​The more things change, the more they stay the same. Heating is not an option in Minnesota.
 
In August at a special congregational meeting the Council was authorized to enter into a contract for installation of a new boiler system. The work has begun. The first step was asbestos removal, it has been completed. Removal of both old boilers (one that has not worked in years) is scheduled to begin in the week ahead, allowing for the installation of the new boiler to begin next week.
 
If you have not read The Fields Were Ripe, A History of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, I would encourage you to do so; it is available in our church library. “The Blankety-Blank Furnace” on pages 35-36 shares stories of heating St. Luke’s buildings through the years. The conversations that are recorded are similar to the ones that were had recently. The congregation stepped out in faith to purchase the Torrid Zone furnace for $375. In January 20, 1930 the council agreed to try raising some money to pay off the debt. At the end of 1932 the Luther League assumed responsibility for the balance due. It was paid off in January 1933. The purchase of heating systems is just the beginning of the story, it continues with the cost of fuel being a constant worry.
 
What warms my heart in reading the stories, is all the people who stepped forward through the years – sharing their time, talent, and treasure so that heat was maintained. The same is true today. There were a lot of people instrumental in maintaining the boiler that is being replaced, but most recently it was Mark Hagelin. Mark is the Council Property Representative who announced at the last meeting that he is enjoying his Senior Year. He will have completed his four plus years on Council this January and only due to constitutional rule is he stepping down. During these past four years he not only spent a couple hours a month at the Council Meeting, but another 20-25 hours a month tending our 54 year old furnace. It was a good furnace with the heat exchange still viable, however the other parts that made it work were breaking down and replacements were hard to find; parts that Mark often took time to search for and he would replace.
 
Mark said we should all be excited about the new furnace. Not only will it free up his time, it will benefit our congregation and the environment. Mark would check the weather and then drive to church to manually adjust the furnace to keep the temperature comfortable; the new furnace has automated controls. He also pointed out that our cost for fuel will decrease moving from a 60% efficiency boiler to 95%, saving money and reducing our carbon footprint. Last, but not least, the old furnace did not have a backup.  If it had went out, Mark had contingency plans for temporary heat, but it would have been costly, and the decision of when to replace it would be made for us. The new heating system has the backup built in.
 
When asked what he will do with this new found time on his hands no longer babysitting the old boiler or attending Council Meetings, he replied, “Now I’ll have time to do other needed work around the church. I have to leave the Council, but I look forward to continue serving on the Property Team.”   
 
Thank you Mark and all who share their time, talent, and treasure continuing the mission of St. Luke’s. 

St. Luke's Council

​“Look! I’m doing a new thing;
    now it sprouts up; don’t you recognize it?
I’m making a way in the desert,
    paths in the wilderness.” Isaiah 43:19
 
This verse has been speaking to me this summer. God is speaking to the Israelites amidst their exile and, in previous verses, reminds them how beloved they are. They are caught in the wilderness, feeling forsaken, but God shines a light away from their confusion and misery and on the new and exciting things that are happening. “Look! I’m doing a new thing!”  This verse has been my constant reminder during this Covid season that God is active and moving and trying new things! God may be never-changing, but God’s work changes to meet the needs of the time and place and people who seek God’s care. What new thing is God doing through us? 
 
The Faith Formation Team met on Sunday, September 6th to plan our Fall programming. God is doing a new thing through us! We have decided on a hybrid model, incorporating in-person, online, and home-based activities. This model will allow us to observe our Covid group size protocols, to keep kids from being online too much, to encourage peer group interaction, and to build our families’ faith practices.  We will be meeting in small groups, scheduled around families’ busy lives, and will rotate which age groups will be meeting in person at church or online, and which will be given time to learn and grow as families. We will be supporting families through all of this by providing content and modeling best practices for faith formation. 
 
Our program year will begin with a kickoff meeting after Drive-in Worship on Sunday, October 4th (weather permitting-backup plans TBD.) We are excited to grow together and to partner with children, youth, and families in the new things that God is doing amongst us!

Sunday, September 13th
 
Worship Online at 8:30 AM and Drive In at 10 AM

This year is a little different; so too will be – God’s work. Our hands.
 
I’ve always enjoyed going from station to station, greeting people who are…
 
…filling Blessing Bags for Oasis, VEAP, and Tubman Center.
 
…making Plarn for Weaving Love MN
 
…quilting for Luther World Relief, St. Joseph Home for Children, and Bridging
 
…labeling Treats to handout from our float during the Heritage Day Parade
 
…working outside cleaning up our grounds being good neighbors.
 
Although many of those things are not available this year, we will still be able to serve. Look for the Mission Team’s article for the supplies we are encouraging you to gather for the Blessing Bags, and specific donations for VEAP. There is much work to do outside, so bring your rakes, lawn bags, clippers, saws, gloves and masks to tend to our grounds.  I’m excited that the youth will be having a Renovation Island Challenge between the Middle School and High School Students.
 
There will also be some surprises for Drive In Worship.
 
But we don’t need a specific day to do service, there are ways to be involved year round. Remember Service is one of our Core Values in living out our mission… Making Christ known.
​
St. Luke's has many volunteer opportunities. I encourage you to go to our Home Page www.stlukesbloomington.org and scroll down to the bottom. There you will find the links of the organizations we partner with year round; each one is represented by one of our members. Is there an organization that you volunteer with and want to invite other members to join you? Inform the Mission Team and as a Community of Faith, we will support you in your ministry.
 
Thank you all for your service in Jesus name.
Blessings, Rob

​At the St. Luke's Congregational meeting, Sunday, August 30, 2020, the congregation voted to approve the following: The installation of new boiler system and the installation of a solar panel array.

Motion - St. Luke's Congregational Council to enter into a contract for the installation of a new boiler system for $90,000.  Motion carries: 81 - yes   4 - no

Motion - St. Luke's Congregational Council to enter into a contract for installation of a solar panel array for $150,000. Motion carries: 77 - yes   8 - no

Thanks to all of you who attended the meeting on a beautiful summer Sunday morning and thank you for your support as we move forward on these initiatives! 
Larry Nelson
Congregational President