The Weekly View

Sunday, February 16, 2020

This Sunday

Dear St. Luke Community, 

Remember that expression you probably heard as a child: it’s for your own good? Some might call it tough love. Others might call good parenting. I remember agonizing over discipling my kids when they were little by not allowing them to participate in playdates because of their behavior. Other times I had no problem expressing tough love, especially when I knew it was the best way to teach them about making a different choice next time. It was for their own good, I’d tell myself.

This Sunday Jesus is expressing some pretty tough love. (Matthew 5:21-37) Some of it is just bizarre, if I may be so bold. But when read in the context of when it was written, we can look past the specifics and begin to look at what the intention of these teachings might be. Like many of Jesus’s teachings, these verses speak to how we should be relating to one another. Jesus seems to be saying, it’s one thing to follow the rules, but when you follow the rules in one area of your life and then make some lousy choices in other areas, it’s not enough. It’s not enough to follow the law, you also have to keep in check what’s in your heart and how you treat those around you. It’s for your own good: that is, it’s for your own goodness. The good that’s in us, given to us by God is like anything else that is living and breathing. It needs water and light. It needs nurturing and sometimes it needs discipline. It’s for our own good when God gets tough and says, that’s not enough, you can do better, and you should, for your own good, and the good of those around you, which for Jesus are one and the same thing. Love God, love others. (Matthew 22:37-39) Love one another as I’ve loved you. (John 15:12) Treat others the way you want to be treated. (Luke 6:31) We can do better. And it’s for our own good. 

See you Sunday,
Nicole

Outreach and Deacon Ministry

All are welcome to attend 

Manna Bags ~ Sunday, February 23rd
Over the next two weeks, St. Luke’s Outreach is collecting the following items to fill and distribute “Manna Bags” to the unsheltered population in Marin:
• Socks ( the #1 requested item)
• Protein bars
• Mini toiletries (soap, shampoo, lotion, toothbrushes, toothpaste)
• Tissue packets
• Ziploc gallon bags
We have already purchased rain ponchos and mylar blankets, and will also include a list of Marin resources and services in each bag. Our goal is to fill and distribute 150-200 bags, which we will assemble during worship service on February 23rd.

Mill Street Meal Providers ~ Monday, March 2nd, Group A

Bible Study - Wednesdays at 9:30 AM
St. Luke Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7:00 PM
Women's Spirituality Group - Thursdays at 9:00 AM
Deacons Meeting - 2nd Tuesday, March 10th, 6:00 PM
St. Luke Women’s Bridge - 4th Tuesday, February 25th, 10:30 AM
Session Meeting - 4th Tuesday, February 25th, 7:00 PM

St. Luke’s mission: To practice love by following Jesus. 
Learn more at www.stlukepres.org
Facebook ~ St. Luke Presbyterian San Rafael
Reverend Nicole Trotter ~
Office Admin., Joanne Trifoso ~
Office Phone: 415-454-2705, Office hours: M, W & Th: 10-1 & Tues: 1-4
Sexton, Carlos Araujo ~ Sunday 8:00 AM-Noon   

Sunday, February 9, 2020

This Sunday

Dear St. Luke Community, 

This Sunday we welcome Reverend Daniel White into the pulpit. Dan will be preaching on John 8:12 and Matthew 5:13-16 and what it means to be a light in the world.

In Bible study this week I was reminded once again of Brenda Matthews, or “Mama Brenda as she was known on the west side of Chicago. Brenda Matthews was a poet, activist, artist, pastor and a motivational speaker for youth.

I’ve told this story before but I’ve learned no one ever remembers what I say so I think I’m safe. 

In 2014  I accompanied roughly 30 high school kids on a mission trip to Chicago. Brenda showed up one evening to speak to the many youth groups visiting from different areas of the country. She turned to the crowd and asked, “Children, (she could get away with calling high schoolers children) why are you here?”

After a long silence, one of the kids said, “To shine the light of God for others.” Mama Brenda pounced on that without missing a beat. “You don’t think we already have God’s light here with us? You think you’re bringing God’s light to us as though you’re the only ones who have God’s light! God is as much here as anywhere else.” Then she paused and asked again, “So why are you here?” 

There were a few more attempts, each one shot down and by now the kids and the adults were too intimidated to speak.

But she continued, “Let me tell you, poor people are not your project. We are not here for you to fix. Our problems are no worse than yours. We may be poor, and we may have drop outs here, but you have children cutting themselves and millionaires secluded in their mansions ready to end their lives. Do not go home and put our pictures on your refrigerators and embellish stories about us so you can feel better about yourselves.You are here for one reason and one reason only. Because we are brothers and sisters in Christ.” 

