​“I bring you Good News of great joy for all people…born this day…the Messiah, the Lord!” (Luke 2:10-11)

Oh how I wish we could be gathering in person for Christmas Eve Worship. I was excited to celebrate Jesus birth outside at St. Luke’s with Drive-in Worship; the weather has changed that plan.

I am thankful that we have the ability to at least gather online. Christmas Eve Worship will premiere at 4:30 PM, December 24. Good News of great joy for all people will still be shared. Communion is a part of Christmas Eve Worship so have your bread and wine/juice ready.

If you join us at 4:30 PM, please share comments on https://www.youtube.com/stlukesbloomington or participate in the chat on https://www.facebook.com/stlukesbloomington. Following the premiere you can worship at the time of your choosing.

For the New Year, I invite you to open another gift, your Bible. St. Luke’s will be reading our namesakes Gospel. It is believed that Luke was a physician. His Gospel offers comfort and strength, much needed in our world today.  

We made it easy on you to read accomplish reading the entire book. If you have attended worship from the first week of Advent (Nov. 29) and continue through Baptism of our Lord (Jan. 10) you will have heard almost every verse through Luke 3:22. It is a New Year’s resolution that will be completed the week after Easter (Apr. 11). If you join us for worship every Sunday, Lent Wednesdays, and Holy Week, you will hear over half of Luke’s Gospel. A reading schedule will be available for you to read the verses not heard during worship.

You don’t have to read alone. Please prayerfully consider gathering with others, we will be forming groups after January 10. You can also forming your own group with other members, family, friends, or neighbors. Please contact the office to sign up office@stlukesbloomington.org / 952-881-5801 ext. 103.
​
Yours in Christ,
Rob Norris-Weber, Pastor
St. Luke’s Lutheran Church
Bloomington MN

​The St Luke’s Annual Congregational Meeting in January will be online due to COVID-19 restrictions and precautions.  There will be a phone-in option for those members who do not have access to a computer.  
 
The Minneapolis Area Synod of the ELCA has indicated that Congregational Councils can adopt resolutions authorizing remote meetings in compliance with state law.  The St Luke’s Council passed a resolution on November 10, 2020 authorizing remote meetings.
 
The two budget hearings preparatory to the annual meeting will also be online.  We will be using the budget hearings as a test to see how the process works for larger groups. The council has been meeting online for months as are many businesses, committees, families and even social groups.  I encourage everyone to join one of the budget hearings to get both a preview of the 2021 Budget and become familiar with the online meeting process.  
 
Stay tuned for more specific information regarding the timing and process, including links, of the upcoming meetings.  If you have questions please feel free to contact me
 
Larry Nelson
Congregational President 
952 884 2110
lnelsonic@gmail.com 

My Christmas tree is up, my house is decorated and, thanks to a lovely staycation, my gifts are bought and wrapped! That’s not the only thing that makes this Advent season different from the rest. More than during any other Advent, we are waiting. We’ve been hearing in worship the voices of the prophets, bringing words of instruction, but also words of encouragement to the Israelites who, too, were waiting. Waiting to return to their homeland after generations in exile. We are waiting to hug again, to sing together again, to visit our extended families again. Our exile will end, as well, and we will rejoice at what we have overcome together- while apart. 
 
And so, this Christmas will be unique. We will celebrate differently with our families, and also differently with our church family. We will gather for Drive-in Christmas Eve Worship at 4:30 PM, and will sing the familiar carols from inside our cars (or outside, for the hearty among us) and hear the Christmas story. At 7:00 PM, we will premiere a pre-recorded version of the very same service. Know that whether you worship with us in the parking lot or from your home, you will be able to see Lori at the organ, the Bells of Praise, the Jubilee Praise Team and St. Luke’s Choir. We will celebrate communion together and will light candles while we sing Silent Night. Just like usual...but different. Special. Unique. Blessed.

Vicar Stephanie Luedtke

For those of you who don’t know the church has a different timeline than the secular calendar. Last Sunday, November 29 was the beginning of the season of Advent. Advent is the first season in the church year, comprising the four weeks before Christmas. The word “Advent” is from Latin, it means “to come.” The church has observed Advent as weeks of preparation since the fifth century. We both anticipate the celebration of God’s coming in the form of the Christ child and the final coming of Christ in the time to come.

How will you celebrate the Church New Year?

