Hymn Festival, Friday, August 4, 7:00 pm, “From the Heights of New Creation: A Hymn Festival Celebrating All the Saints”
All are invited to a program of readings, prayers, hymns, and songs! Led by Anne Krentz Organ and Karen Black, this event takes place in conjunction with the Augsburg Fortress Music Clinic. https://www.augsburgfortress.org/music/summer-music-clinics/
I’m excited to share some news about our worship and Sunday School (child and adult) plans for this fall.
At its July 11 meeting, the Church Council passed a resolution that beginning on September 10, 2023, we will offer two distinctive liturgies (services) on Sunday mornings, with communion at both services. The schedule will be:
This summer we are challenging the the entire congregation, including the children, to make 100 blankets! The blankets will be donated to the Who is My Neighbor-Helping Migrants Program. Our challenge date to have 100 blankets is September 10th the first day of Sunday school.
This coming Sunday I want to invite you to the Adult Forum where we will begin the study of the Book of Genesis. The book is a panorama of fascinating stories: about how our world came into existence; the beginnings of human life after the Fall from Eden: Cain and Abel, Noah’s Ark, the Tower of Babel. Then in Chapter 12 begins the story of Abraham and Sarah as God begins to gather people through whom God will restore Creation and reconcile all things in God’s graceful love. The stories of the formation of this family are larger than life. Here is how Frederich Buechner, in “Peculiar Treasures,” begins to retell the story of Joseph and his brothers:
Giving From the Heart. Soon we will be sharing with you the report of our giving in June. As you know the trend has been increasing deficits between the offerings we receive and the money we spend on our ministry. My prayer is that each of us, giving from the heart and in gratitude to Jesus for all of our blessings, will make regular and generous contributions to the mission of our church.
Performs an evening of delightful music in the theme or Summer Lovin’ at St. Luke’s on Saturday, July 22, 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Advance tickets:
$16 for adults; $14 for seniors
At the door:
$20 for adults; $18 for seniors
Youth and children under 18 are always free.
Tickets are available from Gary and Kyle Cartwright and Adam Cartwright.
When our lessons give us texts from little known Biblical writers, I like to take a moment and get to know them. This Sunday we will hear from the prophet Zechariah. Here is a little background on Zechariah whose depiction of the king who will come to us “humble and riding on a donkey,” has been seen by the Christian church as a reference to Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey.
Several years ago, I invited a colleague, an Evanston resident, to join the Windy City Miata Club cohort in the Evanston July 4th Parade. She had a great time breakfasting with club members before the Parade, helping to decorate the roadsters in red, white, and blue, and riding shotgun in the Parade, waving to the enthusiastic crowds which lined Central Street. When the day was over she thanked me, explaining that the summer holidays are always harder for her than Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Calling all St. Luke’s readers! St. Luke’s Library will be hosting an Adopt-a-Book Sale in the fall. We love to refresh our collection from time to time, so let us know -What book(s) have you read recently that you would recommend to others? What do you think would be a good addition to our St. Luke’s library? What book(s) have you read recently that you would recommend to others? What do you think would be a good addition to our St. Luke’s library?
Today’s texts from the prophet Jeremiah, the Psalms, and St. Matthew’s Gospel offer us conflict, chaos, anger and violence, difficult realities which may reflect the way in which we experience our society today, but 180 degrees from where my mind is at the beginning of this week.