nan kemp & melissa shields, co editors | volume 55, … · the zoom silent meditation services...

New Bible Study Starting after Easter

As a follow-up to the book Holy Envy, Pastor Kati will introduce The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight. He extends the idea that when we look at our religion from an outside view, we can develop a deeper faith and new approach to reading the book we know and love. Beginning April 15, we will meet on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. on Zoom and consider this an extension of our adult LOGOS study during social distancing.

The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible by Scot McKnight

Parakeets make delightful pets. We cage them or clip their wings to keep them where we want them. Scot McKnight contends that many, conservatives and liberals alike, attempt the same thing with the Bible. We all try to tame it. McKnight's The Blue Parakeet calls Christians to stop taming the Bible and to let it speak anew to our heart. McKnight challenges us to rethink how to read the Bible, not just to puzzle it together into some systematic belief but to see it as a Story that we're summoned to enter and to carry forward in our day.

NAN KEMP & MELISSA SHIELDS, CO-EDITORS | VOLUME 55, ISSUE 4 | APRIL 2020

Epistle~~- STAY TOUCH IN

3001 Bell Street Amarillo, TX 79106-5037

806.355.6253 Office 806.355.0629 Fax

[email protected] [email protected]

Find Pastor Kati’s blog: www.revkaticollins.com

Pastor Kati’s podcast: The Sycamore Tree

Visit our website: www.stlukeamarillo.com

Find us on Facebook: @stlukeamarillo

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Do you know how to watch our Sunday services?

Find a link to the service

live-streamed on Facebook,

a link for the current bulletin,

and a means to tithe from our

website: www.stlukeamarillo.com.

THE HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE with details is on page 2.

Please read Pastor Kati’s message in “Strokes of Grace” to find out how to participate in the final week of Lent and on to Holy Week and finally Easter. We are physically distanced, but we will come together to worship in Spirit. “Oh God, form the minds of your faithful people into a single will. Make us love what you command and desire what you promise, that, amid all the changes of this world, our hearts may be fixed where true joy is found.”

LOGOS Continues through April See page 6 for more information.

Strokes of Grace A note from Pastor Kati

FLEXING OUR WEAKER MUSCLES

Social isolation has been giving us an opportunity to strengthen abilities we didn’t know we had or did not have time to do. We are cooking more, on the internet more, walking outside, multitasking with home/family/work responsibilities, and washing our hands more than ever (hopefully). Unfortunately, we have muscles which we know are growing weaker, so we have to get creative for making opportunities to move our bodies and step outside our spiritual box while we stay within the confines of our social distance. By doing old fashioned things within our temporary "new normal", we can find comfort in the ordinary.

Many churches have given up bulletins, but we have continued to provide our traditional worship elements as much as possible, while moving to streaming as our “new normal” for meeting together. I have been overwhelmed by the response to our Facebook Live worship services. I am so glad you have all been able to join and even participate by commenting and then singing and speaking along with us from your home.

For Holy Week, our services will also be live, and you will have the opportunity to prepare and make this an interactive event. For each service you have a list of supplies. I encourage you to choose a tray or table and to locate all of your essentials before you begin worship. I do not want you to have to go to the store to gather these items, so if you don’t have something, be creative and choose a substitution from what you have.

There will be many activities that we will grieve during this season. Many of you have expressed how much you will miss the flowering of the cross. Since this is such an important element of our Easter celebration, we will be saving this ritual for when we return to worshiping together in the sanctuary. We will also be looking for another way to bless the kids at the Amarillo Children’s Home, so you can consider our regular clothing drive postponed. For the first several Sundays during the outbreak, we have been able to cherish continuing to worship from our church building. Starting Palm Sunday, however, your Worship Committee has decided that we will be streaming our worship services from the church manse as our home base during the stay at home orders for Amarillo. We will all miss hearing the organ and seeing the sanctuary, but we feel that the safest measures require that we do not expect anyone to leave their home. Rest assured, we are preparing remarkable music and special moments to make these services feel as close to our normal worship experience as possible! If you are yearning for more personal connection, tune into one of my Midday Prayers or join us for the Zoom Silent Meditation Services on Sundays (except Easter) at 5:30 p.m.

