The episTle - Amazon S3

[Pages:8]The Epistle

United Methodist Church

December 11, 2017 Volume 53 Number 6

480 S. Highland Memphis, TN 38111-4302

901.452.6262

Our wish for you is a season filled with the True Gifts of Christmas

Hope * Peace * Love * Joy

that come from the One who fills us with his spirit and brings salvation to all,

Jesus Christ - Emmanuel.

From all of us at St. Luke's UMC

Worship at St. Luke's

All are Welcome

December 17 One Service - 11:00am only

Holy Light Christmas Concert St. Luke's Chancel Choir

Wesley Bells & Brass Quintet

December 24 8:30 and 11:00am Worship

Luke 1:26-38 Rev. Jim McKinney

6:00pm Christmas Eve Candlelight/Communion Worship

Sunday School Classes For all ages - 9:30 a.m.

Fellowship in Hospitality Hall

10:30 a.m.

Contents:

- Forward in Faith

page 2

- Upcoming Events

page 3

- Ministry News

pages 4/5

- Congregational Care page 6

- Calendar

page 7

- Church information page 8

St. Luke's Staff Jim McKinney, Pastor Harry Colter, Pastoral Assistant Marcia Mittelstadt, Music Interim Wes Kirkpatrick, Organist Beth Ryan, Youth/Young Adults Megan Warren, Children &

Community Connections Amy Turman, Day School/PDO Amy Lee, Challengers David Day, CLC/Recreation Carla Taylor, Communications Heather Persellin-Deere, Special Events Tim Taylor, Facilities Vickey Hobbs, Finance

Mission Statement "We are becoming a faithful community of disciples striving to share the heart, mind, and hands of Jesus Christ with ALL people."

A Devotion from A Daily Advent Reader "Keep Watch for Peacemakers with Me" by Rev. Jennifer Bailey

"Mountains take my breath away. Emerging from the unseen depths of the Earth's darkness, they are both profoundly mysterious and majestic.

This spring, my husband and I took a belated honeymoon road trip through the mountains of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming in a small Kia SUV. Growing up a black child in flyover country, I learned to appreciate the bucolic beauty of corn stalks blowing in early autumn winds and the monotony of agricultural landscapes that stretched for miles.

There was something about the mountains I saw this spring that changed me. They seemed impenetrable yet at the same time delicate, fragile even. In the Christian tradition, we often use mountains as metaphors for personal trials or tribulations. However, in my thirty years of life, I have come to associate the metaphor of mountains not with personal challenges but systemic ones. The past five years have laid bare for the world to see just how deeply engrained the powers of white supremacy, misogyny, classism, and heterosexism are within the American project. These are mountains designed by privileged folks to be immovable.

Yet, geology teaches us that mountains do indeed move. Generally, it happens in one of two ways: through display of natural force like a volcanic eruption or earthquake or slowly over many years of erosion. When I think about the mountains of oppression my communities face, the former seems much more preferable than the latter. However, history reveals that more often than not progress is a process that often takes generations to be fully realized.

As we enter into the season of Advent with all of its longing and expectation, there is a question on my heart. How can I cultivate the resilience to withstand waiting, while doing the work to chip away at the mountains of oppression blocking the path to flourishing for my community?

I am reminded of the story of the children of Israel in Isaiah 64. In the text the people petition their God to tear open the heavens and descend so that that the mountains might quake and that the unexpected occur. However, the God they seek has hidden and become angry from them presumably because they have forgotten God's ways. The fourth verse reminds the reader that God works for those who wait on the divine.

There is something unsettling about the act of waiting when so much in our communities is urgent. Every day lives are lost as a result of violence that rolls down from the mountains of oppression like an avalanche. That is why in the midst of waiting, my prayer is to feel the mountains quake. When mountains quake, it reminds us that even the most imposing structure is vulnerable. When mountains quake, it shows us that change is possible. When mountains quake, death cannot have the final say. For it reveals that God is still present with us and has heard our cries."

