Having a little fun with our blog this week. There will be a gift card given to the person who gets the most questions correct. To participate simply comment below. The value of the gift card will be equal to the number of individual comments posted. Gift card location will be chosen by the winner. 1. St. Luke’s has how many people in its database? a. 400 b. 2000 c. 1400 d. 1000 e. 750 2. St. Luke’s has how many households in its database? a. 150 b. 350 c. 550 d. 750 e. 950 3. St. Luke’s had how many individuals attended Worship last year based on Welcome Cards? a. 70 b. 170 c. 270 d. 370 e. 1,070 4. St. Luke’s had how many people attend monthly last year based on Welcome Cards? a. 60 b. 120 c. 180 d. 240 e. 300 5. One (nonstaff) St. Luke’s member attended the most worships totaling? a. 72 b. 78 c. 85 d. 89 e. 114 Bonus Question: Who was the member who attended the most worships? (Post your answers in the Comments below…) Along with your guesses, would love to hear your answer to “Why do you or do not attend worship?” If you would prefer to privately, please email me: rob@stlukesbloomington.org What is going on with worship in the United States? John DeRose, May 16, 2023 on NPR reported in the The importance of religion in the lives of Americans is shrinking “Participation in houses of worship continues to decline, according to the study. 28% of respondents said they "seldom" attend religious services, and 29% of respondents said they "never" attend religious services. A decade ago, those figures were 22% and 21%, respectively. The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have influenced a larger trend. In 2019, 19% of Americans said they attended a religious service once a week. That percentage has now dropped to 16% attending weekly and 13% saying they attend "a few times a year." You can read the entire article here. [Stats from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI).] Recently a Funeral Director shared with me that most churches have less than half of the number of people attending worship weekly then they did prior to the pandemic. I am grateful to announce St. Luke’s worship has rebounded since the pandemic. In fact, we will be having another “Interested in St. Luke’s Lunch” early this Fall. Along with worship, we look forward to starting Wednesday Night Live on September 20. It includes a community meal at 5:30 PM and education for all ages from 6-7 pm. (Preschoolers and parents gathering ends at 6:30 PM). One more question, from the article above: “Despite the downward trends in overall church attendance, PRRI found that those still going are happy. 82% say they're optimistic about the future of their church.” Are you optimistic about the future of St. Luke’s? Look forward to hearing from you. Ongoing prayers and blessings, Rob
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Thank you to all those who helped the tree bloom with over 100 Acts of Kindness. “They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.” – Isaiah 61:3c Community Life has been encouraging us to spread leaves of righteousness, 100 acts of kindness and service in honor of our 100th Anniversary. Again this is not a command, but an invitation. We are free to do or not do acts of kindness to glorify the Lord. As the Prophet Isaiah declared to the people of his time – We are free to follow, keep the faith, be grateful, enjoy the comfort of the Lord and share it with others. Look at how St. Luke’s Members lived out their freedom… (Number indicates similar notes.) 1. Feed My Starving Children – 11 2. VEAP – 7 3. Meals on Wheels Driver – 4 4. Big smile for people when I’m out – 2 5. Loaves & Fishes – 2 6. Sunday Treats - 2 7. Assist with livestreaming worship services - 2 8. Tending St. Luke’s gardens – 2 9. Quilting - 2 10. Sharing and helping with neighbors – 2 11. Brought food to a friend – 2 12. Delivered a prayer shawl - 2 13. Helped a co-worker put up a bulletin board 14. I try to be kind to everyone I meet 15. Elder Valentine Project 16. Compassion Child Support 17. Helped my brother and sister-in-law complete an application for subsidized housing 18. Made Sunday coffee 19. We continue to pay it forward by picking up tabs for strangers 20. Gave a donation to a needy individual 21. Provided home goods for someone in need 22. Shared items and food with people in need 23. Gift card to homeless 24. Sharing the love of family 25. Supporting ill family and friends 26. Share the peace 27. I provide transportation to church 28. Care Team Member 29. Cat sitting for a friend 30. Handmade cards of encouragement for the elderly 31. Card Ministry notes each month 32. Delivered blank greeting cards to a nursing home for residents to use 33. Volunteer Teaching Assistant for adult ESL students 34. Drive through difference (KTIS) 35. Allowed someone at Cub to check out before us 36. Took care of my sister 37. We pick up garbage on our walks 38. Hold the door open for our neighbor, who is older 39. Mowed our neighbor’s lawn and watered flowers while they were gone 40. Shoveled out young neighbor’s car 41. Plowed the neighbor’s driveway after the plow went through 42. Drove neighbor to doctor appointment 43. Took a lady from Church to her hearing aid appointment 44. Helped neighbors with flooded basement 45. Raked snow off neighbor’s roof 46. Brought meals to neighbors, both who were seriously ill 47. I carried the cross for Church 48. I carried the cross for work 49. I carried the light 50. Inspire others to pay it forward with random generosity 