TODAY / March 7 / 3rd Sunday in Lent
– Adult Forum: Let’s talk with Katie and Sarah–Live! With the aid of Skype, we’ll have a real time conversation with Katie Nelson who is in Mexico with the ELCA Young Adult in Global Mission program, and with Sarah Griebler, ELCA high school English teacher in Poland. We’ll learn of their discoveries, their joys and challenges, and how their experience in mission has changed them. Both women are very excited about this opportunity to connect with their home congregation.

NEXT SUNDAY / March 14 / 4th Sunday in Lent
– Sermon Preview: “Would God Really Welcome Me?” When the son who has squandered everything his father gave him came to himself, he turned around and headed back home ready to ask for forgiveness. The question on his mind is would his father really welcome him? Hear the good news that God answers our questioning hearts with a resounding and grace filled Yes.
– Adult Forum: “Tortillas and Trade.” Hear St. Luke’s members, Sue Weber and Dee Dee Kohlndorfer, reflect on their 10-day immersion experience in Mexico City and Cuernavaca. Sponsored by the ELCA World Hunger and Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America, the goal of the trip was to look at the role people of faith play in contemporary issues affecting Mexico and the United States. They heard from a cross section of community organizations and faith-based projects working with peasant farmers, indigenous women, children and youth, exploring questions such as, “What is economic globalization and how is it affecting the everyday lives of peasant farmers in Mexico? What is the relationship between trade policies, crop subsidies, and hunger? Why should it matter to us?”

THE NEW MEMBER CLASS CONCLUDES TODAY. New members will be received next Sunday, March 14.

LENTEN-EASTER OFFERING. We are in the Lenten Season. As we make this journey with Christ to Jerusalem and his death on Good Friday, and then celebrate his resurrection on Easter Sunday, we are called to the disciplines of prayer, reflection, service, self-denial and alms giving. During the Lenten-Easter Season, offering envelopes are provided in the envelope boxes for a weekly offering as well as the services of Holy Week and Easter Sunday. These offerings become the financial resources for outreach and services ministries of St. Luke’s. Our hope is that at least $12,500 will be given this year. In addition there are devotional books available for use as we pray and muse about our life together with God and reflect on the meaning of God’s journey of love on our behalf.

ALL ARE WELCOME AND INVITED TO THE WEDNESDAY EVENING ADULT EDUCATION DISCUSSION AND STUDIES at St. Luke’s. This Wednesday, March 3, we continue Bible Study at 7:00 p.m. in Meeting Room 6 with “Encounters with Jesus.” Pastor Paul Stone will lead us in a Lenten series dealing with discipleship. He will talk about the people whom Jesus encountered. What did people do during these encounters? How did Jesus behave toward these people? How can we learn to deal with other people? What can we then learn about being disciples to one another? All are welcome!

A BIG “THANK YOU” to all those who remembered this is the first Sunday of the month and brought donations for the food pantries. The first Sunday of every month is when we collect donations for our local food pantries – Elijah Pantry and Maine Township Pantry. The demand for food from food banks across the country is at an all time high with demand exceeding donations received. Won’t you please mark your calendar for this Sunday, and the first Sunday of each month, so you’ll remember to bring along your donations? Isaiah 58:10 “if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.”

PARTY TIME! Come join us for a St. Luke’s Wine Tasting Party at Kyle and Gary Cartwright’s this Saturday, March 13, at 7:00 p.m. Jim Pearson will serve as our own personal sommelier introducing us to four different wines and expounding on their own unique virtues. Bring an appetizer or dessert to share and $8 to cover the cost of the wine. Space is limited so please RSVP by Friday, March 5, to Kyle at 847/825-5499. She will fill you in on all of the details.

INTERESTED IN TRAVEL TO GREECE? Join the Men’s Bible Study as they cruise the Mediterranean in the wake of Paul’s voyages. Next port of call is Ephesus - chapter 19 in the Book of Acts. Join us on the second and fourth Saturday mornings of the month – 8:30 – 9:45 a.m. at the church. Our upcoming dates are Saturdays, March 13 and 27; April 10 and 24 and May 8 and 22. No life vests required. Just bring your Bible and join the voyage!

