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Sunday, March 3, 2019

This Sunday 

Dear St. Luke Community,

This Sunday is St Luke’s 33rd Annual Mariner’s Sunday. This long-standing tradition at St Luke brings with it special music by the Sons of The Sea Choir. Rabbi Henry Schreibman will be joining me in bringing the Word and we are blessed to have so many seafarers fill our Sanctuary. There will be shuttles to help those who may need to park on the street. There is a luncheon to follow at Loch Lomond.

As we first and foremost worship God, our scripture focus is Job: 38:1-18 and Proverbs 8:22-31. This Scripture in Job comes at the end of the book when God finally shows up (out of the whirlwind) to speak directly to Job and answer him directly. Job has been suffering and getting bad advice from friends. And God essentially says, Where were you when I created the world? Were you there?

Our second scripture is about Chochma (Wisdom) who was there at the beginning. According to Wisdom, she was there at the beginning with God before God created anything else.  If God is saying to Job, essentially, you’re not supposed to have all the answers, and Wisdom was there from the beginning, then isn’t that part of our answer?  In our searching comes this beautiful paradox. Wisdom lives in the questions themselves. Wisdom lives in our longing to understand. It is a way of life, not an answer we find through acquisition. 

See You Sunday,
Nicole

P.S. - Just a reminder that Tuesday night at 6:00 we gather for a Fat Tuesday Potluck in the Bayview room to eat and enjoy fellowship together before Lent begins the next day. Please join us and invite your neighbors.

Upcoming Events & Announcements

All are welcome to attend

2019 Initial Offering ~ $30 Per Capita
Please use a yellow pew envelope for your 2019 payment. Your payment helps offsets the yearly payment St Luke makes to Presbytery of the Redwood for each member. Please write “Per Capita” on the memo line of your check.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in concert!  ~ Thursday, February 28 & Friday, Saturday, Sunday, March 1, 2, & 3
Don't miss your chance to see wonderful local singers present Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in concert! Admission is free, but donations will be gladly accepted to support the Street Chaplaincy. St. Luke and other local congregations’ partner with the Street Chaplaincy to host Tuesday night Wellness Gatherings where we join the street community in worship and share a meal together. Last year's Jesus Christ Superstar was a huge hit, so reserve your spot for free at www.theatreatlarge.org Performances are February 28 & March 1 at 8 pm at First Presbyterian San Rafael, and March 2 at 8 pm and March 3 at 2 pm at First Presbyterian San Anselmo. Questions? Ask Joanne Larson   or 415-306-1085.

Mariner’s Interfaith Sunday ~ March 3rd 10:00 AM
We gather in worship with the men and women who have shown their dedication in service to the ships and safety that preside over our cherished sea. The St Francis Yacht Club’s, Sons of the Sea Men Choir will bring the gift of music for this special occasion.

Mill Street Meal Providers ~ Monday, March 4th 
GROUP A  - The first Monday of the month. Please contact Volunteer Coordinator Stacy Bischoff at   or 415233-3406 for more information.

Fat Tuesday Pot Luck Feast ~ March 5th, 6-7:30 PM
The night before Lent begins, this traditional celebration brings rich and delicious food together in community. Location TBD.  A good time for neighbors and children to come and get to know one another. Email

Transgender Education for Faith Communities ~ March 24th after Worship in St. Luke Bayview Room
We welcome Jordan Decker and the Rev D.r Janie Spahr. Jordan Decker is a nationally and internationally known speaker and educator on Trans Youth Suicide prevention and responsible for developing Trans Heart Line, a non-profit organization that educates and advocates for transgender humans in faith communities. Rev Dr. Janie Spahr created the Spahr Project to continue educating the church on the intersectionality of racism, sexism, heterosexism, ageism, as we move forward to advocate for justice and love. Creating safe and caring places for transgender people and their families in both church and society is one of the most pressing challenges and opportunities for the Christian faith, community life and church growth today. What does it mean to be transgender, cisgender, or gender fluid? What might it be like to have the experience of feeling as though God doesn’t love you because you feel you were born “wrong.” Come gain insights, language and understandings. Invite neighbors, family and friends.

During Worship that Sunday Janie Spahr will bring The Word as we worship God. I look forward to welcoming Janie back to the St Luke sanctuary.

For Janie and Jordan’s full bios, you may visit this event on our website.