51. Bought a week’s worth of groceries for a stranger 52. Bought coffee for a stranger 53. I gave a veteran a ride to Sam’s Club for groceries 54. I held the door 55. I share my toys and games 56. Invited someone to attend St. Luke’s with me 57. Helped neighbors 58. I babysit for a neighbor in need 59. Worked in the rain garden 60. Helping a grieving friend 61. I helped a friend 62. Took a friend shopping who needs help and uses a walker 63. Helped an elderly lady who fell in the grocery store 64. I cared for an ill person 65. Cleaned street drain of ice and snow 66. Made cookies for our elevator installers 67. Fostering community through hosting 68. Donated blood 69. Helped clean up 70. I helped my Mom with cat poop 71. Gave flower plants to a new home owner gardener 72. Go out with my dog doing therapy work 73. Mentoring youth 74. Helped clean up after children’s church 75. Said a prayer for the ill 76. VINES & BRANCHES clothing donation 77. Donation to ARC 78. Help others figure out their future 79. Bill from Armstrong Carpet Cleaning for coming out at short notice to clean St. Luke’s Narthex carpet 80. Writing down and typing out all the Acts of Kindness For the next 100 years… Let us spur one another on toward love and good deeds “in Jesus’ name”. – Hebrews 10:24 Community Life – Adult Social Group Event Sunday, August 13 for the 2:00 performance Our goal is to offer opportunities for fellowship and ministry among adults in a social setting. Our first foray is going to be attending Godspell by Artistry at the Bloomington Civic Center Schneider Theater. For groups of 10 or more, tickets are $38.00, Invite an unchurched friend! We need to purchase tickets together. Please contact Helen Schatzlein at helen.schatzlein@gmail.com by July 27th to let her know that you’ll be attending. The $38 payment for your ticket must be made to St. Luke’s and given to Heather Kambeitz by July 30th, or click here to pay online through Simply Giving. Note that the payment is for Godspell In an era of uncertainty and isolation, Godspell’s message of hope and unity has never been more relevant. History and Impact of “Godspell” Godspell. Originally conceived in 1970 by John-Michael Tebelak when he was a student at Carnegie Mellon, Godspell was born of collaboration and a desire to spread a joyful message. With Tebelak’s vision and Stephen Schwartz’s music, Godspell quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Godspell‘s Origin Tebelak began writing Godspell for his Master’s thesis. According to Carol de Giere’s The Godspell Experience (2014), “his plan was to re-approach the Biblical parables and texts with the innocence of a child, and to play with the material as if it was a school recess” (de Giere 58). The first iteration was titled The Godspell and consisted solely of the text of The Gospels. The cast, clowns 1-10, were encouraged to experiment and play with the text—to make it their own and bring life to the words. This level of freedom and playfulness along with the vision and input from Tebelak truly transformed the text from discordant Bible parables into a play. With music written by a fellow student for pre-selected hymns, and a three-person band The Godspell premiered in December of 1970. Godspell was given the chance at a New York City debut at La MaMa, an Off-Off-Broadway venue known for experimental theatre. Most of the original cast and some of the original creative team from Carnegie Mellon were able to reprise their roles. No formal script had been created after the Carnegie Mellon shows, and so a new round of experimentation, improvisation, and play commenced. The show was yet again a success. Producers Joseph Beruh and Edgar Lansbury saw the potential in the piece and quickly signed on. Shortly thereafter, everyone began preparing Godspell for a move to The Cherry Lane Theatre. In order to transform this experimental work, new music was a must. Stephen Schwartz, a fellow Carnegie Mellon graduate, was asked to join the team and compose a new score for the show in just five weeks. With an eclectic mix of styles and transitioning of longer monologues into music, Godspell began to transform into its final state. In 1971 it opened to rave reviews. It transferred to the Promenade Theatre and ran for over 2,000 performances. The first Broadway production of Godspell opened in 1976 at the Broadhurst Theatre. Throughout the 1970s, touring and international productions emerged from London and Toronto to smaller regional theatres such as Berkshire Theatre. Godspell’s cultural importance was undeniable. Cultural Impact The creation of Godspell was driven by young artists—college students—who had grown up in the midst of the cultural revolution of the 1960s. Influenced by The Civil Rights Movement, the second wave of feminism, the sexual revolution, and the development of new countercultures aimed at questioning authority and fighting for freedom, Godspell was radical. Godspell revisits the idea of Jesus as a revolutionary figure. One who challenged authority and preached a new, radical message to the world: “love your enemies and pray for your persecutors.” Tebelak in a 1975 interview with Dramatics magazine stated that he, “wanted to make [Godspell] the simple, joyful message that I felt the first time I read [The Gospels] and recreate the sense of community.” Godspell was written in reaction to the world and to those in authority who saw a young Tebelak, in his “hippie” attire, leaving a church and assumed he had snuck in to loiter rather