The episTleJuly 10, 2017

Volume 52 Number 19

480 S. HighlandMemphis, TN 38111-4302

901.452.6262www.stlukesumc.orgUnited Methodist Church

“We are becoming a faithful community of disciples striving to share the heart, mind, and hands of Jesus Christ with ALL people.”Mission Statement

Worship at St. Luke’sAll are Welcome

Worship on Sundays

Summer Camp Meeting WorshipCasual dress & Lively music!Worship at 8:30 & 10:50am

July 16Matthew 13:1-9,18-23

July 23Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Rev. Jim McKinney

Sunday School Classes For all ages - 9:30 a.m.

Contents:- Forward in Faith page 2/3- Ministry News/Events pages 4/5- Congregational Care page 6- Calendar page 7- Church information page 8

St. Luke’s StaffJim McKinney, PastorHarry Colter, Pastoral AssistantS.C. Toe, Music DirectorWes Kirkpatrick, OrganistBeth Ryan, Youth/Young AdultsMegan Warren, Children & Community ConnectionsAmy Turman, Day School/PDOAmy McDonald, ChallengersDavid Day, CLC/RecreationCarla Taylor, CommunicationsTim Taylor, FacilitiesVickey Hobbs, Finance

A Message from our PastorMatthew 13: 23 “But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” I am told that, back in the early 1800s, the Methodists held camp meetings at a place called Sugar Grove, Ohio. They were seeing fewer and fewer conversions each year, so they were discouraged. Then one summer, only one boy --- a lad named Mattie Simpson --- came forward during their altar call. They became so discouraged that they stopped sponsoring the camp. But a few decades later, when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, the man who stood by Lincoln’s casket and spoke to the nation as one of Lincoln’s close personal friends --- Bishop Matthew Simpson --- the young boy who had dedicated his life to Jesus at that last camp meeting. St. Luke’s family, when we do things for Jesus, He promises that our work will not be in vain. He promises that our work will produce a bountiful harvest. Yes, some of our Gospel-seed will fall on pathways. Yes, some of it will fall on rocky soil. Yes, some of it will fall among thorns. Yes, some of it will come to nothing. But Jesus promises that a life dedicated to Him will produce a bountiful harvest. Jesus will not allow our efforts on His behalf to come to nothing. I believe that one of heaven’s joys will be seeing the fruits of our labors. I can imagine Jesus saying, “Do you remember when you invited that couple to church? Let me show you what happened!” Or “Do you remember that little girl in your Sunday school class. Let me show you what she did.” Hear it! Believe it! When we spread Gospel-seed, Jesus promises that some of it will fall on fertile ground and will produce an abundant harvest. That is the word of the Lord. Faithfully,

-2-“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” - Matthew 19:26

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Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Proverbs 4:25

Forward in Faith3rd Quarter Newsletter - 2017

In this 3rd Quarter FiF Newsletter and subsequent Epistle articles, I will provide portions of Chapter 1 from Nieuhof ’s book.

Church Growth is a Mystery… or is it? So how do churches grow? Some people would argue that it’s mysterious. Maybe you just pray a lot. Or remain sincere. Or perhaps it’s 100 percent up to God to determine which churches grow and which don’t, and there’s no formula you can use to make growth happen. Case closed. I get that. And there’s some truth in that. God is sovereign. Prayer matters, as does sincerity. And for sure, sometimes the people who lead growing churches are truly mystified as to why their church is growing. They can’t give you specific reasons other than grace. On the one hand, that’s absolutely true. And yet, sometimes you and I make life out to be more mysterious than it actually is. For example, you might ask why you keeping getting speeding tickets: Why me, God? Why?! Yet the simple truth is, you usually speed. You might ask why your friendships are so conflicted when the reality is, you gossip. You wonder why your kids don’t talk to you when, in fact, you were never around when they were young and don’t really have much of a relationship with them as a result. Sometimes things aren’t as mysterious as we make them out to be. Take that a step further. Problems who’s origins seem mysterious to us are often not that mysterious to others: we say we have a genetic predisposition toward gaining weight, but our coworkers see the fifth donut.So maybe that’s the case for those of us who want our church to reach new people but are puzzled by why that isn’t happening. Perhaps it’s not as mysterious as we think. There are traceable patterns in stagnant and declining churches as well as healthy, growing churches. Spotting those patterns can help you spot your strengths and weaknesses. That’s what the rest of this chapter is about.

