Faith Practices and Neighboring Practices

Congregational Event, Sunday, April 14
Two Sessions: 9 AM and 11 AM
Fellowship Hall

What a joy to be in worship last Sunday, April 7 as 11 people joined St. Luke’s.  
A few of their responses to “Why did you choose St. Luke’s?”

• I love the way the congregation comes together to worships Christ in so many different ways.
• Everyone is so nice and kind. This has become my home church that I have never had before.
• The active nature of this church. Everybody being so welcoming and friendly. The Children’s Program is amazing. You can’t ask much more as a parent when your children are excited to come to church.
• I love that we can worship as a family, the kids get to be part of the bigger worship and then enjoy Children’s Church as we listen to Rob’s message. The church felt like family.

If you are able, I’d encourage you to listen to the recording of the 10 AM Worship, April 7. The introductions are early in worship, following the announcements. Here’s the link.

This coming Sunday April 14 following each Worship members are invited to attend a Faith Practices and Neighboring Practices conversation. This hour long experience will give you a sneak peak at what the St. Luke’s Practices and Neighboring Practices Team has been doing for the past seven months. It will be insightful and participatory. I guarantee you’ll enjoy your time.

This project is supported by the Lilly Foundation’s Thriving Congregations initiative
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St. Luke’s was selected as one of the 15 Minneapolis congregations for the 2023-2025 Cohort. Over these two years six people: Leah DeShepper, currently President St. Luke’s, Adult members, Kelsey Newby, currently President-Elect, and Donna Tabat a Confirmation Adult Leader, Sadie Cinnamon Student Member, and Venessa Nelson a Community Member who serves as President of St. Luke’s Preschool, and me make up the team.

Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices: Renewing Congregational Imagination is a two-year learning community for congregations in the Minneapolis Area Synod. We believe that vital congregations take seriously the small simple practices that build community, cultivate mutual relationships, and expand our awareness of God’s activity in the places where we have been called to live.

Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices guides cohorts of congregations through a learning process focus on collaborative learning, community building, and spiritual practice. Congregations experiment with practices in their own community to build authentic relationships with neighbors, connect across difference, and engage contemplative spirituality.

Practices are grounded in asset-based community development, intentional simplicity, and contemplative spiritual traditions. Each month, cohorts meet to process and support one another’s work, explore new practices, and build meaningful relationships.

The Center for Leadership & Neighborhood Engagement guides each learner through the Intercultural Development Inventory and assists in developing an individual and community plan for growing in intercultural competence. Additionally, the cohorts engage in a parallel learning process with the Riverside Innovation Hub at Augsburg University and other Thriving Congregations Initiatives in the Twin Cities.  

We look forward to sharing this with you on Sunday with more to come in the weeks and months ahead. I believe this was a Spirit calling as St. Luke’s has been seeking a Director of Community Engagement. God answered our prayers with this congregational opportunity, where not one but five people are willing to lead us. It is living out our mission statement:
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St. Luke’s is a welcoming and growing community of faith, busy making Christ known to the world.