Jesus said to them all, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. - Luke 9:23-24

What is your favorite part of Holy Week?

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday and ends with Easter morning - 
in between is The Cross.

Shouts of Hosanna to rejoicing Alleluia - in between while on The Cross Jesus speaks...

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
Luke 23:34

Verily, I say unto you today, thou shalt be with me in paradise.
Luke 23:43

Woman, behold thy son. (Says to disciple) Behold thy mother.
John 19:26-27

My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?
Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34

I thirst.
John 19:28

It is finished.
John 19:30

Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit.
Luke 23:46
 

• St. Luke's Cross Walk - Friday, April 2 at 6 PM
• This is one of my favorite parts of Holy Week, carrying the cross. Please join the processional. There are three crosses to carry in honor of the two who were crucified with Jesus. One of the others picked up his cross by asking Jesus to remember him. All ages welcome, with three different size crosses. Children's, Adult, and Large Cross We will start at the worship entrance, Door C. Dress for the weather. We will return in time for Good Friday worship at 7 PM.
• As they led Jesus away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. - Luke 23:26

"Worship the Lord with gladness, come into God's presence with singing." - Psalm 100:2

The psalmist was able to say this with no fear of passing on a virus, St. Luke's Covid Response Team has been working diligently to make sure church activities and worship are done in a safe and responsible manner. Our hearts go out to anyone who has had a family member or friend die from the virus. We are thankful that so many people are getting vaccinated.

For the past few months St. Luke's has been successfully holding in person worship while also live streaming. With the new variants emerging, we encourage you to be extra cautious. Please only attend if you feel comfortable and follow the guidelines.

• Only attend if you feel healthy
• Enter at Door C, main sanctuary doors.
• Wear your mask. (Worship leaders will continue to do so as well.)
• Stay socially distanced
• Sign In and allow the ushers to seat you
• All music is recorded.

Recently we added a second hour of worship returning to our 8:30 AM with hymns and 10 AM with praise music. Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 24 will be our final Wednesday Lent Worships - Service of the Word at 11 AM in person and live streamed, followed by lunch. Holden Evening Prayer 7 PM, recorded, available only online. God's presence is with you as you sing loudly at home.

Holy Week Worship will be in person and live streamed online:

• Palm Sunday, March 28 at 8:30 and 10 AM.
• Maundy Thursday, March 25, at 7 PM
• Good Friday, March 26, 11 AM (no lunch following) and 7 PM
  Carrying the Cross will happen at 6 PM, Gather outside the Front Doors at 6 PM (weather permitting)

Easter Sunday Worship - 3 Worship Times. Please Sign Up.
Registration is available for 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:45 AM.
Please click on link to register for Easter Worship. If you signed up at church, your name has already been added to the SignUpGenius. You can also call the office: 952-881-5801.

Registration will help us be prepared for all who would like to attend in person. The Fellowship Hall will be available for overflow seating. Know that 9:30 AM is the most popular time, thus as a member, prayerfully consider attending the 8:00 AM or 10:45 AM worship.
 
Communion will be shared on Maundy Thursday and Easter. If you would like to have the individual kit of wafer and grape juice, please stop by during office hours (Tuesday - Thursday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM) and pick up Communion Cups for yourself and to share with friends and neighbors. 

Thank you for your continued understanding and ongoing patience.

We welcome all questions, comments, suggestions, concerns, and prayers.

Your Brothers in Christ,

Al Buss, Member at Large Council Representative and Covid Taskforce Chair

Rob Norris-Weber, Pastor


Resources:

• St. Luke's In-House Worship Services Covid Protocol
• Complete St. Luke's Covid Protocol 
•  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/faith-based.html

​Dear Siblings in Christ-
 
"I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.  I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ."- Philippians 1:3-6
 
These words of the Apostle Paul to the church at Philippi speak to my heart, and communicate beautifully how I feel about the people of St. Luke's. I have prayed with joy with and for you all in the various forms that ministry has taken for me at St. Luke's. As the Minister of Faith Formation, Office Assistant, Deacon for Worship and Faith Formation and, most recently, as the Vicar, I have delighted in walking with you in ministry over the last three and a half years. 
 
I appreciate the support this congregation has offered me as I have sought to follow the call God has placed on my heart to pursue ordination to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament. This journey toward ordination is coming to an end, with the completion of my Internship on May 1st. And, so, as I move into seeking a pastoral call, my time with St. Luke's will also come to an end on that day. Be assured that the Council and Personnel Team are already working on a staffing plan, and that I am committed to helping bridge that transition in any way I can. 
 
I will continue to pray for you and ask the same of you, knowing that the good work we have begun together will never truly come to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. 
 
In Christ, 
Vicar Stephanie Luedtke
 

Most car accidents happen within five minutes or less of a driver’s home. Research concludes that there is a comfort zone associated with driving in your own neighborhood. Many drivers become lazy in practicing safe driving behaviors because they feel like they know the area so well. Drivers often also fail to wear their seat belts when they are driving close to home, especially if they are only going for short drives in their neighborhood, and use this as justification.