Even through our Facebook Live sessions, you can still look forward to the moments you love as we re-live the Passion of Jesus. Follow along with our Stations of the Cross verses shared on Facebook and in your Lenten Workbook. Join us for the Maundy Thursday Service as we all sing hymns, wash

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our hands and feet in spiritual practice, and celebrate Communion together virtually—a new experience for all of us. Then return on Friday for a special presentation of Live recordings of scripture readings for our regular Good Friday Tenebrae Service along with music from Bob Hansen. And finally get ready to sing Alleluia on Easter Sunday morning! We buried those burdens and questions back at the beginning of Lent, and we will release our joyful cries as we celebrate that Jesus has conquered death.

As the reality of our situation unfolds in Amarillo, we cling closer to Jesus, who spent 40 days in the wilderness and came out filled with the Holy Spirit. May our empty building serve as a testimony to the empty tomb, revealing the truth that the church is alive and will return again soon.

Worship Schedule and Supplies List for Holy Week

PALM SUNDAY - APRIL 5 Streaming on Facebook Live at 11:00 a.m. • Something green to lay on the ground/table like a

palm branch (examples are paper, scarf, sweater, blanket, etc.)

• Candle to light and matches/lighter • Printed bulletin/songs/activity sheets for the week

MAUNDY THURSDAY - APRIL 9 Service of Hand/Foot Washing and Communion Streaming on Facebook Live at 6:30 p.m. • Bowl of water, towel • Bread—enough for those in your house • Cups of Juice—enough for those in your house • Bulletin

GOOD FRIDAY - APRIL 10 Live Recording released at 6:30 p.m. Join the Watch Party for the ultimate experience! • Candle • Bulletin

EASTER SUNDAY - APRIL 12 Streaming on Facebook at 11:00 a.m. • Flowers from your garden • Crayons/markers for your coloring sheet • Bulletin

Do you have a

church “buddy” yet? Remember to check in with

your buddy, and if you need one, call the church office.

Congregational Connections

Below are some thoughts from St. Luke members during this most unusual time. If you would like to share a story or anecdote, please email Nan Kemp at [email protected] and she’ll put it in the May Epistle. Let’s stay connected and share a smile or two.

From Ann Hefner:

Greetings, everyone, from the Hefner hermitage,

When Jim and I set out on this social distancing thing, I had a plan. Catch up on my cooking, catch up on my reading, clean my house, and watch baseball. Well, we all know what happened to baseball! The cooking went well. (Is that a symptom of Pandemic Panic?) I now have all my freezer space filled with MRE's. Trouble with that is that I am so proud of my stash, I don't want to use it. AND now I can't get the ingredients I need. (Thanks to Nan K., I now

have paper towels in trade for two boxes of butter. [I inadvertently hoarded butter.]) Grocery shopping as we know it is no longer possible. I have read all the books we have here and now have begun on eBooks, thanks to Cloud Library. I prefer paper and ink books, but hey! Social distancing is my patriotic duty. Cleaning my house is not. That is another story, one as yet unwritten.

I get grumpy and tired of being inside. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself because I have to miss a baseball season. After all, at my age, how many of

those do I have left?! But this has been and will continue to be a growth experience for me. I pray daily for all those who have this insidious illness, and I give thanks that so far, all those close to me are safe. My heart breaks for all those health workers who are face-to-face with the enemy. If this had happened a few years ago, my Jim would be right there with them. Surely, I can manage a few inconveniences.

I've had reason and time for contemplation, to ponder the whys and wherefores of life, and to marvel at the beauty, the sometimes fearsomeness, and the mysteries of God's creation. I haven't come up with any answers, but I have found myself operating from a different paradigm. Not a bad thing for an old lady!

I send you all my love, my hugs, and my encouragement. God is

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A pril BIRTHDAYS

1 5 6 7 8

10 12 12 13 13

Martin* Sharen Jeff Kaleigh John Krista Bronwyn Kelsea Cheri Steve*

15 16 17 17 20 26 26 29 29

*

Dorothy Dave Melissa Kendra David Mark Ronald Paige Kim Friend of St. Luke

OGHS Special Offering

Around the world, millions of people lack access to sustainable food sources, clean water, sanitation, education, and opportunity. The three programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing all work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need.

St. Luke joins this effort every Easter Sunday, and you are encouraged to designate your OGHS special offering to help sustain these important PC(USA) ministries and programs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way that we are currently worshiping, but we can still support this offering by: 1) texting OGHS to 20222 to give $10, or 2) donating by credit card online at presbyterianmission.org/give-oghs.

