EGO is an organization St. Luke's follows closely. Please see the following newsletter and offer them prayers as they navigate challenging conditions in Haiti.​

"May God protect and guide our Missions partners at Ebenezer Glenn Orphanage in Haiti as they have had to abandon their compound and possessions and flea for safety from warring gangs. Give comfort to the children and staff of EGO as they look for an encampment where they will not just live but thrive. Please flood Haiti with the Holy Spirit and bring peace." -  Bev Brosam

​“A Child Will Lead Us” is the overarching theme this summer.
All of our readings come from St. Luke’s Vacation Bible School, Camp Wapo, and the Youth Mission Trip to the BWCA.
This Sunday we complete Camp Wapo’s 6-Week Series on Wonder. Their theme verse is Matthew 19:26b: "With God all things are possible."
Every week we looked at God’s Wonder:
Week 1: Wonder of Curiosity - June 28
Week 2: Wonder of Mystery - July 5
Week 3: Wonder of Identity - July 12
Week 4: Wonder of Possibility - July 19
Week 5: Wonder of Community - July 26
(Recorded Worship or Message only are available on our Youtube.com/stlukesbloomington page.)
 
This week we will look at…
Week 6: Wonder of Calling - August 2
 
In the Bible, a "wonder" — is often paired with a "sign" — it refers to something that transcends the natural order and points us straight to God's majesty, power, and presence. Biblical wonders are never performed for entertainment or spectacle. They do three things: they reveal who God is, they invite us out of our mundane routines and into faith, and they authenticate God's messengers — such as Moses, Jesus, the disciples, the Apostle Paul, I would argue God’s wonder is in every believer, including you.
So, let me ask you: are you willing to take time to wonder? To be curious about the world, yourself and others? Or do you suffer from the sin of certainty? Things are the way they are…
I am grateful to be at St. Luke’s where we wonder. As members we see God revealed in our community and the world. We answer the call and invite others to join us. We authenticate the call by doing service for God and not for ourselves. If you do anything out of obligation, in order to receive accolades, or worse to view yourself as better than others, you are not doing so for God.
St. Luke’s is Called to Serve: https://www.stlukesbloomington.org/service-opportunities-in-the-community.html
We do so in the community: American Red Cross, Bridging, Exodus Lending, Fisher House, Lift Garage, Loaves and Fishes, Lutheran Social Services, Meals on Wheels, The Sandwich Project, and VEAP
In the world: Ebenezeer Glenn Orphanage in Haiti, Feed My Starving Children, Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services), and Lutheran Disaster Response.
As a congregation we partner with these organizations to sharing God’s Wonder of caring, healing, reconciliation, and restoration.
August 8-15, high school students with adults will be going to the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness. (BWCAW). Our initial plan is to do some site and trail maintenance around Trout Lake. If the area is not available to us due to the wildfires the Forest Service will have a Plan B for us.
It is fitting that this week we will be living out the overarching scripture, “A Child Will Lead Us.” We will have a special speaker, one of St. Luke’s Youth, who will share God’s Wonders in her life.
And I know there is so much more we are doing as a church and individual members of it. I would love to hear yours in the comments.
As you go out into the world, live out God’s Wonder of Calling…
May you have the courage to show up.
May you carry what you have learned.
May you live with purpose and care.
And may you know that God is with you in it all. Amen.

There are children at St. Luke’s at least 6 out of 7 days a week.

St. Luke’s has Children’s Church every Sunday at both worships 8:30 and 10 AM. During the school year on during Wednesday Church Night there are 3 or 4 opportunities for specific age groups: Preschoolers and Parents, Children’s Ministry (Kindergarten - 2nd grade), Upper Elementary Ministry (3rd-5th grade), and Youth Ministry (6th-12th grade). During Vacation Bible School Preschoolers through High School age students fill St. Luke’s.

St. Luke’s Preschool meets during the school year from 9 AM - Noon, Monday - Friday. Not all the students attend every day, so although we are limited to 20 students/day, more than 20 students can be in Preschool.

A number of years ago, St. Luke’s opened its doors to Learning Tree Development Center, a childcare center that was located at Normandale College, but due to renovations, their space was eliminated. St. Luke’s Education Wing had open classrooms during the day, so now up to 38 children, infant through preschool age fill them year-round.

A fun God moment is when the former St. Luke’s Preschool Director retired, it was difficult to find a replacement. Learning Tree’s owner Barb Watson agreed to be the interim director for St. Luke’s Preschool. This created a beautiful relationship which benefitted both programs.

One of the difficulties families faced who wanted to send a child to St. Luke’s Preschool was the time frame, 9 AM - Noon. With the relationship with Learning Tree, now families can bring St. Luke’s Preschool students early and/or stay late making a seamless transition between pre and post care with Learning Tree.

The demand for childcare is increasing with Learning Tree having a waiting list. St. Luke’s North Star Cinema is no longer being used, with some of the seating in need of repair. The hope is that this summer the Cinema can be converted back to a classroom allowing even more children to come.