First Presbyterian SR April Mission April 7 – 13, 2019
We are invited to go along on First Pres. annual 2019 Mission trip. They are still working out the details but their tentative plans are below. April trip dates are April 7 – 13, 2019. We fly to the work site on Sunday, April 7, do home rebuilding Monday through Friday. We fly home on Saturday, April 13. We are looking at three sites in Texas that were devastated by Hurricane Harvey: Corpus Christi, Houston, or Rockport. The work assignments include putting up drywall, taping and mudding, tongue in groove flooring, framing, painting, and roofing. Construction experts guide volunteers every step.

Continuing Events

All are welcome to attend 

Bible Study Series ~ Wednesdays, 9:30 AM 

St Luke Choir Rehearsal ~ Wednesdays 7:00-8:30 PM in the Sanctuary  

Morning Women's Spirituality Group ~ Thursdays, 9:00 - 10:00 AM

Deacons Meeting ~ Tuesday, Mar. 12th

Acoustic Sunday ~ Sunday, March 17th, 10:00 AM

St. Luke Women’s Bridge Group ~ Monday, Mar. 18th & Tuesday, Mar. 26th, 10:30 AM

Pizza and Theology ~ Tuesday, Mar. 19th, 6:30 PM Creekside, SA

Session ~ Tuesday, Feb. 26th 7:00 PM 

Posted by Nicole Trotter with

Sunday, February 24th, 2019

This Sunday 

Dear St. Luke Community,

This Sunday is Acoustic Sunday and we have more musicians playing this Sunday than we can fit around the table. It’s an embarrassment of riches. We’ll also witness a baptism this Sunday with joy and thanksgiving.

Our scripture Luke 6:27-38 is another challenging one...love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return…Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you…(35, 37, 38)

This is so much easier said than done. The first question we can ask ourselves is: who is my enemy? 

One way to approach these verses is to understand what we are not being asked to do. Jesus does not say to stop standing up for what is just and right. Jesus doesn’t say to stay silent. What he seems to be saying is to keep a lid on the emotions which cloud the way God intended for us to live together, peacefully as part of the kingdom. Enemy means more than the annoying Uncle at the dinner table whose politics you disagree with. It implies irreconcilable hostility, proceeding out of a "personal" hatred bent on inflicting harm.[1] 

Perhaps the scripture summed up comes in this verse: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (36) 

God is asking us to transcend our own understandings of how this life works and trust instead in Him. We have no problem wrapping our hearts around the idea of an all-loving God until we imagine God asking us to love the way God does, even those who intend to cause us harm. It just doesn’t make sense to us. Perhaps that’s what God means when we are told repeatedly to die to ourselves in order to find new life in God.

It takes a deep trust (and practice) to show love, mercy, forgiveness to someone who wants to hurt you or those you love. Especially when anger clouds all judgment. This is our God. The One we worship and the One we trust more than ourselves.

See you Sunday,
Nicole

[1] https://biblehub.com/greek/2190.htm

Upcoming Events & Announcements

All are welcome to attend

Crab Feed ~ This Saturday, February 23rd at 5:30 PM
$30 Per Capita Please use a yellow pew envelope for your 2019 payment. Your payment helps offsets the yearly payment St Luke makes to Presbytery of the Redwood for each member. Please write “Per Capita” on the memo line of your check.

2019 Initial Offering ~ $30 Per Capita
Please use a yellow pew envelope for your 2019 payment. Your payment helps offsets the yearly payment St Luke makes to Presbytery of the Redwood for each member. Please write “Per Capita” on the memo line of your check.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in concert!  ~ Thursday, February 28 & Friday, Saturday, Sunday, March 1, 2, & 3
Don't miss your chance to see wonderful local singers present Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in concert! Admission is free, but donations will be gladly accepted to support the Street Chaplaincy. St. Luke and other local congregations’ partner with the Street Chaplaincy to host Tuesday night Wellness Gatherings where we join the street community in worship and share a meal together. Last year's Jesus Christ Superstar was a huge hit, so reserve your spot for free at www.theatreatlarge.org Performances are February 28 & March 1 at 8 pm at First Presbyterian San Rafael, and March 2 at 8 pm and March 3 at 2 pm at First Presbyterian San Anselmo. Questions? Ask Joanne Larson   or 415-306-1085.

Mariner’s Interfaith Sunday ~ March 3rd 10:00 AM
We gather in worship with the men and women who have shown their dedication in service to the ships and safety that preside over our cherished sea. The St Francis Yacht Club’s, Sons of the Sea Men Choir will bring the gift of music for this special occasion.