Amarillo Children’s Home Clothing Drive Information By Melissa Croft

Due to the current situation, the Amarillo Children’s Home clothing drive will be done later this summer. We will do something special for them when we can get out again. Stay safe and strong!!

with us all, in our homes, in our hospitals, and in our hearts. "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well." ~Julian of Norwich From Nan Kemp:

Grandson Henry in Topeka had a Zoom meeting with his kindergarten class. If a five-year-old can do it, surely we can. (His mother said it was quite interesting, as you might imagine.) From Travis Kemp:

My All That Jazz radio show is on hiatus. If you want to listen to a jazz Spotify playlist I’ve compiled, go to the internet and type in “Amarillo College’s FM 90” in the search box and then click on the playlist that says, “All That Jazz (3/29/20)”. More playlists will be posted. In spite of everything, we can still “Stay jazzy, Amarillo!”

St. Luke Women Bible Study

The ladies Bible study group will not meet in April. We hope to meet in May, when we’ll have a double header (lessons 8 & 9) and salad luncheon, if the way be clear (as Presbyterians say). You are encouraged to read Lesson 8 – “Words of Love: Speak Truthfully”. I won’t lie – it’s a good lesson. Let Nan Kemp know if you don’t have the Horizons Bible Study book.

Joys and Concerns

➢ Rev. Ila Laverne Mayes, 85, of Amarillo died March 24, 2020. She has joined her husband of 53 years, Forest Clay Mayes. No services are scheduled at this time. Rev. Mayes was a Presbyterian minister, active in the presbytery, who attended St. Luke occasionally and filled our pulpit from time to time. We extend our condolences to her family.

Continue to remember:

the people of Johnson Chapel A.M.E. Church; and the students, teachers, and staff at Mesa Verde Elementary School.

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Epistles

Dear St. Luke Family, Thank you for remembering me in prayer during my recent surgery. Pastor Kati’s prayers before and her visit at the hospital gave me such peace. Special thanks to Helen Thorsheim for her words of encouragement, to Mary Holmlund and Threads of Love for the lovely prayer shawl, and to Mary Holmlund and John & Jan Pennington for bringing meals while I recovered. Thanks also to Susan Barnes, Jan Pennington, and Helen Thorsheim for filling in for me in the office. I am truly thankful for your friendships. May God bless you richly for kindness, Melissa Shields

Dear St. Luke, I am very thankful to St. Luke people for the wonderful celebration of my fifteenth anniversary. Thanks to all of you for the flowers, gifts, cards, reception and, more importantly, for the warm wishes for me and my family. You are the best and I love you very much!

Mila Abbasova

Feb. Finances Year-to-Date

Detailed financial reports are always available for review by church members. Simply stop by the church office during regular hours and request to

examine the previous month’s financial documents.

Book Notes

Work goes on to bring St. Luke's library up to date. Two volumes slated for addition when the library reopens are the following:

Crossan, John Dominic & Sarah Sexton Crossan, Resurrecting Easter: How the West Lost and the East Kept the Original Easter Vision (2018).

Heyrman, Christine Leigh, American Apostles: When Evangelicals Entered the World of Islam (2015).

If anyone is doing spring cleaning during this time of sheltering in place, please consider gathering unneeded books together to donate to the library. Books on religion and spirituality are the most appropriate. DVDs and other visual media are also needed, as are church history photos and other materials.

New Address

Cruse Messer has moved to Amarillo, TX . Her phone is .

These Days: Daily Devotions for Living by Faith for the second quarter of 2020 are available. Call the church office to make arrangements to pick one up. Melissa will leave one at the door.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4

Temporarily suspended

Via Facebook

Shelter in Place Order is in effect

to at least April 13.

6:30 pm

LOGOS via Zoom (no adult classes)

6:15 pm

Outreach Com. Mtg. via Zoom

6:30 pm - ACA 8:00 pm - AA 8:00 pm - Al-Anon

12:05 pm Bach’s Lunch @ St. Andrews Episcopal Church via Instagram

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Palm Sunday Holy Week begins

Peanut Butter Sunday

Spring Clothing Drive postponed

5:30 pm

Silent Meditation Svc. via Zoom

6:00 pm - GSA 8:00 pm - AA 8:00 pm - Al-Anon

4:00 pm

Finance Com. Mtg. via Zoom

Maundy Thursday 6:30 pm

Maundy Thursday Svc. via Facebook


Good Friday

Church offices will be closed.

