* * CHRISTMAS WORSHIP SERVICES AT ST. LUKE’S * * We invite you, your family, friends and neighbors to join us in joyful anticipation of the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

December 24, Christmas Eve Worship, 5:30 p.m.

Carols, Candlelight, Communion The Reverend Ricky James, Pastor

† DECEMBER MISSION OF THE MONTH † District Advent Offering for Grace House Ministry

We want to send a grateful “Thank you” to those of you who have already responded with a donation to our Mission of Month. We are encouraged that our contributions to this District Advent Offering will help provide the necessary funds to allow Mississippi Children’s Homes to meet their goal and begin construction of “Grace House” with the New Year. The need is urgent! It will offer a place of safety, pro-tection and healing for girls aged 12-18 years as an alterna-tive to the crime and dangers of their life on the street. See and hear a presentation by Methodist Children’s Homes President, Mike Duggar, about the “Grace House” mission at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKcDLOC83HA&feature=youtu.be, and prayerfully consider how you can help.

YEAR END CONTRIBUTIONS A Very Important Reminder: For financial gifts to be tax

deductible in 2015, they must be received by December 31st, 2015. Your gift can be given in the regular offering, online at www.stlukesjackson.org (click on the “Do-nate Online” tab), in person at the church

office, or mailed to the church postmarked on or before Dec. 31, 2015. The church office will be open until 12:00 Noon on Dec. 31st for those wishing to deliver their gift in per-son. Of course, your gift on Sunday, Dec. 27th, will be con-sidered a 2015 charitable gift for tax purposes.

DATES AT-A-GLANCE Thu., Dec. 17 ECLC Christmas & New Year’s Holidays Begin, 12:00 Noon Thu., Dec. 17 Office Staff Meeting, 1:00 pm Sun., Dec. 20 Morning Prayer Time, Communion in the Chapel, 8:30 am Sun., Dec. 20 Sunday School, 9:00 am Sun., Dec. 20 Children’s Happy Birthday Jesus Party, 9:00 am Sun., Dec. 20 Fellowship Time, 9:50 am Sun., Dec. 20 Worship in the Sanctuary, 10:15 am Sun., Dec. 20 Jimmye Walker Funeral Services in the Sanctuary; Visitation 2:00 pm, Funeral 3:00 pm Mon., Dec. 21 NO Mississippi Girlchoir Rehearsal Tue., Dec. 22 NO Mississippi Girlchoir Rehearsal Wed., Dec. 23 NO CHURCH ACTIVITIES Thu., Dec. 24 CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE: CAROLS, CANDLELIGHT,

COMMUNION, in the Sanctuary, 5:30 p.m. Mon., Dec. 28 NO Mississippi Girlchoir Rehearsal Tue., Dec. 29 NO Mississippi Girlchoir Rehearsal Wed., Dec. 30 NO CHURCH ACTIVITIES Thu., Dec. 31 NO Office Staff Meeting Fri.., Jan. 01 NEW YEAR’S DAY – CHURCH CLOSED Sat., Jan. 02 THRIFT SHOP CLOSED – NEW YEAR’S HOLIDAY Sun., Jan. 03 Morning Prayer Time in the Chapel, 8:30 am Sun., Jan. 03 Sunday School, 9:00 am Sun., Jan. 03 Fellowship Time, 9:50 am Sun., Jan. 03 Worship with Holy Communion in the Sanctuary, 10:15 am Mon., Jan. 04 NO Mississippi Girlchoir Rehearsal Mon., Jan. 04 Trustees’ Meeting, 5:45 pm Tue., Jan. 05 NO Mississippi Girlchoir Rehearsal Tue., Jan. 05 Ladies Bible Study / UMW Circle 4 Meeting, 6:30 pm

Dear Friends,

I have to take a moment to brag on you. At this week’s fi-

nance meeting we reviewed the pledges for 2016 and rejoiced

that they increased by 14% over last year. You pledged the

highest amount in memory, which allowed your finance

committee to confidently adopt a 2016 budget of $583,605.

For some historical perspective, this means that over the past

five years, we’ve increased the budget by 48%. This has al-

lowed us to invest in more missions and ministry, expand

staff, and pay all of our Conference Mission Apportionments.

I’m constantly awed by your generosity and humbled by the

opportunity to serve as your pastor.

I hope you will join us for worship this Sunday, December

20, and then on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, at 5:30 p.m., for

Carols, Candlelight and Holy Communion. Please invite any

family or friends looking for a place to celebrate Christmas.

The nursery will be available, but children are certainly wel-

come to worship with the whole family.

