Be United with One Another - 1 Thessalonians 5:11-13
Lately, we’ve been discussing what it means for the church to be a community, and how we can build and maintain a sense of community in our congregation. This is an important topic because the social bonds that keep us connected have been steadily eroding. People are less connected, less involved, less active in their communities. They participate less in organizations and groups of every kind than they did a generation ago. The “glue” that hold our society together, something academics call “social capital,” has been getting weaker and weaker.
Robert Putnam, a professor at Harvard, wrote a book title “Bowling Alone.” In it, he documents the decline in community life in American over the last four decades. The title comes from a trivial but telling example: the percentage of adults who belong to a bowling league today is only about 1⁄4 of what it was in the 1960’s. Other examples:
The percentage of people who volunteer in a political campaign – stuffing envelopes, making phone calls, going door to door – is today about half what it was in the late 1960’s.
Active membership in local clubs and organizations, like the PTA, has dropped by about half, percentagewise, since the 1970’s.
People are visiting one another less frequently, having friends over for dinner less frequently, getting together to play cards less frequently.
The trends are grim, but they point to an opportunity. Although the level of connectedness between people in our society has dropped, their need for connectedness has not. God made us social beings; people are still hungry for fellowship. And as they see our community, our love for one another, our care and concern and support for one another, they will want that for themselves. They will want to be a part of that. And we will have the opportunity to introduce them to Jesus Christ. Because it is through our connection with Jesus Christ that we are connected to one another. Our common union with Him produces our union with each other. This Sunday we will be looking at the community building practice of encouragement. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Please join us for worship this Sunday at 8:30 or 11:00.
Wednesday Night Advent Worship and Soup Suppers
Join us on December 6th, 13th, and 20th for Wednesday Night Advent Worship and Soup Suppers. Dinner will take place in the West Wing each week at 6pm, followed by worship in the West Wing at 7pm. This annual tradition is a great way to grow relationships and prepare your heart for Christmas. We’re asking you to help out by bringing soup, bread, salad, or a dessert. If you are providing food please drop it off no later than 6 PM. We hope to see you there! Click hereto sign up.
Fall 2023 Bible Studies Sept. 10 - Dec. 10 West Wing Study: We’ll be utilizing a number of studies from Lutheran Hour Ministries. The topics include: Life Together, Martin Luther, Forgiveness, and God in Worship. This study will be led by a variety of people including Pastor Todd and our elders.
Women’s Study: Lynn Corker and Libby Fink will be leading a study geared toward women, in room 104/105. This year, we’ll explore what it means that God is with us now, and we’ll trace this promise of His presence from the lost garden of Genesis to the garden city of Revelation, where we will dwell with the Lord forever. A $20 study guide is available for this class.
Parent’s Study: Andy VanEgmond will lead a study for all parents with children in the congregation, in room 101/102. We’ll discuss the Sheepfold lesson for the week and work to build a strong community of parents here at St. Luke, as we all navigate the tricky task of raising kids in the faith.
Nursery: 3-year-olds and younger
Sheepfold: 4-year-olds thru 5th Grade
Youth Group: 6th-12th Grade
Christmas Giving Tree 2023
This year we will be supporting 3 organizations:
Wellspring Lutheran Services is a merger of Lutheran Child and Family Services, Lutheran Homes (for Seniors), and Lutheran Refugee Services with offices and residential facilities throughout Michigan.Sign-up Genius
Hope Clinic is a Christian agency in Ypsilanti that provides free medical and dental services, a food bank, and other services for low-income people in our community.
Circles Program is having a dramatic impact on moving families out of poverty. It matches a person in poverty with middle or upper-income partners for at least 18 months. These relationships help break the cycle of generational poverty by assisting families to create their own personal paths out of poverty and achieve economic independence.
Due to the success of last year’s program, Wellspring Lutheran Service is again asking for monetary gifts that they will then use to buy gift cards to give to buy gift cards to give to families for their own Christmas shopping. Hope Clinic is asking for monetary gifts to help support their ongoing services to the community plus Christmas gift bags with candy canes and other items (see details below). The Circles Program is asking for monetary gifts to purchase gingerbread house kits to be used at their Christmas party (see details below).
Monetary Gifts
To make a monetary gift through St. Luke, bring or mail a check to church that is made out to St. Luke and indicate on the memo “Giving Tree”. Or online – use the fund called “Christmas Giving Tree” on the St. Luke website and the St. Luke app under “Give”. No amount is too small, and together, St. Luke will make this Christmas special for so many families! We will split the monetary gifts received between these organizations. Please have all monetary gifts to St. Luke byDecember 3..
The ornaments on the Christmas Giving Tree will be changed from red to silver to reflect the amount received each week.
