Pastor’s blog – Page 6 – St. Luke's Lutheran Church

The Mission Table

Pastor's blogBy Stephen Bouman September 12, 2023

This coming Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. we begin our intergeneration opportunity for growth in our faith and fellowship. We gather at 6:00 for pizza. Then the children go with Gayle Larson to the library to read together some books which will enrich their spiritual lives.
The adults will join me for a study of my book, the Mission Table, which, God willing, will increase our scriptural, theological, and practical understanding of the mission we share at St Luke’s. We plan to have hard copies of the book on Wednesday for all participants.

A Time of Pensive Reflection

Pastor's blogBy Stephen Bouman September 5, 2023

Monday, September 11, is the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York, Washington, and the crash in Pennsylvania. As the towers fell in NY I sent out a dispatch to the wider church which became a regular series of updates, stories encouragement and hope for many around the world. The blog for today is a link to a Religious News Service article on those updates. They give a flavor for the life and mission of the church at Ground Zero. My life and ministry changed on that day, as did the world as we knew it. The week of September 11 is always a time of pensive reflection for me.

It’s One of the 10 Commandments, for Pete’s Sake

Pastor's blogBy John Schumacher August 28, 2023

Despite my retirement from professional chaplaincy, I remain on the email list for ELCA chaplains and persons serving in specialized ministry. In the most recent issue of the chaplains’ newsletter, the director for specialized ministry reflected on his week away at a friend’s lakeside home in upstate New York. Remembering the recently assigned Gospel texts in which Jesus is portrayed by Matthew as taking time away, the director encouraged his readers to consider the importance of self-care, days off, and scheduled vacations for being renewed and prepared to offer competent and effective pastoral care.
To make his point, he reminded us that the Creator took a day off and incorporated a weekly sabbath in the plan for creation, adding the striking observation, “It’s one of the 10 Commandments, for Pete’s sake.”

Mystery of God’s Ways

Pastor's blog, UncategorizedBy Stephen Bouman August 14, 2023

In the wake of the trial and sentencing of the person who killed many in a synagogue in Pittsburgh, and in the shadow of too many antisemitic acts of hate every day we need to remember these words from Paul: the Jews are given “the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship and the promises, the patriarchs and prophets” (Romans 9:4-5). And in our lesson for this coming Sunday Paul flatly states that the Jews are God’s people, the recipients of these inestimable gifts and working of God which “are irrevocable.”

Civic Engagement of Lutherans

Pastor's blogBy Stephen Bouman August 7, 2023

I have been viewing the materials for the ELCA study on civic engagement with much excitement and anticipation. With the help of the Global Links Team we will be engaging in this study during the Adult Forum this Fall and sharing our insights with the ELCA as it completes a Social Statement on this topic and brings it to the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Watch for details and materials on this in the near future.

More than Just Leviathan

Pastor's blogBy Claire Buettner July 31, 2023

We continue our study of Genesis in the Adult Forum. However, last Sunday and this Sunday we are on a bit of a detour focusing on creation stories and planning to return to Genesis itself and its account of the “troubles” in the early human community thereafter.

Consider Leviathan

Pastor's blogBy John Schumacher July 25, 2023

This past Sunday we began a study of the book of Genesis in the Adult Forum. (Come, join us at 8:45!)
As we read the first of the creation stories (Genesis 1:1 – 2:3) we saw reference to the creation of the “great sea monsters” – Leviathan – on the fifth day. Leviathan is the beast which the Psalmist reports (Psalm 104:26) the Creator formed simply to enjoy as it sported in the seas.

The origin of the Leviathan stories in the ancient near east is anchored in the people’s experience of the crocodilians that inhabited their world. This past week I had opportunity to get up close and personal with a lot of crocodilians and through that experience, came to better understand a Creator who delights in them.

In the Beginning. . .

Pastor's blogBy Stephen Bouman July 17, 2023

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

Pastor's blogBy Stephen Bouman July 10, 2023

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.

Prisoners of Hope

Pastor's blogBy Stephen Bouman July 3, 2023

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.