Mill Street Meal Providers ~ Monday, March 4th 
GROUP A  - The first Monday of the month. Please contact Volunteer Coordinator Stacy Bischoff at   or 415233-3406 for more information.

Fat Tuesday Pot Luck Feast ~ March 5th, 6-7:30 PM
The night before Lent begins, this traditional celebration brings rich and delicious food together in community. Location TBD.  A good time for neighbors and children to come and get to know one another. Email

Transgender Education for Faith Communities ~ March 24th after Worship in St. Luke Bayview Room
We welcome Jordan Decker and the Rev D.r Janie Spahr. Jordan Decker is a nationally and internationally known speaker and educator on Trans Youth Suicide prevention and responsible for developing Trans Heart Line, a non-profit organization that educates and advocates for transgender humans in faith communities. Rev Dr. Janie Spahr created the Spahr Project to continue educating the church on the intersectionality of racism, sexism, heterosexism, ageism, as we move forward to advocate for justice and love. Creating safe and caring places for transgender people and their families in both church and society is one of the most pressing challenges and opportunities for the Christian faith, community life and church growth today. What does it mean to be transgender, cisgender, or gender fluid? What might it be like to have the experience of feeling as though God doesn’t love you because you feel you were born “wrong.” Come gain insights, language and understandings. Invite neighbors, family and friends.

During Worship that Sunday Janie Spahr will bring The Word as we worship God. I look forward to welcoming Janie back to the St Luke sanctuary.

For Janie and Jordan’s full bios, you may visit this event on our website.

First Presbyterian SR April Mission April 7 – 13, 2019
We are invited to go along on First Pres. annual 2019 Mission trip. They are still working out the details but their tentative plans are below. April trip dates are April 7 – 13, 2019. We fly to the work site on Sunday, April 7, do home rebuilding Monday through Friday. We fly home on Saturday, April 13. We are looking at three sites in Texas that were devastated by Hurricane Harvey: Corpus Christi, Houston, or Rockport. The work assignments include putting up drywall, taping and mudding, tongue in groove flooring, framing, painting, and roofing. Construction experts guide volunteers every step.

Continuing Events

All are welcome to attend 

Bible Study Series ~ Wednesdays, 9:30 AM 

St Luke Choir Rehearsal ~ Wednesdays 700-8:30 PM in the Sanctuary  

Morning Women's Spirituality Group ~ Thursdays, 9:00 - 10:00 AM

St. Luke Women’s Bridge Group ~ Tuesday, Feb. 26th, 10:30 AM

Session ~ Tuesday, Feb. 26th 7:00 PM

Deacons and Committees ~ Tuesday, Mar. 12th

Acoustic Sunday ~ March 17th, 10:00 AM

Pizza and Theology ~ Monday, Mar. 19th, 6:30 PM Creekside, SA

Posted by Nicole Trotter with

Sunday, February 17, 2019

This Sunday 

Dear St. Luke Community,

A few weeks ago we welcomed five wonderful people into membership. On March 10th we welcome three more; Karol Kadel, Jim Kadel, and Mike Varnum. If you are interested in becoming a member as a way to make official what you ‘re experiencing at St Luke, please email me. Membership is a meaningful affirmation and a great way to deepen your sense of community. Just ask those who have done it.

This Sunday we ordain and install three members, Claudionei and Eliane Penha as Deacons and Carlene as Elder. We give thanks to God as they follow God’s calling them into ordered ministry.

Our scripture focus continues in Luke. If you recall, a few weeks ago, Jesus began by preaching in the synagogue. Last Sunday he took it on the road and recruited disciples. This Sunday he preaches what is referred to as his Sermon On the Plain. Most of us know Matthew’s version; Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

Whether on a mount or on a level place, the beatitudes have been endlessly written about. What else is there to say? Well….plenty. The more I read the more I want to read. Jesus’s words are not just poetic, they are a wake-up call to change the way we live. The usual order of things have been turned upside down. The weak, the oppressed, the destitute- they’re the blessed ones in Luke’s gospel who have inherited God’s kingdom. So what does that mean for the rest of us? That’s what we’ll explore this Sunday. 

