The Spire - St. Luke's United Methodist Church

Two Sections, Section A • 076510 • Vol. 158 • No. 48 • April 13, 2012 

An Edition Of The United Methodist Reporter 

Brennan Manning, in his 

wonderful book Ruthless 

Trust, tells the story of a water 

bearer in India. He had a pole 

he carried across his shoulders, 

and on each end there was a pot. 

On one end, there was a perfect 

pot, and on the other, a pot with 

a crack in it. At the end of each 

journey from the river to the 

master’s house, the perfect pot 

delivered a full pot of water. The 

cracked pot, on the other hand, 

delivered only a half a pot of 

water to the master. 

A Broken Pot 

After a while, the cracked pot 

became ashamed, and spoke to the water bearer one day by the 

stream. “I am sorry,” the pot said. “I owe you an apology.” 

“Why”, said the water bearer. 

“What are you ashamed of” 

“I am only able to deliver half my load of water because of this 

crack. My friend the perfect pot… well, you need more pots like 

him.” 

The water bearer responded with a laugh. “As we walk up the hill 

again, notice the flowers growing on your side of the path. I knew 

of your flaw, and planted flowers there to take advantage of it. 

Then each day, I pick some of them to decorate my master’s table. 

Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this 

beauty to grace his house.” 

May God use even your flaws as God sees fit. 

Continued on page 2 

Palm Sunday 

At Gethsemane 

3 

H2$ 

PureSound 

Production 

5 

2012 Spring 

Concert 

6 

Westheimer Campus: 3471 Westheimer | Houston, Texas 77027 

Gethsemane Campus: 6856 Bellaire Blvd. | Houston, Texas 77074 

StLukesMethodist.org 

713-622-5710 

The United Methodist Reporter (USPS 954-500) is published weekly by UMR Communications, 1221 Profit Drive, Dallas Texas 75247-3919. Periodicals postage paid at Dallas, Texas and additional mailing offices. 

Postmaster: Send address changes to The United Methodist Reporter. PO Box 660275, Dallas, Texas 75266-0275.

Awaken Embrace 2 

Train Move 

Continued from Cover 

Join me for Dinner 

When Jesus shared a meal with people, something special happened. Lives changed. And something special 

also happens when we share meals together. Friendships form. Memories are made. Maybe even secret 

recipes are shared. 

Our upcoming Sermon Series, titled Dinner with the King is going to explore what happened at some of those 

meals that Jesus shared with others. And to help our own lives experience some of the extraordinary times that 

can happen at an ordinary meal, we will be forming Dinner Groups. 

Everyone is invited – if you haven’t ever been involved, this is the perfect time! We will be putting together 

groups of about 8-12 people, matching up by life-stage so everyone has something in common. Once matched 

up, the hosts will contact everyone and organize the first dinner. Dinners can take all sorts of shapes, potlucks 

at various homes, meeting up at a restaurant, even picnics in the park! 

Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to get to know some other members of your church (and enjoy 

some great meals)! Register at: www.stlukesmethodist.org/dinner-groups, or call Adrianne McGee at 713-402- 

5031. 

Music To My Ears 

Good Morning Mark. I want to take this opportunity to 

thank you and your staff for successfully installing the 

new upgrade to our Sanctuary hearing system. And was 

thrilled to be able to hear Tom’s sermon about anger as 

if he was speaking crystal clear into my inner ear. The 

hearing loop signal, where I sat, was strong and the 

ceiling- hanging microphones over the choir enabled 

me to hear the choir and accompanying music for the 

first time. I congratulate you and your staff for this 

accomplishment. 

To all: I truly believe that now St. Luke’s can boast the 

best hearing systems of any church in the Houston 

area… I suggest we not allow our hearing systems to 

become the best-kept secret in Houston but instead find 

a method of informing St. Luke’s congregation and the 

community of this unique accomplishment along with 

instruction for its use. I can envision this information 

attracting the attention of-according to recent studies-17% 

of the community who need hearing assistance. 

I am willing to help but I cannot do it alone. 