LIKE GOING AROUND THE WORLD – BUT IT’S IN OUR BACK YARD. The dates are July 7-10, and we’re invited. Why not join the group for an affordable, intergenerational, multi-cultural, international gathering of God’s people just three hours from Chicago at Lutheran Pine Lake Camp in Waupaca, Wisconsin. The March 15 deadline to register for the reduced rates is fast approaching. The cost for the reduced rates are $190 per adult, $160 for ages 10-18, and $60 for ages 3-9. At Global Village you can count on dynamic presentations, engaging conversations, meaningful worship, delicious meals, hiking, swimming, and campfire singing. Keynote speakers include Roger Thurow, 24-year foreign correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, finalist for the 2004 Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting; Christine Jeske, author who lives and teaches in South Africa; and Dr. Charles Amjad-Ali, internationally known teacher and Professor for Justice and Christian Community at Luther Seminary. Worship and music leaders have been musicians for ELCA Global Mission Events. See Lynda Minnick for more information. Check out last year’s event at http://tinyurl.com/globalvillage09.

BLOOD DRIVE. The Social Ministry Committee is sponsoring a blood drive through LifeSource that will take place Monday, March 15, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the gym. Professionally trained people will conduct the process and there will be coffee and refreshments provided to each individual after blood has been drawn. Someone will be contacting most of you shortly in order to see if you would like to participate in this worthwhile endeavor and what time you can come in that day. If you do agree, and we hope that you do, please allow an hour for the whole process: drawing blood, resting and the refreshments afterwards. Also, please bring some identification such as a driver’s license or a social security number.

YOUNG FAMILIES OF ST. LUKE’S ARE YOU READY FOR SPRING? We are! Come join us on Saturday, March 20, at 9:30 a.m. at the Emily Oaks Nature Center in Skokie. Admission to walking trails is Free. Families please meet at the Nature Center at 4650 Brummel in Skokie. In case of inclement weather, please call Anne and Matt Thompson's home phone, 847/292-1413, and we will have a recording directing you to an alternate indoor site (probably someone's home). Also, if you want to attend, you can email Anne at annethompson13@yahoo.com and I can get in touch with you directly if weather becomes a problem. Feel free to bring family and friends! Also, a big thank you to Brenna and Chad Huovie for opening their home to us for coffee and treats in February!

40–SOMETHING FOR LENT 2010. The Social Ministry Committee asks that you please consider giving 40 items of food to Elijah's Pantry in Logan Square during this Lenten season. The food will be taken to the pantry on Palm Sunday, March 28. Cash is also welcome. This food drive has been a rewarding Lenten tradition at St. Luke's for a long time. A sign-up sheet is located by the hall to help us determine how many vans will be needed to transport the food. Any questions? Please call Ken Schoy at 847/823-3957 if you need additional information. Thank you.

FROM THE LIBRARY. God’s Love is Like, a picture book appropriate to ages 4-8, is written and illustrated by Ray Buckley. In it the author retells a handful of Jesus' parables through the experiences of five different children. For example, "The Little Seed That Grew" takes place in a contemporary Hispanic farm village where a tiny mustard seed grows into a great tree, and where the growth of the seed is compared to the growth of God's family. We also have Buckley’s The Wing, about how healing can come in many different ways, told as a Native American legend, and just as meaningful for adults as for children.

FUNDRAISER FOR WINGS (Women in Need Growing Stronger) AT BOSTON MARKET. If you present your event ticket at the Boston Market located at 800 East Devon in Park Ridge on Thursday, March 18, from 4:00-10:00 p.m., 15% of your purchase will be donated to WINGS. Event tickets may be obtained by contacting the church office.

J. S. BACH’S ST. MATTHEW PASSION will be offered on Saturday, March 20, at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso University. For this performance, the Bach Institute at Valparaiso University will welcome the distinguished German maestro Hermann Max to lead VU choral and instrumental forces and many guest musicians. Director of the Bach Institute, Christopher M. Cock, will sing the role of the Evangelist. Tickets and additional information are available by calling 219/464-5162 or on the web at www.valpo.edu/vuca/ticket

AREA ELCA CONGREGATIONS OFFERING WEDNESDAY EVENING LENTEN SERVICE.

Edison Park Lutheran Church
6626 North Oliphant, Chicago
www.edisonparklutheran.org
5:30 p.m. – soup supper
7:00 p.m. – music and Holden Evening Prayer

Messiah Lutheran Church
1605 Vernon Avenue, Park Ridge
www.messiahparkridge.org
6:00 p.m. – light supper
7:00 p.m. – Holden Evening Prayer

Redeemer Lutheran Church
1006 Gillick, Park Ridge
www.redeemer-changinglives.com
6:00 p.m. – soup and salad supper
7:00 p.m. – Holden Evening Prayer

Trinity Lutheran Church
675 East Algonquin Road, Des Plaines
www.trinitydesplaines.org
6:15 p.m. – potluck and Bible study
7:00 p.m. – worship

A LENTEN TAIZÉ PRAYER SERVICE will be held at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Friday, March 26, at 7:30 p.m. Taizé prayer is a non-denominational liturgy filled with song, scripture and meditation. The sanctuary is candlelit and the music consists of simple melodies and texts that enable you to easily enter into a spirit of hope and reflection. Please join us for this prayerful way to participate in the season of Lent. Contact the parish office for more information (847/823-4126) or email parishadmin@stmaryspr.org .

