 DID YOU KNOW St. Luke’s has a Care Team Ministry?
DID YOU KNOW this Ministry has been an active part of St. Luke’s for several decades? DID YOU KNOW we have supported hundreds of members since inception? WELL, WHETHER YOU KNEW IT OR NOT, let me tell you all about it! How did it all start? In 1991, Pastor Mary Dodgson established the Stephen Ministry Program with a couple of St. Luke’s members. This Ministry included the care of homebound members. The name for this Ministry was changed to the Care Team in 2005 by Pastor Linda Willette and our long-time member, Margaret Dahl. The purpose of the Care Team is to provide support to aging, homebound, and chronically ill members, along with others who request our care. How does this work and what do we do as Care Team Ministers? The Team meets every other month or so to address several topics: After an opening devotion, we talk about CARE for the CAREGIVERS, which is our Team. We share with each other our recent ups and downs in life, including our own prayer needs. This is a very personal and intimate time that bonds us together as we prepare to provide support to others. Rob maintains a list of recipients of the Ministry and their respective Caregiver. We make contact with our members and share in conversation and visits, if requested. During visits, there is conversation, prayer, and communion is served if requested by the member, distribution of applicable Care Notes (found in the Narthex), along with other opportunities to help out where needed. We update the Team regarding the wellbeing of each member, how we can assist them, and lift them up in prayer. We also spend time reviewing and praying for everyone on St. Luke’s prayer list and address additional matters as they arise. Why do we do this? BECAUSE WE CARE! The members appreciate the calls and visits for so many reasons: Friendship, support, a listening ear, loneliness, hearing about St. Luke’s, prayer, reflection and forgiveness before receiving communion, and just knowing someone CARES. These visits also fill the hearts of our Care Team Ministers as we establish these special relationships. And, as Rob said in one of his emails to our Team: Thank you for your care and concern for others. You are living examples of the truth, “God cares for people through other people.” If you, or someone you know, would appreciate calls and/or visits, please contact the Office. We will be happy to help. There are several women and men who participate in this Ministry but we are always looking for additional Care Team Ministers. Please contact Rob if you are interested. TAKE CARE! Laurie Blanchard
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CAMP WAPO VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL HS MISSION HS SAILING
Winter is here, but Summer is coming… 2025 Registration opens on January 15. St. Luke’s is a Member Congregation which includes guarantee registration until February 15. There are opportunities for all ages. St. Luke’s chooses a specific time for Children, Youth, and Grandparents. There are a number of opportunities throughout the year for all ages. Find more at lakewapo.org Camp Wapo is on Lake Wapogasset Lake and Bear Lake in Amery, Wisconsin is a special place to encounter God's word, make friends, create memories, and build faith that will last a lifetime. If you went to camp, share one of your fond memories in a comment below. 2025 Summer Camp Weeks: St. Luke’s Registration Link is: Youth (4th-8th) July 6-11 = $700 https://lwlbci.com/stlukes-blmt Seed Camp (1st-3rd) July 11-13 = $300 Grandparent Camp July 13-15 (up to the 18th) = $225, plus additional participant costs. 2025 St. Luke’s Vacation Bible School - June 23-26 Voted #1 Vacation Bible School by Bloomington Sun Current. Make your plans now to attend. Worship, Story Time, Crafts, Science, and Snack makes for a fun-faithfilled day. More details to come in the months ahead… 2025 High School Mission Trip to Kentucky July 19-27. Located in Eastern Kentucky, an area rich in natural resources, natural beauty, culture and musical talent. It is also an area in which extreme poverty exists along with a high rate of people receiving government assistance. We help the people who are the working poor and are not receiving government assistance. These families have enough to provide for their family on a daily basis, but not enough to repair a home that is falling apart around them. Information Session and Sign Up is on Sunday, February 2 at 11:15 AM in Fellowship Hall. Cost will be the same as camp = $700. High School Sailing Trip for the Classes of 2025 and 2026. Cost = $500. (Dates TBD by those interested.) High School Students will be leaving their harbors and sailing onto the next adventure in their lives. A wonderful time of reflection and preparing for their futures. The trip includes living together on a sailboat, making meals, learning how to sail, having morning devotions and the students lead evening devotions. Each claims a Bible Verse for the year ahead.  