Martin & Katharina Luther

 

Christ Window

Welcome

In response to the call in Roman 15:7 to "Welcome one another, therefore as Christ has welcomed you.", we warmly welcome people of any race, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identiy, age and physical ability.

We invite you to join us in our worship of Christ and fellowship.

 

news & events

 

1/9 What's New

  • Book Club delayed until 1/17 (see)
  • Taco Fellowship Dinner 1/11 (see)
  • Annual Meeting 1/22 (see)
  • January Lamp is available (see)
  • Adult Sunday School Resumes (see)
  • Photos GT Tour & Christmas Eve (see)

 

1/11 Taco Fellowship DinnerMark Beno

Please join us Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm for the first fellowship dinner of the New Year! The Theme will be "Taco Night" which was very popular (and delicous) last year. Fellowship dinners are held the 2nd Wednesday of each month except Dec & Mar. Sign-Up sheets are posted outside the Fellowship Hall. A $5 donation is suggested. Contact, Noelle, our Fellowship Chairman, if you'd like to help cook.

 

1/22 Annual Meeting of the Congregation

The meeting will be held in the sanctuary immediately following the coffee fellowship. At this meeting we will review and adopt the 2012 budget. All voting members should plan to attend.

 

Call Committee Progress

Our Call Committee was elected on Sunday October 9, 2011 in a special meeting of the congregation. The 6-member Call Committee has been working closely with the Synod office since then. They are nearing completion in preparing our "Mission Profile" and will soon begin a review of recommended and available ELCA-Rostered candidates, a confidential process. Their work will be complete when the congregation meets and votes to accept the Call Committee's recommended candidate.

Thank-you to all who participated in any or all of the four "Listening Sessions". We have compiled lots of enlightening comments and ideas to provide to the Call Committee. A common thread of all the sessions was that we want to continue to embrace our welcome statement and the warm acceptance that makes St Luke feel like a big, loving family. We need more focus on children's education to retain our families with young children.

 

Welcome Brian & Miranda, Courtney & Griffen!New Members Miranda & Brian

We received Miranda Kennedy and Brian Keith into membership on Sunday August 28th. They are now Miranda & Brian Keith since their recent wedding!
Griffen & Courtney PerryOn Rally Day, September 11th, we received Courtney Perry and her son, Griffen as new members with Griffen being baptised. Please introduce yourselves and welcome them into our St Luke family!

If you are interested in membership, please talk with Pastor Craig or send him an email. You can join by Letter of Transfer, Affirmation of Faith or Adult Instruction. We would be delighted to welcome you into membership.

 

Join the Worship Team

  • Acolytes - Several of our acolytes are now away at college. Adults are welcome, too!
  • Ushers - All are welcome to participate. Couples and families can even volunteer together!
  • Lectors - This is an opportunity for those who would like to read the Lessons.

Please contact Susan Roff if you are interested in either of these opportunities.

 

Flower Chart

Christmas FlowersPlease consider signing up on the 2011 Flower Chart which is located outside the Fellowship Hall. Please consider remembering a friend or loved one with a flower arrangement on the altar. Check available dates in the "Flowers" row on our Worship Assistants page. Remember that each date has two opportunities.

 

Cookie Signup!Cookie Fellowship

The Cookie Sign-up Chart has been moved to the bulletin board in the hall. Please take a moment to sign up for an open slot. We all enjoy these treats duing our after-service fellowship time. Empty slots can also be seen online in the "Cookies" row on the Worship Assistants page.

 

New Baby Baskets

Baby BasketsFor many years St. Luke has given a "New Baby Basket" to members who are celebrating the birth of their first child. The baskets are filled with new items donated by members of the congregation. With the birth of two new babies recently, we are in need of items such as baby clothing, toys, baby shampoo, washcloths, pacifiers, spoons, etc. Please place donations in the baskets in the Fellowship Hall. All donations are greatly appreciated! Please see Kim Schaeffer if you have any questions.

New Music Director Mark BenoMark Beno

The choir can sing and rejoice again! We have a new choir director, organist, music director, Mark Beno. Choir promises to be a lot of fun as well as very productive. We are delighted to welcome Mark to be such an integral part of our worship at St Luke. If you ever wanted to join the choir, now is the time! Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings at 7:15 pm.

