12.10.2023 WHO WE ARE St. Luke’s United Methodist Church is an open community of Christians helping people find and give hope through Jesus Christ - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, disability, or socioeconomic background. No matter who you are, where you are from, who you love or what you look like, we want you to know that God loves you and YOU BELONG HERE.
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES NORTH INDY Traditional 9:30, Contemporary 9:30AM & 11AM MIDTOWN Contemporary at 11AM ONLINE, FACEBOOK & YOUTUBE The North Indy Sunday morning services are live-streamed on our website, Facebook & YouTube: Traditional Services: Sundays at 9:30AM & 11AM Contemporary Services: Sundays at 9:30AM & 11AM
PRAYER Submit your anonymous prayer request at stlukesumc.com/prayer or on the online prayer wall at stlukesumc.com/prayerwall.
GIVE
Your gifts are transforming our church, our community, and the world! There are four ways to give today at St. Luke’s. • Scan the QR code or go to: stlukesumc.com/give • Text: STLUKESUMC to 77977 • Send checks to: 100 W. 86th St., Indianapolis, IN 46260 • Drop checks/cash in the baskets during service
DONUTS & COFFEE NORTH INDY - GREAT HALL (FOR TODAY ONLY) Grab a cup of coffee, enjoy a delicious donut, and take the time to connect with those around you. CONNECTION CENTERS OUTSIDE THE WORSHIP SPACES Stop by the Connection Centers to get your questions answered, sign up for groups, serving opportunities, and events, and learn about ways to connect here. RESTLESS CHILD AREAS AREA LEFT OF THE SANCTUARY & CENTRAL PASSAGE NURSING PARENT AREA • E126 Enjoy our live services in these spaces if you’d like to nurse in private and/or if your child needs a break during worship. CAREERS AT ST. LUKE’S St. Luke’s values the committed people who are part of our staff. Their dedication to the ministry of this faith community is key to the life of the church. Open positions and associated job descriptions and applications are available at stlukesumc.com/careers. CONNECTIONS GIFT STORE NORTH INDY • OPEN SUNDAYS • 9AM – NOON Connections is dressed for holidays with additional hours for shopping. With just a few Christmas shopping hours left, we will be open on Wednesday 10:30-1:00 and closed on Christmas Eve. TAIZE WORSHIP SERVICES NORTH INDY, 3RD MONDAYS OF MONTH AT 5:30PM, N103 A Taize service invites you into a time of contemplation using simple chanting, prayers, scripture, and 10 minutes of silence. Register online. stlukesumc.com/events
TODAY AT ST. LUKE’S GUIDED MEDITATIONS NORTH INDY • 9-9:30AM - PRAYER CHAPEL Seeking a chance to slow down and center? Join us for 15 minutes of guided meditation in the Prayer Chapel on the south side of Robertson Chapel. Enter through Door 2 or Robertson Chapel. CONTEMPLATION & COMMUNION NORTH INDY • 9:30AM – NOON – PRAYER CHAPEL The Prayer Chapel is open to anyone seeking a moment of peace, reflection, and spiritual connection on Sunday mornings. Holy Communion is available on the altar. Enter through door #2.
EAST ART GALLERY DECEMBER : ADVENT SPECIAL INSTALLATION The members of the Studio Three Art Ministries and others are creating an Advent Calendar that will feature a new work of art each day from December 1st through Christmas Day. If you check in periodically, you’ll see twenty five empty frames fill up as we count down the days until Christmas. We’re so grateful to this talented group of artists for sharing their gifts with us in the gallery this year!
STAY IN TOUCH Sign up to receive weekly emails and/or the St. Luke’s monthly newsletter, subscriptions and preferences at stlukesumc.com/subscribe. Scan this QR Code and let us know you’re here! To make sure we have all of your current contact information, go to stlukesumc.com/myaccount to: • Update communication preferences • View the online church directory • Submit a prayer request • View giving information
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CONNECT THE LONGEST NIGHT SERVICE DECEMBER 19 AT 7PM - ROBERTSON CHAPEL Join us for a contemplative service on Tuesday, December 19th, designed to provide hope and healing for those who find Advent and Christmas difficult, lonely, or are in a season of grief. No registration and open to all. COLLEGE+ CHRISTMAS PARTY DECEMBER 20 AT 7PM - LUKE’S LODGE College Plus are young people post high school through 22 years of age. Come and see your friends, meet new ones, and celebrate Christmas with fun games and food. Register online at stlukesumc.com/students ALL YOUTH OVERNIGHTER DECEMBER 22 AT 7PM - DECEMBER 23 AT 8AM Our yearly overnighter is back! This is for students in grades 5-12. This year’s overnighter is “All of the Days.” Every hour we will be celebrating a different holiday! One hour may be Christmas then Thanksgiving, and then maybe National Pancake Day. Some activities combine ages but most of the night HS and MS students will be in their own spaces. Students will connect with
their peers, while also experiencing Student Ministry together. Register online: stlukesumc.com/students WINTER SUMMIT JANUARY 13 STARTS AT 8:30AM - NORTH INDY We believe God has an amazing vision for our future and we’re inviting you to join us and be the first to hear about it! We set-aside this event every year for our church to gather and our leaders to be challenged and equipped to live out God’s vision in our community. There will be breakout sessions that are ministry specific where you can how help move our mission into action. Registration coming soon! SPECIAL NEEDS SUPPORT GROUP JANUARY 14 AT 12:30 - NORTH INDY
We are never meant to walk life’s journey alone. Joys and challenges often come to us in unanticipated ways and we want to walk alongside you through all of the ups, downs, and in-betweens. This group is for parents and caretakers of kids, youth, and adults with special needs. Register online: stlukesumc.com/specialneeds
STARTING POINT JANUARY 21 - FOLLOWING ALL SERVICES If you’re new or newer to St. Luke’s join us immediately after service for Starting Point, a 30-minute orientation to St. Luke’s. You’ll meet others who are new and leave with next steps to help you find your place here. This is a great way to become familiar with who we are and how we live out our faith. No registration is needed! Stop by the connection center to find out where we are meeting. We can’t wait to meet you!
