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Adult Forum This Sunday: God Is Not Somewhere Else

What if God is not a distant being somewhere “up there,” but the One in whom everything exists? This Sunday at Adult Forum, we will explore the ancient Christian idea of panentheism—the belief that everything is in God, while God is still more than everything.

Drawing on Paul’s declaration that “in God we live and move and have our being,” as well as the image of Christ as the One in whom all things hold together, we will consider how Scripture, theology, biology, and even modern physics point toward the profound interconnectedness of creation. We will also ask what this means for prayer, our care for the earth, our relationships with one another, and our understanding of salvation.

Not everything is God—but nothing is outside God. Join us for an expansive and thoughtful conversation about the divine presence that is not somewhere else, but already here and how this belief impacts everyday life.

Our Annual Pledge Campaign is in progress, and this year we are celebrating the many ways St. Luke’s continues to be a community of faith, joy, and service. Our pledges make possible the shared life of this parish—from worship, music, clergy, and staff to outreach, pastoral care, our buildings, and the everyday work of welcoming and serving our neighbors. We will wrap up the campaign next Sunday, October 18, St. Luke’s Sunday. As we look toward 2027, we invite you to continue your pledge, make one for the first time, or, if you are able, consider increasing your support as we continue to care for one another, deepen our faith, and follow where God is calling St. Luke’s next!

Looking Forward Together EMC Dinner:  October 27 • Johnson Hall  • 5:30- 7 p.m.

As part of our Every Member Canvass program this year, we are having two potluck dinners to discuss how we would like to look to the future together, both financially and spiritually. How do you want St. Luke’s to invest in the future? Where do you want St. Luke’s to invest in the future?

While, ultimately, the Vestry makes all final financial decisions, they would love to hear your thoughts. Sign up for the remaining potluck dinner in Johnson Hall. Bring something delicious to eat or just come!!

Sign up in the Sprague Room or with the link in Friday’s ENews.

Halloween Trunk-or-Treat and Community Ofrenda

On Saturday, October 31, parishioners are invited to decorate the trunks of their cars and hand out candy to children from the neighborhood. Decorations can be as simple or creative as you like. Please arrive at St. Luke’s by 4:30 p.m. to park and decorate your car before we open to the community from 5:30–7:00 p.m.

Along with the decorated trunks and plenty of candy, we will have face painting for the children. We will also create a community ofrenda where people may place photographs or mementos of loved ones who have passed away. You are invited to bring pictures or mementos as we remember and honor those we love but see no longer. The Ofrenda will be available to place mementos from Oct. 31-Nov. 2 and will also be a part of our All Saints/Day of the Dead joint service with IBP on November 1.

We will be giving flyers to everyone who visits our Pumpkin Patch and promoting the event throughout the community. This is a meaningful opportunity to meet our neighbors, welcome children and families to St. Luke’s, and create a joyful and hospitable space on our campus.
 
Please sign up using the link in the Friday ENews or in the Sprague Room, and let us know you will be bringing a decorated trunk. And don’t forget the candy!

Children’s Chapel in Johnson Hall
Families are invited to drop their children off before the 10:30 service begins. They will gather for Children’s Chapel and then be led back into the church in time to join the community for the celebration of the Eucharist. During Children’s Chapel, the children participate in a Liturgy of the Word through bible stories, song, and prayer.  We are also working on memorizing the Lord’s Prayer through recitation.

We offer nursery care from 9-11:45 a.m. in our nursery in Johnson Hall, just across the breezeway from the church.

St. Luke’s: Celebrating 70 years!

Mark your calendars for St. Luke’s Sunday, Oct 18, the Feast Day of St. Luke and the celebration of the 70th anniversary of our parish! As part of the festivities that day, we want to honor and bless any longtime St. Lukers who have been attending for fifty years or more. If you haven’t yet let us know, please tell us how long you’ve been here and, if you know it, the year that you started attending St. Luke’s!

There will be one service at 10:30 that day so we can all worship together. A delicious and festive lunch will follow in Johnson Hall. More details to come, but please do put this on your calendar. It will be a very special day!

Commemorate St. Luke’s 70th anniversary with our new T-shirt and sweatshirt! Orders and payments must be received THIS SUNDAY (paper order or online) so that we may obtain special pricing. The prices are low for great-quality products. See a shirt example in the Sprague Room.

