Dear Generous St. Lukers,
What a beautiful Sunday we had this past week. Both the morning blended service of baptism and confirmation, and the evening praise and worship service were full of the Holy Spirit, joy, and generosity. We celebrated the work of St. Luke’s setting the holy table of ministry for four generations with babies, students, young adults, and former St. Luke’s Confirmands coming back as parents! Look at God! Can’t you see and feel the incredible blessings God is pouring over our church? And, just think, YOU are a part of this Kingdom-revealing moment!
This Sunday, we turn to what it means to be Purpose-FULL in our gratitude. Did you know that science tells us that going to sleep with a heart and mind turned to gratitude actually helps one sleep better and wake with a more positive outlook? It works, IF you remember to take the time to center on giving thanks each night.
Remembering the discipline of gratitude is the key. We will dive into this idea more on Sunday as we look at Jesus’ telling of the story of those healed and the return of the grateful one from Luke 17. As we prepare for worship and move toward Thanksgiving, let’s start the practice of gratitude each day. In fact, we would like to ask you to click here and share with us what you are grateful for about St. Luke’s. We will share a word cloud of your responses in worship on Sunday!
And this week we’re kicking off a movement to help St. Luke’s end 2024 with MORE. You will be receiving something in the mail soon encouraging you to finish your estimates of giving, consider giving for the first time if you are new to St. Luke’s or the practice of giving, and even consider giving a gratitude offering to help us finish 2024 with more so we can Thrive in 25 (thanks to the Turpish/Taylor kids for that little idea!). We have dreams of creating ripples and building bigger tables in 2025 and we do that by ending this year strong. If you would like to finish your pledge or make a special gratitude gift, please click here. There’s so much God has for us to accomplish in the name of Jesus and I’m so grateful we get to do it through this amazing church together!
With a full heart of joy, generosity, and gratitude for YOU–
Jenn.