The Weekly View

Sunday, August 11, 2019

This Sunday

Dear St. Luke Community, 

As I was re-reading this Sunday’s scripture, I didn’t get past the first line. “Do not be afraid.” I just stayed there, because lately, I feel afraid. I’m afraid for so many people. I’m afraid for our country and for other places around the world, but when it hits close to home as it has these past few weeks, somehow fear gets reignited in new ways, and the words, “Do not be afraid” take on an entirely new meaning. 

As I was searching, I opened a facebook post from one of the few people I read from time to time, The Reverend Scott Clark. Scott’s words hit home and I have his permission to share them with you. 

From Scott- 

That moment — after some weeks when the world feels like it has been spinning way faster than usual and life has been full— and you wake up in your own home after many miles, and you walk into the kitchen in the still of morning, and have time to smell and sip the coffee, and you sit down in your chair, and breathe — and find yourself weeping — like the full-body kind — not for any one thing— but for the whole of it — for all the sorrow, and all the joy, and all the injustice, and the loss, and the anger, and the love, and the death, and the healing, or not, and all the life. That moment. That moment.

Now, I’m OK. I don’t need (or really want) any words of comfort or reassurance. Really. But something told me to put this here because maybe you’ve felt that way too. And if you have or if you are, well me too. And if you need a hug, I’m sending you one. And if not, we can just sit here together. And when it’s time, we can get back up and get back at it. 

Let’s gather this Sunday to worship, to sit together, to be reassured that we’re not alone and that God, who weeps with us, is powerful in ways we cannot even imagine. But let’s imagine anyway, as we lean into the Word, the love and the care of Jesus Christ.

See you Sunday,
Nicole

Outreach and Deacon Ministry

All are welcome to attend 

KIVA.ORG ~ St. Luke’s Women’s Association has supported KIVA for many years and they will be a Deacon’s Ministry in the Fall. KIVA is a San Francisco based non-profit that offers individuals or groups the opportunity to make a $25 or larger loan in many countries.

Street Chaplaincy ~  August 20th, 4:30 PM
John Lenser will be the go-to on the evening. If you can’t serve but would like to donate, please bring something from the list below to church on 8/18 for collection. (please plan on 3 dozen of each): Tangerines, Bananas, Apples, Nutrition bars, Slim Jim’s, Chomps, etc. If you’re interested in serving, EMAIL Michael B. at

Mill Street Meal Providers ~  Monday, September 9th, Group A
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. Please contact Stacy Bischoff at for information.

6th Annual Pedal for Protein ~ September 22nd – 28th, Let's ride!
Supports food bank pantries & projects to help feed hungry people in Northern California. Organized by The Hunger Task Force of the Presbytery of the Redwoods, 100% of all donations go to food projects. PEDALFORPROTEIN.COM. for information.

Grateful Gatherings ~ Saturday, October 26th, 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM
GG Mission: To bring hope to families in need. We help furnish homes when a family transitions from homelessness or crisis into a new home. Use the green pew envelope (write GG) to donate today.

St. Luke Groups ~ The following ongoing groups will resume in September: Bible Study, St Luke Choir Rehearsal, St. Luke Women’s Bridge, Morning Women's Spirituality Group, Pizza and Theology, Session and Deacons. 

Save The Date

All are welcome to attend 

Fall Speaker Series ~ September 8th, 15th, 22nd after worship. Professor Greg Love returns for a Fall Speaker series on ‘The Change Towards Wholeness.” Looking at opposing views of how we change.

St Luke’s Annual Fundraiser Dinner & Auction ~ October 6th

St Luke’s Christmas Concert ~ December 8th, 4:00 PM
St Luke’s Christmas Concert followed by a reception in the Bayview room.