Jess Pettey 

The Induction Loop System Mr. Pettey refers to allows 

audio sources to be directly connected to a hearing 

aid or cochlear implant, which helps filter out 

background noise and allows the telecoil in the 

hearing aid or cochlear implant to become an 

individual loud speaker in the ear of the wearer. The 

Sanctuary and Parlor at St. Luke’s Westheimer 

Campus are equipped with induction loop systems 

(also called “hearing loops”) that work with 

telecoil-equipped hearing aids or cochlear implants. 

In addition, St. Luke’s offers those without telecoils a 

hearing FM device to use in the Sanctuary, Parlor, 

Fellowship Hall and the Forum that can be checked 

out from ushers on Sunday mornings. 

It’s Time To Gather With 

Friends and Family To 

Break… CRAWFISH 

As we begin our Dinner with the King sermon series, 

we are reminded of the sense of community that 

comes from sharing a meal. Eating together creates 

a sense of community similar to what Jesus did with 

his disciples. Now it’s your turn to share a meal with 

friends, family and community. You’re invited to an 

all-you-can-eat Crawfish Boil on April 21; proceeds 

from the event help the Nick Finnegan Counseling 

Center (NFCC) help individuals, couples and families 

via affordable counseling and support groups. Purchase 

$25 tickets in advance at FinneganCounseling. 

org or enjoy the community aspect of standing in 

line with friends the day of for $30 tickets. For more 

information about NFCC and/or the Crawfish Boil, 

visit FinneganCounseling.org. 

Outreach 

reaching out to our community 

and the world 

Opportunities to Serve: 

Breakdancing Ministry: is looking for volunteers 

on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays to bring and 

serve a simple meal and visit with these young dancers 

from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Gethsemane campus. 

Please contact Alice at 713-402-5067 or aking@ 

stlukesmethodist.org for more information. 

reVision – A Community of Empowerment 

for at-risk gang affected youth is looking for volunteers to 

assist with programming activities and serve as hosts for 

youth and parents on Monday nights at the Gethsemane 

Campus from 5-7 p.m. Call Laralee DeHart at 713- 

416-0234 or ldehart@stlukesmethodist.org for more 

information. 

KIDS HOPE USA is seeking mentors for 

at-risk elementary school students. To be a friend for 

one hour a week please contact Marci Pampe, St. Luke’s 

KHUSA Sutton Director at 713-357-4466 or mpampe@ 

stlukesmethodist.org or Karen McCarver, KHUSA 

Briarmeadow Director at 713-402-5152 or kmccarver@ 

stlukesmethodist.org 

Christian Community Service Center’s 

client registration for Back to School 

will be held on Monday, May 7 – Thursday, May 10 at 

St. Luke’s Blanton Building from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. To 

volunteer, please contact Jeni at 713-961-3993, x 215 or 

seasonal@ccschouston.com. 

Woodworkers Ministry: Looking for a way 

to serve Consider joining the St. Luke’s Woodworkers 

Ministry, a friendly group of men and women making 

classic-style wooden toys for children at agencies and 

orphanages, locally and abroad. These folks also repair 

and build furniture, plus help with special projects for 

many nonprofits. Across from the church on Edloe, the 

Woodshop is equipped with all the modern tools to 

build most anything from wood. Please contact Alice at 

aking@stlukesmethodist.org for more information about 

volunteering on Monday and Tuesday mornings. 




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Train Move 

Palm Sunday at the Gethsemane Campus 

Mentors Needed 

for KIDS HOPE USA 

If you would like to make a difference in the life 

of a child, please consider mentoring for one 

hour a week through KIDS HOPE USA. Mentors 

are needed for at-risk elementary students at 

both Sutton Elementary School and 

Briarmeadow Charter School. Call Marci 

Pampe at 713-357-4466 or Karen McCarver 

at 713-402-5152 for more information or to 

schedule a training. 

Recently, I read an 

article by Jon Nielson 

entitled, 3 Common Traits of 

Youth Who Don’t Leave the 

Church. His 3 traits are: 

1.They are converted - the 

move from nominal 

Christian to a deeply 

committed Christian. He 

mentions 2 Corinthians 5:17, 

Therefore, if anyone is in 

Christ, he is a new creation. 

The old has passed away; 

behold, the new has come. 

2. They have been equipped, 

not entertained. 