First, we’ll look at the patterns present in churches that aren’t growing.

TEN REASONS YOUR CHURCH ISN’T GROWING (OR GROWING AS QUICKLY AS YOU’D LIKE)What follows is a list of ten things that might be holding your church back from realizing the potential of its mission. The points that follow are, frankly, a bit blunt as well as short. But you’ll figure out fairly quickly which apply and which don’t. While we’re often the last to see what so many others see, once someone names it, we’re free to deal with it. In fact, among those who take it seriously and act, progress often ensues. 1. You’re in conflict.Ever been in someone’s home as a guest only to have your hosts start to argue with each other? It doesn’t happen that often, but the few times it’s happened when I’ve been around have made me want to run out the door. If you’re con-stantly bickering and arguing, why would any new people stay? It’s not that Christians shouldn’t have conflict, but we should be the best in the world at handling it. The New Testament is a virtual manual of conflict resolution, but so many of us prefer gossip, nonconfrontation, and dealing with anyone but the party involved. How conflicted is your church – honestly? As long as you’re conflicted, you’ll have difficulty growing. Growing churches handle conflict di-rectly, biblically, humbly, and healthily. 2. You’re more in love with the past than you are with the future.This can be true of churches that are in love with tradition and churches that have had some amazing days recently. When leaders are more in love with the past than they are with the future, the end is near.Many churches have frozen in their favorite era. Walk into some churches and it feels like 1949, 1970, 1996, or even 2005. The songs are dated, as is the approach. It’s as if you’ve unearthed a time capsule. If your church is a museum of 1950 or even 2012, the likelihood of reaching the next generation diminishes with every passing day.

*Keep your eyes out for the remaining reasons which will be outlined in the next 2 Epistles - July 24 and August 7

Forward and Faith has been reading, prayerfully considering, and referencing Lasting Impact – 7 Powerful Conversations That Will Help Your Church Grow by Carey Nieuwhof, lead pastor of Connexus Church.

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Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Proverbs 4:25

Step Out in Faith

An Answered PrayerBy Deborah A. Sanders

During May and June I had been praying – asking God to help me meet St. Luke’s UMC members I’d never met before. At 64 years of age I know God answers prayers as he knows best when the time is just right.

On May 31, 2017, Kathy McAllen, came to visit me at Harborview Nursing Home/Rehab Center where I live. She told me about Pastor Jim christening 6-month old Olivia Valdes on May 28. Kathy went on to explain how Jim held Olivia up high so the congregation could view the cutest baby Kathy had ever seen. She further stated how Jim took Olivia up and down the aisles so people could enjoy a close view of such a darling baby. After Kathy left, I thought about a brand new boxed collector’s baby spoon I had. Then I thought what a wonderful gift it would make for Olivia.

I called Vickey Hobbs at church and asked for Lewis and Ofelia’s name. I then proceeded to leave a message on Lewis’ cell phone. I left personal information about myself. I further explained I had a gift for Olivia. Did he, his wife and brother (and of course Olivia) want to come see me and get the gift? Or did they want me to ask Kathy to bring it to them at church? A few days later Lewis returned my phone call saying they would come visit me and get the gift.

I am so blessed! Their visit made “this ole lady” proud to be a loved member of St. Luke’s.

There are exciting developments on the horizon! Forward in Faith is in the process of hiring a Special Events Coordinator who will streamline the facility rental and use process while providing welcoming, genuine, customer service. Forward in Faith is thrilled to be taking this step for 2 reasons: it’s a way to increase revenue for spaces that we are more than happy to share and there’s potential to welcome increased visitors through exceptional experiences. Staff and Forward in Faith members have since met several times to revise our current rental policy making it concise, easy-to-reference, competitive, and relevant.

The Special Events Coordinator will be motivated to connect our church with the community, by seeking and engaging outside organizations and individuals to use our multiple spaces for events such as weddings, receptions, parties, meetings, and other functions, and successfully coordinate these events using exceptional organizational skills and clear, professional communications with staff and clients. This position is a temporary, part-time position funded by Forward in Faith with a goal of being sustainable and permanent after a period of successfully increasing the use of our spaces for outside events.