Andrea Griner, although born in South Carolina, is a true Minnesotan! She is a Moorhead State graduate and her favorite place to visit is Duluth! Her background is psychology, sociology and human development. She has spent the last 22 years at Mount Calvary Lutheran employed as the Director of Faith Formation and Family Ministry. She has designed multiple ministries, led tons of retreats and wrote more curriculum than she can record. Presently Andrea is teaching Middle School Art at Nativity of Mary in Bloomington, writing a monthly newsletter called Sacred Ordinary and doing retreat work at Lutherpark in Danbury, Wi. Andrea has been a national speaker and teacher and is a Certified Spiritual Director. She considers herself a "free spirit" when it comes to ministry and loves to "play" in the biblical story. She refers to herself as a storyteller, a creator of sacred space, a "wanna be" artist, and a deep listener. She loves reading, "art-ing", pasta, her family and her dog Dudley! She is delighted to be working in a congregation again as she believes there is no better story to tell than that of Jesus'. Andrea has a husband Lyle who used to work at St. Luke's, two bonus "sons", a lovely daughter-in-law, 4 grandchildren, two sisters, a great brother-in-law, 4 nephews and one niece.
Tuesday, January 7th
Consider giving blood as a last 2024 Christmas Gift, “ the gift of Life”: and a 2025 New Year’s Resolution Every day, blood donors help patients of all ages: accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer. In fact, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Click here to read a few of their stories. In just an hours time, YOU can help save up to three lives with a blood donation during St Luke’s Blood Drive on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm in Fellowship Hall. Click here to sign up (search by 55431 and January 7th). Or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). or alternatively to sign up for an appointment or for further information, contact Larry Nelson 612-599-5240 or [email protected] Join us this Sunday, December 22, to hear the Christmas Story in two different ways…
8:30 AM – Lessons and Carols 10 AM – Children's Christmas Pageant A Week from today, Tuesday, December 24 join in Celebrating Christmas Eve. Worship is at 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM, and 10:00 PM. Who will you invite? Last year we shared the history of lessons and carols. https://www.stlukesbloomington.org/blog/archives/12-2023 Below is the history of the Christmas Pageant. First, a thank you to all who gathered last Sunday, December 15 for St. Luke’s Lovefest to celebrate our past, understand our present, and learn how to help us grow into our future. Much thanks to the Community Life Team for providing breakfast along with Paul and Julie Klein’s cinnamon rolls. The morning was a success with Leah DeSchepper, Congregational President hosting. Paul Sundet, Congregational Treasurer shared St. Luke’s finances for this year and future projections. We had two people share their financial stories starting with Laura Thompson talking about Lutheran Social Services Debt Management Program, helping her get her finances under control. Mark Bergherr shared why he is leaving a legacy with St. Luke’s. This presentation, in a shorter version, will be available to view during our Budget Meetings on January 12 and 19, 2025. If have questions contact Leah DeSchepper, Congregational President: [email protected]. Thank you St. Luke’s! We are on our way to meeting the financial needs of 2024 and beyond. 