He mentions Ephesians 4:11- 

12 as a model for 

professional church staff: [Christ] gave...the teachers to 

equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up 

the body of Christ. 

3. Their parents shared the gospel with them. Here he lifts 

up Proverbs 22:6 acknowledging that it does not “work” 

100% of the time: Train up a child in the way he should go; 

even when he is old he will not depart from it. 

As I considered each of these traits, I could not help but 

think of their similarities with adult Christian education. 

I also thought of the work that will take place later this 

month and into May at our General Conference. It seems 

to me that if the church is going to find renewal, we must 

tend to our ability to call people into relationship with 

Christ - not relationship with a style of worship, but with 

Christ. Secondly, we have to be willing to do discipleship 

in a way that is costly - that expects something from a 

person, but also gracefully shapes a person. George Hunter 

makes several interesting observations in his book, From 

Institution to Movement one such observation Hunter 

makes is that the most important factor in whether a 

movement’s cause will ultimately prevail depends on 

increasing the ranks of serious committed members. 

(Nominal members and ‘free riders’ are liabilities.) 

I pray that St. Luke’s can be a church on the leading edge of 

helping to model faithful discipleship. Our Embracing 

Communities and Training Teams play crucial roles in 

this work. I hope each of you will seek out one and take 

the plunge into a deeper relationship with Christ and one 

another. 

Blessings! 

Renewal of 

the Church 




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Train Move 

Caring Ministries 

May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace 

as you trust in Him. Romans 15:13 

As Christians, we are called to care and pray for one 

another. 

Cares and Concerns: 

M.D. Anderson: 

Jane Rulfs 

Memorial Hermann: 

Steve Handel 

Methodist Hospital: 

Art Kleiderer 

Congratulations to: 

Emily Bennett Young and Benjamin Lang Rosenberg, 

who were united in marriage on March 31. 

Daniel and Jessica Glazner on the birth of their 

daughter, Annabelle Hazel Glazner, on April 5. Proud older 

sisters are Scarlett and Emmaline Glazner and proud 

grandparents are Jim and Belinda Weatherly. 

Our Sympathy to: 

Recently Discharged: 

Cindy Davis 

Ann Hastings 

Mary Jones 

Betty Mullins 

Molly Price 

Linda Middleton, Suzy and Jack Brennan, Bitsy and 

Sam Searcy, Jason and Brittany Nishizaki, and Aaron 

Nishizaki on the death of John Carnes Middleton, Jr. on 

March 27. 

Joel and Maria Romero on the death of Maria’s mother on 

April 4. 

If you know of a concern or a joy that the church should know 

about, please contact Caring Ministries at 713-402-5086 or 

-5156. 

We Care! 

Are you or a loved one facing surgery or hospitalization 

A crucial aspect of St. Luke’s Caring Ministry are the 

prayers we have with members prior to surgeries and 

during hospitalizations. Contact Karen Smith with details 

at 713-402-5086 or ksmith@stlukesmethodist.org. 

Celebrating Lives 

BARKER – BULL SCHOLARSHIP FUND 

In Honor of: 

John Barker and Effygene Bull by 

Betty Slagle 

In Memory of: 

Al Buescher by 

Ramona Buescher 

CARING MINISTRIES 

In Honor of: 

Rev. Linda Christians 

St. Luke’s Staff by 

Lady Earle Poorman 

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER 

In Honor of: 

Roberta L. Murray by 

Marlys Barry 

Pat Deckert 

Barbara Stovall 

Nancy Walker 

EDLOE WOODSHOP 

In Memory of: 

Katie Sponenberg by 

Barbara & Joe Eason 

Singles at St. Luke’s 

Come Study with Us! 

Singles at St. Luke’s will begin a new 

Sunday School class for ages 30-50 on April 

15 with two meet and greet Sundays. The 

Bible-based discussion class will begin 

lessons, April 29. The class will meet at the 

Crossroads Building, Room 101, at 9:45 a.m. 

Parking is available at the building which is 

located at the corner of West Alabama and 

Edloe. 