Summer Music Series ~ Guest Musicians
August 11~ Hymn Sing
August 18~ Acoustic Sunday
August 25~ Diane Yermack, Mezzo Soprano
September 1~ Courtney and Kelsey McGiver
September 8~ Erich Miller, Percussion
September 22~ Acoustic Sunday

August 4, 2019

This Sunday

Dear St. Luke Community, 

This Sunday we continue our Summer Series “Upon Request.” I received not one but three requests. The good news is that they all work together. Our scripture comes from Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy. The letter is appealing to church leaders and the verse I’ve been asked to preach on is; “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7) 

Discipline and Discipleship are related in meaning. As disciples of Christ, baptized into Christ and leaders of the church we are called to be disciples. What does it mean to be a disciple? This is the heart of the second request I received. If being Christian is not just a ticket to heaven or about being saved, then what does it mean to be a Christ follower? What are the biblical values of Christ that we are called to embody in the world? 

And what happens when we find ourselves with people who call themselves Christians but are not living into the values we define as biblical or as befitting someone who claims to be a disciple of Christs? This is the third request I received. How do we engage with people who are hateful and racist but define themselves as Christian? 

So you can see, these three requests all blend together very well.

The Spirit of God gives us power, love and self disciple. As disciples, what does it look like in practice to embody the power, love and self discipline of Christ? And what do we do when others are practicing the opposite of we understand to be those values and calling themselves christian in the process? 

I am grateful to those who made the requests. I have my work cut out for me and have been praying for guidance all week. Please join in as we worship God and learn together ways in which we can live into discipleship together as a church.

See you Sunday,
Nicole

Outreach and Deacon Ministry

All are welcome to attend 

Mill Street Meal Providers ~  Monday, August 5th, 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. Please contact Stacy Bischoff at for information.

Street Chaplaincy ~  August 20th
John Lenser will be the go-to on the evening. We’re looking for people to contribute: Salad makings, Bread, Tortillas, Cookies & Cupcakes.  If you can’t serve but would like to donate, please bring something from the list below to church on 8/18 for collection. (please plan on 3 dozen of each): Tangerines, Bananas, Apples, Nutrition bars, Slim Jim’s, Chomps, etc. If you’re interested in serving, please EMAIL Michael B. at

KIVA.ORG ~ St. Luke’s Women’s Association has supported KIVA for many years. KIVA is a San Francisco based non-profit that offers individuals or groups the opportunity to make a $25 or larger loan in many countries. KIVA will be a St Luke Deacon’s Cause in the Fall.  

6th Annual Pedal for Protein ~ September 22nd – 28th, Let's ride!
Supports food bank pantries & projects to help feed hungry people in Northern California. Organized by The Hunger Task Force of the Presbytery of the Redwoods, 100% of all donations go to food projects. Fundraising Goal: $60,000 YTD raised is $1500. “Gal. 6:9 Let us not become weary from doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” PEDALFORPROTEIN.COM. for information.

Grateful Gatherings ~ Saturday, October 26th, 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM
GG Mission: To bring hope to families in need. We help furnish homes when a family transitions from homelessness or crisis into a new home. Information about this month’s families is on the GG website gratefulgatherings.org. Bring donations to St. Luke 8:30-10:30. Use the green pew envelope (write GG) to donate today.

St. Luke Groups ~ The following ongoing groups will resume in September: Bible Study, St Luke Choir Rehearsal, St. Luke Women’s Bridge, Morning Women's Spirituality Group, Pizza and Theology, Session and Deacons. 

Save The Date

All are welcome to attend 

Fall Speaker Series ~ September 8th, 15th, 22nd after worship. Professor Greg Love returns for a Fall Speaker series on ‘The Change Towards Wholeness.” Looking at opposing views of how we change.

St Luke’s Annual Fundraiser Dinner & Auction ~ October 6th

St Luke’s Christmas Concert ~ December 8th, 4 PM
St Luke’s Christmas Concert followed by a reception in the Bayview room.