Matthews died in November of 2014 but her legacy lives on in books, videos and the activism taking place in her name. Each time I tell this story I remember differently, so that’s my disclaimer. I can’t promise that my quotes are exact. But the impression she made is the same: none of us have the corner on light. Everyone is born in the image of God. All people, whether privileged or marginalized, have light to shine. Certainly hunger can dampen a spirit, but so can wealth and status. But don’t take my word for it. Don’t even take Mama Brenda’s word for it. Just read your Bible.

Shine on friends. And let the light of all God’s people shine as one in Christ Jesus. 

Yours,
Nicole

Outreach and Deacon Ministry

All are welcome to attend 

Manna Bags ~ Sunday, February 23rd
Over the next two weeks, St. Luke’s Outreach is collecting the following items to fill and distribute “Manna Bags” to the unsheltered population in Marin:
• Socks ( the #1 requested item)
• Protein bars
• Mini toiletries (soap, shampoo, lotion, toothbrushes, toothpaste)
• Tissue packets
• Ziploc gallon bags
We have already purchased rain ponchos and mylar blankets, and will also include a list of Marin resources and services in each bag. Our goal is to fill and distribute 150-200 bags, which we will assemble during worship service on February 23rd.

St. Luke’s Winter Food Drive Barrelill be picked up Friday, February 14th
Please bring canned proteins/meats by Thursday, February 13th.

Mill Street Meal Providers ~ Monday, March 2nd, Group A

Bible Study - Wednesdays at 9:30 AM
St. Luke Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7:00 PM
Women's Spirituality Group - Thursdays at 9:00 AM
Deacons Meeting - 2nd Tuesday, February 11th, 6:00 PM
Pizza and Theology - 3rd Tuesday, February 18th, 7:00 PM
St. Luke Women’s Bridge - 4th Tuesday, February 25th, 10:30 AM
Session Meeting - 4th Tuesday, February 25th, 7:00 PM

St. Luke’s mission: To practice love by following Jesus. 
Learn more at www.stlukepres.org
Facebook ~ St. Luke Presbyterian San Rafael
Reverend Nicole Trotter ~
Office Admin., Joanne Trifoso ~
Office Phone: 415-454-2705, Office hours: M, W & Th: 10-1 & Tues: 1-4
Sexton, Carlos Araujo ~ Sunday 8:00 AM-Noon   

Sunday, February 2, 2020

This Sunday

Dear St. Luke Community, 

Are you tired of your pastor talking about love yet? It seems no matter what I read or how much I study, I return to love: love as a verb, as a noun and as the second person in the holy trinity. 

Apparently Paul, myself and countless others have this drawn conclusion:
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13) 

Paul also recognized that in a world where power is measured by control over others in forms of status and wealth, love can appear on the surface to be a foolish choice. (1 Corinthians 1:25-31) 

A symbol of crucifixion and of resurrection might seem a foolish choice to some. To others, our sacrament of gathering around a table to eat bread may also appear like a foolish waste of time.

But as Matthew would remind us in The Beatitudes, (5:1-12) when life falls apart momentarily, when grief and weakness dominates everything you once counted on, and you feel there is nothing left for you, God enters in to hold you, to lift you up and to bring you home into being the blessing you are.

It’s an upside down philosophy Jesus gives us and yet it’s the only one that I can find that holds this eternal truth: we are born as love with one purpose, to love. The world will call this foolish. But no matter how I look at it, this is all I can find worth doing, all I can find worth being, and all I can find worth following. Just call me a fool for love.

See you Sunday,
Nicole 

PS - Yes, there’s an annual congregational meeting following worship in the Bayview Room. Light finger sandwiches will be provided.

Outreach and Deacon Ministry

All are welcome to attend 

St. Luke’s Winter Food Drive Barrel ~
This is the last week for Canned proteins/meats:  Beans, Peanut Butter, Tuna, Salmon, Sardines, Ham, Chicken, Turkey, Beef.

Mill Street Meal Providers ~  Monday, February 3rd, Group B
The first Monday of each month Group A or Group B is assigned a meal item to provide (fruit, milk & bread, main, salad, vegetable, dessert). The volunteers bring a different food item every other month.

Bible Study - Wednesdays at 9:30 AM
St. Luke Choir Rehearsal - Wednesdays at 7:00 PM
Women's Spirituality Group - Thursdays at 9:00 AM
Deacons Meeting - 2nd Tuesday, February 11th, 6:00 PM
Pizza and Theology - 3rd Tuesday, February 18th, 7:00 PM
St. Luke Women’s Bridge - 4th Tuesday, February 25th, 10:30 AM
Session Meeting - 4th Tuesday, February 25th, 7:00 PM

St. Luke’s mission:  To practice love by following Jesus. 
Learn more at www.stlukepres.org
Facebook ~ St. Luke Presbyterian San Rafael
Reverend Nicole Trotter ~
Office Admin., Joanne Trifoso ~
Office Phone: 415-454-2705, Office hours: M, W & Th: 10-1 & Tues: 1-4
Sexton, Carlos Araujo ~ Sunday 8:00 AM-Noon