than to listen. One of the most brilliant aspects of Godspell is its ability to be relevant to any time or place in which it is staged. The original cast were named only as clowns, which afforded them a level of theatrical freedom and honesty. Using clowns and comedy also afforded a degree of innocence, playfulness, and humor to the story that is essential to the balance of the show. As the show evolved, the characters were named after the actors who originated them, with the exception of Jesus and Judas/John the Baptist. This helped to illustrate the importance of bringing something of the self to each individual “clown.” As the show moves onward, each individual begins to join in to the community through song. As productions began to spread across the country and the globe, it was imperative that a member of the original New York cast was there to help maintain the spirit and essence of the show. For Berkshire Theatre’s 1975 production, Howard L. Sponseller, Jr. came aboard as an alternate cast member and spokesperson for the spirit of the production. Sponseller was a classmate of Tebelak and performed in New York as well as overseeing the Toronto production in 1972. Godspell was a hit in large part because it showcased the voices of a new generation. “It was a time when the so-called ‘generation gap’ caused confusion and lack of trust between young people and older adults” (de Giere 263). Today, the generation gap that exists is more extreme than ever, with the next generation—Generation Z—set to be the most ethnically and racially diverse in the nation’s history. When the show was revived in 2011, one of the main reasons cited for the revival was the divisive climate in the nation. The ability of Godspell to profoundly impact audiences has only grown throughout the years. What better way to address the divide amongst the population than with a musical about love, community, and connection? Much Thanks to… Berkshire Theatre Group, for their permission to use their blog: https://www.berkshiretheatregroup.org/history-and-impact-of-godspell/# What does it mean to be grateful? Gratefulness is a feeling of appreciation by a recipient of another's kindness. This kindness can be gifts, help, favors, or another form of generosity to another person. The word comes from the Latin word gratus, which means "pleasing" or "thankful". For what are you grateful? Sunday’s readings pointed out much for which we should be grateful. From our Isaiah 40:21-26 reading:
And from the Gospel of John 1:1-14:
All of these things to be grateful for in just 20 of the 31,102 verses found in the Bible. Imagine how many more are found in scripture? The problem is that many people do not read their Bibles. However, God knew that it wasn’t the best source of communicating with us that is why the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus, God with us, was born, raised in a family, and lived his life as the embodiment of God’s Word. As followers of Jesus we are called to be witnesses of God. We do so best when we recognize for that for which we are grateful, and have the desire to help others do likewise as we share kindness, gifts, help, favors, or another form of generosity. In doing hopefully gratefulness is felt by that person and they can join us in giving thanks to God and passing on gratefulness. I encourage you to take a moment to write a quick list of which you are grateful; in fact, I invite you to do so every day. Many people keep a gratitude journal, it helps them focus on what is good and going well in their lives, and in doing so gives them a foundation and strength when facing difficulties in life. Below are the responses from those who shared theirs on Sunday. Are you surprised by the list? Are the things you are grateful for already listed? If not, share yours in the comments. (A number in front indicates multiple responses). May you be grateful for all the blessings you have received, giving thanks in Jesus’ name. Amen
Youth: 4th-12th Grade, July 9-14. Seeds: 1st-3rd Grade July 14-16 Summer Bible Camp = increased faith life and church involvement “Life up your eyes and look to the heavens: who created all these? The Lord brings out the stars one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of God’s great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” – Isaiah 40:26 Camp engagement was the most frequent response among rostered ministers age 45 and younger who grew up in the ELCA. Among this group, 71% attended Lutheran Outdoor Ministry (LOM) summer camp and 60% served on LOM summer camp staff. A remarkable 67% of this subgroup agreed that their camp experiences were instrumental in their call to rostered ministry. I’m no longer in that age range, but I attended Bible Camp and served as a Counselor, Adventurist, Program Director and Site Director in LOM. I am a pastor primarily because of summer Bible camp. A quote I share with camp staff is true for me. “You can’t change a kid’s life in a week, but you can give them the week of a lifetime.” For me Jesus became more personal, more real, a relationship instead of an activity when I attended camp, both as a camper and as summer staff. I asked the St. Luke’s youth last night prior to campfire worship why youth should go to camp. Their responses were much like mine as a youth:
Above is the theme verse for the week. Just as God creates and calls forth the stars, God does so with each one of us. So I read the verse like this: “When I look to the campers, who created all of these? The Lord brings forth each child one by one and calls forth each one by name. Because of God’s great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” If you want to join in the Bible Studies, please click: HERE Know that all of you are in our prayers. Please keep us in yours. Would love to hear your prayers and your camp stories share it in the comments. Today is the Celebration of Independence for the United States. I have a second cousin who reminds anyone who greets him with “Happy Fourth of July!” that we are not celebrating a date, but an ideal. The United State’s grand experiment of democracy continues, with all of its faults and failings. The same could be said about Christianity, which also has many faults and failures – first and foremost the desire for a Christian nation. I will continue to point out that Jesus, the Son of God, never desired to establish an earthly government. We hear him declare during his arrest, “Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will die by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” – Matthew 26:52-54 This coming week we will continue our series on the Book of Isaiah. The passage we are studying is often read on Christmas Eve, “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders, and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Great will be his authority, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore.” – Isaiah 9:6-7 It is in this reading that I hear what the work of the church is to be – peace, justice, and righteousness – Godly righteousness, not self-righteousness. It is the latter that Paul is speaking against to the Galatians. Chapter 5 opens with “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Vs. 1). Paul is speaking against other missionaries who wanted to bring the Galatians under the constraint of a new religio-cultural system of domination. Commentator Richard Hays shares the following in the New Interpreters Bible pg. 310 Paul’s letter is a clarion call to stand firm in the freedom won by Christ. Beware of confusing the freedom of which Paul speaks with nationalistic discourses about freedom nor about rugged individualism or an inner liberty of the conscience or the will. Freedom in Christ manifests itself through the formation of concrete communities where the old barriers of nation, race, class, and gender are overcome in communion at the one table. The freedom Paul proclaims is to be embodied in the corporate life of the church. Freedom in Christ says, “It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ, who lives in me.” (2:20). Freedom in Christ is a gift, not an achievement. Where freedom is so understood it leaves room for genuine diversity. We need not be bound by anxiety about pleasing others, or meeting expectations imposed on us by those who fancy themselves the guardians of order. We are accountable only to God, in whose service is perfect freedom. The freedom that we know now in Christ is a future-oriented sign, a foretaste, a pointer to the new creation. So let us celebrate the Independence of the United States, but even more so the celebrate the greater freedom found in Jesus. Paul directs us how to best do that at the end of the 5th chapter, words that as a Christian and also as fellow citizens would be good to live by… “For you were called to freedom brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ If however you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another…By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:13-15, 22-26 I wanted to reach out and say a HUGE Thank you to all the VBS volunteers, children, and families that made it all possible. We had 32 kids this year and lots of volunteers. The children were just beaming with huge smiles all week, they certainly had a blast and so did I! VBS is one of my favorites and I look forward to it each year. It was a Food Truck Party theme this year, so of course we had to have a real food truck at our celebration. I want to thank our St. Luke’s Foundation for covering the costs of everyone’s meal at our event. We are so grateful for the foundation and I think the families enjoyed it very much! If you have not tried Scramblin’ Egg Food Truck yet, you need too! They will be at church every Thursday morning for the next couple of weeks. The food was amazing! Even though VBS is over for now, the fun songs will be stuck in my head for a long time- which is a good thing!!
Click here to view more wonderful pictures from the week. Emily Schoeller Director of Children and Family Ministries The only miracle found in all four of the Gospels (Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:33–44; Luke 9:12–17; John 6:1–14) is the Loaves and Fishes, feeding 5,000 men, (which means there were even more adding in the women and children. Matthew and Mark record a second feeding 4,000 (Matthew 15:32-39; Mark 8:1-10). What is true in all of them is that Jesus had compassion for the people, taking care of one of the most basic needs – food. As Christians we continue to meet that need is a variety of waves. This week we lift up Loaves and Fishes. After retirement I didn’t want to do anything. Eventually, I felt the need to serve. My husband Andy and I have delivered Meals on Wheels for a number of years. When St. Luke’s needed a coordinator for the monthly meal service I said, “Okay I’ll do it.” The congregation had a need and I was available. I get to work with a really fun group of people from St. Luke’s who are dedicated. I’m impressed with Loaves and Fishes.