I invite you to make a resolution to read the Gospel of Luke. This has been a difficult year and will continue for the next several months. Luke a physician tells the story of Jesus in a way that brings healing, offers comfort, and announces hope. This is a message the world desperately needs at this time.

There is a bonus in attending worship each week, between now until the Sunday after Easter, you will hear more than half of the book. There is a weekly reading plan for the remaining 1,147 verses over the next 21 weeks. We started our walk through the Gospel last Sunday, reading Luke 1:1-4.

​Below is the reading plan. I invite you to copy and save or simply print it off and post it.

Reading the Bible can seem daunting and confusing. I would encourage you to use the Prophet of Daniel as a guide as you read. Sunday we read the story of Daniel in the Lions’ Den (Daniel 6:6-27). In that story we heard that Daniel was a devout Jew, who prayed three times a day, used his God given gifts even on behalf of an empire that conquered his country, and most of all trusted God. Daniel understood that God was in control through the good and the bad.

Hope you will join me in reading the entire Gospel. If you are interested in a small group Bible study please contact me.

Blessings,
Rob Norris-Weber, Pastor
952-881-5801 ext. 103
rob@stlukesbloomington.org 

Gospel of Luke – Reading Plan
Following the Prophet Daniel’s example:

1. Be Devout – Commit to reading through the entire Gospel of Luke. If you attend worship each week you will hear half of the Gospel. (Complete reading in between)
2. Pray – As you read, what things come to mind for you to pray about? Daniel in the Lions’ Den example: “Lord, help me see you at work in all things, the good and the bad.”
3. Share your God-Given Gift – How does the reading inspire you too use your gifts to serve God and others today? Ex: Daniel interpreted dreams for the King.
4. Trust – What is it that you are struggling with today that you need to simply turn over to God? Hopefully it is not as dangerous as a lions’ den. Remember that God is with you and wants the best for you.

Worship Readings (Additional Reading) Non Sunday Worship

1st Advent - Nov. 29 - Luke 1:1-4
2nd Advent - Dec. 6 - Luke 1:5-20 (21-38)
3rd Advent – Dec. 13 - Luke 1:39-56
4th Advent – Dec. 20 - Luke 1:57-66 (67-80)
Christmas Eve – Dec. 24 - Luke 2:1-20
1st Christmas – Dec. 27 - Luke 2:21-38 (39-40)
2nd Christmas – Jan. 3 - Luke 2:41-52
Baptism of Jesus – Jan. 10 - Luke 3:1-22 (3:23-4:13)
2nd Epiphany – Jan. 17 - Luke 4:14-30 (31-44)
3rd Epiphany – Jan. 24 - Luke 5:1-11 (12-39)
4th Epiphany – Jan. 31 - Luke 6:1-16 (17-49)
5th Ephiphany – Feb. 7 - Luke 7:1-17 (7:18-9:27)
Transfiguration – Feb. 14 - Luke 9:28-45 (46-50)
Ash Wed. – Feb. 17 - Luke 9:51-62 (10:1-24)
1st Sun. Lent – Feb. 21 - Luke 10:25-37 (38-42)
1st Wed. Lent – Feb. 24 - Luke 11:1-4 (11:5-12:59)
2nd Sun. Lent – Feb. 28 - Luke 13:1-9, 31-35 (13:10-30, 14:1-6)
2nd Wed. Lent – Mar. 3 - Luke 14:7-14 (15-35)
3rd Sun. Lent – Mar. 7 - Luke 15:1-32
3rd Wed. Lent – Mar. 10 - Luke 16:1-13 (14-18)
4th Sun. Lent – Mar. 14 - Luke 16:19-31 (17:1-10)
4th Wed. Lent – Mar. 17 - Luke 17:11-19 (17:20-18:30)
5th Sun. Lent – Mar. 21 - Luke 18:31-43
5th Wed. Lent – Mar. 24 - Luke 19:1-10 (11-28)
Palm Sunday – Mar. 28 - Luke 19:29-44 (19:45-21:38)
Maundy Thursday – Apr. 1 - Luke 22:1-27 (22:28-23:31)
Good Friday – Apr. 2 - Luke 23:32-47 (48-56)
Easter Sunday – Apr. 4 - Luke 24:1-12
2nd Easter – Apr. 11 - Luke 24:13-35
Ascension Sunday – May 16 - Luke 24:36-43 (Using Luke’s story on Ascension Sunday)