While Rev. Bailey's devotional is beautifully written and terribly applicable in our very broken world, it really struck me from a Forward in Faith perspective and our anxiousness and/or reluctance to change. That eagerness to change without patience or the fear of change we harbor prevents us from stepping out ? those are systemic mountains in churches today. Taking Rev. Bailey's initial words and tweaking them - "How can we cultivate the resilience to withstand waiting, while doing the work to chip away at the mountains of stagnation and fear blocking the path to flourishing for my community and church? ...Megan

Devotional from: "A Daily Advent Reader "Keep Watch for Peacemakers with Me" Curated by Michael T. McCray & Claire Brown. Rev. Jennifer Bailey is the Founder and Executive Director of Faith Matters Network. An ordained itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, her writings have appeared in Sojourners, the Huffington Post, the Washington Post's Lily Blog, and On Being.

Need a stocking stuffer? Stickers are just $1.00

A St. Luke's t-shirt also makes a great Christmas gift. Christmas Special: 2 for $10 - contact Carla:

carla.taylor@ or look for the items in Hospitality Hall during fellowship time.

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Let's Go Christmas Caroling!

Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017 6:00pm

Meet in Hospitality Hall

All ages are welcome as we gather to spread some Christmas Cheer to our community and Homebound members.

Christmas Caroling Longest Night Service

Thursday, December 21 - 6:30pm, St. Luke's Chapel

For many people the approaching holidays are not a joyous time. As families gather, the pain of lost family members and friends is felt more sharply. Other losses of relationships, health or jobs cloud our minds. For some people it is the most depressing time of year. As the darkness grows around us, there is a battle waged in many people's lives.

During the Longest Night Service we will embrace and claim the darkness that is present both in the world and in our own lives. As people who are familiar with the darkness, we also know that we gather to be illumined by the light of the Christ Child this Christmas season.

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Children's News

YOUTH NEWS

Hello everyone! Here's what we have coming up: Fri. Dec. 15 - 5-10 p.m., Youth Progressive Dinner Sun., Dec. 17 - 9:30- Sunday School

No Evening Activities We will not have Youth Sunday School or Sunday Night Activities on Dec. 24 or Dec. 31. We will resume our normal schedule on January 7! Merry Christmas! Peace, Beth

YOUNG ADULTS

As always, please remember all of our students this school year. This week, we ask special prayers for Annie Mills & Chandler Pearce. If you would like to write them a note, Beth will be happy to get you their addresses!

There will be no Children's Sunday School on Dec. 24 or Dec. 31. Sunday morning worship will

remain as usual. A Christmas Eve candlelight and communion service

will be at 6:00pm on Sunday evening, Dec. 24.

Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We will begin 2018 with a General Meeting on Jan. 2, 11 a.m., Fellowship Hall. Pastor Jim will be sharing with us that day and we will install our new officers.

INVITE A FRIEND OR NEIGHBOR TO CHURCH THIS WEEK!

SAVE THE DATE Smorgasbord's Got Talent goes to Mardi Gras!

Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018 We will be looking for talent acts early in January

so get your act together over the holidays. All proceeds go to support youth activities.

WOW! WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

Dinner: 5:30 ? 6:15 pm, Fellowship Hall Call 452-6262 for reservations by Tuesday noon each week. Adults: $6, Children and students: $4, Family rate: $20

**Dec. 20: Catfish/French Fries/Hushpuppies/Slaw/Cake Bible Study: 6:15 pm, Lounge A study on the advent gospel lessons with Pastor Jim. Zumba: 6:35-7:35 pm, Gym $5 per session. Childcare can be available with prior arrangements through Coach David Day, 452-6262 Chancel Choir Rehearsal: 6:30 ? 8:00 pm,

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MUSIC NOTES

Thank you to the parents who shared their children with me during LIGHT Night this Fall. Without your support we would not have been able to present "Miracle at the Christmas Caf?". Your children are a joy and I pray they will continue their love of music, acting and most of all GOD. A HUGE THANK YOU to Carla Taylor for all that she did to assist me in this project. Without her, I would not have been able to accomplish this years goal of a Children's Christmas program. Megan Warren is also a gem and I am so thankful she too has a love for music and understands the importance music plays in a child's faith journey.

