Dear St. Lukers,
Last week it was good to have close to 100 people back in the Sanctuary for worship together. We have raised the number of registrations for this week and look forward to seeing more faces with us. We received many compliments on how safe people felt, and how grateful you were for the work of Luky Nova, and our worship hosts for taking all of the safety measures needed to ensure health and safety are at the top of our priorities with care and connection. Thank you for all of your work!
This week we continue to understand what it means to reveal the Kingdom of God as we seek to be Purple People who prove that love matters more by being people of peace. Peace is one of the last blessings Jesus offers his disciples before he is arrested. A peace that comes from the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, as a gift of eternal power and significance. But earlier in his teachings, Jesus also called the disciples and those listening to the sermon on the mount to understand that in the Kingdom of God, Peace makers – will be blessed. Our world needs Peace makers right now, people willing to stand in their convictions, live into Kingdom Values, but also put God’s love of justice, mercy and yes, peace into action. But before we can make peace, as Jesus understood would be the work of the disciples after his death, he needed to help them receive peace.
What is your peace right now? How are you intentionally seeking to abide in the peace offered from the Holy spirit? I had to write my 2020 Annual Pastors Report for our Charge Conference (this Sunday at 6:00 p.m., click here to register for the Zoom link) and as I reflected on the work of our staff and servant leaders over the last seven months, I wrote that we have yet to stop and take a breath, because we are continuing to be fluid in our ministry to meet the new needs of our congregation and community. But we all know that the only way to find peace and connect with the Holy Spirit’s grounding of peace in order to be Peace Makers is to stop, breathe, worship, and fill up. As you prepare for worship this Sunday, whether online or in person, I invite you to stop and find your breath, to study Jesus’ words to the disciples in John 14 and make some room for God’s peace that passes all understanding. Then join us for worship as we seek to become peace makers who prove that God’s love matters more and changes our world.
Grace and peace,
Jenn.