God’s Work Our Hands is not a One-Day Event, it’s a Way of Living…

One of the phrases on the 2026 High School Mission Trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) was…

“You can be Bitter or make it Better.”

If you’ve ever been to the BWCAW or on any minimalistic adventure, you know that this statement is truth. There we were settled in at our campsite on the first night only to find that we didn’t have a strike plate for our matches - which were not the “strike anywhere” kind. You could imagine the response, “What are we going to do?!” Simple solution, we eat one of our future lunches, that doesn’t require a fire, for dinner. We had a treatment to purify water. And we knew it would be short lived, for we were able to contact our Outfitter who promised to bring one out the next day. That was just one of many situations we experienced on the trip that could have dampened our spirits, but instead we found ways to make things better.

St. Luke’s Mission Team is a “You can be Bitter or make it Better” kind of group. I always feel better about the world after our monthly gatherings on the 4th Mondays at 7 PM. It is a wonderful crew led by Bev including Craig, Janet, Julie, Larry, Roger, and me. These are people who help coordinate all the other congregational members who are making the world better with their gifts and talents. Here’s a quick “Year To Date” report.

Loaves and Fishes = 1145 people served Year To Date
Fisher House = 70 served YTD
VEAP = 1,091 pounds of food/household & personal items donated YTD)
American Red Cross Blood Drive = 85 pints of blood in the past year.
Feed My Starving Children assisted in boxing 338,976 meals providing 924 children a meal for year, YTD.
Card Ministry = 255 Cards sent YTD

Along with other ministries such as the Knitting Ministry, Quiet Ministry, Sewing Ministry, Meals on Wheels, Oasis for Youth, The Sandwich Project, and much more… making things better!

Then there are the one time tasks where people step up as needed…

Thank you to Paul, David, Kim, and Rich for renovating the Theater Room to become an additional Childcare Center Classroom, making room for 10 more students. Furthermore, the theater seating was picked up by Universal Christian Ministries and is being sent overseas to Sierra Leone to be used in worship!

God’s Work Our Hands - Sunday, September 13

You are invited to join the other 2 million ELCA members who will be making things better during GWOH. Here at St. Luke’s projects will include:

• Assembling Express Packs and Birthday Packs for VEAP
• Sewing bags for our Children’s Christmas Gifts
• Tie Blankets
• T-Shirt Jump Ropes
• Yard Clean Up (Needs a Coordinator, contact Pastor Rob)
• Church Building Upkeep (Needs a Coordinator, contact Pastor Rob)
• AV Training (after the 10 AM Worship)
• Dishwasher Training (after the 10 AM Worship)
• Tie Quilts

Remember! God’s Work Our Hands is a lifestyle…

JUMP IN TOMORROW! WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26: 11 AM - NOON.
Julie and Tim invite you to join them in spreading the mulch that came early and needs to be put down before St. Luke’s Preschool begins in September

Outdoor Worship - Prep, Set-up, and Clean up.
Friday, August 28, 4:30-5:30 PM - Stage the chairs and tables needed for Sunday.
Sunday, August 30, 9:15 AM - Set up the chairs and tables outside. Assist with Jubilee.
Following worship return chairs and tables inside.

God's promise of making things better: Jeremiah 29:11 "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope." God too instead of being bitter made it better through the acceptance, forgiveness, love, and salvation in Jesus. Made in God's image, may we do likewise.

Thank you St. Luke’s Congregation that lives by the statement:

“You can be Bitter or make it Better.”