The Weekly View

Sunday, January 19, 2020

This Sunday

Dear St. Luke Community, 

This Sunday is Acoustic Sunday. In John’s Gospel reading for this Sunday, Jesus asks two disciples what they’re looking for and the disciples answer with another question; “Where are you staying?” Jesus answers, “Come and see.” ( John 1:29-39)

Jesus could have answered any number of ways; I’m staying at a friends on the corner of 3rd and Main. Maybe he gave them a tour of the place once they got there. Or maybe, because this is John’s Gospel, none of this is to be interpreted literally, but instead with a spiritual bent. 

If someone asked me where I live, spiritually, I might be inclined to answer very intimately with words but no wordy explanation would capture the essence of what I was trying to say. And if instead, I invited them to come and see by living with me, I’m still not sure that would do the trick. After a few hours they would get tired of my making sure they were comfortable and fed. 

When it comes to seeing where Christ lives, wee see through experiencing, not by someone giving us an address and following a GPS. We don’t see or live with Christ by being given a doctrine or a set of beliefs, but rather by experiencing what it means to live with Him, in Him, and as much as we can, like Him.We experience Him by asking Him to show himself to us, by paying attention to the big and small manifestations of Him as we go about our beautiful and mundane lives. 

It’s a beautiful journey. It’s a difficult journey. Someone may point the way for us, and we may point the way for others, but at the end of the day, it’s God who says most intimately; come and see for yourself.

See you Sunday,
Nicole

Outreach and Deacon Ministry

All are welcome to attend 

KIVA ~
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. Go to KIVA.org for information and to make a loan.

St. Luke’s Winter Food Drive Barrel ~
St. Luke is collecting canned proteins/meats:  Beans, Peanut Butter, Tuna, Salmon, Sardines, Ham, Chicken, Turkey, Beef. You may also donate using the green envelope with the notation FOOD DRIVE. $1 = 2 Meals!

Grateful Gatherings ~ Saturday, February 1st, 8:00 AM-12:30 PM
GG is kicking off 2020 by fully furnishing “new” apartments of two formerly homeless single moms. Read about the families at https://tinyurl.com/gratefulgatheringsmarin-feb1. Also, there is a list of furniture and household items needed and sign-ups for donations. Bring donations to St. Luke on Sat. February 1st between 8:30 am and 10:30 am. GG provides receipts for your tax-deductible donation. 

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 (canceled Dec.) - 3rd Tuesday, January 21st, 7:00 PM
St. Luke Women’s Bridge - 4th Tuesday, January 27th, 10:30 AM
Session Meeting - 4th Tuesday, January 27th, 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, January 12, 2020

This Sunday

Dear St. Luke Community, 

Back when I was Director of Family Ministry and particularly the Sunday School program, I would often say to the teachers of preschoolers; “If the children know they’re loved by God, Jesus and their church community, then you’re doing your job and fulfilling the mission of the church.” 

It’s a timeless message and should be taken in repeatedly at any age. 

Yesterday, I was killing time in between appointments at a book store. I decided to browse the children’s section in the off chance they might have a section that would carry a book to explain baptism to our church preschoolers Ben and Will. 

I found no such section, but my eye was immediately drawn to this title; A Love Letter.

In the story three animals receive a love letter, though none are sure from where the letter came, it changes the way they live their lives.

The letter reads;

If God wrote us a letter on the day of our Baptism, I imagine this could be the letter. 

What more is there to say?

 See you Sunday,
Nicole 

Outreach and Deacon Ministry

All are welcome to attend 

KIVA ~
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. Go to KIVA.org for information and to make a loan.

St. Luke’s Winter Food Drive Barrel ~
St. Luke is collecting canned proteins/meats:  Beans, Peanut Butter, Tuna, Salmon, Sardines, Ham, Chicken, Turkey, Beef. You may also donate using the green envelope with the notation FOOD DRIVE. $1 = 2 Meals!

Grateful Gatherings ~ Saturday, February 1st, 8:00 AM-12:30 PM
GG is kicking off 2020 by fully furnishing “new” apartments of two formerly homeless single moms. Read about the families at https://tinyurl.com/gratefulgatheringsmarin-feb1. Also, there is a list of furniture and household items needed and sign-ups for donations. Bring donations to St. Luke on Sat. February 1st between 8:30 am and 10:30 am. GG provides receipts for your tax-deductible donation. 

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, January 14th, 6:00 PM
Pizza and Theology (canceled Dec.) - 3rd Tuesday, January 21st, 7:00 PM
St. Luke Women’s Bridge - 4th Tuesday, January 27th, 10:30 AM
Session Meeting - 4th Tuesday, January 27th, 7:00 PM

Sunday, January 3, 2020

This Sunday

Dear St. Luke Community, 

What is it that keeps us searching? I‘m not assuming you’re all searching, though I have to think that if you’re following Christ, you’re also searching for him; searching for the ways in which He manifests. Manifestations of Christ are also epiphanies, and the tradition we honor this Sunday; Epiphany Sunday.

We don’t know for how long the Magi in Matthew’s Gospel searched. We don’t know whether they got lost on the way, or argued about which direction to go, or whether or not they trusted they would find what they were looking for. What we know is that they looked up at the night sky until a star appeared.

Searching never guarantees us an outcome.

Like the Magi, we wonder and we follow and we wander and we search the way, looking for that divine manifestation of love that now lives with us, among us, as one of us. In things both tangible and elusive, God appears. 

Searching never grantees us an outcome, except for maybe in this one way; in the searching we discover we’re never alone. In the searching we discover that love shines its radiant beams most clearly in the dark. We discover that we carry gifts, just as the Magi did. We carry gifts knitted into the fabric our very being, no matter how lost we are, because as long as we are searching for God, God treasures the search, making us a gift and a blessing to the very One we worship. 

Keep searching, keep discovering, keep giving.

See you Sunday,
Nicole

Outreach and Deacon Ministry

All are welcome to attend 

St Luke’s Winter Food Drive Barrel ~
St. Luke is collecting canned proteins/meats:  Beans, Peanut Butter, Tuna, Salmon, Sardines, Ham, Chicken, Turkey, Beef. You may also donate using the green envelope with the notation FOOD DRIVE. $1 = 2 Meals!

Grateful Gatherings ~ Saturday, February 1st, 8:00 AM-12:30 PM
GG Mission: To bring hope to families in need. When a family transitions from homelessness or crisis into a new home in the Bay Area, we help them furnish it. We believe that families can thrive when they have a safe and comfortable home. Look for information about February’s families in the coming weeks. Use the green pew envelope to donate today. Their website is gratefulgatherings.org.   

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, January 14th, 6:00 PM
Pizza and Theology (canceled Dec.) - 3rd Tuesday, January 21st, 7:00 PM
St. Luke Women’s Bridge - 4th Tuesday, January 27th, 10:30 AM
Session Meeting - 4th Tuesday, January 27th, 7:00 PM