On Sunday it will have been 366 days since Minnesota started following Covid Protocols. I believe we are just a few months away from returning to what we would consider “normal” pre-pandemic church life. With being so close, we need to be even more diligent and to not relax, causing a setback.

​Most covid transmissions happen within your areas of comfort: home, family, friends, favorite restaurant and church. Research concludes that there is a comfort zone associated with the people and places you love. Many become lazy in practicing safe distancing behaviors because they feel like they know the people and places so well. People often also fail to wear their masks when they enter, especially if they are only going into the building for a short time, and use this as justification.

Soon and Very Soon we will be able to return to a more “normal” church life experience. It was so nice to see the Women’s Bible Study gathered in the Fire Side Room, socially distanced and masked, plus all had or would be receiving their vaccination this week. Soon and Very Soon.

​Note we will continue to live stream worship. There have been concerns that if we keep live streaming people won’t return. There have been concerns that if we stop live streaming people who are out of town, busy, or can’t get out of their pajamas, won’t be able to enjoy worship. Worship whenever and wherever is the best solution.

Thank you to all the members who have helped lead worship whether it was recorded, drive-in, live-streamed, and now in person socially distanced. A special thanks to our new camera crew. If you are interested in joining this team please contact Congregational President Paul Klein, Lead Camera Operator or contact the church office. Training is provided.

We have returned to our Sunday 8:30 AM, organ and hymn led worship, followed by our 10 AM, praise music worship. The sanctuary is being sanitized between the two worships. All in attendance will continue to be masked, including those leading worship. We will continue to use recorded music. Remember we are almost home!

Wednesday Lent Worship is at 11 AM in person and live streamed, followed by a bag lunch which you can enjoy socially distanced in Fellowship Hall or take back to work or home. Holden Evening Prayer is at 7 PM and will only be online so we can safely sing unmasked out loud at home.

For Easter we will have in person and live stream worship at 8 AM, 9:30 AM, and 10:45 AM. There will be a registration coming out in the weeks ahead so we are prepared for all who want to attend. Fellowship Hall will be set up for overflow.

This has been a long time – our wilderness experience. Thankfully it will not last 40 Years.

​Thank you for your continued understanding and ongoing patience.

We welcome all questions, comments, suggestions, concerns, and prayers

Your Brothers in Christ,

Al Buss, Member at Large Council Representative and Covid Taskforce Chair
and Rob Norris-Weber, Pastor
​
Resources:

• St. Luke’s In-House Worship Services Covid Protocol
• Complete St. Luke's Covid Protocol 
• ​ https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/faith-based.html

​I am sharing a recent message from the CEO of VEAP: 
With warmer days ahead of us, VEAP is pleased to officially kick off our annual springtime March Food and Funds Drive!
This statewide campaign, convened by Minnesota FoodShare, is the largest grassroots food and fund drive in the state, bringing together community organizations, businesses, and faith communities to help stock nearly 300 food shelves.
VEAP is grateful to have experienced an unprecedented level of support in ensuring we have basic food staples in our pantry, but there are many items we cannot easily procure.
Financial contributions allow us to respond the most flexibly to changing needs. Every $30 donated allows us to feed an individual for an entire month (a total of 90 meals!). Please consider supporting VEAP at this critical drive.
Thank you and best wishes for a warm spring!
Joe McDonald
CEO
How can you help?  Three ways to help provide donated items, financial donations and volunteering.  For financial donation and or volunteering opportunities, please visit their website:  https://veap.org/donate/
Presently, the items they need the most include:

• Baking essentials (flour, sugar, cooking oil, etc.)
• Birthday items for our young visitors (cake mixes, frosting, candles, etc.)
• Laundry detergent
• Personal care and household items: shampoo, toothpaste, soap, shaving cream, toiletries, etc.
• Paper products: toilet paper, paper towels, napkins
• Gluten-free products (whole grains like brown rice, wild rice, quinoa, cornmeal; nut flours and butters; rice crackers, GF snacks, etc. Check for gluten-free product label.)
• Whole grain cereal (like Shredded Wheat, Kashi, bran cereals, Chex, etc.)
• Paper bags (We will always take your extra paper grocery bags. We are not accepting plastic bag donations).

You can bring these and other non-perishable food items to church during normal business hours: 
Tuesday - Thursday   8:30 AM - 4:30 PM or on Sunday during either the 8:30 am or 10:00 am service time.  In addition, any Saturday through the month of March, you can have your donations picked up at your home between 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm, by Craig Brandt and Roger Lyson.  To arrange for a pick up either email Craig at craigbrandt_9@msn.com or call him at 612-799-7561 or call the Church Office at 952-881-5801 
 
Blessings,
Pat Cavanaugh