Hope Clinic Gift Bags
Hope Clinic is asking for small Christmas gift bags with the following items:
-One Christmas microwavable mug
-12 candy canes
-One box of non-caffeinated tea bags
-Pocket-sized tissues or hand sanitizer
Due to the generosity of the entire community last year, the Hope Clinic was overwhelmed with gift bags. So, this year they are restricting the number of gift bags to be delivered and have asked people and organizations to commit in advance to the number they will bring. We have set up a Sign-up Genius for our members to indicate how many they will provide. Just click on the link in the e-news announcement to sign up. Please bring the gift bags to St. Luke by December 3.
Circles Families Gifts
The Circles program is planning a Christmas party that will include assembling and decorating gingerbread houses by each of the 19 families currently involved in the program. So that each family will have the same “building materials,” we will purchase the kits plus extra “materials” for decorating. You can simply make a monetary donation as described previously.
Through the Giving Tree last year, we provided over $5000 to these organizations to make Christmas special for the families they work with. This year, the need is just as great – let’s surpass what we gave last year as we come together as the body of Christ to shine His light in this world! Any amount you can give will make that light shine even brighter this Christmas! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Rotating Homeless Shelter Program Update
St. Luke will once again be hosting the rotating homeless shelter program ran by the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County. Our weeks begin December 25, 2023 and January 15, 2024.
We will need volunteers for the following areas:
Meals for the men each night
Overnight hosts - Sign up here to be an overnight host
Towel laundry
Allen and Sharon Morgan have coordinated/managed St. Luke’s participation with the rotating homeless shelter for many years and are looking for a person, couple, or group who would be willing to shadow them this year and then take the reins for the 2024/2025 season.
See here for more information. Please contact Allen with any questions or to volunteer for meals, towel laundry, or if you are interested in coordinating the rotating homeless shelter next season.
Daughters on Mission fundraiser
We are doing a fundraiser for mites and registration expenses for our delegate for the Michigan district convention. Aubree’s has agreed to donate 20% of receipts to our LWML group for all who show flyer or mention fundraiser at both the Whittaker road and Cross street on Dec 3, 2023. Hope you can join in at Aubree’s! View flyer for more information.
Homes For The Holidays
A very special event is being planned for Saturday night, December 9 from 4:00 - 10:00pm It’s called: Homes For The Holidays. An opportunity for St Lukers to get to know each other better while enjoying appetizers and dessert in the homes of several of our members who have decorated for Christmas. This event is for adults only age 18+.. Cost is each person or couple will bring an appetizer, or dessert to share. How to register: a table will be available In the lobby at church after each service on Sundays November 19 and November 26 or you can email Lynn Wrightson.
You don’t want to miss this fun, enjoyable evening. Questions? Contact Lynn Wrightson.
Poinsettia Orders Due December 5
We are taking orders for fresh poinsettia plants that will be used to decorate the sanctuary for Christmas. Please consider offering a plant as a Memorial or to give thanks to God. Order forms are available at the Welcome Center or online. Orders are due December 5!
Lutheran Witness Subscription
It is time to re-subscribe or subscribe to The Lutheran Witness at a discounted rate. The Lutheran Witness is the official periodical of The Lutheran Church¬¬—Missouri Synod and is published 11 times a year. It provides Missouri Synod laypeople with stories and information that complement congregational life, foster personal growth in faith, and help interpret the contemporary world from a Lutheran Christian perspective. Subscriptions ordered through St. Luke will include the Michigan In Touch supplement. The new subscription year doesn’t begin until March 2024, but orders need to be in the church office by December 10, 2023, to take advantage of a discounted district rate of $19.00/year. Payment for subscriptions can be made to St. Luke Lutheran Church, Ann Arbor. Please be sure your payment is designated for The Lutheran Witness and include the mailing address that the magazine should be sent to. Please contact Susan Jones or if you have any questions.
Craft Time It is time for another Iris folding class. If you have not done it before, this is a good class to start with. We will be creating Christmas cards. The event will be on Saturday, December 2, from 10:00 a.m. to noon in the West Wing. For more information contact Susan Jones:
Office Hours
The office doors will be monitored by the staff from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday. If you wish to enter the building during that window, ring the doorbell to the left of the door and wait for a response. Alternatively, you can call the office and make an appointment with someone on staff.
You can connect with Pastor Todd either by email or cell phone 734-213-4256.
Livestream Worship
There are two different methods for watching our worship livestream. Services are simultaneously streaming on Facebook and YouTube
Sunday Morning Worship Times
8:30 a.m. Living Heritage Service
9:45 a.m. Bible Study / Sunday School Hour
11:00 a.m. Living Praise Service
Church Office
Monday-Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Daughters on Mission fundraiser
es For The Holidays
Poinsettia Orders Due December 5 
It is time for another Iris folding class. If you have not done it before, this is a good class to start with. We will be creating Christmas cards. The event will be on Saturday, December 2, from 10:00 a.m. to noon in the West Wing. For more information contact Susan Jones: 