6:30 pm

Tenebrae Svc. via Facebook

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RESURRECTION OF THE LORD

Flowering

of the Cross - postponed -

One Great Hour Special Offering

5:00 pm

Mission Com. Mtg. via Zoom 6:00 pm

C.E. Com. Mtg. 6:00 pm

ACH Sub-Com. via Zoom


5:45 pm

Worship Com. Mtg. via Zoom

6:30 pm

Property Com. Mtg.


International Day of Farmers’ Struggles

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

4:00 pm

Stated Session Mtg. via Zoom

5:30 pm



Holocaust Remembrance Day

Earth Day

6:30 - 7:00 pm

Kids LOGOS via Zoom 7:00 - 7:45 pm

Bible Study for Adults via Zoom


Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

26 27 28 29 30

All AA, Al-Anon, and ACA meetings

have moved to an online format.

until further notice.

Epistle deadline

5:30 pm



6:30 - 7:00 pm

Kids LOGOS via Zoom 7:00 - 7:45 pm

Bible Study for Adults via Zoom


WEEKLY SCHEDULE for SUNDAYS

9:30 am — Coffee & Fellowship 9:45 am — Choir Rehearsal 9:45 am — Sunday School

11:00 am — Worship Service

April

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Committee chairs will be in touch about how

meetings will take place in response to

shelter in place orders.

LOGOS Fills a Gap by Donna Clopton, LOGOS Committee

It is not easy to keep our kids together during these difficult times, but we are trying. We want our St. Luke kids to know that they are in our thoughts and prayers on a regular basis, that we love them even when we can’t speak that special phrase during church, and that we care about what is on their minds and in their hearts as they go about their daily lives. The LOGOS format, where we share meals around a “family” table is one of the ways we have been able to let our kids know we value them as individuals. Since that isn’t possible right now, we are doing our best to interact with them via Zoom meetings on Wednesday evenings. It is our prayer that our families will work with us to help their kids get signed on at 6:30 p.m. so they can see each other, share their thoughts, ideas, fears, hopes, and activities, pray, sing, and learn together, and be reminded that God is always with us in spite of world events. We hope you are praying for our kiddos, too. Ideas for prayer: † That they will feel safe and not be worried about their

friends and family members getting sick † That they will be strengthened in their ability to talk to and

share their concerns with God † That they will regularly look for things for which they can

be grateful

[If you need information about how to access LOGOS via Zoom, please email the church office for details.]

Clerk’s Report

The Session met three times in March. Here are the clerk’s highlights: 1. February average attendance for worship – 76 2. Active membership as of February 29 – 162 3. Communion was celebrated on February 15 and

March 1, 2020. 4. Home Communion was served by Rev. Kati

Collins and Ruling Elders Donna Clopton and Ashley Denham on February 27 and 28.

5. Session met once at church and twice by Zoom to discuss the business and activities of the church, including planning pandemic procedures for the building, meetings, and worship services. At this time and through April 19th [date is subject to change in compliance with shelter-in orders], the church building is not available for meetings and services, which are being held virtually instead.

Commendations: Colby Barrow for the signage on coronavirus

safety posted on the nursery door. Darcy Hargis for doing the sound and Ashley

Denham for taking the video during the service on March 15.

Jan Pennington, Helen Thorsheim, and Susan Barnes for substituting for Melissa in the office during Melissa’s absence.

Doug Tanner for doing extensive research regarding a refurbished sign on Bell Street.

Bob Hansen for serving up his delicious pancakes for Shrove Tuesday dinner.

Fellowship Committee for hosting the Shrove Tuesday dinner.

Mila Abbasova for fifteen years of outstanding service as our church organist and choir accompanist.

Worship Committee for the lovely reception for Mila on March 8.

Darcy Hargis for passing along good notes to the new LOGOS Committee moderator.

LOGOS Committee for being such a cohesive, efficacious, and cooperative committee.

Session for holding three very busy meetings in March.

Property Committee and all workday (held March 7) workers for their hard work and the timeliness of the event.

How to Wash Your Hands with Prayer and Song

When it comes to warding off germs, you’ve probably heard the advice that we’re supposed to wash our hands for 20 seconds, as long as it takes to sing “The ABC Song” or “Happy Birthday” twice. But it occurred to me there might be some other songs—and prayers—that would time out to 20 seconds. Try these: Continued

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The Lord’s Prayer You can say it or sing it, but I’ve never really timed myself before (God willing, I’m concentrating on other things). Turns out, it clocks in at a neat 20 seconds. Maybe a little longer if I go slower. Washing my hands and saying “The Lord’s Prayer.” Now that’s a good use of time. Cleansing to body and soul.

