Ministries & More

“Singing is the finest art and practice. He who is singing has no quarrel with the world… Singers are neither worried nor sad but shake all cares from their souls”.
– Dr. Martin Luther (1539)

 

Sunday morning we celebrate the Sabbath of our Lord in part with Sunday School. We meet from 9:00 A.M. till 10:00 A.M. Our program begins with children from pre-school age through Jr. High School (confirmation classes for Jr. High Class). Children do crafts, have snacks, hear about the love of Jesus. It’s only an hour long but we enjoy every minute of it.

Throughout the year we have a Christmas party, Easter Party, Mother’s/Father’s Day breakfast (for parents and children), and on Memorial Day weekend during Sunday School time, we travel to St. Luke’s cemetery to honor the Veterans who died to win and preserve our freedom. During this time we have a short worship service and the children place a red carnation on the graves of the Veterans.

President Mrs. Bonnie Bailey

We are an organization within the church, who’s purpose is to encourage socialization and establish friendships within our congregation and community. We plan activities and events that will bring the church and the community together and gain friendships through both.

Through our activities, we try to help accommodate and make aware the needs of the church, congregation and community. I hope as my new appointment as President of the Fellowship Committee and with the help of its members to encourage socialization and establish friendships within our church and community through these many activities and events!

Mrs. Ginny Roth, Chairperson

Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. (Acts 9:36-37)

The Dorcas Society at St. Luke’s Union Church is a group of Christian women carrying on the work of Jesus Christ through their good works and acts of charity.

They have many fundraisers through out the year utilizing the various and unique gifts possessed by each member. Some gather together to do quilting where by they chance off their beautiful handmade quilts to raise funds. Others make beautiful crafts and sell them at the annual “Dorcas Bazaar”. There are others who love to bake and cook whose gifts support bake sales and soup sales. They do all these “good works and acts of charity” to support various ministries such as Food For The Poor (serving the poor and destitute in the Caribbean and Central America), Opportunity House (a shelter for homeless women and children), Hope Rescue Mission (serving homeless men), and Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors (helping Veterans), Berks Women in Crisis and Shoemakersville Fire Fighters.

On top of all this they have fun socializing and serving their Lord Jesus in a sundry of ways. The Dorcas Society is for women of all ages!

Come out and join!

Youth Ministry is important in the life of the Church! In this grace-filled moment, you and we are called, by the Lord, to do this important ministry.

There are activities for youth of all ages, be it through, Sunday School, Nursery School. Our youth participate in mission trips serving people who are alienated, outcasts, and forgotten through helping with Meals on Wheels, Senior Centers, Homeless Veterans, Veterans Food Pantry, Habitat for Humanity and much – much more.. We invite you to come and hear the Good News of Jesus as we gather as young people who proclaim Christ.

History

The Church Mouse Nursery School at St. Luke’s Union Church has been in continuous operation since 1980. It has provided quality education for children ages 3-5 years of age with a focus on preparing youngsters for school. The two and a half hour programs introduce youngsters to a structured routine involving large and small group activities, songs, crafts, story times, and many pre-writing, pre-math, and pre-reading activities.

Philosophy

Our philosophy is that early childhood should be a time for exploration and discovery. Education in these years should foster competence in young children in all areas of their lives. Our purpose is to provide a Christian atmosphere for young children where they can grow physically, emotionally, socially, creatively, and intellectually while preparing them for kindergarten. We view our school as a community of learners which extends beyond the students to include: parents, caregivers, teachers, and other staff members.

Sunday Morning Sunday School

Sunday morning we celebrate the Sabbath of our Lord in part with Sunday school. We meet from 9:00 A.M. till 10:00 A.M. Our program begins with children from pre-school age through Jr. High School (conformation classes for Jr. High Class). Children do crafts, have snacks, hear about the love of Jesus. It’s only an hour long but we enjoy every minute of it. Through out the year we have a Christmas party, Easter Party, Mother’s/Father’s Day breakfast (for parents and children), and on Memorial Day weekend during Sunday school time, we travel to St Luke’s cemetery to honor the veterans who died to win and preserve our freedom. During this time we have a short worship service and the children place a red carnation on the graves of the veterans.

Confirmation is the culmination of Parent’s promises on your behalf at Baptism

In Christian love you have presented these children for Holy Baptism. You should, therefore, faithfully bring them to the services of God’s house, and teach them the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments. As they grow in years, you should place in their hands the Holy Scriptures and provide for their instruction in the Christian faith, that, living in the covenant of their Baptism and in communion with the Church, they may lead godly lives until the day of Jesus Christ. (Lutheran Book of Worship)

The confirmation program at St. Luke’s Church is a two year program where the goal is for a student to be able to formulate and articulate their faith. They do this through a sundry of ways by:

Studying the catechism of the Church. Learning the Creeds, Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, the blessed and Holy Sacraments. They will learn about the three major world religions and the differences. They also learn the books of the Bible and about God’s love written on each one of the pages! Engaging their faith through weekly worship and serving in worship as acolytes, assisting the deacons in bell ringing or taking the weekly offering.

Confirmation students will learn to give expression to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by their participation in the “Summer Mission Week”. We partner with youth from local churches to serve “the least of these in our society”. We make bag lunches for the homeless Veterans, make breakfast for a senior center, help at Hope Rescue Mission, assist the Veterans Helping Veterans organization, do yard work for shut-ins, etc.

On top of all this there is even time for a trip to the ice cream parlor, and a trip t0 the local fast food places.

When the program is finished the newly confirmed brother or sister in Christ is prepared to live life as a faithful Christian and to serve his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!