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Sunday June 24, 2018

This Sunday

Dear St Luke Community,

As a Pastor, the most common question I’m asked when things fall apart is “why is God doing this?” The book of Job asks the same question and this Sunday we will hear what God has to say to Job.

Spoiler Alert; God doesn't say anything that is very satisfying for those in the midst of suffering. There is no neatly tied up package with a bow. There is no one verse allowing us to walk away satisfied. God answers Job with a series of rhetorical questions regarding creation. Job 38:1-11

Last Fall we explored this topic with Dr. Gregory Love form SFTS. If you recall, it left us asking more questions. Do we understand God as omnipotent? Is there a random chaos in our life that God has no control over? Or does God have control over that as well? We may never know.

Theologian Barbara Brown Taylor says it this way-
“Job’s question was about justice. God’s answer is about omnipotence, and as far as I know, that is the only answer human beings have ever gotten about why things happen the way they do. God only knows. And none of us is God.”

We will explore all of this and more on Sunday as we worship the God who comes out of the whirlwind (38:1) to meet us where we are.

See you Sunday,
Nicole

P.S. I will be on vacation from Wednesday, June 27th until July 5th. Reverend David Slorpe will be in the pulpit on July 1st and Reverend Dan White will be available for Pastoral care and support. Dan may be reached directly at 415-272-4207. If you need care on Saturday, June 30th or Sunday, July 1st, please call Deacon Jan Smith who will contact the Pastor available for emergency care. 

 

Announcements & Upcoming Events

All are welcome to attend 

Summer Sermon Series ~ Practicing Faith-July 8th-29th
Over these four Sundays, Rev Trotter will explore spiritual practices that deepen our relationship with God. Worshipping God each Sunday is only one part of what we do as disciples of Jesus Christ. God has given us every moment and aspect of our lives to grow in deeper relationship with God.

Some practices have a long history in the religions of the world. Others are as ordinary as the things we do in daily life.

Pulling from the following books in conjunction with supporting scripture, we will explore a different individual and congregational practice each Sunday.

An Altar in the World: A Geography of FaithBarbara Brown Taylor
The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, Robert Schnase

No need to purchase the books.

Pizza and Theology ~ Taking July and August off
Will resume in September on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM, at Creekside Pizza, San Anselmo. Please email Nicole .

St. Luke Men’s Group ~ Future Men’s Group meetings: July 24th at the Bischoff’s, September 4th at TBD, November 6th at the Lenser’s. 

Save The Date

St Luke Annual Fundraiser ~ Sunday, October 7th at 6:00 PM
This year, wear your beads and bangles to St. Luke’s Annual Fundraiser Dinner celebrating New Orleans with Zydeco fillet mignon, shrimp jambalaya, and pecan pie. Not to be missed and invite your friends now!

Continuing Events

All are welcome to attend

Bible Study Series ~ Will resume in September.

St. Luke Womens Association ~ Will resume in September, then every other month on the second Thursday of that month at 1:00 PM.

Women's Spirituality Group ~Will resume in September. 

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Sunday June 17, 2018

This Sunday~Guitar Sunday

Dear St Luke Community,

Sometimes I’m ambitious. (some might use another word) I’ve chosen three texts to dwell in for Sunday. They all belong to this week's Revised Common Lectionary. I chose all three because I couldn't decide which one I wanted to preach on. So here it is Thursday at 2:45 and I still am not sure what I will say about these rich holy scriptures. How very blessed I am that this is my biggest burden today.

Here are the scriptures. If you like to make connections, read all three and look for the common thread.

Ezekiel 17:22-24
2 Corinthians 5: 12-17
Mark 4:26-32

Here’s what I first heard when I read all three. Faith grows out of our experiences, the joys, and the sorrows. It isn’t something we do but rather something that’s cultivated because of what God has done for us and with us. For Ezekiel, this was true in exile during the worst of times. For Paul this was true despite every criticism and doubt as the community he helped birth began falling apart. For Mark, Jesus brings it home in parable when he says…the seed would sprout and grow but we do not know how.

Faith can be like that. We don't know how, but we know it to be true. Thanks be to God.

See you Sunday,
Nicole

 

Announcements & Upcoming Events

All are welcome to attend 

Pizza and Theology ~ Tuesday, June 19th, 6:30 PM.
Creekside Pizza, San Anselmo. Every Third Tuesday of the month we’ll meet for pizza and discussion. Please email Nicole 

Summer Sermon Series ~ Practicing Faith-July 8th-29th
Over these four Sundays, Rev Trotter will explore spiritual practices that deepen our relationship with God. Worshipping God each Sunday is only one part of what we do as disciples of Jesus Christ. God has given us every moment and aspect of our lives to grow in deeper relationship with God.

Some practices have a long history in the religions of the world. Others are as ordinary as the things we do in daily life.

Pulling from the following books in conjunction with supporting scripture, we will explore a different individual and congregational practice each Sunday.

An Altar in the World: A Geography of FaithBarbara Brown Taylor
The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, Robert Schnase

No need to purchase the books.

St. Luke Men’s Group ~ Future Men’s Group meetings: July 24th at the Bischoff’s, September 4th at TBD, November 6th at the Lenser’s. 

Save The Date

St Luke Annual Fundraiser ~ Sunday, October 7th at 6:00 PM.  This year, wear your beads and bangles to St. Luke’s Annual Fundraiser Dinner celebrating New Orleans with Zydeco fillet mignon, shrimp jambalaya, and pecan pie. Not to be missed and invite your friends now!

Continuing Events

All are welcome to attend

Bible Study Series ~ Every Wednesday 9:30-10:30 AM.

St. Luke Womens Association ~ every other month on the second Thursday of that month at 1:00 PM. DE-Clutter project in progress.

Women's Spirituality Group ~ Friday Mornings 9:00-10:00 AM.
After a reading and a meditation in silence, we voluntarily share how God is working in our lives. Please email Nicole 

 

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