29 people participated in the Post-It Note Promise which combined totaled over $15,000. There were financial gifts also given totaling over $10,000. All are invited to make a year end gift. Gifts need to be received by 4:30 PM, Tuesday, December 31 in the church office. By 11:59 PM if making a gift online www.stlukesbloomington.org follow the GIVE link bottom of the page. Mailed gifts need to have a postmark of December 31, 2025. The Reason for the Season will be shared by St. Luke’s Children’s Ministry 10:00 am Worship. Here’s the history… The Children’s Christmas pageant has been a long standing tradition in churches throughout the ages – big or small; rural, urban, or suburban; no matter the denomination or nondenominational. Recently on a talk show the host and actress both attributed the Children’s Christmas pageant to be his and her starting point in acting. It was wonderful to hear them reminince and compare their parts. Neither ever ascended to Mary or Joseph. Both giggled at being a sheep and king. I wonder if one of the children from St. Luke’s will have such a future? Here’s where it all began… The Gospel of Matthew’s Gospel and the Gospel of Luke provide the Christmas Story. The Gospel of Mark jumps right in with John the Baptist. The Gospel of John has his prologue where we read, “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness does not overcome it. And what Christian home does not have a Nativity Scene. (Our home has over 40 counting ornaments, and I have another handful in my office.) This tradition doesn’t come from Matthew or Luke, but from a book, “Protoevangelium of James” (meaning the “pre” Gospel of James, or sometimes called the Infancy Gospel of James). Its author claims to be James, usually understood to be the half-brother of Jesus (James is also found in the Gospel of Mark chapter 6 and Galatians chapter 1). The “Protoevangelium of James” was written about 145 A.D. Most modern biblical scholars do not believe it was written by James and the consensus is that it was written to satisfy the desires of early Christians to hear more detail about the birth and early years of Jesus’ life. It was overlooked when putting together the Bible. It starts with the Virgin Mary’s own conception and birth. Deacon John J. B. Silvia Jr.’s article of the Clergy Corner of Newport Daily News, December 16, 2016 wrote, “Joseph provides a first-hand description of time stopping as Jesus is born into our world. There is a bright cloud with brilliant light over Jesus at His birth. He describes angels, workers, shepherds, sheep, goats and birds all frozen in time while still in the air. Here we also find the donkey that Mary rides upon, the Magi, described as “Astute Men,” Herod’s slaughter of the innocents, and Joseph’s encounter with a midwife named Salome and a mountain that actually opens up to hide Mary and Jesus inside, in order to save them from Herod. The “Protoevangelium of James” is full of extraordinary, magnificent and supernatural descriptions that include stories starting with Joachim, Anna, Elizabeth, Zacharias and Mary’s conception, birth and early years. I believe that it was all of the gospel stories as well as the “Protoevangelium of James” that influenced a very holy deacon named Francis of Assisi. In 1223, St. Francis was visiting Grecio, Italy, to celebrate Christmas. The chapel was way too small to hold all the people for midnight Mass, so he found a rock outcropping near the center of town and there he set up the first living Christmas crèche. With permission from the church authorities, he prepared a manger, brought in hay, an ox and a donkey. There he assembled the people, sang psalms of praise, and in the words of St. Bonaventure: “… bathed in tears and radiant with joy, the Holy Gospel was chanted by Francis, the Levite of Christ.” The story continues: “A certain valiant and veracious soldier, Master John of Grecio, who, for the love of Christ ... affirmed that he beheld an infant marvelously beautiful, sleeping in the manger, whom the blessed Father Francis embraced with both his arms, as if he would awake him from sleep.” And these are the historical origins of the Nativity and how St. Francis began the tradition that has led up to our beautiful and moving Christmas pageants today. In the hustle and often hassle of the holiday season, may we focus and return to the real meaning and center of our Christmas celebrations, the humble birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The winner of the Christmas Quiz in the Blog on December 3 was Diane LaFontaine! Here’s the key: 1. false 15. E 2. A 16. D 3. F 17. C 4. false 18. C 5. false 19. B 6. true 20. Unknown 7. E 21. C 8. E 22. C 9. C 23. B 10. F 24. G 11. E 25. F 12. A 26. D 13. F 27. D 14. D 28. D Sunday, December 15th following both worships
St. Luke’s is a Welcoming and Growing Community of Faith, busy making Christ known to the World. You are called to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. We are in a strong financial position, but need to strengthen our giving. We have a projected $35,000 deficit, beyond our planned 2024 income. We have a bare bones budget, and need to grow giving to live out our mission. Goals for the Gatherings
