 October is upon us, and so is the unofficial ‘eating season” that kicks off with Halloween, and sort of ends with a wrapped box of chocolates in a heart shaped box in the middle of February. Or it could end with a basket of candy delivered by the Easter Bunny.
Does it ever really end? We seem to live from one eating experience to the next – Halloween; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Valentine’s Day; Easter; Memorial Day and 4th of July cookouts. We commemorate birthdays, weddings, first dates, friendship, and funerals all with food. Hey guys, “I’ve got the grill fired up”, or “the coals are ready”, or “it’s a perfect night to roast marshmallows and hot dogs over the fire”, or “I’m not really hungry, but I just have to have something sweet”, are all common phrases in the lexicon of our lives. The list is endless. It shows in our grocery bill. It shows in my closet (does anyone one else have multiple sizes of thin clothes as opposed to current clothes?) It shows in our love for cooking and the rich heritage of family recipes and church cookbooks. I think it is well established that we like to eat. Offer food, and they will come. At St. Luke’s, we don’t just like to feed ourselves, but we like to feed others. Others who may not be able to feed themselves. We have such a love for others, and what better way to show that we love someone than to feed them? (Jesus had a better way, but we work with the tools we are given.) Did you know that eating is mentioned over 1200 times in the Bible? Eating is so fundamental; it is part of our tradition through the holy sacrament of Communion. At St. Luke’s we help those with food insecurity through our monetary and physical gifts (both with items and in terms of volunteering). We give to: VEAP, Loaves and Fishes, Meals on Wheels, Oasis, Fisher House, Feed My Starving Children and the Sandwich Project. I’m sure there are other projects that I have missed, but I believe this illustrates our passion for feeding those who are hungry. Our October Mission is the Sandwich Project. St. Luke’s held its first sandwich making event in the spring of 2016 when we partnered with the community to make over 1100 sandwiches for The Sandwich Project MN. That same year, on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, “The Sandwich Man” Alan Law joined us at St. Luke’s, and we made 100 sandwiches that were delivered that evening by the Love One Another organization. On Wednesday, October 16th, we will be making 400 sandwiches for the Groveland Food Shelf. That evening we will also be holding our Fall Festival and Cookout. Please join us at 5:30PM in the Fellowship Hall to make sandwiches, followed by a celebration of our wonderful St. Luke’s family by (of course) sharing a meal together. With a grateful heart, Bev Brosam Missions
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 As people of faith, from “In the beginning…” God calls us to care for God’s creation and God’s people. Thank you, St. Luke’s, for the number of ways we do so throughout the year and throughout our history.
Fun Challenge followed by a greater challenge. Fun: Please follow the comment link below trying to name as many of the missions as a congregation St. Luke’s support and has supported. Bonus question, which one speaks most to you. Your comments will be shared as a part of next week’s blog. Greater Challenge: One of the missions St. Luke’s supports is Lutheran Disaster Response (This can count of one of your answers.) Join me in making an additional gift toward the relief effort of… The situation: In late September, Hurricane Helene hit the coast of Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, dropping heavy rains on the southeastern United States and leaving millions of people without power. As the storm has moved inland, it has caused dangerous flooding and landslides, as well as downed trees and power lines. Our response: Lutheran Disaster Response collaborates with its partners to provide immediate relief, such as water, food, clothing, gift cards, tarps, and other needs. Since many hurricanes also require a long-term response, Lutheran Disaster Response provides support on the long road to recovery with disaster case management, construction management, attention to unmet needs, and emotional and spiritual care. What you can do: Pray Please pray for the safety of communities impacted by hurricanes, including people in their paths and any emergency services personnel who are responding. May God’s healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need. Pray that God will deliver comfort to those who mourn and strength to those working diligently to rescue survivors. Give Your gifts will support disaster-impacted communities. Gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response equip us to respond to those affected by hurricanes and related disasters, such as mudslides, severe storms and flooding. These gifts also empower us to respond to disasters whenever and wherever they strike. Gifts to “Hurricane Response" will be used in full (100%) to assist those affected by hurricanes, until the response is complete. To give by phone, call 800-638-3522. Checks or money orders can be mailed to: Lutheran Disaster Response P.O. Box 1809 Merrifield, VA 22116-8009 Share Spread the word to your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors…to give to Lutheran Disaster Response to make an even greater impact as it serves our neighbors on the long road to recovery. Connect To learn more about the situation and the ELCA’s response:
Thank you for your generous support to Lutheran Disaster Response and all the Missions St. Luke’s supports. I also look forward to reading your comments answering the Fun Challenge: Name as many of the missions as a congregation St. Luke’s support and has supported. Bonus question, which one speaks most to you. Your comments will be shared as a part of next week’s blog. “I will show you a more excellent way…For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” – The Apostle Paul (1st Corinthians 12:31, 13:12-13)
