Dear St. Lukers,
As I’m preparing to write the message for this week, the words of Youth Poet Laurette Amanda Gorman come to mind. “If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change our children’s birthright!” What powerful words that deconstruct, challenge, invite, and paint a brighter future with just a few words! Her words inspire hope, and what a great reminder of our own congregational journey of Learn, Love, Live, Lead! It’s a good season to ponder on Amanda Gorman’s words as we journey through Lent!
The HOPE Gorman’s words embody is both nuanced and all-encompassing pointing to action, aspirations, human agency, and pathways. This Lenten season, we have an opportunity to prioritize hope. Your Lenten Offering is one way of making hope come alive. A portion of this offering will support the works of UMCOR in war-torn countries. A portion also goes to equipping and inspiring under-resourced youth to unlock their potential and define their pathways to the future through our Restoring Hope Initiative. We are getting close to reaching our goal of raising $15,000 – a little over $10,000 donated so far – thanks to all who have given to this Offering. If you’d like to help us reach our goal, you can do so by clicking here and selecting “Lenten Offering” from the drop-down menu.
Speaking of pathways for the next generation…last Saturday, those who participated in the Do the Rot Thing: Composting 101 workshop at St. Luke’s Farm got a glimpse of youth in leadership! Maya Lis, a junior at Dr. Phillips High School who grew up at St. Luke’s, co-led the inspiring workshop and taught us the why (creation care) and how of composting. She’s so passionate about creation care that she has started a not-for-profit organization – Compost for All – to raise awareness of composting. Maya and her co-presenter, Hanah Murphy, delivered such an impactful message that most participants left with a composter, and all vowed to follow their examples of “doing the rot thing” at home! Nan Slone, Missions’ Leader, put it well when she said, “I feel much better about the future of this world because of these young leaders!”
On Sunday, we will explore dying to idolatry. As we move closer to Holy Week, we sit with Jesus and the disciples as they look on the glorious temple and Jesus predicts his death. In doing so, he calls us to hear deeply how much stock we put in things of this earth, and question if those things point to him or replace him. Prepare for the message by reading Mark 13 and listening to Pastor Jeremy’s teaching on this powerful apocalypic chapter. This Sunday is ALL IN Communion Sunday where we will worship together with our children and youth, and allow our worship to gather us at the Holy Table. If you typically worship with us online, we would love for you to put the first Sundays of the month on your calendar to come worship with us in person to gather at the table together.
Hope and grace,
Mariam Mengistie
St. Luke’s Executive Director of Missions
P.S.
If you teach a class, volunteer for Worship or Care Ministries, if you work with Missions or one of our age level ministries, U are a St. Luke’s LEADER. Don’t forget to RSVP (click here) to the Leadership Retreat on Friday evening and Saturday morning if you’re planning to participate!