If you have one, please bring your Monthly Giving Statement to the breakfast. If you are interested but cannot attend, please contact Leah DeSchepper, Congregational President. [email protected] / 952-412-3951 You still have time to get your answers in from last weeks quiz. Click here for the Christmas IQ Test.  from “Holiday Ideas” by Wayne Rice and Mike Yaconelli
How much do you really know about the Bible’s most popular story? During this time of hustle and bustle preparing for Christmas, take a moment to better understand the events surrounding Jesus’ birth. Answers will be shared in next week’s blog, December 10. For those who would like to, send your answers to [email protected] by Monday, December 9. (No Cheating – that would be awful considering the topic of the quiz.) If you have an additional question or questions to contribute, please add it in the comments. Enjoy! 1. As long as Christmas has been celebrated, it has been on December 25th. (True or False) 2. Joseph was from: A. Bethlehem B. Jerusalem C. Nazareth D. Egypt E. Minnesota F. None of the Above 3. How did Mary & Joseph travel to Bethlehem? A. Camel B. Donkey C. Walked D. Volkswagen E. Joseph walked, Mary rode a donkey F. Who knows? 4. Mary & Joseph were married when Mary became Pregnant. (True or False) 5. Mary & Joseph were married when Jesus was born. (True or False) 6. Mary was a virgin when she delivered Jesus. (True or False) 7. What did the innkeeper tell Mary & Joseph? A. Come back after the Christmas rush and I should have some vacancies. B. I have a stable you can use. C. There is no room at the inn. D. Both B & C E. None of the above 8. Jesus was delivered in: A. Stable B. Manger C. Cave D. Barn E. Unknown 9. A “manger” is: A. A stable for domestic animals B. Wooden hay storage bin C. Feeding trough D. Barn 10. Which animals does the Bible say were present at Jesus’ birth? A. Cows, sheep & goats B. Cows, donkeys, sheep C. Sheep & goats D. Misc. barnyard animals E. Lions, tigers, elephants F. None of the above 11. Who saw the “star in the East?” A. Shepherds B. Mary & Joseph C. Three Kings D. Both A & C E. None of the above 12. How many angels spoke to the shepherds? A. One B. Three C. A “Multitude” D. None of the above 13. What “sign” did the angels tell the shepherds to look for? A. This way to Baby Jesus B. A star over Bethlehem C. A baby that doesn’t cry D. A house with a Christmas tree E. A baby in a stable F. None of the above 14. What did the angels sing? A. “Joy to the World” B. “Alleluia” C. “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” D. “Glory to God in the highest…” E. “Glory to the Newborn King” F. “My Sweet Lord” 15. What is a “Heavenly Host?” A. Angel at the gate to heaven B. Angel who invites people to heaven C. Angel who serves refreshments in heaven D. An angel choir E. An angel army F. None of the Above 16. There was snow that first Christmas: A. Only in Bethlehem B. All over Israel C. Nowhere in Israel D. Somewhere in Israel E. Mary & Joseph only dreamed of a white Christmas 17. The baby Jesus cried: A. When the doctor slapped him on his behind B. Just like other babies cried C. When the little drummer boy started banging on his drum. D. He never cried. 18. What is Frankincense? A. A precious metal B. A precious fabric C. A precious perfume D. An eastern monster story E. None of the above 19. What is Myrrh? A. An easily shaped metal B. A spice for burying people C. A drink D. After-shave lotion E. None of the above 20. How many wise men came to see Jesus? 21. What does “wise men” refer to? A. Men of the educated class B. They were eastern kings C. They were astrologers D. They were smart enough to follow the star E. They were “sages” 22. The wise men found Jesus in a: A. Manger B. Stable C. House D. Holiday Inn E. Good Mood 23. The wise men stopped in Jerusalem: A. To inform Herod about Jesus B. To find out where Jesus was C. To ask about the star they saw D. For gas E. To buy presents for Jesus 24. Where do we find the Christmas story in order to check up on all these ridiculous questions? A. Matthew B. Mark C. Luke D. John E. All the above F. Only A & B G. Only A & C H. Only A, B & C I. Only X, Y & Z J. Aesops Fables 25. When Joseph & Mary found out that Mary was pregnant with Jesus, what happened? A. They got married. B. Joseph wanted to break the engagement C. Mary left town for 3 months D. An Angel told them to go to Bethlehem E. A & D F. B & C 26. Who told Mary & Joseph to go to Bethlehem? A. The Angel B. Mary’s mother C. Herod D. Caesar Augustus E. Alexander the Great F. No one told them to go 27. Joseph took the baby to Egypt: A. To show him the pyramids B. To teach him the wisdom of the Pharaohs C. To put him in a basket in the reeds by the river D. Because he dreamed about it E. To be taxed F. Joseph did not take Jesus to Egypt G. None of the above 27. I think this test was: A. Super B. Great C. Fantastic D. All of the above Blessings to you and yours this Christmas Season…  Thanksgiving Eve Worship – Wednesday, November 27 at 7 PM