The world has plenty of skepticism, despair, and hate, as followers of Jesus we are called to a greater good. Again, from Paul… “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) Biblical Transformation is a changed heart. I believe that is what is missing in our world today – hearts full of faith, hope, and love. How do you fill your heart with faith, hope, and love? It is easier said than done and is an ongoing process. First and foremost, it is not something you do by yourself. Jesus told us, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’ (Matthew 18:20) It is important for you to be in the presence of other followers of Jesus. Second, living a life of hope. We are not talking about rose-colored glasses mentality but looking for and seeing God at work in the world. As the Prophet Jeremiah declared, “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11). Third, Love. Read the verses between of what is not, and what is love, 1 Corinthians 13:1-11. Love never ends (vs. 13) for God is love. (1st John 4:8). St. Luke’s offers a number of opportunities to live in faith, hope, and love… Tomorrow we kick-off Wednesday Night Live. Where two or more are gathered – Enjoy a meal together from 5:30-6 PM. Suggested donation $3/person. $10/family. Children 5 and under are free. Plans for your welfare…a future with hope – Ministry opportunities for all ages. Pre-Schoolers and Parents, Elementary Age, Peer Ministry for Junior and Senior High students, and Adult Bible Study. As you gather with others, learning more about God’s Word, your life will be transformed. Experience the love of Christian community. I used the 1st Corinthians reading as the devotion for St. Luke’s Care Team on Monday morning. This is a group that goes to St. Luke’s home bound members, those who…” now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.” Face to face conversations are what help you be fully known. That is what it means to be church as we reach out, welcome, worship, serve, and grow together in Faith, Hope, and Love – making Christ known to one another and in doing so, the world. How does St. Luke’s help you live in Faith, Hope, and Love? Share it in the comments…  Mark your calendars! A dream team of enthusiastic church members and friends of the congregation are busy planning a festive indoor Holiday Market and Fine Arts Festival November 8th & 9th, 2024.
Vendors – Space available! We currently have a few spaces available for interested individuals/groups who would like to join us and sell their treasures. Please use this link to register your interest. Calling all Foodies – we are seeking food vendors of all persuasions to sell their yummy creations. Some examples are honey, maple syrup, candies, baked goods, preserved items. For those interested the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has online information. Simply google Minnesota Cottage Food Law Guidance or click here for more information. Help us spread the word by sharing this information with your family and friends. We look forward to seeing you in November! For questions, please contact Deb Krieg 712-799-3686 or [email protected] for more information. School has started, and we are getting back in the swing of things at church with Rally Sunday on Sept 15th to kick off the school year, and WNL starting on Sept 25th. We invite you to join us!
Rally Sunday is such a fun Sunday here at church. We will hear lots of beautiful music from the Choir and Jubilee. The children will be receiving a new bible or a bookmark. Pastor Rob will be back from his Sabbatical. And we are having an ice cream social in-between worship. What a better way to celebrate all these amazing things by enjoying some ice cream together. I still have my bibles that I received growing up from my home church in Edina. These are such a special thing to receive as a child and it’s something that you can keep using even as you get older and older. One of the bibles I received has my name engraved on the front cover. I hope the bibles we pass out to the children have the same impact that my bibles throughout the years had on me. We are lucky to have Barb Roberts who writes each child’s name in calligraphy in their bibles. Children at St. Luke’s will receive 6 bibles as they grow in years: baptism bible, preschool bible, Spark bible, Deep Blue Kids Bible, and Spark Study Bible. Once they are in high school, they will get to pick out an adult bible as well. WNL is a great time to share a meal together, and to grow together in Christ, while having fun of course! I look forward to fall starting every year because it’s my favorite season. I also feel like fall brings back a lot of routines and structure. Even if I am past my school age years, I keep getting that feeling when fall comes around. Routines keep us more balanced and more focused throughout the day. When I look around at these events, I just feel so amazed that church brought all these wonderful people together. We hope that you can join us for all the exciting upcoming activities and events to kick off the new year together. Sunday, September 8th
God trusted us to care for creation and all that is in it. The missions and property team invite you to by God’s hands this annual event. Opportunities after each worship will include: Mission – Love your neighbor Blessing Bags for Oasis. Quilt Squares for Bridging, Bundles of Love, and St. Joseph’s Property – Care for that which has been entrusted to us. Make it a Blue Jean Sunday! Bring work gloves! There will be a list of building items provided and we thank you for your continued service to our community. Participating during God’s Work, Our Hands is a wonderful way to thank the Yard Care Group that celebrates it every Tuesday.They meet at 9:00 AM. There is room for you as they move to fall clean up. shoveling/snow blowing in the winter. Signups will be available. It is hard to believe that I am entering my second year as your Choir Director. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed leading and directing this fine community of singers. It all started for me when we held our very first Greet, Meet and Treat one year ago. It was a chance to hear people’s thoughts on the role of the choir, how singing can enhance worship and their music preferences. The event also gave me a chance to spell out my vision and expectations for the choir and walk through what a typical rehearsal would look like.