Like all nonprofits, funding is always difficult. Grateful to St. Luke’s members who make additional donations to Loaves and Fishes. You can identify Loaves and Fishes when giving online to missions, or simply put Loaves and Fishes in your check memo or if cash note it on the offering envelope. Currently there is a matching fund offered by Otto Bremer Trust, up to $30,000 for all donations given by the end of August. Another fun way to support them is to attend their Fall Jubilee on Saturday, September 23. An evening of fun, philanthropy, and community with food, drinks, live and silent auctions, raffles and more. Thank you to the 15 St. Luke’s Members who sign up every third Wednesday of the month at Hope Presbyterian Church 7132 Portland Ave. Prep begins about 2 PM, meal is served 5:00 to 6:00 PM, with clean up following. Members tend to sign up for a shift of prep, serve, or clean up. To join the team contact Jan Pankratz Andy Pankratz andypank@hotmail.comABOUT LOAVES & FISHES MISSION To provide healthy meals to Minnesotans in areas where need is greatest. VISION We are guided by our vision that all people – regardless of socioeconomic, cultural, religious, or ethnic background – deserve to meet their basic needs for food, dignity, and respect. OUR GROWING IMPACT We have steadily increased the number of free, healthy meals served to Minnesotans in need. In 2022, we served over 4.6 million meals and are on pace to serve over another 4 million in 2023. OUR MEALS:
Learn more at: https://www.loavesandfishesmn.org/ https://www.loavesandfishesmn.org/ It is with great joy and celebration we honor the Graduating High School Students. They have been nurtured in the faith. Let us continue to keep them in our thoughts and prayers trusting in the promise… (Name – High School. Future Plans. Current Favorite Bible Verse) Tommy Denesen – Bloomington Jefferson. Future Plans: Gap year then college. John 11:25-26 – I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Allie Erickson – Academy of Holy Angels. Future Plans: Crown College, St. Boniface studying Biology. Jeremiah 29:11. – For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Aubrey Hendrickson – Bloomington Jefferson. Future Plans: Cornell College, Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, while playing softball. Joshua 1:9 – Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD is with you wherever you go. Eli Norris-Weber – Southwest Minneapolis. Future Plans: Augustana Lutheran Sioux Falls, SD. for Sports Management. Romans 5:10 – For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. Rowen O'Hara – Yorkville High School. Future Plans: Community College for Nursing. 1st Thessalonians 5:11 – "Encourage one another and build each other up, jus as in fact you are doing." Cole Remer – Bloomington Jefferson Future Plans: Hennepin Tech. 1st Corinthians 10:13 – No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. Michaela Zdenek – Shakopee High School. Future Plans: Cosmetology School. John 16:4 – I have told you this so when that time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this first because I was with you. Lord God of our ancestors, we thank you for what you have done and will continue to do in the lives of these graduates. Walk with them in life, and keep the evil one from obstructing their path. You see all; you know where the water is deep. Keep them from danger. Order their steps and guide their feet while they run the race of faith. May the good work that you have begun in them be brought to completion at the day of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. Monday – Thursday, June 19-22. 9 AM – Noon! Special Congregational Celebration, Thursday at 11: 30 AM Food Truck Party VBS invites children of all ages to get on a roll with God as a parade of Food Trucks rolls into their neighborhood for the summer's biggest party! Using Matthew 6:11; "Give us this day our daily bread", children are invited to pray as Jesus teaches. These words serve as a reminder that everything we have comes from God - and our daily needs are met by God. Through stories in both the Old and New Testaments, kids' eyes are open to the countless ways God provides, loves, and cares for us while inviting them to join God in providing, loving, and caring for others. The goal of Food Truck Party is to help children build on the practice of using daily prayer to turn to God for their needs - and also to serve as the hands of God in ensuring that the needs of others are met. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors’ children to join the fun. Register: HERE Join the fun by volunteering for the week, a day, or provide one of the snacks: HERE Any Questions, Contact: Emily Schoeller, Director of Children and Family Ministry. emilys@stlukesbloomington.org / 952-881-5801 ext. 104. Come and enjoy the best week of the summer – St. Luke’s Vacation Bible School! |
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