Love your neighbors - Near and Far

“A lawyer, asked Jesus a question to test him. 36‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ 37Jesus said to him, ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” 38This is the greatest and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’ Matthew 22:35-40
May this be our Lenten Spiritual Discipline – to Love God, by loving our neighbors, both near and far.
NEAR - VEAP
March is Minnesota Food Month. St. Luke’s has partnered with VEAP our neighborhood Food Shelf and Community Support Organization. The Missions Team thought it would identify particular items for our members to purchase throughout the month. Here are the suggested donations for Last week and this week. In addition there is a great need for grocery bags. Please add a few each week.
March 6 – Baking Essentials = Flour, sugar, cooking oil, etc.
March 13 – Paper Products and Laundry Detergent = Toilet paper, paper towels, etc.
St. Luke’s March 1 blog has more details.
Here is the link for VEAP: https://veap.org/march-drive/
Far - Ukraine
From the ELCA – On Feb. 24, Russian forces invaded Ukraine, launching land, sea and air attacks. Russia has launched air strikes across the country, including on the capital of Kyiv and other major cities. Airports are now shut, and few railway lines are operational. Millions of civilians fleeing the violence are heading toward Ukraine’s western districts and such neighboring countries as Poland, Moldova, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary. Over 300 civilians have been killed in the conflict so far, and damage to civilian infrastructure has left hundreds of thousands of people without water or electricity. Ukrainian men of military age (18-60) are forbidden to leave the country, so most of those fleeing the violence are women and children. There are major humanitarian concerns for both internally displaced people and refugees. Many of these Ukrainians fleeing their homes need shelter and such basic necessities as food, water and toiletries. Care for people also includes pastoral and psychological support to address the trauma they’ve endured.
St. Luke’s Mission Team and Members have identified a number of organizations
If you would like to make a donation send or drop off funds to St. Luke’s or go online stlukesbloomington.org at the bottom of every webpage is a link to give – put your gift amount in the Missions tab. Know that St. Luke’s will be making an additional gift. You can direct your gift or give a gift to be distributed by the Missions Team. There are links to each organization and a link below for even more. That is our job as the church and individual believers, let living waters flow.  Amen. 
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service - stands in solidarity with our Ukrainian neighbors and is dedicated to supporting Ukrainian refugees and immigrants however possible. Follow the link to learn more below about how you can support Ukrainians in the United States and abroad. https://www.lirs.org/ukraine-crisis
Lutheran Disaster Response - is accompanying our companions in Ukraine, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, as well as such ecumenical partners as Lutheran World Federation and Church World Service, in their humanitarian responses to the crisis. These partners provide refugees with immediate support and supplies such as food, blankets, water and hygiene kits. https://community.elca.org/eastern-europe-crisis-response?_ga=2.260284932.800904318.1646771427-473201747.1551876671
Feed My Starving Children - Meals have reached the hungry in eastern Ukraine. Our new distribution partner Mission Eurasia has received and distributed over 272,000 FMSC meals to refugees and families. https://www.fmsc.org/
You are invited to attend a food packing event at the Chanhassen site.
DATE: Monday, March 14, 2022
TIME: 7:00 PM to 8:45 PM
If you have any questions or would like to sign up, please contact Craig Brandt at [email protected] or click here to sign up online.