Below is the music schedule through January 14th. As you can see, we have not stopped with Christmas. The life of the church continues and music will continue to support that life. We hope you will seriously consider joining us in the New Year. If you have questions, do not hesitate to call or email.

Advent Music Schedule ? December 17, 2017 "Holy Light: A Service of Carols" by Robert Hobby will be presented as worship at 11AM. Holy Light is a complete service of carols and readings for Advent. The readings are by Susan Palo Cherwien. Chancel Choir, Wesley Bells, organ, piano and Brass Quintet will join forces to present this Service of Carols.

? December 20 & 27, 2017 NO CHOIR REHEARSAL

? December 24, 2017 8:30 and 11:00 Element is singing for both services. Chancel Choir leading hymns at 11

? December 24, 2017 6:00 pm Christmas Eve Communion Service, Chancel Choir singing

? December 31, 2017 8:30 and 11:00 Linda Hensley is singing for both services. Chancel Choir is leading worship in the loft at 11:00.

? January 3, 2017 6:30 PM Chancel Choir returns to regular rehearsal in the choir room. THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO JOIN THE CHOIR!!!

? January 7, 2018 8:30 and 11:00 Stephanie Ragsdale playing during Communion. Choir is singing at 11:00

? January 7, 2018 3:30 pm Hand Bells return to regular rehearsals in the Bell Room. NEW MEMBERS WELCOME!!!!

? January 14, 2018 Melanie Scarborough will be providing special music at the 8:30 and 11 AM services. Chancel Choir at 11:00.

Mark your calendars now and make sure you invite friends to worship. Members inviting friends to their church is the most effective way of Evangelism.

Contact me for more information about any of our music programs. Marcy marcia.mittelstadt@

Staff Parish Relations Committee Update The Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) recently made a difficult decision that affects St. Luke's staffing, as part of the larger effort to reduce operating expenses in line with giving. Four positions, the Children's, Youth/ Young Adult, Recreation, and Communications positions have been reduced to 30 hours per week. Paid nursery staffing during worship services has also been eliminated; the nursery will be staffed by volunteers on an as-needed basis. The committee was reluctant to make these changes, which affect not only the staff and their families, but also the church's ministries and the congregation as a whole. We value all of our staff, most of whom have been serving in their roles for many years. However, St. Luke's has been faced for several years with the inability to "live within our means", given the steady decline in church membership and giving. We believe it was appropriate to right-size the staff in line with the level of ministry activity that results from declining membership and revenues. Staffing expenses represent a significant portion of the annual operating budget, and must be funded from the church's annual giving, rather than from other savings and endowment accounts. The church is also faced with the need for increased financial support in other areas: expenses for security have increased significantly in the past year as the Trustees worked to keep the campus safer, and maintenance and repair of our aging facilities is an ongoing and major expense. The Book of Discipline charges the SPRC with, among other things, approving new positions, hiring, evaluating, promoting and dismissing staff. As the committee you elected and entrusted to carry out this charge, we have taken this effort seriously, meeting at least monthly over the past year and a half and working diligently in considering these matters. These actions are not irreversible, if our giving and membership increase. For now, however, the affected staff have been asked to evaluate their programs to determine what activities can be eliminated, reduced or performed by volunteers. The staff has been encouraged to gather the volunteer team that supports their ministry or activity to generate ideas. If you serve on one of these teams, we hope you will be an active participant in this effort to help ensure that all ministries stay relevant and vibrant in the months and years ahead. We realize that these decisions may cause some of the staff to look for other employment. We hope this doesn't happen, but we have to recognize the need of each individual to do what is best for themselves and their families. We hope you will keep each of them in your prayers as they move forward from this. We appreciate your support of the difficult decisions we have made. If you have any questions concerning this, please contact Pastor Jim McKinney, Roland Bullock, the incoming SPRC Chair, or me. Thank you, Cathy Bowsher

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Congregational Support

Sympathy to

the family of Barbara Ball who passed away on December 4.