Please be in prayer as we roll out this exciting new program.

Please keep St. Luke’s in mind if you have friends or acquaintances looking for a venue for a special event!

What’s going on?

Forward in Faith has reinstated a structure that St. Luke’s has used in the past but has fallen by the wayside over the past 10 years. With the help of Ruth Morrison, who is graciously willing to serve as the volunteer Sunday School coordinator, we can work together towards communicating our classes to the community with a long-term goal of growing. We asked our Sunday School classes to organize in a way that provides accountability, structure, and open communication within and among Christian educators. It’s anticipated that this group will meet 4-6 times a year to share seasonal lesson plans, discuss related concerns/joys, and stay connected. Sunday School leaders met on June 18 for our first meeting and we look forward to subsequent meetings. Thank you to Ruth for her leadership.

Volunteer Sunday School Coordinator

Special Events Coordinator

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YOUTH NEWSChildren’s News Hello everyone! Here’s what we have coming up:Wed., July 12 - 9am-3pm - Wacky Wednesday - Wear your paint clothes, bring $5 and a lunch! We will paint and go to Main Event for some Laser Tag fun!Sun., July 16 - 9:30 - Sunday School Noon - 3 - Lunch and Swimming at Beth’s house!Wed., July 19 - 7:30 am - Meet to leave for Magic Springs/Lake TripSat., July 22 - mid afternoon - return from Magic Springs/Lake TripSun., July 23 - 9:30 - Sunday SchoolNo Evening ActivitiesPeace, Beth

The UMW will not have an executive meeting or general/unit meeting in July. Book review on Aug. 1, 11:00 am. Make your reservations at the

Hospitality Hall desk for lunch. Cost $6.00. More to come about our Fall schedule and programming.

Challengers is wrapping up another great sum-mer. Some highlights include making dinner for our families at the end of cooking camp, having a game night, going ice skating, and visiting a training facility for pilots. We are currently in our last week of camp and will be doing a theatre performance on Friday for our parents. School starts back on July 24th, so we are also preparing to welcome back all of our after school children. A list of needed supplies and collec-tion box will be in Hospitality Hall until July 31.Thank you to all of the church staff and members that have helped with various camp activities! We are truly lucky to have our program at St. Luke's.

Sail Into Summer Reading!There are lots of great books in the Chil-dren’s Book Garden, which is in Room 220 of the Children’s Building. Come by and pick out a good book and enjoy the

fun that reading can provide. Our church’s children, and children who attend the Day School, Challengers, and Scouts can use the library when the children’s building is open while the Challengers are not in ses-sion. HAPPY READING!

Day School NewsDid you hear the parade? Smell the hot dogs? See the flags? The Day School had a great week Party-ing in the USA for summer camp last week! We have only have three more weeks of summer camp - Under the Sea, Treasure Hunters and Cowboys & Cowgirls. Summer is going by in a flash and we certainly are enjoying it in the Day School hall. We are already gearing up for a great school year. We are blessed to be in a church that loves little souls!

PROJECT TRANSFORMATIONCelebration Banquet - Sunday, July 23, 6:00pmAll volunteers and giving partners are invited!Germantown UMC

