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For All The Saints: 100% for 100 Years

10/29/2020

 
​“Rejoice over your past and then press on to celebrate in Christ a century of service to Christ and his church.” Yours in Christ, Paul M. Werger
This Sunday we will celebrate the life and resurrection of those who have died in the past year. Beloved Pastor Paul Werger is one. He served St. Luke’s from December 1, 1961 – June 30, 1978. He died May 11, 2020 due to complications from Covid-19.
His words above were shared at St. Luke’s 75th Anniversary. The message is as appropriate today as it was then.
Over the past month we have heard inspiring St. Luke’s Stories from faithful longtime members and those who recently joined. We heard from some of our older members as well as parents of young children, along with one of our high school students. If you missed them, I encourage you to go to these webpages:
www.stlukesbloomington.org/appeal - Written stories.
www.youtube/stlukesbloomington - Stories shared near the end of the worship video
These stories speak to the how important St. Luke’s is to each of them, their families, the community and the world. St. Luke’s is not preparing for its 100th Anniversary, it is preparing for the 100 years and more beyond. Our mission is ongoing, as we strive to be a welcoming and growing community of faith, busy making Christ known to the world.
Due to a Covid-19 exposure at church last Sunday, we are unable to gather in person this coming Sunday. We are still able to worship. We will celebrate.
During worship this Sunday, November 1 we will honor those who were part of St. Luke’s Story. We will light a candle and ring a bell. I invite you to participate by lighting a candle at home when we begin to read the names during our online worship.
Next Week, November 8 we will virtually celebrate our 100% for 100 Years 3-Year Capital Campaign. This has been postponed so that the gift bags with supplies to fully participate in the celebration can be picked up next Sunday at church whether or not we able to worship in person. There is also the option to pick them up Saturday, November 7 or have them delivered. We want 100% participation. If you haven’t signed up yet, you can get your name in now. Call the church office (952-881-5801) or go to this webpage: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/85C8HPC
Between now and then, consider the difference St. Luke’s has made in your life. Much thanks to those who have already shared their pledges. If you have not, please prayerfully consider making a pledge for the coming year and an investment into our future with a pledge to the 100% for 100 Years Capital Campaign. We make these pledges in a spirit of thankfulness.

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7
 
Yes, let us rejoice in the good work St. Luke’s has done, is doing, and will do into its next century, making Christ known to the world. I look forward to the stories yet to be written.
 
Ongoing prayers and blessings, Rob
rob@stlukesbloomington.org


 

We're Supposed To

10/14/2020

 
Anna, from Frozen 2, holding Olaf, a magic snowman.Anna holding Olaf, a magic snowman, while singing.
My kids are really into the movie Frozen 2. I love the movie; I saw it twice in the theater (joining Gladiator and E.T. as the only other movies I've seen multiple times in the theater). While there are many aspects of this movie I would gladly discuss with you, the movie has a song at the beginning:

  "Yes, the wind blows a little bit colder
  And we're all getting older
  And the clouds are moving on with every Autumn breeze
  Peter Pumpkin just became fertilizer
  And my leaf's a little sadder and wiser
  That's why I rely on certain certainties"


There's a lot of change right now in my life. My son is doing schooling online, my wife is a full-time consultant, my parents got rid of their vehicle they bought when I was in college, handbell rehearsal is socially distanced, and choir hasn't met yet. Not to mention I'm now a den leader for my son's Cub Scouts and a homeschool teacher for my daughter.

Not only in my life is there change, but looking outward we have an election coming up (I'm not sure if you've heard about it). We are planning on coming inside for worship soon. Winter is coming. These things are all bringing change in some way. This is good. We are supposed to change. Change brings growth.

A caterpillar saying to a butterfly,
While change is good, the above lyrics from the Frozen 2 song do not end there. There are some certain certainties in life that will not change. In fact, the name of the song is "Some Things Never Change." While you will have to watch the movie to find out what their singing about, the one thing I know will never change is that God loves us no matter what and is there right beside us throughout all the change. 

There is a lot changing in life and God is along for the ride. So go ahead and embrace that change, because God is right there with you.

Sean Johnson


What is a Steward, anyway?

