Weekly Update - December 31, 2020

Dear St. Lukers,

Happy (almost) 2021! We are finally here. The moment we all have been waiting for - to say goodbye to 2020. But before we do I want to take some space to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who made our Advent and Christmas so beautiful. From our worship team, to all who helped with our new family services on Sunday afternoons, volunteers who have fed hundreds by packing food, gardening and harvest, cooking and handing out meals, to the hundred plus TwELF Days of Christmas volunteers and crew, to singers, actors and tech who created our services for Christmas Eve, every moment was a gift of light and love for our congregation and community. It is a blessing to be a part of sharing some joy and helping people walk through Advent toward the manger. Thank you so much for all you have given in this year to offer hope, miracles, and the light of true joy through such a difficult year.

There’s a LOT of pressure on 2021 to be different. I am actually a little concerned it may not be able to live up to all our hype and hope! There is much out of our control, but there are things WITHIN our control, to help make this year strong, no matter what may happen. We have considered a list to awaken some new muscles in our following Christ, and help us continue to reveal the Kingdom of God through light and love for others. To make it even easier, they are in our 2021 framework to help you LEARN × ENGAGE × LISTEN × ECHO as we Live the Story: God’s, Mine, Yours, and Ours.

LEARN: Go ahead and mark Wednesdays on your calendar for our church-wide Bible study every Wednesday (click the button below to register), and find a good study Bible (CEB is a great translation) and journal to prepare to dig into and explore God’s Story in 2021!

ENGAGE: Engage in God’s Story to find your place in it by being a part of worship on a regular basis. We start the first sermon series of the year on January 10 by digging in for six weeks to the themes of the entire Bible and finding out how to engage God’s Story in our daily life.

LISTEN: Start listening to the life stories of others, and how God engages us all differently by joining a Life Together group to connect and share life together. We also have a powerful four-week class to learn to listen and become Beloved Community led by Rev. Dr. Gary Mason and Dr. Nichole Phillips on Sunday evenings at 5:30 p.m. starting January 10 (click the button below to register).

ECHO: Echo God’s Story to the rest of the world by being generous of time, talent, and resources. Every gift of tithes and offerings echoes God’s Story as you support the church, or support others through our Restoring Hope ministries. You can click here as we try to end our 2020 story strong for St. Luke’s budget. You can also echo the story through your time and talents by considering volunteering at our micro farm or taking your spiritual gifts assessment to find the best place to serve. Click here to find a way to volunteer or take the assessment and a Kingdom Revealer will contact you to help you find the best place to serve.

2021 will have its ups and downs but putting stakes down now can help you stay rooted regardless of where the wind blows. There’s no better place to do that then digging in and grounding yourself as a St. Luker, because not only are we not St. Luke’s without U but the world is not as beautiful without U’r story.

Here’s to a New Year and all God has to offer through us.

Grace and peace,

Jenn.

Reminder:

The church campus will be closed on January 1 in observance of New Year's Day. We will re-open for worship on January 3 (one service only, online and on-campus at 9:30 a.m.), and the office will re-open on Monday, January 4.

Year-End Giving

Consider giving a year-end gift to support the St. Luke’s ministries you love. To be recognized in the 2020 tax year, all gifts must be given by today (December 31). Gifts can be postmarked on or before December 31 and turned into the metal drop box outside Building C, or completed online by 11:59 p.m. on December 31. Text SLUMC to 77977 for a link to give online.

Click to Give

Click the image above to learn more about connecting to one of the classes or programs you can participate in online or listen to on the phone. If you need help connecting to one of the groups on the schedule, email Liz Vasquez or call 407.876.4991 ext. 216.

Live Online Worship Sundays at 9:30 a.m.

On-campus Worship Sunday, January 3 at 9:30 a.m.

Click here to watch last Sunday's worship service

St. Luke's in Review

Community Resources

View COVID-19 Resources

Looking Ahead at St. Luke's

Join this church-wide Bible study starting January 6 and learn more by clicking the button below:

Beloved community arena registration link

Join Rev. Dr. Gary Mason and some special guests for this new study on Sundays at 5:30 p.m. beginning January 10. Participants will discuss how hearing the stories of your opponents can change your heart and your relationships. Click the button below to learn more and register:

This is the first step toward joining the church.

If have any Christmas decorations or holiday items you no longer need, donate them to the UMW for next year’s Holiday Marketplace Gift Shop!

Please drop off donations in the brown wicker chest on the porch of the UMW Gift Shop, located at the Annex behind Building C. Thank you all for your continued support!

Learn about the weekly free food distribution at St. Luke's for our neighbors in the arts community, and how to donate, by clicking the button below:

Learn Ways to Support Artists

Learn More about Grow it Forward

If you have the skills to do oil changes or small car maintenance, we need you at our oil change event coming up on January 30! St. Luke’s new Car Ministry will help struggling families stay on the road. If you can help, please contact Amy Winslow.

Habitat build day arena registration link

Habitat for Humanity builds strength, security and self-reliance through homeownership. Join a team on Saturday, February 6 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to help build this next home in East Winter Garden. Click the button below to sign up and learn more:

Give to St. Luke's Ministries

November 2020 Financial Update

Giving through November 2020 (less PPP): $3,005,882

Giving is up 2.6%

Expenses through November 2020: $3,231,460

Expenses are up 5.4% due to lack of income from revenue producing ministries because of the pandemic

Without the PPP funds, we are in an unfavorable 2020 YTD position of -$225,578

With the PPP funds, we are in a favorable 2020 YTD position of $336,422

Click the button below to start giving online or call the finance office at 407.876.4991 ext. 227 to learn more about additional ways to give.

Click to Give

Ministry Links

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