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MUSIC NOTES Sports Shorts from the CLC150 YEARS!!! 150 years of preaching, 150 years of praying, 150 years of serving the community as disciples of Christ, 150 years of singing. This congregation has gone through many changes of locations, leadership; it has gone through wonderful times of growth and success, and hard times of decline, stagnation, and devastating tragic loss. Through it all, right from the organization of this fellowship the people sang. And folks… we are still singing! In “A History of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church” Rev. Eron Sharp writes, “For several years…the song leader simply gave the pitch on his pitch pipe and the congregation sang the great hymns of the church.” Rev. Sharp goes on to say this practice continued until the congregation was finally able to purchase a reed organ that the congregation loved and cared for with great diligence even through the changes of location. Mrs. Carlton Wilkes, longtime St. Luke’s organist (23 years) second only to Dr. Walter Wade (24 years) and followed by current St. Luke’s Principal Organist Mr. Wes Kirkpatrick (17 years), sat on the bench of that two-manual Kilgen organ. The very end of her tenure, and under the leadership of then Music Minister Mr. Wilson Mount, marked the installation of the current instrumentI’m now calling on you to join in!!! If you have ever participated in the music ministry of St. Luke’s, I would love for you to join us again as we celebrate what God has done here at 480 S Highland. And if you have never participated before, I STILL want you to join us as we celebrate. For more information about how, please do not hesitate to call, email, or stop me in the hall. I want to hear from you. We are all so blessed to be a part of this historic place of worship and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for us next. To quote former St. Luke’s Senior Minister the Late Rev. L. Doyle Masters, “I believe the Lord is leading St. Luke’s in a forward direction of faith”. Come be part, come preach, come pray, come serve, come sing! S.C.Toe, Director of St. Luke’s Music Ministries samson.toe@stlukesumc.org

Sizzlin’ SafarisJuly 31: Bingo10:30, St. Luke’s Lounge, 10:30am-12N bring your lunch. Snacks will be provided. If you would like to bring a snack to share with the group, please do….

August 18: Tour of St. Jude ( Hopefully with Dixon Wil-liams) Lunch @Central BBQ (on your own) Bus departs @ 10:00am will return after Lunch.

Outreach Opportunity for Sherwood ElementaryDuring July we are collecting school supplies to provide each fifth grader with a cinch pack containing:

•3 pkg.of wide-lined notebook paper•2 boxes of #2 pencils•one 24 pack of crayons or box of colored pencils•two 70 sheet wide-lined one subject notebooks•2 black composition books•3 pocket folders with brads•1 box of fat colored markers•3 flat pink erasers•2 red pens •1 bottle of white glue

Boxes labeled Sherwood school supplies for your donations are in the elevator lobby on the 1st floor. Monetary donations are always welcome made payable to St. Luke’s designated for Sherwood school supplies. The cost of these supplies for each child is about $15.00. Thank you. Barbara Caldwell 323-0919

YOUR FITNESS ROOM IS OPEN… It has air conditioning and a TV. Equipment is being repaired. Summer hours Mon-Fr-7am-7pm

DEFENDER LEAGUE BASKETBALL- Tuesdays and Fridays Admission $1 Game times 6:30pm- 7:30pm-8:30pm and 9:30pm. Come out and see some of your local talent. All admission fees go to our Community utility fund,

BRIDGING THE GAP VI- Friday August 25th and Saturday August 26th This is a fundraiser for YOUR Food ministries.. Come out and support this event……………..Mark your calendar.Remember HIM Always,Coach Day

St. Luke’s Celebrates 150 years with a HIGHLAND HOMECOMING!

As you know, St. Luke’s will celebrate our 150th Anniversary on September 23 - 24 with a Highland Homecoming. This will be a special time when we will celebrate not only our past, but our ongoing commitment to share Christ, to serving our community and to love the people of Memphis. On Saturday, Sept. 23 from 10am to 1pm, we will have a time of service to a variety of local ministries. From 1 to 4pm, we will enjoy lunch on the greenspace and a time of fun and fellowship. On Sunday, Sept. 24, we will have a special worship service and hope to fill the sanctuary with a spirit of love and renewal. We have been compiling an invitation list so that we can invite those people who have been a part of St. Luke’s but who for a variety of reasons are no longer on our regular rolls. If you know of anyone who should receive an invitation, please text or call Lynne McAlexander at 550-3091 or email her at wmcalex974@aol.com. You may also email Carla Taylor at carla.taylor@stlukesumc.org. Please help us by giving as complete an address as possible, and send us the information at your earliest possible convenience.Also if you have pictures of events at St. Luke’s such as weddings, receptions, parties, or any time of fellowship we would like to make copies of them to include in a slideshow to be shown during the celebration.We are looking forward to seeing as many of our St. Luke’s family, past, present, and future, as possible!

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The radio broadcast of Sunday Worship is on WREC 600 AM, 8:00am each Sunday.

