough
9am
Men of
McDonough
9am
Men of
McDonough
9am
6:15pm
Soup Supper
7pm
Advent Vespers
6:15pm
Soup Supper
7pm
Advent Vespers
6:15pm
Soup Supper
7pm
Advent Vespers
12
January 2019 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 New Year's Day
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 M L King Day
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
February 3
Sunday, February 3 is
SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY.
Teenagers all over the country will be collecting donations for
food pantries in their areas to help feed the hungry.
St. Luke’s teens will be collecting canned soup donations for
Feed My People Food Pantry,
as well as monetary donations for St. Luke’s
Backpack Blessings ministry.
Epiphany of
Our Lord
Baptism of
Our Lord
2nd Sunday
After the
Epiphany
3rd Sunday
After the
Epiphany
Men of
McDonough
9am
Men of
McDonough
9am
Men of
McDonough
9am
Men of
McDonough
9am
13
USHERS
Team # 1
John Shaw, Larry Egas, Al Gourley
and Andrew Grunzke
May C
Assisting Minister Barbara Little
Lector Beverly Adair
Crucifer
Acolyte
Counters Vickie Pace and Judy
Barkdoll
Ushers Team 1
Greeters Joe Lundell and Beverly
Adair
Clean Up ELCC
January 20 A
Assisting Minister Debbie Lundell
Lector Joe Lundell
Crucifer
Acolyte
Counters Vickie Pace and Judy Barkdoll
Ushers Team 1
Greeters Andrew Grunzke and Debbie
Lundell
Clean Up ELCC
January 6 D
Assisting Minister Cindy Gourley
Lector Andrew Grunzke
Crucifer Thomas Gourley
Acolyte Benjamin Mason
Counters Mike Adair and Beverly Rettig
Ushers Team 1
Greeters Jim Sease and Rose Denzin
Clean Up ELCC
January 13 E
Assisting Minister Mark Rettig
Lector Conrad Busch
Crucifer
Acolyte
Counters Paul Egas and Jim Sease
Ushers Team 1
Greeters Tony Kelley and Dona Curtis-Thomas
Clean Up ELCC
January 2019
Sunday Servants
14
The Journey
is a publication of
St Luke Lutheran Church
9:40 a.m. Sunday School
Sunday Worship
11:00 a.m.
If you have any ideas or suggestions for The Journey,
please contact the church office
Please have all Journey items into the church office by the
25th of each month…………..
(678-432-0845) or by email at [email protected]
Please call the church
office if you have a
change of address or a
new phone number so
that our records can be
updated.