The Weekly View

Sunday, September 29, 2018

This Sunday

Dear St. Luke Community, 

This Sunday’s scripture (Luke 16:19-31) makes us cringe on so many levels. You’ve heard it before. The poor man Lazarus, covered in sores, who day in and day out would lay at a rich man’s gate waiting for crumbs to fall his way. We assume Lazarus was invisible to the rich man because of what happens next. Maybe. Maybe the rich man saw him and chose to ignore him. Maybe the rich man wasn’t sure about what to do. Maybe he worried that if he gave the poor man money it might be spent on drugs. And maybe the idea of giving him food every day was just not feasible given his busy schedule. Maybe to see him meant coming to terms with his own wealth which made him feel ashamed that he wasn’t doing more. Maybe he didn’t like having him at his gate and was resentful there was no law preventing him from being there. Lazarus is so hard to look at. Scripture tells us the dogs would lick his sores. There is so much in this story we don’t want to see. There is so much in this world none of us want to look at. And yet to look, really look at it all, seems an impossible task. 

And on that happy note, I hope to 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.

Mill Street Meal Providers ~  Monday, October 7th, 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.

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, October 8th, 6:00 PM
Pizza and Theology - 3rd Tuesday, October 15th, 7:00 PM
St. Luke Women’s Bridge - 4th Tuesday, October 22nd, 10:30 AM
Session Meeting - 4th Tuesday, October 22nd, 7:00 PM

St Luke’s Christmas Concert ~ Sunday, December 8th, 4:00 PM
It’s not too early to start thinking about the holidays! Save the date for the first annual St. Luke Christmas Concert, featuring St. Luke members and friends as they share their gifts in song, music and a few surprises along the way. From classical to contemporary, there will be something for everyone in our decorated sanctuary. Following the concert, there will be a complimentary reception with beverages and appetizers in the Bayview Room. Be sure to invite friends and family, and start the Christmas season with music and friendship. All proceeds will go to benefit St. Luke ministries and church.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

This Sunday

Dear St. Luke Community, 

This Sunday is Acoustic Sunday and we have the pleasure of welcoming Rev Daniel White back into the pulpit. I will be in worship with you as well, playing and singing along with the acoustic band. Rev Dan will be preaching on Isaiah 43: 1-4 and Matthew 25:34-40. Dan has had many years of experience as a chaplain for Marin Police and Fire Departments. In addition, he spends time at San Quentin as a coach. From where I sit, I see Dan walking the walk and talking the talk when it comes to Jesus’s words;

I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me….‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. 

In Dan’s own words; The fact there continues to be so many living in our midst (even on our streets) who are marginalized and often forgotten continues to challenge those of us in the faith community.  Certainly the lack of civility and divisive rhetoric currently "in the air" does not help.  We need to remind ourselves of what we hold in common with each other, the value of every human being despite divisive voices, and how we can make a difference. 

Amen to that, Dan.
Please join us this 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.

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.

Mill Street Meal Providers ~  Monday, October 7th, 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.

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, September 10th, 6:00 PM
Pizza and Theology - 3rd Tuesday, September 17th, 7:00 PM
St. Luke Women’s Bridge - 4th Tuesday, September 24th, 10:30 AM
Session Meeting - 4th Tuesday, September 24th, 7:00 PM

St Luke’s Christmas Concert ~ Sunday, December 8th, 4:00 PM
It’s not too early to start thinking about the holidays! Save the date for the first annual St. Luke Christmas Concert, featuring St. Luke members and friends as they share their gifts in song, music and a few surprises along the way. From classical to contemporary, there will be something for everyone in our decorated sanctuary. Following the concert, there will be a complimentary reception with beverages and appetizers in the Bayview Room. Be sure to invite friends and family, and start the Christmas season with music and friendship. All proceeds will go to benefit St. Luke ministries and church.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

This Sunday

Dear St. Luke Community, 

Parables, if you recall, were used by Rabbis as a way to wake up the listener, get them thinking and open up the possibility of various interpretations. Yet this Sunday we hear two parables that have been preached pretty much the same way for centuries now; the parables of the lost sheep and coin. (Luke 15:1-32) Usually, the interpretation is the same; we’re lost, God searches for us, finds us and we repent.

But as New Testament Scholar, Amy-Jill Levine, points out ~
That audience (meaning Jesus' audience) would not think that the man who lost his sheep, the woman who lost her coin, or the father who lost his older son were symbols for God. This is because God doesn’t lose us. Nor would they think of the sheep and the coin as examples of repenting, because sheep and coins don’t repent. In our reading, the three stories are connected. The first two stories set up the third. The main message is about counting, searching for what is missing, and celebrating becoming whole again. 

This idea of becoming whole again is a continuation of last weeks theme. It’s also in keeping with Greg Love’s three weeks after worship series, “Change Towards Wholeness.” 

I do hope you can join us for worship and stay after worship to hear Greg Love (Even if you missed last week).

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.

Mill Street Meal Providers ~  Monday, October 7th, 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.

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.

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, September 10th, 6:00 PM
Pizza and Theology - 3rd Tuesday, September 17th, 7:00 PM
St. Luke Women’s Bridge - 4th Tuesday, September 24th, 10:30 AM
Session Meeting - 4th Tuesday, September 24th, 7:00 PM

St Luke’s Christmas Concert ~ December 8th, 4:00 PM
It’s not too early to start thinking about the holidays! Save the date for the first annual St. Luke Christmas Concert, featuring St. Luke members and friends as they share their gifts in song, music and a few surprises along the way. From classical to contemporary, there will be something for everyone in our decorated sanctuary. Following the concert, there will be a complimentary reception with beverages and appetizers in the Bayview Room. Be sure to invite friends and family, and start the Christmas season with music and friendship. All proceeds will go to benefit St. Luke ministries and church.