Congregational Support

prayer ConCerns of our sT. luke’s family

Help St. Luke’s minister not only to our homebound community but also to the entire Memphis area. Our weekly radio broadcasts are heard by many people in our community. For $225 each week you or a group of people can help by sponsoring a broadcast in memory or in honor of someone special. Contact Vickey Hobbs for more information.

Sympathy to to Galen Colbert in the death of his uncle, Steve Colbert.

GiftS received in memory:Bill Bell from Virginia Hathorn, Sue Gray, Loyal Stewards Class, Dot Dickey,

Bob & Janie HendrixAlfred J. Ervin, my father who would have been 100 years old on July 4th, from

his daughter, Marilyn SadlerSuzanne Liles from Harry & Debora Mathewson

GiftS received in honor:George Walker, my dad, from Glen WalkerJohn Franklin’s 101st Birthday from Sarah Jane Tice

Royce Bullock, Al Simpson, Sarah Cobb, Steve Ragsdale, Marty Cobb, Betty Dixon, Rebecca Likens, Patrick Herrington, Vic Feisal, Stan Craig, Sam & Jean McHugh, Dot Dickey, Tommye Allison, Amy Pearson, Bill & Nancy Morris, Ken & Barbara Phillips, Bobby Mason, Jim Burch, Jr., Danny Hobbs, Gil Herren

Those dealing with cancer: Brenda Blackwell, Don Day, Bob Dunham, An-dre Jones, Shirley Palmer, Herbert Montgomery, David Smith, Janelle Smith, Clay Eaves.

Homebound Members: Anne Dean, Doris Eavenson, Dorothy Evans, Louise Fairfax, Avis Foreman, William Howick, Deloris Jones

Bishop Bill McAlilly, District Superintendent Deborah SmithMissionaries Eric and Liz Soard

To add, change or remove a prayer concern please email: prayer.request@stlukesumc.org or fill out a yellow prayer request card located in the sanctuary pew and place it in the offering plate during worship.

FRIENDSHIP SINGERS REUNION

Make plans to attend the upcom-ing Friendship singers Reunion on Aug.11-13. Visit the link on “St. Luke’s UMC,Memphis” Facebook page or contact Steve Ragsdale for reservations and information. Merlin Johnson, Gary Alan Smith, and Daniel Craig will all be back to direct at the service. We look forward to seeing YOU there!

To all Prayer Shawl MakersThe Prayer Shawl Ministry is such an important part of our Congregational Care. Your faithfulness in making the shawls is very much appreciated.We will have a Prayer Shawl Blessing in the worship service soon. If you have one that you are working on, let us know. You can take it to the collection boxes in the choir room or we will be happy to pick it up.Congregational Care TeamPat Anderson & Janie Hendrix

Thank youThank you for the many calls, cards and prayers during Hal's recent surgery and recuperation. Also, Jim’s visits and calls have been a blessing to us.Betty & Hal Padgett

St. Luke’s offers many Sunday morning adult classes where you can learn and fellowship. Classes begin at 9:30am every Sunday morning. Below is a listing of the Summer Studies for each class.The Red Letter Class – is taught by Betty Masters and is studying a series on Discovering the Bible including:How this Library of 66 books was organized by content of histories, literature, and prophecy. Why it is important to read both O.T. and N.T. A visit to Temple Israel and attending a Messianic Jewish service is being planned.Loyal Stewards – uses the Adult Bible Studies, United Methodist Church, published by CokesburySummer topic is God’s Urgent Call which covers the Biblical leadership of five political leaders who accomplished the work they were charged to do: Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Ezra, and Nehemiah. And, for contrast, the leader Jeroboan who failed and then considers Samson who had mixed results.Parents class – is currently covering the book How to Talk so Kids will Listen & Listen so Kids will Talk. This class pro-vides a sharing of real life challenges for parents of young to teenage children.Christian Homebuilders - A mix of teachers within the church as well as inviting speakers from Memphis social agencies, journalists, and government officials concerned with social justice. Guests this month include, July 16: Karen Spencer, World Relief, July 23: Trina Morrison, Hannah’s Hope, July 30: Restore CorpNewman Class - Follows the lectionary scriptures with Harry Colter as leader. These lessons can prepare the group to hear the word that Pastor McKinney shares in his worship sermons.

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St. Luke’s CalendarWednesday, July 12, 2017 - Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Wednesday July 12 6:30am – 8:00am Morning Basketball - CLC GYM 7:15am – 8:00am UMM Prayer Breakfast - Perkins on Park 9:00am – 3:00pm Youth Wacky Wednesday 5:30pm - 7:30pm Forward in Faith Team - Lounge 6:35pm – 7:35pm Zumba - CLC Gym 7:40pm – 9:10pm Young Adult Basketball - CLC GYMThursday July 13 9:00am - 10:00am Sit & Be Fit - CLC Gym 9:30am – 12:00pm Food Pantry - CLC 108 10:00am – 11:00am Al-anon prayer group - MB 213 (Newman) 10:00am – 12:00pm Small Group 1 - MB 211 12:00pm – 4:00pm Craft Club - CLC, 103 1:00pm – 3:00pm Colonial Park pickleball - CLC GYM 4:00pm – 6:00pm Brainstorming UMW - Lounge 6:00pm – 7:30pm Children’s Ministry Planning Mtg - Lounge 6:00pm – 10:00pm Young Adults - Levitt Shell 7:15pm – 10:15pm Fisher of Men - Gym Friday July 14 6:30am – 8:00am Morning Basketball - CLC GYM 5:00pm – 7:00pm Challengers Theater Performance - Chapel 5:00pm – 8:00pm Brain Injury Support Group Picnic - FH 6:00pm – 7:00pm Challengers Reception - Lounge 6:00pm – 10:00pm Game Night - 3rd Floor 6:30pm – 10:30pm Defender League - CLC GYM Saturday July 15 9:00am – 1:00pm Kairos Walk - Lounge 9:30am – 11:00am St Luke’s T-Ball - Greenspace- Abernathy Park 2:00pm – 4:00pm Magnolia Prayer Group - MB 304 4:30pm – 5:30pm Saturday Supper - FHSunday July 16 7:45am – 8:15am Community Breakfast and Sunshine Service - FH 8:30am – 9:30am Worship - Sanctuary 9:30am – 10:30am Sunday School 10:50am – 12:00pm Worship - Sanctuary 12:00pm – 3:00pm Youth Lunch & Activities 1:30pm – 3:30pm Under 12 BB Practice- Coop 3:30pm – 5:00pm Basketball Practice-Under 18-Sanford - GYM Monday July 17 9:00am – 10:00am Sit & Be Fit - CLC Gym 12:30pm – 1:30pm Staff Mtg 5:30pm – 7:30pm Glad Helpers Prayer Group - MB 304 5:30pm – 7:30pm Family Game Night & Pizza - 3rd floor or FH 7:00pm – 9:00pm Coin Club - Lounge Tuesday July 18 6:30am – 8:00am Morning Basketball - CLC GYM 12:00pm – 2:00pm Pickleball - CLC Gym 4:00pm – 5:30pm Game Night set-up 6:30pm – 10:30pm Defender League CLC GYM 7:00pm – 8:45pm Boy Scouts - Scout Hut Wednesday July 19 6:30am – 8:00am Morning Basketball - CLC GYM 7:15am – 8:00am UMM Prayer Breakfast - FH 7:30am Youth Leave for Trip to the Lake 1:00pm – 2:00pm Children’s Sunday Mtg - Library 6:35pm – 7:35pm Zumba - CLC Gym 7:40pm – 9:10pm Young Adult Basketball - CLC GYM