See you Sunday,
Nicole

Upcoming Events & Announcements

All are welcome to attend

Crab Feed ~ This coming Saturday, February 23rd at 5:30 PM
$30 Per Capita Please use a yellow pew envelope for your 2019 payment. Your payment helps offsets the yearly payment St Luke makes to Presbytery of the Redwood for each member. Please write “Per Capita” on the memo line of your check.

2019 Initial Offering ~ $30 Per Capita
Please use a yellow pew envelope for your 2019 payment. Your payment helps offsets the yearly payment St Luke makes to Presbytery of the Redwood for each member. Please write “Per Capita” on the memo line of your check.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in concert!  ~ Thursday, February 28 & Friday, Saturday, Sunday, March 1, 2, & 3
Don't miss your chance to see wonderful local singers present Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in concert! Admission is free, but donations will be gladly accepted to support the Street Chaplaincy. St. Luke and other local congregations’ partner with the Street Chaplaincy to host Tuesday night Wellness Gatherings where we join the street community in worship and share a meal together. Last year's Jesus Christ Superstar was a huge hit, so reserve your spot for free at www.theatreatlarge.org Performances are February 28 & March 1 at 8 pm at First Presbyterian San Rafael, and March 2 at 8 pm and March 3 at 2 pm at First Presbyterian San Anselmo. Questions? Ask Joanne Larson   or 415-306-1085.

Mariner’s Interfaith Sunday ~ March 3rd 10:00 AM
We gather in worship with the men and women who have shown their dedication in service to the ships and safety that preside over our cherished sea. The St Francis Yacht Club’s, Sons of the Sea Men Choir will bring the gift of music for this special occasion.

Mill Street Meal Providers ~ Monday, March 4th 
GROUP A  - The first Monday of the month. Please contact Volunteer Coordinator Stacy Bischoff at   or 415233-3406 for more information.

Fat Tuesday Pot Luck Feast ~ March 5th, 6-7:30 PM
The night before Lent begins, this traditional celebration brings rich and delicious food together in community. Location TBD.  A good time for neighbors and children to come and get to know one another. Email

Transgender Education for Faith Communities ~ March 24th after Worship in St. Luke Bayview Room
We welcome Jordan Decker and the Rev D.r Janie Spahr. Jordan Decker is a nationally and internationally known speaker and educator on Trans Youth Suicide prevention and responsible for developing Trans Heart Line, a non-profit organization that educates and advocates for transgender humans in faith communities. Rev Dr. Janie Spahr created the Spahr Project to continue educating the church on the intersectionality of racism, sexism, heterosexism, ageism, as we move forward to advocate for justice and love. Creating safe and caring places for transgender people and their families in both church and society is one of the most pressing challenges and opportunities for the Christian faith, community life and church growth today. What does it mean to be transgender, cisgender, or gender fluid? What might it be like to have the experience of feeling as though God doesn’t love you because you feel you were born “wrong.” Come gain insights, language and understandings. Invite neighbors, family and friends.

During Worship that Sunday Janie Spahr will bring The Word as we worship God. I look forward to welcoming Janie back to the St Luke sanctuary.

For Janie and Jordan’s full bios, you may visit this event on our website.

First Presbyterian SR April Mission April 7 – 13, 2019
We are invited to go along on First Pres. annual 2019 Mission trip. They are still working out the details but their tentative plans are below. April trip dates are April 7 – 13, 2019. We fly to the work site on Sunday, April 7, do home rebuilding Monday through Friday. We fly home on Saturday, April 13. We are looking at three sites in Texas that were devastated by Hurricane Harvey: Corpus Christi, Houston, or Rockport. The work assignments include putting up drywall, taping and mudding, tongue in groove flooring, framing, painting, and roofing. Construction experts guide volunteers every step.

Continuing Events

All are welcome to attend 

Bible Study Series ~ Wednesday, Feb. 20th, 9:30 AM 

St Luke Choir Rehearsal ~ Wednesdays 700-8:30 PM in the Sanctuary  

Morning Women's Spirituality Group ~ Thursday, Feb. 21st., 9:00 AM

St. Luke Women’s Bridge Group ~ Monday, Feb. 18th & Tuesday, Feb. 26th, 10:30 AM

Pizza and Theology ~ DATE CHANGE - Monday, Feb. 18th, 6:30 PM Creekside, SA

Acoustic Sunday ~ February 24th

Session ~ Tuesday, Feb. 26th 7:00 PM

Deacons and Committees ~ Tuesday, Mar. 12th, 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM

Posted by Nicole Trotter with

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