Fourth Sunday of Advent Adult Forum: Stepping Into Sacred Time

We are delighted to welcome Kristen Leigh Mitchell back for a special Fourth Sunday of Advent Adult Forum exploring the heart, meaning and practice of sacred time.

During Advent, the tension between sacred time and cultural time becomes especially sharp. While the world accelerates—more events, more noise, more tasks—the invitation of the Church is to slow down, breathe, and become present to God in the unfolding moment. 

Kristen will introduce the history, meaning, and spiritual wisdom of practicing sacred time, and help us imagine how this ancient practice can become a simple, grounded rhythm in our own modern, busy lives—an invitation into sacred time, a doorway into rest, attentiveness, and a renewed sense of our deep-enoughness in God.


About the Speaker:
Kristen Leigh Mitchell, M.Div., is an independent scholar and spiritual director in Durham whose work centers on adult spiritual formation, liturgical history, and the intersection of theology, psychology, and the arts.

Our Advent Chrismon Tree

Chrismons (CHRISt + MONogram) are symbols that proclaim the Name, the Life, and the saving Acts of Jesus Christ. All our Chrismons have been made by hand, in combinations of white and gold. White refers to our Lord’s purity and perfection; gold for His majesty and glory. The evergreen tree symbolizes eternal life.

For the Fourth Sunday of Advent the new Chrismons on the tree are:  The Shepherd’s Crook and Angels.  

The Psalm for this day begins with “Hear, O Shepherd of Israel” a powerful image of God used again by Jesus when he likened himself to the “Good Shepherd.”  The Shepherd’s Crook can remind us both of the Good Shepherd and the simple shepherds who were the first to hear the good news of Jesus’ birth (in Luke’s Gospel).  In the Gospel Lesson today (Matt 1) the Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him to take Mary as his wife for she will bear a son whom Joseph should call Jesus.  Angels also have a prominent place in the birth stories told in the Gospel of Luke, where Gabriel appears to Mary and the heavenly host of angels announce Jesus’ birth to the shepherds.  May we be blessed in our preparations for the celebration of Jesus’ birth and be on the lookout for angels in our lives in the coming days. 

Pecans Still Available This Sunday

There are extra pecans that will be available for sale in the Sprague Room today after each service.

T-Shirts Update

There were not enough orders for the T-shirt manufacturer to make the shirts for the price that was announced. The order sheets and display have been removed from the Sprague Room.  We may try again next year.

Parish Almoner Report 2025

On review of gifts made directly to individuals, or to vendors such as Duke Energy or Verizon on behalf of individuals, the Rector’s Discretionary Fund distributed over $30,000 this year. We’ve helped one family get a used car and keep it on the road, as well as helping make rental payments after having to move to another location at nearly twice the rent. We helped another St Luke neighbor secure an independent living situation by assisting with a deposit and first month rent. Rental assistance, car repairs, and utilities are the primary requests we receive and respond to each month. When possible, we assist by providing bags of groceries from our pantry and gift cards that can be used like cash. And only the contributions made by our amazing and ever-generous parishioners make this possible. Thank you from the bottom of many, many hearts.

Jan Freeman

Note: If you are interested in exploring community-wide resources regarding food, housing, employment, mental and physical health, and other areas of need, please check out the informative website, Durham Network of Care. 

We’re going to Belize!

The mission team will work at Holy Cross Anglican School the week of February 22, 2026, so mark your calendars now and sign up on this form, if you haven’t already. The school has many construction needs, such as building a fence and siding, deck and railing repairs, and painting. They also want assistance in the classrooms, library, and computer lab. This will not be a medical trip. 

The January 4 adult form will be hosted by John Willard and will feature the history of St. Luke’s connection to Belize. We invite any former adult or team missioners to attend and lend their stories. 

Thanks to all those who have pledged for 2026 to support the mission and ministries of St. Luke’s Church. We appreciate your generosity. For those new to pledging, you do not have to begin making pledge payments until 2026, although we accept prepayments as well.

Given the holiday season, please have all 2025 pledge payments and donations to the church office or the collection plate by Sunday, December 28 to be counted as 2025 contributions.  

Contribution statements for 2025 will be mailed by January 20, 2026.

SATURDAY: Join Us for a Labyrinth Walk to Welcome Winter
Join us for a labyrinth walk on December 20 at 1:00 p.m. as we usher in winter and walk toward the light during Advent.

St. Luke’s has enjoyed an active community of labyrinth walkers for years, and we’re excited to reinvigorate this meaningful practice. Whether you’re a seasoned walker or have never experienced the labyrinth before, you’re welcome to join us—and bring a friend!

For information about the labyrinth as a spiritual practice, including resources, insights, and history, visit our newly created labyrinth webpage on the St. Luke’s website (click the dropdown “Ministries” tab on the homepage). Feel free to share the link with anyone who might be interested.

This is just one more element that makes St. Luke’s such a wonderful community!

