Are You a Thrivent Member?

Are you a Thrivent member? Did you know that members may be eligible for thousands of dollars to contribute to special projects here at St. Luke’s?

There are two ways you can make a difference requesting Thrivent funds: Through Thrivent Action Teams Grants and Thrivent Choice Dollars.

Thrivent Action teams are simply a small group who wishes to put on a fundraiser, educational event or service activity. Thrivent provides up to $250 in seed money. Then you and your team can get busy bringing your project to life.

Stepping into the Vulnerability

Dear church,
Anne and I had the opportunity to attend the Institute of Liturgical Studies this past week as part of our continuing education and we left with so many things to talk about … our minds were stimulated, and our souls refreshed.
In one of the sessions, I was reminded of the context of the foot-washing in John’s Gospel, which we heard on Maundy Thursday.
And so, we enter a moment of mystagogy about that experience … I spoke with a parishioner who chose not to participate in the foot washing.
Let’s see where the framework leads us …

Drenched in Joy

My family was able to join us for Easter Sunday this year and after the service, Clyde and I hosted them for a meal at our house. My sister shared that as I entered the sanctuary in the procession, with a bowl of water and ‘water-flinger’ in my hand (also known as an aspergillum), she saw me begin to sprinkle the congregation with drops of water, however, someone near her was facing forward and did not see me approaching. After being splattered in the face with water, she turned with irritation in her eyes to see who had just drenched her, only to see me passing by with joy!

Reflections of a Short Timer

As I enter the last month of my contracted interim at St. Luke’s, I thought it might a good time to share some of the things I’ve been thinking and feeling in this transition.

How can I help?

I retired from Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care at the end of 2015. I spent the largest part of my professional life there and through most of those years established and managed the Spiritual Care & Healing Arts staff. But there were changes as there always are in health care, and it was time to go.

Mystagogy

Over the course of these next weeks of Easter, I hope to provide some space in this blog for reflecting on these experiences in the style of mystagogy.

Mystagogy is an ancient practice that will deepen our understanding and appreciation of the mysteries of our faith. It is more than a teaching tool; it’s a way to immerse ourselves in the sacred realities we’ve encountered in our recent liturgical celebrations.

Solemn Reproaches

Dear church,

As we enter Holy Week, I thought it would be appropriate to offer a little devotional based on the “Solemn Reproaches,” a series of laments often used during Good Friday services. These texts are a poignant part of the observance of Christ’s Passion, expressing the sorrow and betrayal Christ felt towards humanity that, despite his love and sacrifices, often strayed and rejected him.

Please Invite Me

So please – invite me into your home, your work, your play! Living out our faith means embodying our Christian values in every aspect of our lives, from our interactions with coworkers to our time spent with family and friends. It’s about extending love, compassion, and grace to others. By doing so, we become living testimonies to the transformative power of Christ’s love in the world around us. Now this is easier said than done…but it’s what we strive for! We hope that people will be curious about why we live so generously and desire to find out more…

Dear Church

I am so deeply humbled and excited to join you as we continue to live into the mission God has called each of us – to be a clear and unashamed witness to God’s love, in every aspect of our lives, in a world so desperately in need of such a life-giving message. As we enter the 110th year of faithful ministry as a congregation, God has much in store for us. Let’s us embrace that call with JOY!

Little Laments

Below are the reflections and questions to guide our meditation on the laments of our lives and our opportunity to be present with others to enable their stories of lament. The reading will be Psalm 42. The psalm begins with a familiar verse: “As the deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.” This longing for God’s presence is picked up in ELW Hymn 331: “As the deer runs to the river, parched and weary from the chase, we have come from hurt and hurry, thirsting for your healing grace.”

Let the Good Times Roll

Two weeks ago, on the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord, Judy and I hosted the Sunday Coffee Hour as a celebration of Mardi Gras. It is a favorite holiday, not only for the food, music, and memories of New Orleans, but also for its place as prequel to Ash Wednesday and the observance of Lent.

In hosting Coffee Hour (for the first time since COVID), I learned three things: