September 2017 | St. Luke's United Methodist Church

29 09, 2017

Starting Young: What $20 Can Do, by Bryan Fisher

Sally Penning2017-09-29T11:11:50-05:00September 29th, 2017|All blogs, We Tell Our Stories|0 Comments

I stepped into my 8th grade Sunday School class on a crisp, cool Sunday morning. Fresh from mowing lawns the day before, I was armed with cash in my wallet. At that time, most of the money I earned went to sodas, candy and CDs (this was the 80’s, iTunes was not invented then). When my Sunday School teacher, Carl, asked for donations to help feed a few families he was trying to support, I did not really think about it and immediately parted with $20 of my recently earned money. I had completely forgotten about that donation [...]

29 09, 2017

Simple question — are you satisfied?

Sally Penning2017-09-29T10:57:26-05:00September 29th, 2017|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

A PERSONAL PRAYER God,You are the bread that sustains me on my journey. You are the river of life that revives me when I falter. You are the very breath that I breathe, that animates my body, mind and soul for the work to which you call me. When I taste your presence, it satisfies my hungry heart. And it makes me want more. More of you. More of your joy. More of your peace. More serving you. More loving my neighbor. God, on those times when I forget what I am searching for, give me just a taste of you to remind me, so that [...]

22 09, 2017

Getting out of my Comfort Zone, by Bernice Houstoun

Sally Penning2017-09-22T09:13:06-05:00September 22nd, 2017|All blogs, We Tell Our Stories|0 Comments

As with most Sunday School classes, my class started looking for a service project — something where we could “give ourselves away in generosity and service.” You know, “The Inside-Out Habits”—that is not just a slogan for St. Luke’s. Well, I guess it is, but it has become the mentality of the members of our church. Co-sponsoring a refugee family is a big commitment, especially for a class as small as ours. We did not want to fail in such an important endeavor. Since this was our first attempt, we asked if we could sponsor a family of [...]

22 09, 2017

It’s all about impact

Sally Penning2017-09-22T08:55:35-05:00September 22nd, 2017|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

A PERSONAL PRAYERGod,You have asked us to give ourselves away, to “pour ourselves out like a drink offering.” You teach us that we are to lay down our lives for others, and we do that one day, one hour, one minute at a time. God I watch so many people pour themselves out for others. In the days after the storm, people worked tirelessly. But even in the days before the storm, in those “ordinary days,” I watch your people give of themselves for the work of your kingdom. Teaching classes. Making phone calls. Working in the woodshop. Planning and supporting events. Going to meetings. Organizing [...]

15 09, 2017

The Hands and Feet of Christ, by Rob Dulaney

Sally Penning2017-09-15T09:28:21-05:00September 15th, 2017|All blogs, We Tell Our Stories|0 Comments

This past summer St. Luke’s sent a group to the Dominican Republic on a family mission trip. Our church has partnered with GO Ministries in the DR for several years because we respect their philosophy that “by working alongside local leaders in construction, sports, medical or children’s ministry, groups have the opportunity to teach and be taught more about the love of Christ.” Part of the vision of that trip, or any trip we take to the DR, is that we take home what we learn there, and can continue that kind of work in Houston. It is [...]

15 09, 2017

I want to be a body builder

Sally Penning2017-09-15T09:18:27-05:00September 15th, 2017|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

A PERSONAL PRAYERFather, Son, Holy Spirit…As Trinity, you are a family in and of yourself. You exist as a relationship, and you tell us that we were created to be in relationship with you and with one another. I want to do that well. I want to be a part of a healthy family, a thriving workplace, a strong neighborhood, a Spirit-filled church. I want to have loving and supportive friendships. But it isn’t easy, God. Sometimes, other people drive me crazy. They don’t always act the way I would want them to. And I confess that sometimes, I get drawn into [...]

8 09, 2017

Back to Houston, by Elizabeth Huff

Sally Penning2017-09-08T11:57:07-05:00September 8th, 2017|All blogs, We Tell Our Stories|1 Comment

Houston holds a special place in my heart. It’s where my husband and I bought our first home; it’s where my daughter was born and I became a mother; it’s where I have the best kind of friends – those who are like family. So, when we moved from Houston to Louisiana in January 2017, I couldn’t bring myself to say a proper goodbye to a place that meant so much to me. As Hurricane Harvey poured over the Houston area for days, I knew that I shouldn’t just sit back and watch the devastation on every TV [...]

8 09, 2017

Rekindle your fire

Sally Penning2017-09-08T11:49:27-05:00September 8th, 2017|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

Friends, It has been quite a week at St. Luke’s church. Volunteer mucking teams have been out helping families, both from St. Luke’s and our neighbors. Our student ministry was a huge part of that effort, as the youth made the week a “mission trip at home.” Red Cross volunteers continued to sleep in the Fellowship Hall at night, and our folks provided great hospitality. Countless volunteers provided meals and laundry service. The Sharpstown and Gulfton communities gathered at our Gethsemane campus each day for a free meal, provided by our folks in conjunction with our Connect Community [...]

1 09, 2017

Being the Church, by Rev. David Horton

Sally Penning2017-09-01T13:05:48-05:00September 1st, 2017|All blogs, We Tell Our Stories|2 Comments

I didn’t know there was such a thing as the Houston Professional Firefighter’s Association, but now I do. The President of the Association called the main St. Luke’s number on Sunday morning and, because services were cancelled, had to leave a message. He was inside Station 51, which is next door to the Gethsemane Campus and one of the busiest stations in Houston on a normal day, but of course Sunday, August 27 was not a normal day. He said there were 20-25 people who had been evacuated from their Sharpstown and Gulfton homes and apartments by the [...]

1 09, 2017

Anxious To See You

Sally Penning2017-09-01T12:51:09-05:00September 1st, 2017|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

St. Luke’s Family, Beginning today, we will have 250 Red Cross workers sleeping at the church for a few days. We will do our best to show them the spirit of love in our church and whole city. I am amazed at all that I see God doing right here in our midst. In the midst of such difficult times, the goodness that is at the center of each of us, the “image of God” in which every one of us is created, shines through. Christian or non-Christian, atheist or agnostic or just plain confused – all of us [...]