This Sunday Pastor Mark will hopefully join us via Zoom or we will watch a video of his sermon. This will also be available online. We hope that Pastor Schoenhals will be able to come for a visit later in our anniversary year.
** The following is a message from Pastor Mark that was supposed to be the blog for June 21st.
I am very excited to return to St. Luke's for a special Sunday, June 26, associated with your centennial anniversary celebration!
St. Luke's will always have a special place in my heart. I learned so much in my eleven years serving on staff; those were formative years in so many ways as I was exposed to so many different Senior Pastors in that time. We certainly had a lot of transition; and we were served by many dynamic leaders: Tania Haber, Hub Nelson, and Philip Formo, to name a few who made the strongest impact on me.
St. Luke's congregation also saw me through some challenging times in my own life. I remember when Tim Krieg reminded me once: Saint Luke was a physician. We are good at healing. I know I experienced healing and support from many members when I needed it. I know you have done that for many. I will always remember this congregation for its big hearted love. Maybe that describes St. Luke's in a nutshell.
I also have many funny memories of situations and conversations that I still remember and relate today to others who need a smile.
There is so much I learned at St. Luke's: I learned to canoe the Boundary Waters, and that…
· I will never be a snowboarder.
· an item can sit in the same spot or hang in your closet for a decade before you realize it.
· there is more grace available than you think.
· Jesus is faithful and sees us through lots of transitions
· children and youth are always a top priority.
· serving others in mission is one of the best things you can do.
· God's Word is a treasure and a transforming power.
· God meets us in the small hours of prayer.
· friendships are forever.
Thank you St. Luke's! See you in a few short weeks.
Pastor Mark Schoenhals