The Weekly View

Sunday, December 2, 2018

This Sunday 

Dear St. Luke Community,

This Sunday we begin Advent, a time of waiting and preparation for the holiest of nights. Our Advent theme this year is Calm and Bright, 200 years of Silent Night. The story goes, that 200 years ago, on Christmas eve, St Nicholas’s church organ was broken and so the Pastor began thinking outside the box, searching for a way to worship God through music. What came into creation was the most recorded song in history. Something was broken and something was created. A door closed, another opened. Out of the void comes life. And during Advent, perhaps most importantly, out of the darkness comes a star so bright it leads us home. 

Advent brings with its tradition, sacrament, and song. There will be familiar pieces of worship and a few new things as we experience what it means this Sunday to cultivate peace. Isaiah 2:1-4; 9:2, 6-7. 

See you Sunday,
Nicole 

Toward the Light
By Ann Weems, Kneeling in Bethlehem 

Too often our answer to the darkness
is not running toward Bethlehem
but running away.

We ought to know by now that we can’t see 
where we’re going in the dark.

Running away is rampant
separation is stylish:
separation from mates, from friends, from self.

Run and tranquilize
don’t talk about it,
avoid.

Runaway and join the army
of those who have already run away.

When are we going to learn that Christmas Peace
comes only when we turn and face the darkness?

Only then will be able to see
the Light of the World.
 

Sunday, November 25, 2018

This Sunday 

Dear St. Luke Community,

Last Sunday after worship we fed over 100 people waffles. Thanks to the leadership of Laura Hislop and all who served, we fed children and parents connected to ELM (Enriching Lives through Music) The children blessed us with cello and violin music and the room was packed with joy. What a gift it was! A highlight of my time here at St Luke for sure. 

This Sunday we celebrate with gratitude as we take in all we have to be thankful for. God provides us with eternal gifts we cannot purchase, earn or get rid of. Life itself is our greatest gift. Perhaps no one in our congregation knows this more than Terry Mech who had a near-death experience this past year. Terry will be bringing us the Word through testimony and his teaching title is “The Power of God.” The scripture is Matthew 6: 25-34.

I will be driving back from San Diego on Saturday so that I can have a front row seat to witness what Terry will share. I also look forward to giving thanks to God for all the blessings that the St Luke Community continues to be in all of our lives. 

May each of you be blessed with time to reflect on the many gifts that each of you are. You are a blessing. Thanks be to God.

See you Sunday,
Nicole

You Who Bless (by Jan Richardson)

You
who are
yourselves
a blessing

who know
that to feed
the hungering
is to bless

and to give drink
to those who thirst
is to bless

who know
the blessing
in welcoming
the stranger

and giving clothes
to those
who have none

who know
to care
for the sick
is blessing

and blessing
to visit
the prisoner:

may the blessing
you have offered
now turn itself
toward you

to welcome
and to embrace you
at the feast
of the blessed.

Continuing Events

All are welcome to attend

St. Luke Women’s Bridge Group ~ Tuesday, Nov 27th, 10:30 AM
(3rd Monday & 4th Tuesday, Sept. to May). 

Session ~ Tuesday, November 27th, 6:30 PM

Bible Study Series ~ Wednesday, Nov 28th, 9:30 AM  

Morning Women's Spirituality Group ~ Thursday. Nov 29th, 9:00 AM

St. Luke Women’s Assoc. Christmas Tree Decorating ~ Thursday, Dec 4th, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Deacons and Committees Meeting ~ Tuesday, December 11th, 5:00 PM 
Note new time.

Pizza and Theology ~ Tuesday, November 27th, 6:30 PM
Creekside, San Anselmo. 

Sunday, November 18, 2018

This Sunday 

Dear St. Luke Community, 

With Advent and Christmas around the corner, we will be supporting Ritter Center of San Rafael in their Christmas Gift Giving Program. Ritter Center serves families and individuals in Marin County who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless.

On Sunday when you enter the Narthex (aka the front porch of the church) you’ll see a Christmas tree filled with tags. Simply take a tag with you and bring back an unwrapped gift for that child the following Sunday to place in the gift barrel. We will have until December 14th to drop off gifts.

This Sunday is Acoustic Sunday. After worship, we will be feeding over 100 people with waffles! Half of those people are children enrolled in the ELM project. A non-profit enriching lives through music by bringing music education into the lives of under-served children. And yes, we will be hearing them play! So please plan on staying around after worship to support this wonderful organization.

This Sunday we look at 1 Samuel 1:4-20 and  Mark 13:1-8. It’s hard to want to dwell in The Word with so many horrific events, one after another. And yet….this scripture seems fitting. Mark is pointing to an apocalypse as a way to offer hope.  And Jesus seems to be reminding the disciples that when things get really bad, false messiahs and saviors will try to win them over.  I wonder what the false saviors of our own time are...when things get bad?

Hannah gives birth to a son after praying through “anxiety and vexation.” (1:16) In Mark’s Gospel Jesus advises that all these awful things are but the beginning of birth pangs. (13:8)

Some define apocalypse as an uncovering …  so what is being uncovered then and what is being uncovered today? 

Giving birth hurts. But the life that is born is just that; life. How do we choose to be part of that life rather than following false messiahs into false narratives that would have us choose fear.

Like giving birth, none of it is easy, and at times it’s painful and can be scary…but there’s beauty in it, there’s new life growing, even before the baby comes. And I think that’s worth preaching these days. 

See you Sunday,
Nicole

Please continue to hold Cal Cunningham in prayer as we wait for news of his safety due to the Camp Fire.

Continuing Events

All are welcome to attend

St. Luke Women’s Bridge Group ~ Monday, Nov 19th,& Tuesday, Nov 27th 10:30 AM
(3rd Monday & 4th Tuesday, Sept. to May). 

Pizza and Theology ~ Tuesday, November 20th, 6:30 PM
Creekside, San Anselmo. 

Bible Study Series ~ Wednesday, Nov 21st, 9:30 AM  

Morning Women's Spirituality Group ~ Thursday. Nov 29th, 9:00 AM

Session ~ Tuesday, November 27th, 6:30 PM

Deacons and Committees Meeting ~ Tuesday, December 11th, 5:00 PM 
Note new time.

Committee Meetings ~ Tuesday, December 11th, 6:30 PM