The People of St. Luke’s - Celebrating 101 Years

It is important that we take time to look back so that we can move forward. The road we travel today may be different, but God, Jesus, and Spirit are the same. The Season of Lent is a time of Discipleship, to be renewed, refreshed, and recommit to picking up our cross and follow Jesus. That has been happening here for 101 years…

This poem written for St. Luke’s 50th Anniversary is found on pages 137-138, in “The Fields Were Ripe.” A History of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, to celebrate the 75th Anniversary. As you read it, what can we learn to move forward today?

The People of St. Luke’s
by Marv Koch
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Five people met one Sunday morn in Brown’s new Oxboro store,
And then Judd Thomas’s “Front Porch” was church for some weeks more.

A committee formed to build a church in nineteen twenty-four
And God provided them the way, St. Luke’s great name it bore.

By prayer and hope and faith and love and labors of their hands.
They built the church through sacrifice near where our church now stands.

When times grew hard and money short, they struggled bravely on
For Christ and for His Kingdom here and souls that must be won.

The 40’s brought us some relief but war struck home here too.
And robbed us of two of our sons who fought for me and you.
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A parsonage was built for us, an organ we did buy
It served us more than twenty years, my how the time does fly.

The population boom was on, the schools soon overflowed
The basement of our church, we loaned to help to ease the load.

A parish education wing became a vital need
We realized that dream quite soon for God does surely lead.

A nave so new and different then was planned as we did grow
For the old church burst at the seams three hours in a row.

A fellowship and meeting hall was built as we had planned.
Two full-time pastors served so well this ever-growing band.

Burden bearers and strugglers groups add depth to Christian life.
Whole families can participate – children and man and wife.

Our God is surely present here, we know He leads the way
For people live the faith they claim. Praise Jesus Christ today!

The poem tells the history of the church, but more importantly, it tells about the people of St. Luke’s “…by prayer and hope and faith and love and labors of their hands, they build the church… It is the people who make up any church, the people whose faith, love, and labor build the church and carry on the work of God’s kingdom on earth.”

These people had a common bond of membership in St. Luke’s. Under the guidance and leadership of ordained clergy, the people of St. Luke’s have become ministers of the word of God equipped to do His work in His Kingdom. We know that…

“…there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. – 1st. Corinthians 12:4-7

What jumped out to me is that this all started by 5 people. There were good times, bad times, struggles and celebrations, but through it all the people knew that “Our God is surely present here, we know He leads the way, for people live the faith they claim.

We live in a society that does not join or commit, but as people of faith we know a God who joined us, walking the earth as Jesus. We have a God who commits to us be with us always through the Holy Spirit.

We are doing three things currently to be church in this time and place.

First, we are inviting members to opt in for the new directory. Contact the office if you would like to be included. Thank you to those who have already opted in or let us know that you would not like to be in it. This will be a protected document available to those who participate. We will print copies for those who like one. This is an invitation to participate. You have the option of whether or not to be in it. You have the option to have your picture in it or not. It will be online once we have made 100% contact with all our members.

Second, thank you to all who support St. Luke’s in time, talent, and treasure. First, those who pledge and give. Second, those who give, but do not pledge. Third, those who do not give a recorded gift. To make a budget it is helpful to know what money is planned to be given. If you have made a pledge, please confirm the amount. If you have not made a pledge, prayerfully consider doing so. We will adjust the budget accordingly. If you do not make a recorded gift.

Third, we are living out the mission…

St. Luke’s is a welcoming and growing community of faith, busy making Christ known to the world.

We will have more than a dozen people attending our “Get to Know St. Luke’s” lunch this coming Sunday. There is still room for you. Please gather in Fellowship Hall following the 10 AM worship.

Looking back to look move forward, let us follow the lead of those who came before us as written on page 138 of the 75th Anniversary book, “…the people of St. Luke’s have become ministers of the word of God equipped to do His work in His Kingdom.”
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Praise Jesus Christ Today!