10/7/2020

 
Stewardship
I’ve been thinking quite a bit recently about the meaning of the word ‘stewardship.’ It’s not a word I’ve really heard anywhere outside of the church. I remember, in days gone by, when we called flight attendants ‘stewards,’ but that term has gone out of fashion, perhaps because of their changing roles. I’ve discovered, additionally, that the word is more commonly referenced in the modern time as a verb. From The Oxford Dictionary:
  1. Supervise arrangements or keep order at (a large public event)
  2. Manage or look after (another's property)
When we consider this definition, and understand that the steward is “a person whose responsibility it is to take care of something,” it becomes more clear why the church embraces a term that is full of meaning, but not necessarily familiar to the larger culture.
 
When the church talks about stewardship, we often refer to time, talents, and treasures to consider what we have to offer. However, I think we should start thinking more broadly of ourselves as stewards (n.) and our activity as stewarding (v.) When we consider ourselves as stewards, we embrace a vocation, and not just an activity. We become the ones who are given the responsibility to oversee all that belongs to God. Everything I do is a part of this identity, because everything I have belongs to God. To be honest, it is an intimidating role to embrace. The biblical steward (the estate manager or chief servant) was the most trusted of servants and given the most responsibility. They had free reign to make decisions with the owner’s finances and possessions, but also had to bear the responsibility for those decisions. There are quite a few parables that illustrate the actions of a steward, some as a positive example (The Workers in the Vineyard) and some as an example of the consequences of both strong and poor decisions (The Parable of the Talents.)  The Apostle Paul takes this metaphor even further, considering us as stewards of the “ God’s mysteries” (1Cor. 4:7.) This all-encompassing understanding reminds us, again, that all we have is God’s, including our relationship with God!
 
The ELCA embraces this holistic understanding of our role as stewards, and describes six Competencies of a Well-formed Steward:
  1. Trusts God’s abundance
  2. Grounds oneself in Biblical and theological principles
  3. Holds a holistic perspective
  4. Perceives connectedness
  5. Engages and critiques culture
  6. Embraces financial health as an expression of faith
  
As we hear this month the stories of our faith in action and consider how to best steward our time, talents, and treasures, I pray that we all can rejoice together in the great responsibility that God has laid in our hands, to care for God’s house, God’s household, and God’s children. 

Vicar Stephanie Luedtke 

What's Your Story

10/1/2020

 
Share Your Story
We are a storytelling people. How many family stories have you heard multiple times at holiday gatherings? Telling our stories gives meaning, purpose, guidance, and fosters relationships. The Bible is simply a collection of stories sharing the love of God, the salvation of Jesus, and the works of the Holy Spirit throughout time.

I’ve had the privilege to hear a number of stories from the students who will be affirming their faith this year. Two of the students are children of parents who met here at St. Luke’s. One of those families when I came to St. Luke’s had four generations – a gift to know each one.

My story of St. Luke’s begins in the spring of 1991 when I had the privilege to have Lyle Griner, Youth Minister at the time, as my mentor for Youth Ministries. Where I served, the youth group was small, so I brought those students to St. Luke’s. They saw what a youth group could become. We experienced the St. Luke’s Mission of being a welcoming and growing community of faith, busy making Christ known to the world. As a visiting youth group, we were indebted to the welcome we received, the growth we experienced, the community of faith we participated in, and the opportunity to use what we learned to make Christ known in our setting. Those students helped their church grow a youth group from a handful of students to over 100.  

It is now my privilege to serve with you in living out our mission together. In the days and weeks ahead, you will hear stories about our family here at St. Luke’s. A number of members will share why St. Luke’s matters in their lives. They will be inviting you to help continue the story today and into the future as we begin our 2021 Annual Stewardship Drive and the 100% for 100 Years Anniversary Capital Campaign.

All of our stories create the St. Luke’s story. I would love to hear your story. Leave a comment below or send me a note.

Ongoing prayers and blessings, Rob
rob@stlukesbloomington.org
O: 952-881-5801 ext. 103 


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St. Luke's Lutheran Church
1701 West Old Shakopee Road Bloomington, MN 55431
952-881-5801 | office@stlukesbloomington.org
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