​Why I Support MACV
When MACV (Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans) was starting out, my VFW Post 5853 in Burnsville, had some resistance. However, homelessness for veterans has increased, so the mission has since been met with more enthusiasm. The government response has been limited for the enlisted families, veterans, and their families. MACV was formed to step in and seeks to provide the necessary support, which is needed more than ever. The Bible tells us to help those less fortunate, that's why I believe in MACV and I'm thankful to be the representative for St. Luke's Mission Team.

MACV is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that has been serving veterans and their families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless across the state of Minnesota for over 25 years. The mission is to end Veteran homelessness in Minnesota by providing housing, employment and legal services by providing these services directly and in collaboration with community partners. In 2018, over 5500 services were provided to Veterans.  There are 61 community partners at this time.
 
MACV provides a structured assistance program giving the veteran support to once again become a productive member of the community, confidence to rebuild relationships and knowledge that the community recognizes and cares about them and their service to our country.
 
MACV strives to equitably serve any Minnesota veteran in need. MACV does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, national origin or gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, family status, age, or disability status.
 
I invite you to hear more by attending worship this Sunday, July 4 at 8:30 AM or 10 AM in person or livestreamed or enjoy the recorded worship at your leisure. - www.stlukesbloomington.org
I encourage you to also learn more by going to their website: https://www.mac-v.org

Respectfully yours,
Roger D. Lyson
Machinery Repairman 2nd Class, USS Sierra AD-18, Wm S Standly DLG 32,
   US Navy 1971-1975

Feeding kids. Feeding spirits. Empowering communities.
 
"He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry."
Psalm 146:7(NIV)
Every year, millions of children die from preventable causes such as pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria and undernutrition. Hunger is still causing nearly half of deaths in children under 5 years old. From this data, we estimate at least 6,200 children die each day from causes related to undernutrition. This is heartbreaking.

Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) believes hope starts with food. As a Christian nonprofit, FMSC is dedicated to seeing every child whole in body and spirit. FMSC works with food distribution partners that stay with communities for the long haul, empowering them to move from relief to development.

Late Minnesota businessman Richard Proudfit was challenged by needs he saw while on a mission trip to Honduras in 1982. His heart was moved, “If you’ve seen my starving children, feed them.”

Feed My Starving Children was founded in 1987 and began working to develop an effective and nutritious meal formula. The process is simple. Donations given by people just like you fund the meal ingredients. Volunteers hand-pack the meals. Meals are donated to FMSC food partners around the world, where kids are fed and lives are saved!

FMSC meals are developed by food science and nutrition professionals to supplement nutritional needs and reduce problems with malnutrition. Nutrition allows children to grow, thrive and develop to their full potential.

Volunteers were recruited to help pack meals for FMSC’s first major shipment of MannaPack Rice to a pediatric hospital in Rwanda, Africa, via FMSC partner Operation Blessing. Meals were then sent to Haiti via Mercy Ships, then to Belarus and Paraguay. FMSC food has reached more than 70 countries through hundreds of food distribution partners.

FMSC's mission – Feeding God’s starving children hungry in body and spirit.

For many years, FMSC struggled to produce 2-3 million meals a year. The founder left the organization in 1998 to start a different charity. In December 2003, the board rededicated FMSC to Christ and hired current Executive Director/CEO Mark Crea in April 2004. Prayer became a priority every day. Support increased dramatically.

1994 – 2,409 volunteers packed 400,000 meals
2017 – More than 1.2 million volunteers packed more than 333 million mealsore than 99% of meals have arrived safely.
Thank you St. Luke’s and especial Craig Brandt and Kim Gaslin for your ongoing commitment to FMSC. You will hear more from Craig on Sunday as we continue our Sermon Series: A Summer of Missions. 

​

​I didn't know much about this small space where love was being woven. I was in my own little classroom of children where I was weaving love. All these children came to me daily and went home to a family at the end of the day. 
 
One day a parent came in and said she was going to be leaving for a service trip to an orphanage that she had served at as a child. She showed me a picture of a younger her. She was playing in a water pump with young Haitian children. She said she would be going back with her sister and nephews. The orphanage is in Dessalines, Haiti. I was so interested in this trip she was taking. I wanted to use her trip as a way to show my preschoolers there are other children in other parts of the country having similar and different experiences than them. 
 