Summer Music Series ~ Guest Musicians
August 4~ Ann Davis Nilsson, Piano
August 11~ Hymn Sing
August 18~ Acoustic Sunday
August 25~ Diane Yermack, Mezzo Soprano
September 1~ Courtney and Kelsey McGiver
September 8~ Erich Miller, Percussion
September 15~ Acoustic Sunday

Sunday, July 28, 2019

This Sunday

Dear St. Luke Community, 

This Sunday will be a theologically controversial Sunday. We continue our Sermon Series “Upon Request.” The requested scripture is from John’s gospel. 14:1-6. Those who are in bible study on a regular basis have heard my take on this scripture, but I’ve been asked to extrapolate, particularly on verse 6; Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  

This verse has been used over the centuries to hurt a lot of people. This verse, when understood as excluding every other religion as wrong in the eyes of God continues to hurt others but also Christianity itself. If you believe that what is written in the bible has to be taken at face value, end of story, then please consider other verses from the bible that have also done great harm throughout history; “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:22) “Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the cruel.” (1 Peter 2:18) 

If we read bible verses out of context without examining them we are checking our God-given brains at the door. Understanding their historical context doesn’t make the biblical experience less true, nor does historical inaccuracy diminish the power of Jesus Christ today. 

I look forward to unpacking how I understand this verse of Jesus in context of when it was written, why it was written and what Jesus might have meant in context of the rest of his life, teachings and actions.

See you Sunday,
Nicole

Outreach and Deacon Ministry

All are welcome to attend 

Grateful Gatherings ~ Saturday, July 27th 8:00 AM-12: 30 PM
GG Mission: To bring hope to families in need. We help furnish homes when a family transitions from homelessness or crisis into a new home. Information about this month’s families is on the GG website gratefulgatherings.org. Bring donations to St. Luke 8:30-10:30. Use the green pew envelope (write GG) to donate today.

Mill Street Meal Providers ~  Monday, August 5th, 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. Please contact Stacy Bischoff at for information.

Street Chaplaincy ~  August 20th
This is our first call for volunteers to help serve on the evening. John Lenser will be leading the charge and be the go-to on the evening. Once John has finalized his menu, another email will go out with food needs for the evening. If you’re interested in serving, please EMAIL Michael B. at

KIVA.ORG ~ St. Luke’s Women’s Association has supported KIVA for many years. KIVA is a San Francisco based non-profit that offers individuals or groups the opportunity to make a $25 or larger loan in many countries. KIVA will be a St Luke Deacon’s Cause in the Fall.  

6th Annual Pedal for Protein ~ September 22nd – 28th, Let's ride!
Supports food bank pantries & projects to help feed hungry people in Northern California. Organized by The Hunger Task Force of the Presbytery of the Redwoods, 100% of all donations go to food projects. Fundraising Goal: $60,000 YTD raised is $1500. “Gal. 6:9 Let us not become weary from doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” PEDALFORPROTEIN.COM. for information.

Grateful Gatherings ~ Saturday, October 26th, 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM
GG Mission: To bring hope to families in need. We help furnish homes when a family transitions from homelessness or crisis into a new home. Information about this month’s families is on the GG website gratefulgatherings.org. Bring donations to St. Luke 8:30-10:30. Use the green pew envelope (write GG) to donate today.

St. Luke Groups ~ The following ongoing groups will resume in September: Bible Study, St Luke Choir Rehearsal, St. Luke Women’s Bridge, Morning Women's Spirituality Group, Pizza and Theology, Session and Deacons. 

Save The Date

All are welcome to attend 

Fall Speaker Series ~ September 8th, 15th, 22nd after worship. Professor Greg Love returns for a Fall Speaker series on ‘The Change Towards Wholeness.” Looking at opposing views of how we change.

St Luke’s Annual Fundraiser Dinner & Auction ~ October 6th

St Luke’s Christmas Concert ~ December 8th, 4 PM
St Luke’s Christmas Concert followed by a reception in the Bayview room.

Summer Music Series ~ Guest Musicians
July 28~ Christopher Pilcher, Bass Baritone
August 4~ Ann Davis Nilsson, Piano
August 11~ Hymn Sing
August 18~ Acoustic Sunday
August 25~ Diane Yermack, Mezzo Soprano
September 1~ Courtney and Kelsey McGiver, Horn/Stringed Bass
September 8~ Erich Miller, Percussion
September 15~ Acoustic Sunday