Well, last year’s gathering went so well, we have decided to do it again. The congregation of St. Luke’s, returning choir members and prospective singers are all invited to attend the Greet, Meet and Treats session on Wednesday, September 4th at 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Here is what you can expect to hear, do, sing and eat: · Review what was discussed at last year’s event. · Hear the highlights of what the choir accomplished in the 2023-2024 program year. · Complete a survey asking for your preferences and opinions to help the choir and the Worship and Music Committee plan for the upcoming year. · Sing through the ELW Setting Two which we will begin using in worship this year. · Listen to the goals and expectations of the choir for the 2024-2025 program year. · Eat delicious treats prepared by my wife Mary and others. I cannot stress enough how this event is NOT just for returning choir members. It truly is a chance for the congregation to be a part of what the choir is, what it does and how it operates. And, it is an opportunity for anyone considering joining choir to learn more about this non-auditioned, volunteer, joy-filled, fun group. Here’s hoping to see you on September 4th. Blessings to all! Patrick Lair St. Luke’s Choir Director Sunday, August 25th
The earth and everything in it belong to the Lord. The world and all its people belong to him. Psalm 24:1 A new school year is right around the corner, and what better way to prepare than having Blessing of the Backpacks and Animals. Join us on Sunday, August 25th for our outdoor worship at 10am (weather permitting). Bring your fury friend and/or your backpack to receive a blessing. The fall is full of new opportunities, like starting a new school, or having a new teacher, or maybe starting a new job or settling into new routines after summer. Whatever this new season of life brings you know that God is always with you. I saw a saying recently that says you can’t control the wind, but you can adjust your sails. Meaning that you can’t control everything that happens in life, but you can control how you react to those events. God of all wisdom and knowledge bless and guide us through this new season of life. Join us Sunday, August 25 as we offering blessings for the start of the school year, for our pets and all creation. 8:30 AM – Worship in the Sanctuary 10:00 AM Worship outside welcoming our pets to join and receive a blessing. Let us extend our blessings to our neighbors by supporting VEAP, the Twin Cities’ largest food pantry, providing access to healthy foods (for both humans and pets), social services, and financial assistance. They also do a collection every year for school supplies. See the list below and prayerfully consider bringing a donation to share. Food Pantries list of most needed items:
School supplies most needed: (Please make sure all items are new.)
Traditional supplies requested:
For more information go to: VEAP.ORG  Have you ever wondered what it takes to run a successful Sunday worship at St. Luke’s, or any church for that matter? Well, there are many moving parts to that answer, and I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that we could honestly be here all day if we discussed them all. So, for the sake of this blog, I’m only going to talk about one. Luckily for all of you, I think it just so happens to be one of the most important elements. The volunteers.