Activities for the Week of March 7

SUNDAY, MARCH 7
ELIJAH’S PANTRY / MAINE TOWNSHIP PANTRY
8:30 a.m. Holy Communion/Third Sunday in Lent
9:45 a.m. 7th and 8th grade Confirmation classes/Youth and Adult Forums/Sunday School
9:45 a.m. Sanctuary Choir rehearsal
10:00 a.m. Recorder Consort rehearsal
11:00 a.m. Holy Communion/Third Sunday in Lent
12:15 p.m. New Member class
3:30 p.m. Cabinet Coordinators meeting

MONDAY, MARCH 8
4:00 p.m. Church Building Team meeting

TUESDAY, MARCH 9
9:30 a.m. WELCA/Elizabeth
12:30 p.m. WELCA/Eunice
1:00 p.m. WELCA/Joanna
5:30 p.m. Confirmation Classes
6:30 p.m. Confirmation Dinner and Fellowship
7:30 p.m. Council meeting

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10
12:00 p.m. Lenten Midweek Worship
4:00 p.m. Spiritual Practices Team meeting
4:30 p.m. 6th grade
4:30 p.m. Cherub Choir rehearsal
5:15 p.m. Junior Choir rehearsal
6:00 p.m. Orff Ensemble rehearsal
7:00 p.m. Youth Choir rehearsal
7:00 p.m. Recorder Consort rehearsal
7:00 p.m. Adult Ed
8:00 p.m. Celebration Ringers rehearsal

THURSDAY, MARCH 11
9:30 a.m. Bible Study
12:30 p.m. WELCA/Rachel
4:30 p.m. First Communion instruction class
6:15 p.m. Worship and Music Cabinet meeting
7:00 p.m. Career Transition Support Group
7:45 p.m. Chancel Choir rehearsal

FRIDAY, MARCH 12 – MESSENGER DEADLINE/APRIL ISSUE
(Pastor Weber on call)

SATURDAY, MARCH 13
8:30 a.m. Men’s Bible study
8:30 p.m. First Communion instruction

SUNDAY, MARCH 14
8:30 a.m. Holy Communion/4th Sunday in Lent
9:30 a.m. 7th and 8th grade Confirmation classes/Youth and Adult Forums/Sunday School
10:00 a.m. Recorder Consort rehearsal
11:00 a.m. Holy Communion/4th Sunday in Lent / New Members received


THE DEADLINE FOR ANY INFORMATION that needs to be included in the upcoming week’s Parish Notes is Monday at 9:00 a.m. (sorry, no exceptions). Here are some helpful tips to make it easier for you to submit announcements for either the Messenger and/or the bulletin:
1. Type (preferable) or print your announcement clearly.
2. Provide your name and a daytime contact number in case we have any questions.
3. Indicate Messenger and/or bulletin. And, in the case of the bulletin, the Sunday(s) you would like the information to appear.
4. In order to conserve paper, inserts will appear in the bulletin for a two-week period only. (The weeks need not be consecutive.) Please indicate which two Sundays you would like the information to appear and submit it in a “camera-ready” format. Thank you!

Sunday Ministers – All the members of St. Luke’s
Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Larson, Lead Pastor - ext. 11 - 847/696-9569 (home)
Rev. Kristina C. Weber, Associate Pastor - ext. 12 - 847/384-1084 (home)
Rev. Dr. Malcolm L. Minnick, Jr., Pastor Emeritus - ext 29 - 773/637-0081 (home)
Nancy Olson, Associate in Ministry, Member Care Coordinator - ext. 19 - 847/384-9861 (home)
Anne Krentz Organ, M. Mus., Director of Music Ministries - ext. 14
Melinda Ramseth Hoiland, M. Arts, Director of Children’s Choirs - ext. 15
Jeannine Oakes, Director for Children, Youth and Family Ministries, ext. 16
Jeanne Rice, Parish Coordinator - ext. 10
Annette Kern, Office Administrator - ext. 17