Also, if you need to complete your 2015 giving, you may

place your gift in the offering plate the next two Sundays and

on Christmas Eve, give securely through the website, or mail

it to the church office postmarked by Dec. 31st.

I pray that you have time over the next few weeks to slow

down, rest, and enjoy the best gift we have to receive, the

love of God in Jesus Christ.

Grace and Peace,

Ricky

Growing Faith, Sharing Hope, Abiding Love

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St. Luke’s United Methodist Church

621 Duling Ave. Jackson, MS 39216

(601) 362-6381

info@stlukesjackson.org

www.stlukesjackson.org

Rev. Ricky James, Pastor

December 17, 2015

PLEASE NOTE: There will be no St. Luke’s newsletter next week

in observance of Christmas,

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT CONTINUES AT ST. LUKE’S Season of Giving “Thank you:” If you have not already

done so, there is still time to express a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated St. Luke’s staff. We in-vite you to thank them with a monetary gift. SPRC

will make sure each staff member receives a Christmas “bo-nus” on your behalf. Make your gift to St. Luke’s, noted “Staff Christmas.” Place it in the offering plate on Sunday or mail/bring it to the church office.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY Birthday Party Honoring Jesus, this Sunday, Dec. 20

Parents, both children's Sunday School classes (the preschoolers and school aged children) will have a birthday party in honor of baby Jesus this Sunday, December 20, during the Sunday School hour. We plan to celebrate together with music and

crafts. If you are interested in volunteering to help with the celebration in any way, please let Leah know by emailing leahbatson@yahoo.com. We are in need of snacks, drinks, and one or two adults to remain in the classroom during the Sunday School hour.

NO CHURCH ACTIVITIES WEDNESDAY, DEC. 23 OR 30 We will have NO Wednesday church activities

on December 23rd and 30th, in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

Regular Wednesday activities will resume on January 6.

UMW CIRCLE 4 INVITATION AND INFORMATION Beginning on the first Tuesday evening in January (1/5/16), at 6:30 p.m., Circle 4 will be studying Becoming a Woman of Faith, by Cynthia Heald. The book will help us grow in our understanding and practice of faith in our daily lives

as we read, study, and discuss relevant scriptures together. There are still a few books available, and if you are inter-ested in participating in this group, please contact Priscilla Gaby (prisgaby@aol.com) for more information.

Love Came Down at Christmas

We want to thank everyone who had a part in the presenta-tion of our wonderful Christmas Cantata “Love Came Down at Christmas.” It was a beautiful and inspiring expression of the anticipation and joy of the birth of our Lord and savior.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20 2015

WORSHIP 10:15 A.M.

Micah 5:2-5a / Luke 1:39-56

THIS WEEK’S JOYS AND CONCERNS ~ Prayer Concerns ~

Mark Shrock, Surgery, December 16

~ Births ~ Grant Owen Knutson, III, December 14

~ Deaths ~ Jimmye Walker, December 12

ATTENDANCE AND STEWARDSHIP WEEKLY REPORT

12/13/15 Sunday School 94 Sunday Worship 180 Tithes/Offerings Needed in 2015 $450,665.00 Tithes/Offerings Needed Weekly $8,667.00 Tithes/Offerings Received 12/13/15 $8,493.00 Tithes/Offerings Needed to Date $433,350.00 Tithes/Offerings Received to Date $398,176.00 Tithes/Offerings Difference to Date -$35,174.00

MONTHLY BUDGET UPDATE

Through November 2015

Total 2015 Budget (from all sources*) $554,565.00 Amount Needed Monthly $ 46,213.00 Amount Received in November $ 47,973.00 Total Received to Date $468,261.00

*Includes estimated income from tithes, offerings, investments, interest, Fondren Building, and other planned and unplanned sources.

THANKS FOR WORSHIPING WITH US 12/13/15

Elaine Styron Cindy Woodall

Tom & Blythe Lollar Ada Cheng

Jeff Duff Jamie Crawford

Danny Rainey James and Jeanne Tucker

Above, Our St. Luke’s Choir, Flutist: Kayla Carr (left front), Director: Helen Bowen; (not pictured) Organ-ist: Billy Overton, Pianists: Janice Hearne & Angela Powell - Right, Cellist: Amanda Lyons – Below Back, our Choir; On stage, Shepherd: Ben Carroll, Wise Man: Hunter Upchurch, Simeon: Grady Bailey, Jo-seph: Joey Hibbert, Mary: India Torrey; Foreground left, Rev. Ricky James.