There’s a memory from my childhood that’s meaningful to me. It’s a little blurred around the edges, as childhood memories can be. I was eight or nine years old, and it was near Christmas. My dad was going to run some errands and asked if I wanted to join him. I jumped at the chance to spend time alone with him. I don’t recall any of the errands we ran that day except for one, the stop at Dad’s bank. We walked in, and he introduced me to all the tellers and the bank president. He was an [...]

Before I joined St. Luke’s and met my wonderful husband Bruce (now married 30 years!), I faced the “conscious uncoupling” of my first marriage, to a lawyer,“H”, in another town. At the time, I was “stay at home” and my precious children were 3 and 5. My fairy-tale life was planned far into the future, but it was not to be. No substantial negotiations took place before the divorce trial, but I was stunned to hear for the first time—during opening arguments—that H was contesting the custody of our children. My immediate instinct was to give up everything [...]

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 [...]

A few years ago, my husband Eric and I made an on-going commitment to teach Sunday School for elementary aged children. The commitment was originally intended as a way to honor a St. Luke’s member who was very dear to our family. What originally started as a way to pay forward the incredible love, kindness, and guidance we received from him grew into us receiving just as much in return. From girls who remind me a lot of me when I was their age to boys who help us visualize the futures of our own boys, these kids [...]

Hi, my name is Parker Davis and I’m a graduating senior this year. I have been a part of St. Luke’s Student Ministries since the beginning of 7th grade. Being a part of this ministry has shaped me into the person I am today, and I couldn’t thank them enough for all they have done for me. Back in 7th grade, I couldn’t go on a retreat, and I was so bummed. It would have been my first church retreat and all my friends were there. It was disappointing, but God brought some good out of it. Once [...]

Personally, Scouting has had a profound effect on me, and I have watched as Scouting has influenced every boy that passes through our troop. As one of the oldest Scouts in the troop, I have the ability to step back and watch the development of boys into young men as they progress through the ranks of Scouting. From Tenderfoot to Eagle, every new rank signifies a vast increase in the Scout’s knowledge and experience. I know this because I have experienced it firsthand. When I first entered Troop 46, I was just a young, and probably quite annoying, [...]