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 office@storyofgod.org

Website: www.storyofgod.org

Pastor:

Rev. Dr. Robert Harrell 678-432-0845 Church Office

or

404-625-1994 cell

e-mail: pastor_robb@storyofgod.org

Church Secretary

Susan Sparrow 678-432-0845 or

678-778-0568 cell

e-mail: office@storyofgod.org

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

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25 Christmas

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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

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19

20

21 M L King Day

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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 office@storyofgod.org

Please call the church

office if you have a

change of address or a

new phone number so

that our records can be

updated.