Dear St. Lukers,
We have a beautiful time of worship planned for you this week, and we want to invite you to come and join us on campus! The first Sunday of each month we gather as an intergenerational church family for ALL IN Sunday, where this week we will celebrate Communion together, and hear Pastor Jeremy offer his final sermon on Acts 2:42-47. He will be preaching at all three worship services, and in between we will gather in the Building C Rotunda for a reception honoring his pastoral ministry with us since January 2020. During worship, we will have a chance to bless him as he begins his next journey of returning to school for a Master’s in Social Work/Counseling.
Jeremy came into St. Luke’s just months before a global pandemic changed every way we did ministry. He was an innovative leader who challenged and pushed us to reach new people, wrestle with a deeper understanding of equity and justice, and helped us deeply connect with our theology and faith through his teaching and preaching. We are so excited for his next steps and how he will find new ways to be with us as a St. Luker. I know you will want to bring notes of encouragement and to honor him for how he has blessed you in his ministry, so we hope you will join us this Sunday as we celebrate him.
Every year we participate in the annual meeting of the Florida Conference of United Methodist Churches. It’s the annual meeting of UM churches from Apalachicola to the Keys, for the purpose of proposing a Conference budget, and hearing annual reports of Conference ministries. We gather not just for the work, but to see one another as clergy and laity and remember that together the United Methodist Church is still strong and full of hope in our collective work in the world.
Each year, our resident Bishop chooses a project to be supported by the annual Bishop’s Offering collection. This year the Bishop’s Offering will support two endeavors:
- Rev. Geraldine Williams McClellan Endowment Scholarship at Gammon Theological Seminary, which honors the life and legacy of Rev. Geraldine McClellan, who was the first woman of color ordained in the Florida Conference. This scholarship supports Gammon Theological Seminary students who will provide future pastoral leadership in The Florida Conference. Gammon is a historically Black seminary whose students will benefit greatly from your support.
- The Warren Willis Camp and Conference Center is celebrating its 75th year of ministry. There is no better time to invest in the transformation of young people than now. The Camp provides a safe place for children and youth to be introduced to a relationship with Christ and grow deeper in their faith. This year’s Offering will help the Camp upgrade its programs, expand its reach, and provide scholarships to students who may not be able to attend on their own resources.
What you may not know is Warren Willis Camp has significant ties to St. Luke’s congregation. First, the grandson of WW Camp’s namesake happens to be our current church lay leader, Warren Willis III. In addition to being our lay leader, Warren and his family sing in Contemporary worship, are leaders in our Recreation Ministry, and he serves as co-chair of the Conference Camps and Retreats Board. He does this along with St. Luker Debby Zutter, who has been a part of St. Luke’s for more than 30 years and is currently chair of our Trustees.
In addition, each of your pastors were shaped in their ministry and leadership by our camp. Pastor Jad served on summer staff, as did his wife, Shelly, and currently his eldest son, Lleyton. Pastor Melissa served as a part of the Camp staff for years before coming to St. Luke’s. Each of my family members received a call to ministry at Warren Willis, including my father who helped put the first cross on the lake.
We are excited that former St. Luke’s pastor, Rev. Corey Jones, has been appointed as the Executive Director of Camp and Retreat Ministries. He has a vision for the growth and impact the Camp can have not only during the summer, but throughout the year for the community of Leesburg. Watch the video below for a special word from Pastor Corey:
We know you will want to honor what the Camp and Pastor Corey has meant to you and to St. Luke’s with a special Celebration Offering that we will take to Annual Conference next week. To give, visit st.lukes.org/give and select “Bishop’s Offering” from the drop-down menu, or bring your special Offering to put in the plate during our time of giving on Sunday with your weekly tithe. Just make a note that it is for the Bishop’s Offering on the memo line or on the envelope.
So much hope to celebrate in our church and in our Conference. We can’t wait to see you on Sunday because truly, it’s not St. Luke’s without U!
Grace and Peace,
Jenn.