“Amazing Grace” Everybody’s favorite classic. Whenever I sing it at our church soup kitchen, the guests always join in vociferously. So sing it to yourself (or aloud) when you wash your hands. “I once was lost but now am found/Was blind but now I see…” What great lyrics for any time.

“God Bless America” I find I become rather enthusiastic with the lathering of the soap when singing this. “…from the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans, white with foam!” Like my hands. And it’s a good reminder to not only pray for myself but also for others, for our country.

The Doxology “Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below, praise Him above ye heavenly hosts, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.” A perfect 20 seconds by my watch. Praising God while doing the best thing I can do for my health and the health of others.

“This Little Light of Mine” Our kids used to sing it, and I still have the lyrics and the tune lodged in my head. It always feels like a happy reminder of what Jesus said to His disciples and all of us: “You are the light of the world.” We are. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

“Holy, Holy, Holy” Another classic. And when I sing that line, “early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee,” well, doesn’t that make sense when you do that handwashing first thing? Remember that old line, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness?” Put them both together with a healthy habit, a prayer and a song.

by Rick Hamlin (Guideposts, Mar 10, 2020)

Congress Passes CARES Act: Information Concerning Charitable Contributions

Allowance of Partial Above the Line Deduction for Charitable Contributions The provision encourages individuals to contribute to religious, charitable, and educational organizations by creating a new “above the line” deduction (i.e. for taxpayers who take the standard deduction). This deduction will permit them to deduct up to $300 of annual monetary contributions. This is applicable for tax years beginning after 2019, and does not sunset after 2020 like the increased limits described below. Modification of Limitations on Charitable Contributions during 2020 The provision increases the limitations on deductions for charitable contributions by individuals who itemize, as well as corporations. Such cash contributions must be made during 2020, and this provision does not extend the due date of the 2020 tax return.

For individuals, the 50-percent of adjusted gross income limitation is suspended for cash contributions made in 2020. For corporations, the 10-percent limitation is increased to 25 percent of taxable income for cash contributions made in 2020. This provision also increases the limitation on deductions from 15- percent to 25-percent of net income for corporate food donations made during 2020.”

Epistle Deadline

The deadline for the May edition of the Epistle will be April 26. The newsletter will be mailed on April 30. As always, please send your news to editor Nan Kemp. She welcomes enjoyable stories for the Congrega-tional Connections column if you want to share.

Postscripts

The Russian Music Festival that Mila Abbasova is in charge of has been postponed until the fall.

The Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper netted $383, which will help fund the refurbishment of the Bell Street sign. Thanks go to all who donated supplies, cooked, cleaned, and donated money.

Pastor Kati’s mobile number listed under the Collins family in the directory is wrong; please don’t call that number. Replace it with (580) 716-8962. If you have her number stored in your cell phone, please check to be sure that you have the correct number.

The tornado that ripped through Jonesboro, Arkansas was too close for comfort to Chip and Chris Newell and their new home—only a mile or so away! We are happy to report that they are fine. They send their love.

Festival Set for June By Ashley Denham

On June 28 from 12-5 p.m., the Panhandle Pride Festival will be taking place at Memorial Park by Amarillo College. The Outreach Committee has registered St. Luke to participate by having a booth to show our support for the LGBTQIA+ community. The Outreach Committee is still discussing on how to promote St. Luke and continue to fellowship with others. We will give out rainbow bracelets and have other giveaways. There will be more information down the road if anything changes or is added. If you would like to join in any way, please contact Ashley Denham: or email

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High Plains Food Bank Appreciates Donations

Sunday, April 5 would typically be a “Peanut Butter Sunday” at St. Luke, but we won’t be in the building to drop a jar in the barrel. That said, the food bank will be needing donations now more than ever due to the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak on area families. The good news is that we can continue to support this mission by giving online. High Plains Food Bank is always in need of contributions and can stretch our dollars further than we, as individuals, are able.

To make a contribution, you can send a check to St. Luke with “HPFB” noted on the memo line or in the comments of your online giving. You may also donate directly to the food bank by following this link: https://give.hpfb.org/. Click on the “donate” tab to make a contribution to the COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund.

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nan kemp & melissa shields, co editors | volume 55, … · the zoom silent meditation services...

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