Gifts received in memory:

Elton Watlington from Virginia Hathorn, Al & Barbara Simpson, Carrie Schwartz,

Rosa Burgett from Doey Barrar Chris & Lee Dukes, my loving parents from Doey Barrar Barbara Ball from Nancy Sartain, Charles & Betty Jordan, Vickey Hobbs,

Gifts received in honor:

David & Denise Hensley and Allan & Linda Hensley for Food Ministries. David & Denise Hensley from Mary Todd & Gene Green John Franklin from Doey Barrar

Mitten Tree Thank You

Thanks so much for your wonderful participation. Over 100 items (including gloves, mittens, hat, scarves, jackets, socks, underwear) were distributed to needy children at Sherwood. The tree is no longer there, but you still may leave items at the hospitality desk to be taken to the school.

Prayer Concerns of our St. Luke's Family

David Mills, Marty Cobb, Helen Boening, Dalton Al-Chokhachi, Leanne Olds, Sam McHugh, Rebecca Likens, Janet Yow and Brianna, Jack Cushing, Gavin Bell, Grover Bowles, Alice Roberts, Jack Cushing, Gil Herren, Danny Hobbs, Pam Santi, Akil Al-Chokhachi, Jim Burch, Jr., Vauneida Henton, Kathleen Gillespie, Shirley Gardener, Posey Smith Those dealing with cancer: Brenda Blackwell, Clay Eaves, Bob Dunham, Jennifer Cottam, Janell Smith, Kathy McAllen, Oma Strickland, Mrs. Vick, Don Day, Eugene Callaway Homebound Members: Louise Fairfax, Avis Foreman, Doris Eavenson, William Howick, Deloris Jones, Emma Lee Mauldin, Pat Murrell, Rose Owen Bishop Bill McAlilly, District Superintendent Deborah Smith Missionaries Eric and Liz Soard Our Schools, Teachers, and Students

To add, change or remove a prayer concern please contact Janie Hendrix by email: prayer.request@ or fill out a yellow prayer request card located in the sanctuary pew and place it in the offering plate during worship.

An Encouraging Word

"The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, and you're right in the middle of His love."

The radio broadcast of Sunday Worship on WREC 600 AM, 8:00am will end on December 31, 2017.

New CD Ministry to begin January 2018 The Sunday radio broadcast will end on Dec. 31, 2017. A CD ministry will take its place. A CD and bulletin of the worship service will be mailed each week to homebound members and others who request them. If you know of someone who would like to receive a CD recording of the worship service, please contact Carla Taylor.

After Sunday School be sure to join us in Hospitality Hall for fellowship and enjoy a fresh Gibson's donut and a cup of coffee.

Keep up with what's happening in the Memphis Conference by subscribing to the eNews. This weekly newsletter is delivered to your email inbox every Wednesday morning and has news about the many great things going on in our conference as well as news from the United Methodist News service. Sign up on the conference site: and clicking on "sign up for enews" in the upper menu bar.

Calendar Room Key MB-Main Building FH-Fellowship Hall HH - Hospitality Hall

CLC-Christian Life Center CB-Children's Building

This calendar is an abbreviated listing of activities. For a full listing of the most current calendar information visit our website:

google-calendar/ Facebook: St. Luke's UMC, Memphis

Instagram: stlukesmemphis Twitter: @stlukesmemphis

#480forMemphis

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St. Luke's Calendar

Wednesday, December 13 - Thursday, January 4, 2017

Wednesday December 13

6:30am ? 8:00am

Morning Basketball - CLC GYM

7:15am ? 8:00am

UMM Prayer Breakfast - Perkins

5:30pm ? 7:00pm

Wednesday Meal/Bible Study - FH/Lounge

6:30pm ? 8:00pm

Chancel Choir Rehearsal - Choir Room

6:35pm ? 7:35pm

Zumba - CLC Gym

7:40pm ? 9:10pm

Young Adult Basketball - CLC GYM

Thursday December 14

8:45am ? 9:45am

Sit & Be Fit - CLC Gym

9:30am ? 11:30am Day School Christmas Program/Reception

9:30am ? 12:00pm Food Pantry - CLC 108

10:00am ? 11:00am Al-anon prayer group - MB 213 (Newman)

