Hey Church Family,

Welcome to another week filled with blessings and opportunities to grow in faith and fellowship! As we gather together, united in spirit and purpose, we're excited to share the latest news and updates with you. From upcoming events to meaningful reflections, our weekly announcements serve as a beacon of guidance and connection in our journey of faith. Join us as we embark on this enriching adventure together!

In faith and community,

Your Social Media Team

St. Luke Christian Church

www.stlukecchsv.org

Speaker: Pastor Tim Rogers

Date: Sunday, August 24

Topic: "The Word Made Flesh"

Scripture: John 1:1-5 (KJV)

Scripture Reading - John 1:1-5 (KJV)
1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2  The same was in the beginning with God.
3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

• "The Word became flesh": This is the central statement of the verse. In the opening verses of John's Gospel (John 1:1-3), "the Word" (Greek: Logos) is identified as being with God, being God, and being the agent of creation. In verse 14, John makes a radical claim: this divine, eternal Word took on human nature. This is the doctrine of the Incarnation, meaning "in the flesh." It's the belief that the divine Son of God, Jesus Christ, became a real, living, breathing human being without ceasing to be God. This was a direct refutation of false teachings (like Docetism) at the time, which claimed that Jesus only appeared to be human.
• "And dwelt among us": The Greek word used here is skēnoō, which means "to pitch a tent" or "to tabernacle." This is a powerful Old Testament reference. In the Old Testament, God's presence, the Shekinah glory, "tabernacled" with the Israelites in the wilderness in the Tabernacle. John is saying that in Jesus, God's glorious presence once again came to "tent" or "tabernacle" with humanity, but this time in a human person rather than in a physical structure.
• "And we beheld His glory": The author, John, is giving an eyewitness account. He and the other disciples saw Jesus's divine glory, not as a fleeting vision, but in his everyday life and ministry. They saw it in his miracles (like the turning of water into wine in John 2:11) and in his teachings. This was the glory of the Father's "one and only Son."
• "The glory as of the only begotten of the Father": This phrase emphasizes the uniqueness of Jesus's glory. He is not just a prophet or a wise teacher; he is the "only begotten" (or "one and only") Son. The word "begotten" here does not mean that Jesus was created, but rather that he shares the very nature of God the Father. His glory is a direct reflection of the Father's glory.
• "Full of grace and truth": This phrase describes the character and nature of the Word made flesh. This also echoes Old Testament passages where God reveals himself to Moses as "abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness" (Exodus 34:6). John is saying that Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God's grace (unmerited favor) and truth (reality and faithfulness).

Sermon Summary  

In summary, John 1:14 is a profound theological statement that explains the mystery of the Incarnation. It declares that the eternal and divine Word, who was the source of creation, became fully human in the person of Jesus Christ. This act of "pitching his tent" among us made God's glory, which is full of grace and truth, visible to humanity. It is the central event that bridges the gap between God and man.

Be Blessed,

Pastor TC Johnson

Men's Day 2025 was a huge success! A special thanks to all who contributed to making it the memorable day it was. Check out this link to view some moments captured by our media team.

National Minority Donor Awareness Month is a collaborative initiative of the National (Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation) Multicultural Action Group (NMAG) to save and improve the quality of life of diverse communities by creating a positive culture for organ, eye, and tissue donation.

National Minority Donor Awareness Month* stems from National Minority Donor Awareness Week, founded in 1996 by the National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP), to bring heightened awareness to donation and transplantation in multicultural communities – focusing primarily on African American, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander and Native American communities.

Order your 2025 Circle of Sisters T-Shirt by scanning the QR code below.

Mid-Week Connect and Noon Day Bible Study are every Wednesday at 12pm Noon & 6pm. Join us in-person and via our YouTube page as we explore the word of God together.

The Simeon Tribe will have a meet and greet after church September 14, 2025 in the Clifford Chunn Multi-Purpose Building (gym). All members please make every effort to join us. Thanks in advance Deacon Robert and Delois Williams Tribal Leaders

Hey family! We are actively looking to grow our media team and need your support. If you have any experience with audio engineering, social media management, photography, videography or have an interest in developing your skills in any of these areas, please contact the social media team at socialmedia@stlukecchsv.org or see Brother Bradley Davis for more information.

We kindly request that you remember and include in your prayers those individuals who are part of our SLCC family. Life can sometimes present us with unexpected challenges and it is during these times that our thoughts and prayers can provide comfort and strength. So, please take a moment to send positive thoughts and pray for our SLCC family members. Please submit prayer requests to members@stlukecchsv.org.

Happy Birthday August Babies!

We are seeking assistance in the church nursery. If you have a love for children and want to volunteer your time in this ministry, please stop by the nursey and speak with Sister Monica Gray

Hey family. We want to introduce the St. Luke photo gallery which is available on our new flickr page. Photos of worship services, baptisms and other church events will be displayed on this site. From the site you will be able to view, download and share moments captured by our incredible photographers. Please scan the QR code to be directed to this collection of photos and we hope enjoy these memories for years to come. There will also be link to access this photo gallery on the church website.

The food pantry hours have changed to Monday - Wednesday from 9:30am - 2:00pm to serve our community. Donations to the pantry are always appreciated so if you would like to donate, feel free to bring those donations during pantry hours and one of our volunteers will be happy to receive them.

Calling all St. Luke business owners! Join the St. Luke Business Network to showcase your talents to our community. Submit your business info, headshot and services to socialmedia@stlukecchsv.org (see examples below). Let's connect and uplift each other.

Love Zone Group - Offering temporary housing solutions through corporate leasing. For additional information, please contact us at 256-384-5085 and/or felicia@lovezoneprop.com  

Follow us on social media to stay up to date on upcoming events! Also, check out our NEW flickr page to see photos of previous events and church services! 

If you have any inquiries or wish to have your announcement featured in next week's newsletter, please feel free to reach out to us at socialmedia@stlukecchsv.org