EGO stands for Ebenezer Glenn Orphanage. It was started by a family in 1970. Don and Doris Peavey and their 4 children listened to the calling to go and help the children of Haiti. 
 
EGO has 71 children they love and provide long term needs to ensure they have the education and training needed to become independent responsible adults. They also serve the community by providing family support through food, formula, and tuition assistance programs, as well as medical care, elementary and high school education, vocational training, and spiritual development.
 
The children in my preschool enjoyed learning about the country of Haiti and seeing pictures of where the children lived. They loved seeing how their school happenings were similar to their own. My heart grew more watching them learn and grow in their perspective of the world. The parent came back and I knew that I wanted to share this special place with other people that were looking to help outside of our country boarders. 
 
I have been following the happenings, the wins and the hardships, of Ebenezer Glenn Orphanage for the past  5 years. This has been a challenging year for the world. When I focus on the world it helps me put myself into perspective. Just like the children, they also assist in an adult perspective. 
 
Here is their website - https://ebenezerglennorphanage.org/
 
They can also be followed on Facebook at  
https://www.facebook.com/EbenezerGlennOrphanage/
 
 
Gina Griffith - Missions

The blue tape is gone and the distancing markings have been removed from the floor.  As Pastor Rob says, "WELCOME HOME".
 
If you were able to attend church services last Sunday, you were asked to sign in one last time for the COVID protocol using a revised "Independence Day" sign-in form.  The original target for the full reopening of our church had been set for Sunday, July 4th.  We thought it would be a fun way to celebrate our Independence Day from COVID by signing our own Declaration of Independence.  We were blessed to be able to move that date up to June 6th.
 
The challenges will continue for us to remain healthy and safe.  Remember the cold and flu seasons we experienced in the past?  We encourage you to continue being vigilant in your hand washing, use of alcohol hand gel and other precautions we have been using.  We recommend using a mask if coming down with a cold or flu and urge those who have not been vaccinated to wear a face mask while at church.  
 
A big thank you to the congregation for following the recommendations that were made and to those who asked questions and made suggestions.  Thanks to the office staff, Susanna Costello our custodian, Jayson Ness for providing the electrostatic fogger, Marc Dunham who helped do the fogging of the sanctuary between services. 
 
A very special thanks to the members of the COVID 19 Task Force; Mary Lair, Diane LaFonatine, Andy Haden, Pat Cavanaugh, and Pastor Rob.  Together, we shared our opinions and interpretations of the published Federal and State guidelines and reached a consensus for the protocol used at St. Luke's.
 
Stay safe.
 
Peace and blessings to all.
 
Alvin Buss
Task Force Chair

Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." 

During this past year we have made many changes at St Luke's as we adapted to the effects of the pandemic. Throughout this year we have been blessed with the support of many parishioners along with the flexibility and extra efforts of our staff. 

 As we look to the future and return to more "normal" church programming we realize our staffing needs at St Luke's have changed. The recent departure of Vicar Stephanie Luedtke and the previous vacancy of both choir and handbells director has given us an opportunity to reevaluate our programming and adjust our staffing needs. 

The Personnel Committee, in consultation with parishioners, staff, the Worship & Music Committee and the Faith Formation Committee has recently updated 4 job descriptions: Bells of Praise Handbells Director, Senior Choir Director, Contemporary Worship Leader and Children's Ministry Director. These are part time positions which have been built into our yearly budget. These positions will begin in the fall or sooner and have been posted on numerous job search sites. We are eagerly awaiting responses from qualified candidates. Please pray for our searches for these important components of our ministry at St Luke's. 

II Corinthians 9:12 "This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God." 

In last weeks blog, Pastor Rob highlighted our 'Summer of Mission" when we are featuring our support of various missions throughout the summer. The first mission featured is tomorrow (Wednesday) when we host an American Red Cross Blood Drive in Fellowship Hall. This will be the first blood drive we have been able to host for two years and it seems to be a wonderful kick off for our Summer of Mission. Thanks to all who are participating and support our missions! The purpose of service is so God can reach others through our hands. 
God's Blessings 
Larry Nelson, Past President