Singles Fourth Friday Dinner will be on April 

27, at 7 p.m., at Berryhills, located at the 

corner of San Felipe and Post Oak. All singles 

are invited to join us for dinner and 

conversation. For more information, 

contact Susan Silvus, ssilvus@ 

stlukemethodist.org. 

Did You Know... 

Over 5,000 people worshipped with St. 

Luke’s at 6 Services on Easter Sunday. 

Over 28,000 Easter Eggs were filled and 

distributed. 

GENE DECKER OUTREACH FUND 

In Memory of: 

Ruth Ramsay Arrington by 

Judy Bolling 

GETHSEMANE CHILDREN’S KITCHEN 

In Honor of: 

Roberta L. Murray by 

Kathryn & Claud Riddles 

ORGAN FUND 

In Memory of: 

Ruth Morris Evans by 

Mr. & Mrs. Wallace White Jr. 

STEPHEN MINISTRY 

In Memory of: 

Alice Potter by 

Joel & Andrea Harrell 

ST. LUKE’S METHODIST CHURCH FOUNDATION 

In Honor of: 

Greg Davis upon receipt of the 

Distinguished Life Award by: 

Barbara Eason 

In Memory of: 

Ruth Ramsay Arrington by 

Dr. & Mrs. Chris Bahm 

Connie & Ben Dyer 

Linda & Stan Fader 

Carl G. Mueller, Jr. by 

Kristin & Vance Tillman 

Easter at the Park 

Photos are Online 

Find yourself in the photo gallery at 

StLukesMethodist.org/photos 




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Train Move 

Looking For Friends: 

Do you like meeting new people Do you like 

welcoming people into the church Then we may be 

looking for you! We are looking for active St. Luke’s 

members who maybe interested in serving as New 

Member Friends. The goal of the New 

Member Friends is to build relationships with our 

newest members and help new members get 

involved in the life of the church. Most simply, New 

Member Friends are exactly that – friends to our 

new members. 

No special skill or talent is required; however, New 

Member Friends should be: 

· Passionate about making sure St. Luke’s is a 

place where no one walks alone; 

· Excited about St. Luke’s and welcoming new 

members into the church; 

· Willing to build a relationship with new 

members over a period of six months by 

contacting the new members a couple of times 

per month to encourage them and invite them 

to get connected/involved in a ministry area, 

such as a Sunday school class, choir, outreach 

ministry, LIFT team small group, a children’s 

activity, etc.; 

· Available to answer questions about the church 

as questions arise; 

· Committed to praying for the new members to 

find a place of connection and belonging at 

St. Luke’s 

Here is what a few current New Member Friends said 

about being a part of this great ministry: 

- It has been great to get to know new members 

personally - more than just a quick “hello” after the 

service. 

-It has helped to remind us that we are all called by 

Christ to build community with others. 

We will be hosting a training session for our 

newest New Member Friends on Sunday April 22 11 

a.m.-12 p.m. in the Library with an optional lunch 

afterwards. If you are interested in learning more 

about this wonderful ministry, please contact either 

Joy Johnston at 713-402-5033 or 

jjohnston@stlukesmethodist.org or Paul Meyer at 

713-960-1945 or pmeyer002@comcast.net . 

United Methodist 

Women Afternoon 

Study Circle 

The Circle will meet April 24 at 12 p.m. in the Parlor 

at the Westheimer campus. Alice King, Director of 

Outreach Ministries, will discuss the many faces of 

Outreach at St. Luke’s and the many ways 

members can be involved matching interests and 

time available and how the outreach budget is 

allocated. All women of the church and friends are 

invited to lunch, fellowship and prayer. For 

reservations contact Barbara Landrum at 

barbland@windstream.net 281-494-9319 or 

Deanna Wilson at 713-771-4197. 

How to Succeed in 

Business Without 

Really Trying 

The Pure Sound Youth Choir will present its annual 

spring musical April 12 -15 in Fellowship Hall. This year’s 

production is the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning 

musical comedy, How to Succeed in Business Without Really 

Trying (H2S). With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, 

and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie 

Gilbert, the show originally opened on Broadway 

in 1961. 