Thursday July 20 9:00am – 10:00am Sit & Be Fit - CLC Gym 9:30am – 12:00pm Food Pantry - CLC 108 10:00am – 11:00am Al-anon prayer group - MB 213 (Newman) 12:00pm – 4:00pm Craft Club - CLC, 103 6:00pm – 9:00pm Young Adults -Jerry’s and Movie - . 7:15pm – 10:15pm Fisher of Men - Gym Friday July 21 6:30am – 8:00am Morning Basketball - CLC GYM 6:30pm – 10:30pm Defender League - CLC GYM Saturday July 22 5:00pm Youth return from Trip to the Lake 9:00am – 1:00pm Kairos Walk - FH 11:00am – 2:00pm Cancer Survivors Support Group - Lounge 2:00pm – 4:00pm Magnolia Prayer Group - MB 304 2:00pm – 5:00pm Wolfpack Basketball- Practice- CLC Gym 4:30pm – 5:30pm Saturday Supper - FH Sunday July 23 7:45am – 8:15am Community Breakfast /Sunshine Service - FH 8:30am – 9:30am Worship - Sanctuary 9:00am – 12:00pm CHB Bakesale - CLC Hallway 9:30am – 10:30am Sunday School 10:50am – 12:00pm Worship - Sanctuary 1:30pm – 3:30pm Under 12 BB Practice- Coop 3:30pm – 5:00pm Basketball Practice-Under 18-Sanford - GYMMonday July 24 9:00am The Epistle newsletter deadline 9:00am – 10:00am Sit & Be Fit - CLC Gym 6:00pm – 7:00pm Finance Meeting - Lounge 7:15pm – 10:15pm Jesus is Lord Basketball - Gym Tuesday July 25 6:30am – 8:00am Morning Basketball - CLC GYM 12:00pm – 2:00pm Pickleball - CLC Gym 6:00pm – 7:00pm Day School Board Meeting - Library-Rm 211 6:30pm – 10:30pm Defender League - CLC GYM 7:00pm – 8:45pm Boy Scouts - Scout Hut Wednesday July 26 6:30am – 8:00am Morning Basketball - CLC GYM 7:15am – 8:00am UMM Prayer Breakfast - Perkins on Park Ave 6:35pm – 7:35pm Zumba - CLC Gym 7:40pm – 9:10pm Young Adult Basketball - CLC GYM

Calendar Room KeyMB-Main Building, FH-Fellowship Hall,

HH - Hospitality Hall, CLC-Christian Life Center, CB-Children’s Building

This calendar is an abbreviated listing of activities. For a full listing of the most current calendar informa-

tion visit our website: stlukesumc.org/google-calendar/

Facebook: St. Luke’s UMC, Memphis; Instagram: stlukesmemphis; Twitter: @stlukesmemphis

The episTleSt. Luke’s United Methodist Church480 So. Highland StreetMemphis, Tennessee 38111-4302

The EPISTLE (USPS #569-280) is published twice monthlyPOSTMASTER send address changes to: by ST. LUKE’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 480 So. Highland, Memphis TN 38111-4302.

PERIODICALSPOSTAGE PDMEMPHIS, TN

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RECORD OF LOYALTY

Sunday School 6/25 131 7/2 155 7/9 111

Worship Attendance - June 25 Sunshine breakfast 78 8:30 worship 39 10:50 worship 206 323Worship Attendance - July 2 Sunshine breakfast 82 8:30 worship 28 10:50 worship 229 339Worship Attendance - July 9 Sunshine breakfast 84 8:30 worship 38 10:50 worship 234 356Gifts & Tithes ReceivedJune 25 $7,966.00July 2 $9,119.00July 9 (included e-giving) $21,134.00

DONATE ONLINE!Visit the website - stlukesumc.orgOur online donation button in the upper right corner is now active! You may make one-time gifts or choose to make a recurring gift. You can also choose the optional: “give an extra 2.75% to offset the service fee” button to help cover the transaction cost. This information remains confi-dential and only Vickey is notified of your gift.

The next Epistle deadline is Monday, July 24, 9:00 a.m.

Finance Committee ReportThe proposed spending in the 2017 budget is presented in six groups. This presentation gives you an opportunity to reflect on the big picture. We will discuss items within the groups in this and future Epistles. The total proposed spending was approved by Church Council on 1/15/2017 in the amount of $1,028,820.

The 2017 proposed spending for utilities represents 10% of total spending and is included in the Facilities grouping in the pie chart. Utilities have averaged over the last 5 years slightly more than $95,000 a year. As we look at spending, especially in the facilities group, we must recognize that our facilities are old and may require more spending than a newer church but our church is debt free.

6%5%4%

7%

30%

48%

2017 Proposed Total Spending

Pastor and Staff (including benefits)Facilities (including utilities, cleaning and lawn care)Apportionments (giving)Administrative & SupportOther (ministry, programming, etc.)Forward in Faith

48%30%

7%4%5%6%