Dessert Reception follows… As you prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving Day hopefully with family around the table, join your church family for a wonderful worship on Thanksgiving Eve. Heather Kambeitz, St. Luke’s Minister of Finance, after hearing the faith stories of Pastor Steve Olson, Seminary Student Tim Krieg, and members Mark Roberts and Mollee Erickson, she felt God was calling her to share hers. Hope you are able to attend. It will also be live-streamed and recorded. Celebrating Advent – Reading through the Gospel of Luke Advent is the start of a new church year. It is a time of preparing our hearts to welcome the Child born to us on Christmas Morn, Jesus, The Messiah, Savior, and Lord. Many people countdown to Christmas using an Advent Calendar that has 24 windows. Starting on December 1st until Christmas Eve, December 24, you open a window each day that shows a Christmas Symbol or sometimes there is a piece of chocolate. (As the joke goes – “According to my Chocolate Advent Calendar Christmas is only 3 days away, based on the number of chocolates remaining.”). The Gospel of Luke, which has 24 chapters, can be your Advent Calendar. Read the full story of Jesus according to the writer of the Gospel of Luke, by reading a chapter a day from December 1 to December 24, Christmas Eve. As a congregation we will be starting our Church New Year’s Resolution, reading through the Gospel of Luke starting this Sunday, December 1 through Sunday, May 4. If you attend Sunday worships, Wednesday worships during Lent, and Holy Week, you will hear a majority of the Gospel of Luke. There is a worship reading plan, with (the verses not being read during worship in parentheses). If you use this plan and attend worship each week, there is no additional reading until the week of January 12, 2025. The Gospel of Luke Reading Plan will be available in the Office, at the Information Desk, and on the website. For the online worship reading plan follow the LINK. May the Lord Bless you and yours this Thanksgiving Day, Advent Season, and throughout the Church New Year. In Christ, Rob Like many people, I am not always in position to contribute financially – I am always looking for other ways to contribute.
Most of you have heard me talk about the RaiseRight fundraising program or you have seen me selling gift cards in the Narthex. I heard about RaiseRight program about 10 years ago. RaiseRight is a program widely used by schools, churches and other organizations for fundraising purposes. The church receives a rebate for all physical and electronic cards purchased and all additional funds applied to reloadable cards. There are hundreds of stores/vendors that offer gift cards with rebates ranging from 1.5% for Visa to 16% or more (Applebees ecard was 18% for a couple of days last week). We kicked off the program in November 2020 and 7 SLLC families are actively participating at this time. St. Luke’s earned over $2000 in 2021, $1659 in 2022, $1570 in 2023 and over $1200 in net proceeds though the end of November 18, 2024. As you can see, this is a downward trend. I’d like to see our participation increase substantially, as these funds are put toward our Missions partners. If you already bank or use Venmo, Velle or Paypal on your phone, you are already comfortable with using apps to conduct transactions. So why not use the RaiseRight app when shopping, and earn some money for St. Luke's? Example of how I use RaiseRight: I regularly shop at Cub Foods. Cub offers a reloadable card through RaiseRight, so after receiving the physical gift card from RaiseRight, I have continued to add funds to the card via RaiseRight’s RaiseRight App on my cell phone. Funds can usually be added to cards in $10 increments. Cub offers a 4% rebate, so St. Luke’s receives $4 for every $100 added onto my Cub card. From January, 2024 to end of November 18, 2024, St. Luke’s has received $125 in rebates just from purchases that I made on my Cub gift card. I also use RaiseRight cards when shopping at Target (2.5%), Walmart (2.5%), Applebees (8%), Land’s End (14%), Home Depot (4%), Children’s Place (12%), Menards (3%), Taco Bell (5%) and Scheels (8%). I love that I can contribute to