When I spend time with Mary Holland, I like to talk to her and tell her about my hopes and dreams for her when she grows up. She always smiles at me and makes cute noises, which I am, of course, interpreting as full understanding and agreement with my plans. We also “talk” about God and the relationship I hope she has with God. Again, Mary Holland smiles and responds in her little language of squeaks which I take as “yes, Dad, sounds good!” One of the things I have been telling her lately is that because we [...]

Rolling River Adventures VBS 2018 is about to begin! We can’t wait. As young children at St. Luke’s we learned VBS songs, acted out Bible stories, made crafts, and left with new friends. We always felt loved and secure at St. Luke’s. Still do! Both of us have always loved young children and enjoy teaching. While Dr. Underwood and Dr. Moore were the senior ministers, we were elementary school teachers and volunteered to teach VBS for many years! After a while we noticed that the other teachers were getting younger and many were mothers of the children. We [...]

I leaned up against the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington that afternoon, one hand placed firmly over his name: William T. Hale. My shoulders shook, as the tears rolled down my cheeks. One name, his name, just one name among some fifty-eight thousand etched into that black granite wall. He had been my little brother in my fraternity. I had looked after him, or tried to, during his pledgeship. Standing six feet three inches tall, he really was a long, tall Texan, hailing from Big Spring. William Thomas Hale or Bill Tom, as we called him, had the biggest [...]

My name is Katy Byrd, and I am a graduating senior this year. I am a third generation member of St. Luke’s, and could not be happier to have been born into such a loving community. I attended Sunday school throughout my childhood, and sang in the children’s chorus. When middle school came, I joined the youth choir and began attending small group meetings weekly. It was so amazing to have a community where I could make friends and grow in my faith at the same time. When I was in eighth grade, I began to go down [...]

My husband, Jake, and I, along with our three children, welcomed our newest addition, Elizabeth, to the family this spring. Shortly thereafter, we received a small package in the mail from St. Luke’s. The sweet gift inside was so touching – a soft, pink, silky lovey made just for her, embroidered with “St. Luke’s UMC.” While it’s true that by your fourth child you probably have all the “stuff” you need, it’s so meaningful for Elizabeth to have a few things that were given just for her and will be a keepsake that she (and I!) will tenderly [...]