12:00pm ? 4:00pm Craft Club - CLC, 103

5:45pm ? 7:15pm

Under 16 BB Practice- McCauley - CLC Gym

6:00pm ? 8:00pm

Young Adult Christmas Party - Lounge

7:15pm ? 10:15pm Fisher of Men - Gym

Friday December 15

6:30am ? 8:00am

Morning Basketball - CLC GYM

5:00pm ? 10:00pm Youth Progressive Dinner - Offsite

Saturday December 16

9:00am ? 6:00pm

ESCRA BASKETBALL - CLC GYM

12:00pm ? 3:00pm Christmas Music Rehearsal Sanctuary

2:00pm ? 4:00pm

Magnolia Meditation Group - MB 213 (Newman)

4:30pm ? 5:30pm

Saturday Supper - FH

Sunday December 17

8:00am ? 8:30am

Community Breakfast and Devotion - FH

9:30am ? 10:30am Sunday School

10:30am ? 11:00am Fellowship Time - Hospitality Hall

11:00am ? 12:00pm Worship-Holy Light Musical - Sanctuary

12:00pm - 1:00pm

Called Trustees Meeting - MB 211

1:00pm ? 4:00pm

Basketball Practices - CLC GYM

4:00pm ? 5:00pm

Young People basketball - CLC GYM

Monday December 18

9:00am ? 10:00am Sit & Be Fit - CLC Gym

5:30pm ? 7:30pm

Glad Helpers Prayer Group - Parlor

5:45pm ? 7:15pm

Basketball Morris/Geer - CLC/GYM

6:00pm ? 7:00pm

Finance Meeting - Library

7:00pm ? 9:00pm

Coin Club - Lounge

Tuesday December 19

6:30am ? 8:00am

Morning Basketball - CLC GYM

10:30am ? 12:00pm Mary Rachel Circle - Lounge

12:00pm ? 2:00pm Pickleball - CLC Gym

4:30pm ? 5:30pm

Girl Scouts - CLC 103

5:45pm ? 7:15pm

Under 10 BB Practice -Wofford - CLC Gym

6:00pm ? 7:00pm

Defender Captains Meeting - CLC 103

6:00pm ? 8:00pm

Christmas Caroling - HH

6:30pm ? 7:30pm

Cub Scouts - Chapel/CB 2nd Floor

7:00pm ? 8:45pm

Boy Scouts - Scout Hut

Wednesday December 20

6:30am ? 8:00am

Morning Basketball - CLC GYM

7:15am ? 8:00am

UMM Prayer Breakfast - FH

5:30pm ? 7:00pm

Wednesday Meal/Bible Study - FH/Lounge

6:30pm ? 8:00pm

Chancel Choir Rehearsal - Choir Room

6:35pm ? 7:35pm

Zumba - CLC Gym

7:40pm ? 9:10pm

Young Adult Basketball - CLC GYM

Thursday December 21

8:45am ? 9:45am

Sit & Be Fit - CLC Gym

9:00am ? 3:00pm

Youth Work Day

9:30am ? 12:00pm Food Pantry - CLC 108

10:00am ? 11:00am Al-anon prayer group - MB 213 (Newman)

Thursday, December 21, cont.

12:00pm ? 4:00pm Craft Club - CLC, 103

5:45pm ? 7:15pm

Basketball Practice- McCauley - CLC Gym

6:30pm ? 7:30pm

Longest Night Service - Chapel

7:15pm ? 10:15pm Fisher of Men - Gym

Friday December 22

6:30am ? 8:00am

Morning Basketball - CLC GYM

Saturday December 23

4:30pm ? 5:30pm

Saturday Supper - FH

Sunday December 24 Christmas Eve

8:00am ? 8:30am

Community Breakfast and Devotion - FH

8:30am ? 9:30am

Worship - Sanctuary

9:30am ? 10:30am Sunday School

10:30am ? 11:00am Fellowship Time - Hospitality Hall

11:00am ? 12:00pm Worship - Sanctuary

6:00pm ? 7:00pm

Christmas Eve Worship - Sanctuary

Monday December 25 Christmas Day

Church Closed

Tuesday December 26

Church Closed

Wednesday December 27

Church Closed

7:15am ? 8:00am

UMM Prayer Breakfast - Perkins on Park Ave.

