"Simply What Every Christian Should Do."
This pneumonic helps us remember our Congregational Core Values =

Service + Worship + Evangelism + Community + Stewardship + Discipleship.

There it is, right at the beginning - Service. Jesus said it himself, "The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve." (Matthew 20:28)

We were created in God's image, designed to serve others. This has been proven not only spiritually, but also physically and emotionally; you can also add intellectually, socially.

Our Summer of Mission begins on Wednesday, June 2nd, with the Red Cross Blood Drive here at St. Luke's from 1:00-7:00 PM. Our bodies are able to donate a pint of blood every 56 days. Platelet apheresis donors may give every 7 days, up to 24 times per year. Furthermore, doing so offers the donor health benefits - more about that next week.

We will finish the series the Sunday after Labor Day weekend, September 12th, with "God's Work. Our hands". You can look at GWOH as the end of summer or the beginning of our program year. Either way it demonstrates that St. Luke's is a congregation with a heart for service.

St. Luke's supports over 14+ mission organizations. If you go to the Home Page on our website www.stlukesbloomington.org and scroll down to the bottom, you will find links to our 13 official partners. We will be lifting up one or more each week throughout the summer, with the St. Luke's member who represents that organization. We also have other mission organizations that you and I individually serve. My family has supported Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry for years. What organization/s do you serve?

Last, but not least, St. Francis stated and for those who serve others, "For it is in giving that we receive." This was confirmed by Jenny Santi, in her book The Giving Way to Happiness: Stories and Science Behind the Transformative Power of Giving.
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"We often focus on how our gifts can help those in need. But the act of giving actually improves our own lives as well. Whether in the form of money, expertise, time, or love - has helped people from all walks of life find purpose and joy. Drawing on the wisdom of great thinkers past and present, as well as cutting-edge scientific research, Santi makes an eloquent and passionate case that oftentimes the answers to the problems that haunt us, and the key to the happiness that eludes us, lie in helping those around us.".
 
Ongoing prayers and blessings,

Rob Norris-Weber, Pastor

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As restrictions lift, we'll be able to gather again for fellowship. Look for coffee outside Sunday morning if the weather cooperates!
In the meantime, we would love to have you share a good joke or funny story. 
Let your church friends know your joke or story, and to find out what others shared!
 
Community Life Team 

​It has been fun to welcome people home to St. Luke's.

It was 14 months ago when Minnesota Governor Walz declared a state emergency, and shortly after President Trump declared a national emergency in response to the Covid 19 pandemic. St. Luke's took the necessary steps needed to keep safe.

Thank you everyone for your patience, understanding, and willingness adjust.

A week ago, Governor Walz announced the end of Minnesota's statewide mask requirement, aligning Minnesota with new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on face coverings. Masks are no longer required for fully-vaccinated individuals, either indoors or outside. Minnesotans who are not fully vaccinated are strongly recommended to wear face coverings indoors, Minnesotans should follow CDC guidance and wear masks in medical settings and on public transportation, whether or not they are fully vaccinated. Minnesota's Safe Learning Plan, along with the existing face covering guidance for schools and child care settings, remain in effect.

What does this mean for St. Luke's? Our progression to open more fully will continue...

May 23: Music Sunday - the Choir, Handbell Choir, and Jubilee will be leading music at both 8:30 and 10 AM. In between we will enjoy Coffee and Treats outside or socially distanced in Fellowship Hall.

May 30 - June 27: Congregational Singing while masked, unless leading worship.

June 6: Communion kits will be given out following worship at the Baptismal Font. Those who are interested can gather between door B and A to take communion together. We will continue to celebrate Communion the first Sunday of the month into September.

July 4 and beyond: Masks no longer required. Those who would like to continue to wear one, please do so.

September 19: Weekly communion will begin again. Details to follow.
All of this is dependent on our society remaining healthy. Jesus tells us to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. May all your words and actions be about loving your neighbor.

On behalf of the St. Luke's Covid Response Taskforce...

Ongoing prayers and blessings,
Al Buss, Chair
Rob Norris-Weber, Pastor

God comes DOWN to us, we move IN to recognize the gifts we’ve been given, then OUT to love our neighbor

He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?                                                   Micah 6:8
 
And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, naked and gave you clothing?  And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?  And the king will answer, truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.       Matthew 25:38-40
 
As we continue our practice of stewardship by recognizing the promises of a God who comes down to us, then look in to discover the gifts God has given to each of us, we then look out to see the many ways God is calling us to love our neighbor, both near and far.
 
Stewardship means so much more than money, funding the annual budget.  It should be a way a life, an integration between our faith and the way we live our lives.  If we adopt this new approach, stewardship becomes loving my neighbor, is about my whole self, is believing that God has provided for me in abundance.
 
Recognizing all that God has given us, we diligently, both corporately and individually, seek to serve and love our neighbors, near and far through VEAP, Meals on Wheels, Feed My Starving Children, Oasis, Loaves & Fishes, the Sandwich Project, Ebenezer Glenn Orphanage, and Lutheran World Relief, to name a few.
 
While there are many understandings of the word stewardship, one that connects well with faith practices focuses on our relationship with God, each other and what is entrusted to us. . . We are called to make disciples of all nations as we do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God. We are set free by the gospel to serve our neighbors through the generous sharing of our time, talent and resources. We give our money to support the ministries of the church and direct it where it can be most helpful. As we give of ourselves, we discover meaning in life and encounter Christ in others. In the mystery of these actions, we become “blessed to be a blessing”.
 
Go now as stewards of God’s abundance; remembering the many ways that God has come down to you; looking in to celebrate all that God has entrusted to your care; and focusing out to do justice for the sake of the neighbor both near and far. 
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Go in peace; share God’s love through stewardship year-round.

 

​What is your favorite vacation spot, and why? You can also tell us when you were last there, and if you plan to return once it's safe again and everything has opened back up.
 
Let your church friends know to answer the question by commenting on this post!