Pantry Needs
 Our neighbors are often in need of food for their families.
Any of the following are helpful:

Foods
breakfast cereal and oatmeal 
spaghetti, noodles, and rice
spaghetti sauce
macaroni and cheese
canned vegetables and fruit
canned and dried beans
pop-top containers (ravioli, etc.)
snack items

Personal and household items:
laundry or dish detergent
shampoo and conditioner
feminine products
toilet paper, paper towels, kleenex
cleaning supplies
body lotion
Chapstick

No glass containers, please. 

Items may also be donated to the LEAP pantry or for
St. Joseph’s food ministry (please mark bags accordingly). 

Please leave items for St. Luke’s, LEAP, and St. Joseph’s
in the baskets in the south narthex.

Thank you for helping to feed our hungry neighbors.

This Week’s Calendar


Thursday, December 18
8 a.m.-12 p.m. Johnson Hall reserved for LEAP
12:45-2:45 Nave reserved for 1:15pm Handbell Choir rehearsal

6-8:30 p.m. SIEMBRA NC Training, Nave
6-8 p.m. Music Room reserved for rehearsal
7-8:30 Evangelism/Communications Ministry Meeting, on Zoom
7-10:30 p.m. Johnson Hall reserved for service
7-10 p.m. Church Campus Cleaning

Friday, December 19
11 a.m. Nave reserved for rehearsal

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Connections and Support, Zoom
7-10:30 p.m. Johnson Hall reserved for service

Saturday, December 20
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE, email items to babswise@gmail.com
9:30-10:30 a.m Altar Guild setup, Team 3, Nave
10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Johnson Hall reserved for event
1-2 p.m. Winter Labyrinth Walk, labyrinth behind Gray Building

Sunday, December 21
8 and 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II
Presider and Preacher: The Rev. Greg Farrand
9-10 a.m. Adult Forum: Stepping Into Sacred Time
11:45 St. Luke’s Choir Rehearsal, Music Room
12-1:30 p.m. Faith Team, Children’s Chapel
12:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist, Nave
12:30-4 p.m. Johnson Hall reserved for event
3-5 p.m. Nave reserved for Altar Guild
7-10:30 p.m. Johnson Hall reserved for service

Monday, December 22
3-4:30 p.m. Choir Sectional Rehearsals, Music Room
7-10:30 p.m. Johnson Hall reserved for service
7-10 p.m. Church Campus Cleaning

Tuesday, December 23
9 a.m. Centering Prayer, Nave
10-11:15 a.m. Weekly Staff Meeting
11 a.m. Croasdaile Eucharist
7-10:30 p.m. Johnson Hall reserved for service

Wednesday, December 24, Christmas Eve
Parish Office closed
11:30 a.m. Noonday Prayer and Share
4:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Musical Prelude, Nave
5 p.m. Christmas Eve Service: Holy Eucharist, Nave

Thursday, December 25, Christmas Day
Parish Office closed
9 a.m. Christmas Day Morning Prayer
11 a.m. Nave reserved for service

Friday, December 26
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Connections and Support, Zoom

Saturday, December 27
9:30-10:30 a.m. Altar Guild setup, Team 4, Nave

Upcoming At St. Luke’s

Winter Labyrinth Walk
Saturday, December 20, 1 p.m.
Labyrinth behind Gray Building

Croasdaile Eucharist
Tuesday, December 23, 11 a.m.

Christmas Eve Service
Wednesday, December 24
4:30 p.m. Musical Offering, 5 p.m. Holy Eucharist

Christmas Day Morning Prayer
Thursday, December 25, 9 a.m.

Parish Office Holiday Hours
The office will be closed:
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
December 29 and 30
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

For other recurring meetings/events, see parish calendar at stlukesdurham.org

MORE ABOUT ST. LUKE’S!

Information for Newcomers: If you are a newcomer, welcome! Stop by the Newcomers table in the Sprague Room after a service on Sunday where you can learn more about St. Luke’s, request a nametag, and maybe make a new friend.

St. Luke’s Email- What’s in it for you?
Our email list lets you stay up to date on parish news and fellowship events (weekly announcements email), stay aware of difficult times facing your fellow parishioners (weekly e-prayers email), and know when the latest issue of our monthly newsletter, Acts of Faith, is published. But, to paraphrase a saying, you have to be on it to get it! Make sure the parish coordinator has your email address, or subscribe automatically by going to to our homepage at stlukesdurham.org “Connect with us”.

St. Luke’s Calendar

Our parish calendar is up to date on our website at stlukesdurham.org. Weddings, baptisms, funerals, and other special services are scheduled by the clergy. The parish coordinator can help you arrange meetings or other events. Contact her at the church office at 919-286-2273.

Ways To Give 

  • Check (drop it in the plate or mail to our Parish Coordinator) 
  • Use PayPal with a debit/credit card via St. Luke’s website 
  • Push payments from your bank or credit union to the Church, just like bill-pay payments for your regular bills  
  • Initiate a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA if you are 70 1/2 or older 

Stewardship Drive

Each Fall we hold our annual Stewardship Drive, where we ask our members to make a pledge, indicating the amount they intend to give the church in the following year. This allows us to be good stewards of your contributions and establish a budget. Let us know if you are interested in pledging.