Thursday December 28

Church Closed

Friday December 29

Church Closed

Saturday December 30

4:30pm ? 5:30pm

Saturday Supper - FH

Sunday December 31 New Year's Eve

8:00am ? 8:30am

Community Breakfast and Devotion - FH

9:30am ? 10:30am Sunday School

10:30am ? 11:00am Fellowship Time - Hospitality Hall

11:00am ? 12:00pm Worship - Sanctuary

Monday January 1 New Year's Day

Church Closed

Tuesday January 2

6:30am ? 8:00am

Morning Basketball - CLC GYM

12:00pm ? 2:00pm Pickleball - CLC Gym

4:30pm ? 5:30pm

Girl Scouts - CLC 103

5:45pm ? 7:15pm

Basketball Practice -Wofford - CLC Gym

6:00pm ? 7:30pm

Trustees Meeting - Lounge

6:30pm ? 7:30pm

Cub Scouts - Chapel/CB 2nd Floor

7:00pm ? 8:45pm

Boy Scouts - Scout Hut

Wednesday January 3

6:30am ? 8:00am

Morning Basketball - CLC GYM

7:15am ? 8:00am

UMM Prayer Breakfast - FH

6:30pm ? 8:00pm

Chancel Choir

7:40pm ? 9:10pm

Young Adult Basketball - CLC GYM

Thursday January 4

8:45am ? 9:45am

Sit & Be Fit - CLC Gym

9:30am ? 12:00pm Food Pantry - CLC 108

12:00pm ? 4:00pm Craft Club - CLC, 103

5:45pm ? 7:15pm

Under 16 BB Practice- McCauley - CLC Gym

6:00pm ? 8:00pm

Young Adult Dinner - 3rd Floor

6:30pm ? 7:30pm

Oak Ridge Neighborhood Assoc. - Lounge

7:15pm ? 10:15pm Fisher of Men - Gym

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The Epistle

St. Luke's United Methodist Church

480 So. Highland Street

Memphis, Tennessee 38111-4302

PERIODICALS POSTAGE PD MEMPHIS, TN

The EPISTLE (USPS #569-280) is published twice monthly POSTMASTER send address changes to: by ST. LUKE'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 480 So. Highland, Memphis TN 38111-4302.

COMMUNITY

We belong together. Everyone at St. Luke's is needed to equip our church for God's work in this community and the world. Thank you to everyone who has turned in pledge cards to support the ministries of St. Luke's for 2018. If you have not yet turned in a card please try to do so as soon as possible. We believe that we can reach our goals with the support of the St. Luke's family. Remember that every amount is priceless to God.

2018 Progress

NO. OF PLEDGES Goal: 140

Received: 115

TOTAL PLEDGES Goal: $625,000 Received: $591,295.68

CAN YOU HELP?

We are in need of volunteers to help at the Hospitality Desk during the week. The main responsibility is answering the phones. We have a security person here to help with visitors but they are not available to answer phones. The shifts run from 9:00am-12:30pm and 12:30-4:00pm each day Monday-Thursday. You can volunteer for one shift per month or more. Please contact Vickey Hobbs - 452-6262 or vickey. hobbs@

RECORD OF LOYALTY

Sunday School

12/03

148

12/10

163

Worship Attendance - December 3

Sunshine breakfast

87

8:30 Worship

41

11:00 worship

205

333

Worship Attendance - December 10

Sunshine breakfast

81

8:30 worship

37

11:00 worship

227

345

Gifts & Tithes Received December 3 December 10 (includes e-giving)

$19,172.00 $19,953.65

There are many ways that you can easily donate to St. Luke's ? eGiving - An automatic draft from your banking account each month. Contact Vickey Hobbs for more information and an eGiving form. ? Website - use the DONATE button on the top right corner of our website: to make a one time gift or set up a recurring gift. ? GivePlus Church app - download the app from the App store or Google Play for an easy way to make a one time gift or set up recurring gifts.

The next Epistle deadline is Tuesday, January 2, 2018, 9:00 a.m.

We are #480forMemphis

Use this hashtag on all of your social media posts if you tag St. Luke's. Look around the University neighborhood and snap a picture of something great and let the community know that St. Luke's is for Memphis and the University District.

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