First, we must realize that a church, while many things, is a community. A place of worship that is, by and large, run and organized by the people who attend it and call it their “home church”. Whether it’s an official staff job or a volunteer position, St. Luke’s and many other churches rely on people stepping forward to fill the positions and do the jobs that need to be done. On any given Sunday, all it would take is a quick glance around for you to see these people at work. Whether it’s the ushers, camera, sound, or video tech, communion assistants, or any of the other dozens of people volunteering their time to the church, they are all around you. These people are the backbone of the church, unified in one coherent goal: Make this Sunday morning run as smooth as possible. I’ve had the privilege of volunteering as video tech at St. Luke’s for the past seven years, and I can say from experience that we could always use “an extra set of hands”, or many, for that matter. Now, I am admittedly a little biased. We definitely need more video techs, but we also need more sound techs, more camera techs, more ushers, and more volunteers in general. Stewardship is a core value of Christianity, and it’s a lot more than just tithing, which is still important, don’t get me wrong. Stewardship, however, is also the giving of time and talent. God calls us all to be good stewards, each in our own way. For me, and hopefully a few of you out there reading this, it is volunteering as a video tech. For others it could be communion, it could be as an usher, maybe the choir, or something else entirely. I’m almost positive I’m not the first person to say something like this, and I know the emotions that can come with being asked to devote time to volunteering. It’s easy to say, “I just don’t have the time”, or “I wouldn’t even know where to start”, or “too much responsibility”. Which are all perfectly understandable responses to such an upfront proposal. But I urge all of you to consider what “being a good steward” looks like for you. Ask yourself, what has God called me to do here? What role has he set aside for me here? Maybe it’s in a volunteer position, maybe it’s not. But It’s important to note that it’s never a lifetime commitment, and no matter how much time you spend here, the value is immeasurable. So, whether you join as volunteer at St. Luke’s or not, (which I really hope you do), praying and asking yourself questions like these, in situations like these, can be helpful anywhere. Not just exclusively at St. Luke’s, but in any avenue in life. “Whenever I’m afraid I will trust in God.” – Psalm 56:3 God is good! Joy and Laughter, Singing and Dancing, Sharing stories of God’s guidance, wisdom, and peace are making memories and building faith not only in the children we are serving, but the St. Luke’s Students, Adults, and friends who are leading. Advent Lutheran and Trinity Lutheran on the Upper West Side of Manhattan are enjoying their first Vacation Bible Schools in years. Advent’s last vacation Bible school was when St. Luke’s and Prince of Peace in Roseville came to New York in 2019. Due to COVID they were unable to do it the following year, nor the years after. They are so excited to have us back this year. We are sleeping at Advent where we lead vacation Bible school. The mornings come early with the students waking up at 7:15 AM, packing away all their personal items and the air sleeping mattresses that members of both churches shared with us. That is followed by a continental breakfast and preview of the day. The children start arriving at 8:30 AM with VBS kicking off with opening worship at 9 AM. This is followed by a rotation of Art, Science, Bible Story, Games, and Snack. We end VBS with a closing worship with the final prayer being a prayer of thanks for a good day and saying a table grace as we end the day with a community lunch. After the children go home, the students and adult leaders review the day and plan the following day, including singing the songs for the next day. Thanks to the Cokesbury Music Videos we enjoy the worship songs karaoke style, including movements with all the songs. Then we can walk 9 blocks to Trinity Lutheran where we are able to take showers between 2-6 pm. The time constraint is due to the church hosting, Trinity Place Shelter, where the homeless can get a meal, shower, and a place to sleep for the night. We will be serving with them on Thursday after VBS, preparing the meal and joining them at their table. On Friday we will be serving with Advent’s Food program. They rotate a food pantry with a hot meal every other Saturday. This coming Saturday we will be serving the meal before we go out for our last evening adventure. Yes, we are working hard, but we are also playing hard exploring the city. We’ve enjoyed the subways, which took us to Brooklyn going under the East River, so we could walk back to Manhattan across the Brooklyn Bridge. Yesterday we went to The EDGE, the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. One of the students in a statement of fear and trust said, “If this building were to collapse my first question to God would be, “Why did you make me fall so far, when I was already so close to you.” Thank you, St. Luke’s and the St. Luke’s Foundation, for helping make this mission trip a possibility. Students and friends are already excited for the future summer mission trip rotations, as we will continue with Good Neighbors, a habitat organization in Kentucky that former member Jason Benedict leads. I understand that was a long-time tradition for St. Luke’s. Although geared toward youth, adults are invited to join us. As for VBS in NYC five years from now, 2029, we hope we will have to find some new churches. The leaders of Advent and Trinity are making plans to have a vacation Bible school next summer. If so, mission accomplished, as we live out the Great Commission. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations…” These churches will be doing likewise, knowing that - Whenever their afraid, they just need to put their trust in God. Look forward to more stories of our mission and adventure, later this fall. Thank you for your prayers, know that you are in ours.
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