Based on Shepherd Mead’s 1952 book with the same 

name, H2S tells the story of J. Pierrepont Finch, a young 

window cleaner in NYC who has a mind for 

advancement. So he refers to the book H2S and goes 

to the World Wide Wicket Company to search for a job, 

where he manages to snag one in the mailroom and 

work his way up the corporate ladder. Many plot twists 

and musical numbers later, all ends happily for Finch 

and his sweetheart, while his nemesis is literally 

left hanging. 

Directed by Steve McCurdy with musical direction by 

Sid Davis, H2S features the amazingly talented 

members of the Pure Sound Youth Choir. 

The curtain rises at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, April 

12 and 13. However, on Saturday, April 14 there will be 

a matinee only at 1 p.m. (no evening performance) and 

Sunday, again, there will only be a matinee at 2:30 p.m. 

(no evening performance). 

Tickets are $10 at the door. There will be open seating; 

doors open a half hour before each performance. 

senior adults 

Mainstreamer Day Trip April 20 

Celebrate Spring with a trip to beautiful Bayou 

Bend for a tour of the house and gardens. Our 

tour will start in the new Lora Jean Kilroy Visitor 

and Education Center, where we will have 

the opportunity to view three short videos 

about Bayou Bend and visit the gallery before 

we start on our tour of the house. After the 

tour we will spend some time enjoying the 

gardens or visiting the new gift shop before 

heading off to Chatters for lunch. We will leave 

St. Luke’s at 8:45 a.m. and return by 1:45 p.m. 

Cost for the tour and transportation is $12, 

with lunch on your own. 

Reservations and payment due by 

Wednesday, April 18. Call Kathy Neely, 

713-402-5139. 

April 25: Silver Circle Game Day 

and Lunch 

Join in a morning of games and 

conversation in Canterbury Hall at the 

Gethsemane campus. The fun begins at 

9 a.m. with lunch ($5) and celebration of 

birthdays at noon. Call Betsy Evans, 

281-565-0348, for lunch reservations. 

April 28: Essential Legal Life Care 

Management Seminar 

9-11:30 a.m. in the Parlor 

This free, in-depth workshop is designed to 

inform, equip and encourage anyone 

planning their own life care, or is caring for a 

family member. The workshop will discuss the 

availability, limitations and differences in 

public benefits such as Medicaid and VA 

Benefits. It will discuss the importance of 

having fiduciary documents in place that 

address the designation of trusted agents to 

make medical and property decisions if 

someone is unable to manage their own affairs. 

Also part of the discussion will be procedures 

for establishing guardianship and how to avoid 

the emotional and financial drain of contested 

probate proceedings, along with other topics. 

There will be opportunity to ask questions. 

Our presenter is Elder Law Attorney Colleen 

Campbell Root. 

Additional information and registration are 

available at www.stlukesmethodist.org/ 

caregiver or by calling 713-682-5995 




713-622-5710


Train Move 

Salisbury Vespers is a concert work based on 

sacred texts including selections from the 

ancient Sarum Rite and the Magnificat. 

New Members 

St. Luke’s Boy Scout 

Fundraiser 2012 

SMOKED BRISKET SALE 

St. Luke’s Boy Scouts of Troop 46 are 

raising funds for camping equipment and 

summer camp scholarships by cooking and 

selling tasty hand seasoned 10-12 lb. briskets. 

The briskets will be pre-sold for $48 each. 

The cooked briskets will be picked up at the 

Blanton Building. Customers will be able to 

choose pickup on either Friday, April 27 

(evening), Saturday, April 28 (all day) or 

Sunday, April 29 (morning). Again, the Boy 

Scouts will personally deliver all briskets 

ordered as a donation for the Star of Hope 

shelter. 

The Boy Scouts will have a table in the 

St. Luke’s courtyard on April 15 and 22 for 

order forms and money collection. Checks 

are payable to St. Luke’s UMC. Cash is also 

welcome. All orders must be in by April 22. 

Contact Sandeep Seth at sseth@susmangodfrey.com 

Tristan and Molly Roberts 

transfer to our congregation, 

he from another 

United Methodist church 

and she from another 

denomination. Tristan is 

employed by The Shaw 

Group in project controls 

and Molly is a speech-language 

pathologist at The 

Parish School. 