Casserole Pan Pickup This Sunday: Please plan to pick up a casserole pan, instructions, and sample recipe’s this Sunday in the back of the Nave, and bake this coming week. Baked and frozen casseroles need to be returned before the 10:30 a.m. service next week to the refrigerator in the Johnson Hall kitchen (not the EBP refrigerator outside of the music room). They will be transported to St. Joseph’s after the 10:30 a.m. service next week. Thank you!

Donations for IBP Food Distribution

If you would like to donate canned goods or boxed food (no glass, please) to IBP’s Saturday food distributions, please bring your donations on Sunday mornings and leave them in the red wagon by the front door in the narthex. Volunteer helpers are also quite welcome at the scheduled Saturday 7-9 AM food distributions in the St. Luke’s parking lot! See Brian Gullett if you have any questions.

Pecans Are Back!

Orders are now being taken for pre-Thanksgiving delivery in November. Product brochures are in the Sprague room for your perusal prior to placing your order. Start your gift list and baking list now to be ready for the holidays. Place your order online in the Friday ENews or in the back of the Sprague Room.

CALENDAR:

Friday, October 9
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Connections and Support, Zoom
1-7 p.m. Pumpkin Patch open

Saturday, October 10
7-9 a.m. Food Distribution, parking lot
9:30 a.m. Altar Guild setup, Nave
10 a.m. Labyrinth Walk, behind Gray Building
10 a.m.-7 p.m. Pumpkin Patch open
11 a.m.-11 p.m. Johnson Hall reserved for private event
12-4 p.m. Nave reserved for IBP Quinceañera
1-2 p.m. Pastoral Discernment Committee mtg, Kramer Room

Sunday, October 11
8 and 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II
Presider and preacher: The Rev. Greg Farrand
9-10 a.m. Adult Forum in Johnson Hall: God Is Not Somewhere Else
10:15-11:30 a.m. Children’s Chapel
12:30 p.m. Iglesia El Buen Pastor Holy Eucharist, Nave
1-7 p.m. Pumpkin Patch open

Monday, October 12
1-7 p.m. Pumpkin Patch open
7-10 p.m. Campus Cleaning

Tuesday, October 13
9 a.m. Centering Prayer, Nave
9:45-11 a.m. Staff Meeting, parish office closed
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. All Saints Planning meeting, Kramer Room
11:30 a.m. Ladies Lunch Bunch
1-7 p.m. Pumpkin Patch open
6:30-8:30 p.m. Iglesia El Buen Pastor meeting, Kramer Room

Wednesday, October 14
11:30 a.m. Noonday Prayer, Zoom
1-7 p.m. Pumpkin Patch open
6:15 p.m. Nave reserved for choir setup
7-8:30 p.m. St. Luke’s Choir rehearsal, Nave

Thursday, October 15
9 a.m. Morning Prayer, Nave
12:45 p.m. Nave reserved for handbells setup
1:15-2:30 p.m. Handbell Choir rehearsal, Nave
1-7 p.m. Pumpkin Patch open
6-8 p.m. Iglesia El Buen Pastor choir rehearsal, Music Room
7-8:30 p.m. Evangelism/Communications Team Mtg, Zoom
7-10 p.m. Campus Cleaning

Friday, October 16
8 a.m.-10 p.m. Johnson Hall and parking lot reserved for LEAP Kermes event
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Connections and Support, Zoom
12-10 p.m. LEAP Kermes event, Parking Lot and Johnson Hall
1-7 p.m. Pumpkin Patch open

Saturday, October 17
Johnson Hall reserved all day for St. Luke’s Day setup
8 a.m. Garden Work Day
9:30 a.m. Altar Guild setup, Nave
10 a.m.-7 p.m. Pumpkin Patch open

More About St. Luke’s

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 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.

Online Church Directory

St. Luke’s parish directory is now exclusively online. To view and update your contact information or photo, or look up contact information for other parishioners, you must activate your account using the email address you placed on file with the parish office. If you are unsure what email you used, or need instructions for activating your account, please contact directory@stlukesdurham.org.

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 (no need for a PayPal account) *Note: As of October 15, PayPal will no longer be used for donations or pledge payments; we will be using the Church Center app.
  • 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 

Submission of Materials for the Newsletter

The deadline for submitting materials for the monthly newsletter is the 20th of each month. Please email your materials to Babs Wise.