Current need is to find a crew of people who are interested in helping transform the space for use this Fall. If you are interested, please contact:

Pastor Rob Norris-Weber ([email protected]) or Director Barb Watson ([email protected]).

Jesus continued, “…and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” - Matthew 14:9

​St. Luke’s Collection until Tuesday, July 28, 2026
​
St. Luke’s Summer Worship Series is “A Child will lead us.” Isaiah 11:6

This is not only Biblical, but Social. Children today will be our leaders tomorrow. It is important to care for and equip them so they will be able to do so.  

Thousands of students in the Bloomington, Richfield, and Edina school districts need help filling their backpacks this fall. St. Luke’s is supporting VEAP to help students’ academic success by making sure they have all the supplies they need for the year. VEAP distributes the supplies to the school districts with our support along with other local faith communities, businesses, and partners.

It takes a village. Every Child is Our Child.

What supplies are most needed?

Backpacks, scientific calculators, and wireless headphones/earbuds are high-demand items and the most impactful as they’re the most expensive for families to purchase on their own. If you are able, please consider making these a focus of your donations. Traditional supplies like spiral notebooks, crayons, and washable markers are needed as well. Please make sure all items are new. There is no need to organize your supplies. We sort and deliver right to the districts for distribution.

You can drop-off Backpacks, School Supplies along with nonperishable foods and household/personal items in the St. Luke’s VEAP bin by Worship Door C. Supplies can also be dropped off at VEAP’s door 4, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and Friday from 9:00 a.m.–noon. In order to ensure timely delivery to the school districts, please drop off your donations at church by Tuesday, July 28 or directly at VEAP by Friday, July 31. Items received after that day may be used to directly support families with young children in our Social Services department. VEAP also has an Amazon wish list so you can purchase the items and have them shipped directly to VEAP.

  When a humanitarian crisis happens anywhere in the world, it gives me comfort to know that
Lutheran organizations will be there to share the hope, care, and love of Jesus.

On June 24, two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela within seconds of each other — a
magnitude 7.2 followed by a magnitude 7.5. It was the strongest earthquake to affect our
global neighbors in more than a century.

The most heart-wrenching impacts are centered in Caracas and La Guaira, where more than
100 buildings have collapsed. Brave search-and-rescue operations are working tirelessly in the
hardest-hit areas, and the full extent of casualties is still emerging.

As followers of Christ, we know that when our neighbors suffer, our faith calls us to respond
with God’s love and compassion.

St. Luke’s is part of the ELCA, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. As members of St. Luke’s
we have a presence much thanks to two organizations:

Currently, Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) is responding through trusted, long-standing partners in
Venezuela, including the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Venezuela
(IELV). ELCA partners have deployed assessment teams to affected areas, working together to identify urgent needs, provide immediate relief (e.g. food, shelter, water) and coordinate a plan for long-term assistance.

Since 1973, LDR has remained grounded in their mission to share God’s hope, healing and renewal with people impacted by disasters. They recognize that every disaster is local and that community leaders and organizations are best equipped to address needs following a disaster. They accompany partners worldwide across the disaster cycle—response, recovery, mitigation and preparedness—providing financial support, technical assistance, advocacy and networking. This work is relational: they stand with communities, congregations, and synods, social ministry partners, community-based organizations, tribal nations, companion churches and ecumenical partners.

Through the faithful work of network partners, the Community of Practice, LDR is trusted and dependable. They work with everyone and stay as long as needed, often for years. Key work includes providing emotional and spiritual care for affected people and leaders who respond, assisting communities holistically to meet varied needs, promoting disaster risk reduction by helping communities mitigate impacts through stronger infrastructure and preparedness planning and providing long-term recovery by addressing unmet needs months or years after a disaster strikes.

Lutheran Disaster Response is requesting funds = GIVE NOW

In 1945, World War II left an estimated one-fifth of the world’s Lutherans homeless. Here in the United States,
Lutheran churches in at least 20 states mobilized to help in Europe through a new agency called Lutheran World Relief.

​Much has changed in 80 years. But in thousands of congregations, in millions of offerings and in uncounted prayers, U.S. Lutherans continue to support Lutheran World Relief’s work. Today they are in VENEZUELA due to the EARTHQUAKES: You can rush help to neighbors now.

LWR Emergency Response Team is already at work, coordinating with their network of local and regional partners in Venezuela. They are moving at the greatest speed to reach the families who need your help most.

Priority needs include:
Emergency medical care and trauma treatment
Safe water and sanitation services
Emergency shelter for families who cannot return to their homes
Food assistance and essential supplies

LWR will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.

Your gift does more than send relief. You remind survivors that they are never alone — that their faithful sisters and brothers around the world are praying for them and responding to their needs.

Thank you for being the hands and feet of Christ in a hurting world. Thank you for sharing your God-given spirit of love with neighbors in desperate need.

​Lutheran World Relief, TRIPLE YOUR DONATION TODAY = VENEZUELA RELIEF

​The theme at Camp Wapo this summer is “WONDER.”