The Weekly View

Sunday, December 22, 2019

This Sunday

Dear St. Luke Community, 

This Sunday is our final Sunday of Advent and the symbolic candle is the candle of love. It’s no wonder that love comes just days before we light the Christ candle. If Jesus is love made flesh it makes even more sense to have these two candles side by side.

With images of creche statues, stained glass and greeting cards, we forget that to be made of flesh and blood is to feel all of what life brings; sweat and tears, grief and compassion, fear and anxiety, peace, and finally love.

We’re also reminded of the flesh that is Joseph and Mary. (Matthew 1:18-25) When we imagine all of what Jospeh went through; from the learning of the news to the time Jesus is born, I imagine he ran through every emotion known to God. I’m always in awe of these two human beings who demonstrated the kind of trust we all long for.

We hear the stories each year and each year we’re called upon to deepen our own sense of trust. As love comes down at Christmas, all over again, in our lives and in the world, may you trust in God, in our creator, in what has been and will be.

"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator
for all I have not seen.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

See you Sunday,
Nicole

Outreach and Deacon Ministry

All are welcome to attend 

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

Mill Street Meal Providers ~ Monday, January 6th GROUP A  

Mission Trip Opportunity with SRFPC ~  Last year members Carlene McCart, Skipper Cummings and Jim Tillson joined the team at First Presbyterian SR on a mission trip to Texas. This year the group is going Omaha, Nebraska, April 19-25. The mission includes house repair from damage caused by flooding in March 2019. The work will be guided by Omaha Rapid Response and includes removing and replacing studs in walls, installing insulation and drywall, and laying flooring, etc. no construction experience is needed. Please email Ralph Purdy for more info.   

Men’s Cursillo Weekend ~ April 23rd-26th
This is a weekend that will deepen your spiritual journey, deepen relationships and lead you into new friendships that could last a lifetime. It is one of those experiences that is difficult to put into words but will be well worth your while. For more info, please email John Bischoff at   

St. Luke Men's Group 2020 ~ In 2020, we will continue hold meetings on the first Tuesday of every other month at 6 PM:  January 7th, March 3rd,  May 5th,  July 7th,  September 1st, and November 3rd. Please put these dates on your schedules and plan on attending. John is looking for volunteers to host a dinner meeting at your home on these dates. Please email John Lenser if you are willing to host and if there is a specific date that works for you. 

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, December 15, 2019

This Sunday

Dear St. Luke Community, 

This Sunday we hear what is referred to as Mary’s Magnificat. Mary has traveled to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth to share in the good news and then breaks into what we call a song of praise for God.

I’ve read this scripture countless times, not only because it’s so very beautiful but because I fell in love with Mary many years ago now. She became a part of my life when I was quite young and my Grandmother suggested I pray to her because she understood women. Not many protestant preachers walk around talking about their devotion and love for Mary, but there it is. 

This year in reading, something new struck me; the deep spiritual relationship between these two women and their babies. The interdependence we share with other human beings in all stages of our lives is something we so often take for granted.  I’m not sure our joys could survive without our God given ability to share in them with others. 

It is one thing to experience joy between self and God and another to share that experience with others. Mary waits till she gets to Elizabeth’s and the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaps and then Mary breaks into joyful song. 

Mary doesn’t sing alone but in good company of the ones she could trust would share in her God given joy. In other words, she trusted they would  “get it.” 

And the ones who perhaps get it the most are the ones who are still waiting on God to bring them home to security, to health, to wholeness, to peace. Mary sings for all those who long, those who cannot sing and perhaps mostly for those who have no voice in this world. 

Won’t you sing along? 

See you Sunday,
Nicole

Outreach and Deacon Ministry

All are welcome to attend 

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

Ritter Center Christmas Gift Barrel ~ Ritter Center Adopt-a-Family Christmas Gift Barrel
Thanks so much for everyone’s participation in the Ritter Christmas ministry! We supported two families and five elderly adults with your generosity and kindness!

Street Chaplaincy Dinner ~ Tuesday, December 17th
Please email Michael Baranowski at .

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, December 8, 2019

This Sunday

Dear St. Luke Community, 

Tickets are still available for this Sunday’s Christmas Concert at 4:00. The band, choir and soloists have been rehearsing all week and we look forward to supporting our church together in this creative endeavor with your presence.

Tickets available here:
https://stlukepresthisischristmas.eventcreate.com 

This Sunday’s Worship at 10:00 marks our second Sunday of Advent. We will witness the lighting of the candle of peace and hear Isaiah’s vision for peace; a time when wolves and lambs live side by side. (11:1-10) But our Gospel reading has a very different tone.(Matthew 3:1-12) John the Baptist is out in the wilderness yelling warnings about the need for repentance. As far as I can tell, peace begins with each one of us. The more we can take responsibility for the ways in which we create dissonance through our attitudes, prejudice and a blind eye, the more we can be led to the river which washes away the old ways and allows us to begin again with new sight. This new sight requires we see others not as others at all but the way Jesus saw everyone; as family. Differences can be embraced and disputes can lead us towards change when we find common purpose, respect and decency.

Our closing hymn this Sunday ends with this;

With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow
To take each moment and live
Each moment in peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me

I look forward to being together during this most important season.

See you Sunday,
Nicole

Outreach and Deacon Ministry

All are welcome to attend 

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

Ritter Center Christmas Gift Barrel ~ Ritter Center Adopt-a-Family Christmas Gift Barrel
Ritter Center serves Marin families and individuals who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless. This year St. Luke will be providing gifts for both children and adults, as we have adopted two families and five elderly adults for Christmas. Look for the signup board in the narthex - simply take a tag from the board and bring back an unwrapped gift to the office by Tuesday, December 10th.  St. Luke volunteers will deliver our gift-filled barrel to Ritter Center on Friday, December 13th.  

Street Chaplaincy Dinner ~ Tuesday, December 17th
This is our first call for volunteers to help serve on the evening. If you’re interested in serving, please email Michael Baranowski at .

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 - 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