Jeff and Lisa Beard join 

St. Luke’s by profession of 

faith. Jeff is a stay-at-home 

dad and Lisa is a physician 

with Complete Women’s 

Care Center. They are the 

parents of Emmett 

Grayson Beard, 

age 19 months. 

Chris and Katy Turner unite 

with our congregation by 

transfer from other United 

Methodist churches. Chris 

is in medical sales with 

Physician Sales & Service. 

Baptisms 

Braxton Davies Reed, 

son of Christopher 

Barrett Reed and Megan 

Sutton Reed on April 1. 

John KenLee 

Schwarzbach, son of 

Kayla-Ann Schwarzbach 

on April 1. 




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Train Move 

New Members 

We welcome Bill Bacon, 

who unites with St. Luke’s 

by transfer from another 

denomination. He is 

retired. 

Kyle and Kathryn Smith 

transfer to St. Luke’s from 

other congregations. Kyle 

is a self-employed 

homebuilder/developer 

and Kathryn is the 

attorney recruiting 

manager with Pillsbury, 

Winthrop, Shaw, Pittman. 

We welcome Carter 

Clemens and Kate Cross, 

who unite by profession 

of faith. He is a petroleum 

engineer with BP and she is 

an attorney with Johnson, 

Trent, West, Taylor LLP. 

Michael and Amie Canfield 

join St. Luke’s by profession 

of faith. He is a vicepresident 

with MacQuarie 

Group and she is a homemaker. 

Michael and Amie 

are the parents of two 

daughters: Jackie, age 8, 

and Gaby, age 6. 

Dewey and Pamela 

Johnson unite with our 

congregation by transfer 

from another United 

Methodist church. Dewey 

is the senior director of 

market research for IHS. 

Oliver Phillips joins St. 

Luke’s by profession of 

faith. He is an associate 

with Lime Rock Partners. 

Not Pictured: 

We welcome Imogene “Jean” Dawson, who unites 

with our congregation by transfer from another 

United Methodist church. She is active in Mainstreamers. 

Jeremy and Emily Graham 

join our congregation by 

profession of faith. Jeremy 

is an agent with IBC 

Insurance Agency and 

Emily is a representative 

for Guardian Life. 

Andrea Ivy unites with our 

congregation by profession 

of faith. She is a 

student. 

Westheimer Campus 

8:30 a.m. Sunday – Traditional Worship 

with Holy Communion* 

8:45 a.m. Sunday – Encounter Worship, Fellowship Hall 

9:45 a.m. & 11 a.m. Sunday – Traditional Worship* 

12 p.m. Holy Communion, Chapel 

* Sanctuary 

Gethsemane Campus 

8:30 a.m. Sunday – Blended Communion service 

9:45 a.m. Sunday – Servicio en Español – Spanish Worship 

10:55 a.m. Sunday Traditional Worship 

Sermon videos, podcasts and corresponding study guides are 

available online at: 

StlukesMethodist.org/Sermons 

Scan the code to read the Spire in color 

April 

15 

Invited 

First in the Series 

Dinner With The King 

Dr. Tom Pace 


Rev. Justin Coleman 


The Sanctuary altar flowers are dedicated to the glory of 

God and are given in loving memory of Doris Blackburn 

by William, Tabitha, Mackenzie, and Matthew Rice and in 

honor of Tom Melo and in celebration of his 60th 

birthday by Tina, Virginia and Caroline Melo. 

The Chapel altar flowers are dedicated to the glory of 

God and are given in celebration of the baptism of 

James Benser Luff, grandson of Joyce Arrington Smith, 

by his parents Jamie and Martin Luff. 

Additional Lenten Flower Dedications 

The Lenten flowers were dedicated to the glory of God 

and were given in loving memory of Odell Iverson and 

Lee Moody by Ava Lea Gray. 

April 

22 

Forgiven 

Second in the Series 

Dinner With The King 

Dr. Tom Pace 


Rev. Justin Coleman 


The altar flowers are dedicated to the glory of God and 

are given in celebration of the marriage of 

Ashley Hunt Forgason and Richard Dennis Willis by 

Dianne and Burt Forgason 




713-622-5710

The Spire - St. Luke's United Methodist Church

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