St. Luke’s coffers while stocking my cupboards and filling my belly. As a bonus, Cub is offering 6% back through Saturday, November 23. Raise Days are November 21-22 and bonus rebates will be offered on ecards and card reloads for hundreds of brands. Pros of program: It is so convenient to shop with the RaiseRight app on a phone or device. It is the easiest way to participate, and it raises the most money for the church since there is no postage fee attached. Reloadable gift cards are available. If you have a child, grandchild or friend who does not live near you, electronic gift cards are available and can be emailed to friends or families. They have added a new program where you earn additional rebates when you shop online. When you purchase an ecard or reload a gift card on your phone, the funds are delivered immediately. You can fill your shopping cart and add only the funds that you need to purchase the items in your cart – you don’t have to carry around a physical gift card until the next time you shop at a particular store. RaiseRight offers daily bonus specials – with vendors offering higher rebates for a limited time. There is always a selection of vendors offering bonus rebates. No activation fee – it often costs $5-$7 to activate a gift Visa card when purchased at local store such as Walgreen’s, Cub, Walmart or a gas station. Cost to user: Value of the gift card. Shipping of physical gift cards to home (cost depends on weight/number of cards in envelope) Service fee – ACH only 29 cents per transaction Credit card purchase – purchaser pay cc service fee (approx. 2.6%) Cons: Not all gift cards are reloadable. Not all gift cards can be shipped to your home; some are required to be shipped to coordinator. This is determined by the card vendor. (In the Home Improvement category - 14 stores offer physical gift cards, but only 7 stores offer the Ship to Home option). Cost to ship cards to coordinator - $11.00 per shipment – we need to have a quantity of cards to justify the cost since the shipping costs for cards sent to the coordinator is charged to the church. Shipping time - Physical cards can take anywhere from 3-7 days; maybe more - especially during Holiday season. If I place an order on Monday for cards that need to be shipped to the coordinator, I usually receive cards by Friday. People who are interested – send me an email at [email protected]. I will try to be available during WNL and between services on Sunday for the next couple of weeks to answer your questions, but you can contact me any time. I will respond two emails. One with details of the program; the other with St. Luke’s registration code. Please closely read the email with details of the program! I’m excited about the RaiseRight program and the fundraising opportunities it offers.  It is with a very heavy heart to announce that I am taking a step back from my position as the Director of Children and Family Ministries here at St. Luke’s. This has been such an awarding position for me, and I am forever grateful for my time that I have spent here. Know this was not an easy decision for me, as my time here has been filled with so much joy, growth, and connection’s.
As I reflect on the last three years, I am incredibly grateful for the relationships I have bult, the families I have had the privilege of supporting, and especially all the wonderful children. This community and the friendships I have made will always be close to my heart. I have also made some amazing memories as well including going on my first ever sailing trip, being a part of the handbell choir, working alongside some amazing people including Pastor Rob, who also officiated my wedding last year, and most importantly being able to see God’s love in action through our ministries. I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to the entire church staff, the volunteers, and the families for this wonderful opportunity. Your support and dedication have made my role truly fulfilling. It has been a joy to partner with each of you in our mission to guide our children and families in their spiritual journeys. In my remaining time here, I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition, and I want to make this as seamless as possible. My last Sunday in my position will be on Sunday, November 24th. Please know that while I may be stepping away from my position, I am not leaving. I have found my home here at St. Luke’s and I am excited to continue to be a part of the St. Luke’s Family. Thank you, St. Luke’s, for your support, your love, and the cherished memories. With love and blessings, Emily Hendricks |