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 T.C. Johnson

Date: Sunday, May 4, 2025

Topic: "Working with the Spirit"

From the desk of Pastor T.C. Johnson

Working with the Spirit

Pentecost means "fiftieth" because this feast was held fifty days after the Feast of Firstfruits Lev. 23:15-22. The calendar of Jewish feasts in Leviticus 23 is an outline of the work of Jesus Christ. Passover pictures His death as the Lamb of (John 1:29, 1Cor 5:7) and the Feast of Firstfruits pictures His resurrection from the dead (1Cor 15:20-23). Fifty days after Firstfruits is the Feast of Pentecost, which pictures the formation of the church. At Pentecost, the Jews celebrated the giving of the Law, but Christians celebrate it because of the giving of the Holy Spirit to the church.

The Feast of Firstfruits took place on the day after the Sabbath following Passover, which means it was always on the first day of the week. (The Sabbath is the seventh day.) Jesus arose from the dead on the first day of the week and "became the firstfruits of them that slept" (1Cor 15:20). Now, if Pentecost. was fifty days later—seven weeks plus one day—then Pentecost also took place on the first day of the week. Christians assemble and worship on Sunday, the first day of the week, because on that day our Lord arose from the dead, but it was also the day on which the Holy Spirit was given to the church.

On the Feast of Firstfruits, the priest waved a sheaf of grain before the Lord; but on Pentecost, he presented two loaves of bread. Why? Because at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit baptized the believers and united them into one body. The Jewish believers received this baptism at Pentecost, and the Gentile believers in the home of Cornelius (Acts 10). This explains the presence of two loaves of bread (see 1Cor 10:17). The fact that there was leaven (yeast) in the loaves indicates the presence of sin in the church on earth. The church will not be perfect until it gets to heaven.

We must not conclude that this ten-day prayer meeting brought about the miracles of Pentecost, or that we today may pray as they did and experience "another Pentecost." Like our Lord's death at Calvary, Pentecost was a once-for-all event that will not be repeated. The church may experience new fillings of the Spirit, and certainly patient prayer is an essential element to spiritual power, but we would not ask for another Pentecost any more than we would ask for another Calvary.

Be blessed,

Pastor T.C. Johnson

Adult Class #1 & 2 - Love (Divine Love)

Adult Class #3 - Open Discussion

Teen Series - Attitudes, Friends & Struggles

Middle School Series - True Love, Choices, Set Apart & Lead

Pre-School & Elementary - The Parable of the Good Samaritan

*a light meal will be served immediately following bible study

The month of May is Lupus Awareness month. Take a look at the video below to learn more about this illness that impacts 70 million people worldwide.

Mommy Matters will be having a Mother's Day Walking Challenge. The challenge will be from May 1st - May 31st. For more information, please scan the QR code.

Join us as we recognize the 2025 May Graduates during our 9:30am morning worship service. Graduates are asked to wear their regalia to worship. Scan the QR code to submit your information

The Black Business EXPO will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 10am-1am on the campus of St. Luke Christian Church. The Black Business Expo isn’t just an event—it’s a landmark celebration of entrepreneurship, innovation, and community. As Huntsville’s longest-running Black Business EXPO: The Black Business Expo is a premier platform for Black and minority-owned businesses to showcase their products and services, connect with new customers, and forge lasting partnerships. Their commitment to fostering an inclusive, thriving business environment sets them apart year after year. This event is FREE to the public so come out to support. Scan the QR Code to get additional information.

The 2025 college tour registration is now open! This college tour is is scheduled for June 22nd-28th and is open for rising 10th-12th graders. The college tour preparation seminar is scheduled for June 9, 2025 at 6pm and is mandatory to attend the tour. If your student is interested in attending this tour, please scan the QR code for additional information.

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.

Please follow the links below to find additional information regarding requirements, deadlines, etc. necessary to apply. Many scholarship deadlines are fast approaching so please have your students apply soon to secure their financial support.

The 2025 Summer Camp themed, “Rhythm of the Renaissance – A Harlem Summer Camp” is scheduled for June 16th- July 18th.  The schedule for this camp is Monday-Friday 8am-2pm and the daily cost is $30. For those who need an extended day, there is an optional extended day schedule from 2pm-5pm for an additional fee. Please review the flyer and use the provided link to register for the camp. If you would like to volunteer for the camp, the flyer will also include a link for you as well.  

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.

Happy Birthday April 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