CULTIVATE & CONTRIBUTE DIVORCECARE STARTS JANUARY 8 (13 WEEKS) - NORTH INDY Divorce is hard and many people face additional obstacles that make this season of life all the more difficult. St. Luke’s wants you to know that you are not alone. We welcome you to DivorceCare on Monday evenings starting January 8, 2024 for 13 weeks. The class is free with a required workbook ($20) scholarships available. For more info and to register visit stlukesumc.com/ divorcecare. BIBLICAL JUSTICE – BUSY PEOPLE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! JANUARY 17, 24, 31 AND FEB 7 | 6:00-7:30PM | NORTH INDY AND ZOOM Division and injustice are all around us and the news is full of discouragement with added pressures of work, kids’ schedules, school demands, travel sports, caring for aging parents, and...well what can we really do about it anyway? You CAN make a difference. Each week we will examine one social justice issue like the Indiana eviction crisis, food insecurity, common sense ways to reduce gun violence, and the state of maternal and child health. Childcare is available, and as an extra perk, you can even come early for family dinner beginning at 5PM! stlukesumc.com/classes
GRIEFSHARE STARTING FEBRUARY 7 AT 3:15 OR 6:15PM - NORTH INDY Do you dread the lonely days and nights? Wonder what to do with your loved one’s belongings? Feel like your brain is in a fog? Unsure of how you’ll go on? Join us for GriefShare a 13-week study that lets you find help and healing for the hurt of losing a loved one. There is no cost for the class. Workbooks are available at the meetings for a one time cost of $20. Scholarships are available. To sign up visit: stlukesumc.com/griefshare DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH AT 6PM - NORTH INDY A support group for caregivers of those affected by memory loss. All are welcome to gather to find loving support, share resources, and encouragement along their journey. Individuals attending the Caregivers Support Group may care for loved ones in any capacity (whether at home, in care facility, or from a distance). Register at stlukesumc.com/events DEMENTIA FRIENDS SUPPORT GROUP THIRD SATURDAY OF THE MONTH - 10AM, ZOOM The Dementia Friends Workshop seeks to build awareness of and break down stigmas surrounding various forms of dementia and implement practical changes that make life easier to navigate for those with dementia and their loved ones. Sign up at stlukesumc.com/events
CHANGE THE WORLD YOUTH MLK SERVICE DAY JANUARY 15, (9-12 OR 12-4) OR 9-4 Our tradition of serving our community in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr’s legacy is back! ALL middle schoolers, high schoolers, and their adults are invited to serve together at various outreach partners. Student’s parents are encouraged to serve with them, but it is not required. Half and full day options are available. Register online at stlukesumc.com/students
ORDER OF WORSHIP Prelude | Orchestra Introit | For Unto Us a Child Is Born - Chancel Choir, Orchestra Call to Worship | Rev. Dr. Jevon Caldwell-Gross Leader: Have you noticed? Are you paying attention? God is doing a new thing. People: We watch and wait in the fierce joy of the coming Messiah. Leader: You know the captives? God is bringing freedom. You know the brokenhearted? God is bringing healing. People: We watch and wait in the fierce joy of the coming Messiah. Leader: Beloved, listen. God is calling you to be freed and to free your neighbors; To be healed and to heal your community; To testify to the Light among us. People: We watch and wait in the fierce joy of the coming Messiah. Leader: So, let us join our voices and our hearts as we proclaim the story of the one whose coming we anticipate and yet is already among us. ALL: We come to watch, to wait, and to worship in the fierce joy of Jesus Christ, the coming Messiah. Amen. Opening Hymn | Emmanuel / Come Thou Long Expected Jesus #204, #196 Bringing in the Light | Ryleigh Strutz Welcome | Rev. Dr. Jevon Caldwell-Gross Advent Candle Liturgy - The Stayer Family Anthem | Sing We Now of Christmas - Chancel Choir, Orchestra Prayer | Rev. Dr. Jevon Caldwell-Gross Dismissal of Children Announcements Call for Offering | Rev. Dr. Jevon Caldwell-Gross Offertory | First Cradle - New Song, Cello Doxology Scripture Reading | Isaiah 7:10-16 Monologue | Isaiah portrayed by Rev. Rob Fuquay Song Response | The Dream Isaiah Saw Prayer | Rev. Dr. Jevon Caldwell-Gross Closing Hymn | Hark the Herald Angels Sing (3 vs) # 240 Benediction | Rev. Dr. Jevon Caldwell-Gross Postlude