Sunday, October 20, 2019
This Sunday
Dear St. Luke Community,
This Sunday is Acoustic Sunday and our own Jim Tillson is back to join us on the keyboards. We’ve missed both Jim and Skipper and look forward to worshipping together again.
I share with you something I sent to the Bible Study group this week who get their own weekly email. If you’d like to be on that list, let me know. Even if you’re not attending class it’s sometimes nice to know the upcoming scripture on Monday and ponder it all week long. Usually, I send quotes from other people’s musings, but this week, I wrote one of my own.
Dear Class,
The focus scripture is Luke 18:1-8 and Genesis 32:22-31.
This morning I spoke with my mom on the phone. She’s wiped out from all the visits to the hospital and she can’t understand why she’s so tired. She can’t understand why she doesn’t have the energy to pray. She usually prays for over an hour a day. My mother has spent many years giving me advice when I was sick. And this morning I said to her what I imagined she would have said to me. "Putting your face in the sun and feeling the warmth of the sun is a prayer, Mom. Eating pastina, watching a show that makes you laugh, taking a nap, are all prayer when we’re healing and giving your body what it needs to regain strength.” I then reminded her that she has said these things to me and she agreed.
There are some around me who are struggling so much that they know God must be around but they’re too tired or too stressed or too preoccupied to feel God. They are wrestling with a lack of assurance. At those moments I want to tell them not to lose heart.
Luke opens with this….Jesus tells the disciples a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 18:1
Maybe prayer and having heart are one and the same. Maybe prayer isn’t about words at all but about trusting that God knows our heart, whether we say anything or not. And when we start to feel like we are losing heart, that’s the best time to pray for trust in a God who never abandons, but knows our heart.
And when God knows your heart, what else is there left to say?
See you Sunday,
Nicole
PS-Please join us for our after worship Men Against Gun Violence educational gathering. For more info on that see below.
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.
Ongoing Events
All are welcome to attend
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, November 11th, 6:00 PM
Pizza and Theology - 3rd Tuesday, November 19th, 7:00 PM
St. Luke Women’s Bridge - 4th Tuesday, October 22nd, 10:30 AM
Session Meeting - 4th Tuesday, October 22nd, 7:00 PM
Upcoming Events & Announcements
All are welcome to attend
Men Helping to End Gun Violence ~ THIS SUNDAY after worship
Men Against Gun Violence was formed after the Parkland school shooting in early 2018. Eighty to ninety percent of gun violence in the U.S. is committed by men. The group was founded in Marin by L.B. Upshaw. Their mission is to build a non-partisan, non-profit group of men helping to reduce gun violence by understanding and eliminating environmental factors leading certain men to harm others and themselves. After worship, L.B. will speak on “Prevent & Protect”, a program that seeks to prevent gun violence in homes, workplaces, faith communities, and schools. For further information about Men Against Gun Violence, visit their Website: menagainstgunviolence.org
Pedal for Protein Summary ~ Donations for Pedal for Protein totaled $1662!
Ada writes: “Angels, pea soup fog, fear, great food, good wine, campfires, new friends, physical challenges, discovery, breakthroughs, exhilaration, love, teamwork, energy, screaming quads, sunshine, magnificent cliffs, ocean spray, coastal winds. These are all words that come to mind when I relive the three days which I spent riding with a group of fellow cycling enthusiasts in order to challenge ourselves as well as raise money to purchase protein-rich, nutritious foods for those who cannot afford them. Riders ranged in age from ’50s to ’70s with even an 80-year-old riding in the one day segment. We rode along the incredible Northern California coast, through beautiful coastal vistas and redwood groves, smelling the sea, feeling the breeze and savoring the warmth of the sun on our backs, all the while pedaling up rolling hills and down into river valleys…then back up again. We covered up to 50 sometimes brutally steep miles a day on our trusty road bikes. Our days included prayer, yoga, back rubs and many many words of encouragement. There were also a few episodes of road rash, bandages, and ‘on the road’ bike repairs, all managed with tender loving care. Sound like fun? Well, for me it was that, and so much more. I would do it again in a heartbeat! The generosity of friends and St. Luke's members was amazing. I am so grateful for all of your support which will go a long way to improve the nutrition of some of our neediest neighbors. Thank you so very very much.”
Recap - St Luke’s Fundraiser Dinner & Auction ~
Thank you for bringing your friends and family and inviting newcomers to St Luke, all 120 of you! And a thank you to all who were NOT able to attend but who donated to the fundraiser. We exceeded our goal of $22,000 by roughly $3000. We could not have even come close to our goal without all of you. We are so grateful to each of you.
St. Luke 's Men's Group ~ Tuesday, November 5th, 6:00-8:30 PM
Michael Antieri will host, 636 Biscayne Dr. S.R. Please direct questions to John Lenser at H-415.485.4333, C-415.446.8418 or
St. Luke Stewardship Sunday ~ November 17th STEWARDSHIP 2020
A Wonder-Full Life-Giving Your Time, Talents and Treasure a special day to consider in assessing your commitment to St. Luke and its ministry in 2020. Letters and pledge cards will arrive this week.
St. Luke Women’s Association Annual Christmas Tea & Program ~ Friday, December 6th, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
SAVE THE DATE and invite your friends to enjoy St Luke’s Holiday cheer. The afternoon includes Tea, Coffee, Sweets, and Savories with a Music Program and a RAFFLE.
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.