​“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


 

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