 

Walking Tour of Georgia TechGeorgia Tech Campanile

Helen & Ren Davis led us on a delightful walking tour of the Georgia Tech campus. A good time was had by all fourteen folks attending, especially the children. Afterwards we had a traditional Georgia Tech lunch at The Varsity, an Atlanta landmark. Click the link at right to see a few photos!

 

Wine TastingWine Tasting Fellowship

We had a delightful time at St Luke's first Wine Tasting Fellowship on Satuday December 3rd at the home of Sharon & Braden in Marietta. We each brought a bottle of our favorite wine and sampled six reds and six whites in a blind tasting. It was a great opportunity to get to know each other as well as learn about wine. We got to meet Noelle & John's new baby Byron. Braden provided entertainment for the older children who also had a great time.

 

Lovely Stewardship DinnerFall 2010 Retreat at Tallulah Falls

We all had delightful evening at the annual Stewardship Dinner held Saturday November 5. Many thanks are due to our excellent chefs, Marc & Allison who prepared the gourmet fare for our enjoyment. The dinner was in honor of Committment Sunday on November 6 when we turned in our pledge cards for 2012. If you haven't already done so, pick up a pledge card (or download one here) and drop it in the offering. Your pledges are very important for formulating goals for our 2012 budget.

 

History of St Luke Slideshow - 1962-2011

We now have a slideshow of St Luke's History covering its beginnings as a mission congregation in 1962, its first two pastors: Jerry L. Straszheim and Gordon T. Reinertsen through our current interim period with Pastor Craig Storlie. You can see the slideshow from either our History or Gallery Pages.

Please Read A Change of Pastors

If you would like to read the book, "A Change of Pastors and how it affects Change in the Congregation" by Loren B. Mead, please pick up a copy from the entrance table. Then return it for someone else to read. This book discusses the possibilities for healthy change in a church during the interim time as is happening here at St Luke. It is easy and informative reading.

 

Weekly Email Update

Are you receiving Pastor Craig's weekly email? These are packed with the latest news of what's happening at St Luke. To be added to the list, please forward your email address (and any other contact information that has changed) to Kim (office@stlukeatlanta.org) or Pastor Craig (Pastor@stlukeatlanta.org).

 

Farewell Extraodinary Music Director!

Joe Guthridge & David RitterAfter sharing his exceptional musical talent with us for nearly 15 years, David Ritter, our Music Director, Organist and Choir Director shared his last Sunday with us on August 21. He and Joe Guthridge haved moved to Chicago for David to be closer to his family and for them to pursue exciting new career possibilites in the Windy City. We had a reception following his spectacular finale service as well as a delightful cocktail farewell at the Blackneys' the evening before. See photo memories of 15 years together as well as photos and videos of David's last service with us. We miss you, David & Joe!

 

Retired after 38+ Years of Ministry

Gordon T. ReinertsenOur beloved Pastor of over 38 years, Gordon T. Reinertsen retired at the end of February (Boo! Hoo!). That's got to be some kind of record, but they have been truly precious years. His grandchildren will probably be delighted to see more of him but he will be sorely missed here. We celebrated with a grand party on Saturday, February 19 with dinner, music, dancing, and lots of fun. We had an excellent turnout including former members and friends from all over the country. Check out our Gallery page to see lots of photos taken at the party!

 

 

 

Spring Retreat 2010

Mar 23-25 Spring 2012 Retreat - Cheaha

Our 2012 Spring Congregational Retreat will be held again at Bald Rock Lodge in Alabama's Cheaha State Park (www.alapark.com/cheaharesort). It's a lovely facility with very comfortable "motel style" rooms. Sign up on the poster by the Fellowship Hall to join us for an exhilarating weekend at the highest point in Alabama. The cost for the 2010 retreat was: Adults $100; Children 10 and under $75; infants free. Click the Lodge photo at right to see photos from the 2011 Retreat.

Oct 14-16 Fall 2011 Retreat - Tallulah Falls - CANCELLED!Fall Retreat 2009

Our Fall Congregational Retreat will again be held at the Athens Y-Camp in Tallulah Falls, Georgia (www.athensycamp.org). Though more rustic than Cheaha, the camp features heated cabins, each with indoor bathrooms and enough beds for a large family. Afternoon "free time" opportunities are lots of nearby scenic hikes, crafty shopping, reading by the lake, fellowship on the porch or fun in the kitchen. Click the photo at right to see pictures of the 2010 Fall Retreat. Or see our Gallery page for the "Blob" video!