The Weekly View

Sunday, June 16, 2019

This Sunday

Dear St. Luke Community, 

This Sunday is Acoustic Sunday. When I was a kid, my parents used to tell me not to get my hopes up. Combine low expectations with a tendency towards a half glass empty and you’ve got a stick in the mud. Maybe that’s why I like the Apostle Paul. Paul is hopeful, but he’s never pollyanna. He doesn’t spiritually bypass over the tough stuff of life just to get to the good stuff. Paul knows from experience that the good stuff is gained from getting through the tough stuff. How do we get through? For Paul, it’s through pure grace. And anyone who has ever trudged the exceptionally tough periods of life knows, we get through by the grace of a God who walks through the muddy waters with us, holding our hand and leading us.

 Paul writes:
…suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. (Romans 5: 3-5)

For Paul it’s all gifted; grace, salvation, justification…all free as long as we remain faithful. Big words, hard to live. But sooooo worth it. 

This is also Trinity Sunday. What can I say about the Trinity? Hildegard of Bingen (look her up) once asked, Who is the Trinity?” and to her own question she answered, “You are music, You are life.”

Lady Wisdom (who we also hear from this Sunday) knows all about life, as does the Apostle Paul, as do we.

See you Sunday,
Nicole

Deacon Ministry

Serving San Pedro Elementary ~
Thank you to all who supported St Luke’s May 2019 Deacon Ministry. Donations were $448 cash, $275 Target gift cards, 8 Stretch Pants, 25 Pairs of Socks & 12 Undies.

6th Annual Pedal for Protein ~ September 22nd – 28th, Let's ride!
A ride for a cause! Supports food bank pantries & projects to help feed hungry people in Northern California.  100% of all donations go to food projects. The ride is organized by The Hunger Task Force of the Presbytery of the Redwoods. For information and to donate go to pedalforprotein.com  or imathlete.com/donate/PedalforProtein5.

KIVA.ORG ~
St Luke’s Women’s Association has been supporting 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 of the world. The loans are made to people working in retail, clothing, services, agriculture, and food.  It is determined how much the recipient needs to start or expand a business, and then people can sign up to provide the loan amount. (It takes many people to fund one loan.) The recipient pays the loan back in a pre-planned manner. We have made 24 loans in 22 different countries and all have been repaid then we’ve loaned the money again.

Bible Study ~ Wednesdays, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM, 6/19 will be the last meeting until September.  

St Luke Choir Rehearsal ~ On Summer break until September.

Morning Women's Spirituality Group ~ Thursdays, 9:00 - 10:00 AM

Deacons Meeting ~ On Summer break until September.

St. Luke Women’s Bridge Group ~ On Summer break until September.

Pizza and Theology ~ 3rd Tuesday of the month, June 18th, 6:30 PM, Creekside, SA. It’s the last meeting until September.

Session ~ 4th Tuesday of the month, June 25th, 7:00 PM 

Save The Date

All are welcome to attend 

Pastor Emeritus Rev Dan White preaches  ~  June 30th, 10 AM
Pastor Emeritus Reverend Daniel White will give the sermon teaching.

Upcoming Acoustic Sundays ~ July 21, August 18th,  September 15th

Fall Speaker Series ~ September 8th, 15, 22 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.