The Weekly View

Sunday September 16, 2018

This Sunday - Acoustic Sunday

Dear St Luke Community,

After Morgan was born, John and I began attending First United Methodist Church in Portland Oregon. Most of our time at that church is a bit of a blur to me now, with the exception of one meeting. I brought Morgan with me to the Pastor’s office and Morgan wiggled around on my lap as I said something like; “I’ve always been comfortable with God and Spirit, but I’ve never really gotten Jesus.” At that point in my life, Jesus was a name spoken by people who pounded their fists on pulpits, warning people to be saved. The name came with a kind of warning label that didn’t fit my experience of an all loving God, so I had never been able to reconcile the two. The Pastor suggested one thing. Just one thing.  He said; “Ask for Jesus to reveal Himself to you and He’ll do the rest. All you have to do is ask.”

It wasn’t immediate and certainly, my experience of Jesus has grown far beyond that day in the Pastors’ office. But what wonderful place to start. Just ask.

Jesus, in Marks Gospel, reading this Sunday, (Mark 8:27-28) also asks a question. Who do you say that I am? It’s about as good as any question gets. Our theology, how we relate to God shapes our lives. So how we answer this questions lives itself out in everything we do, every way we think, and all the ways we show up in our relationships, both personal and worldly.

Maybe the best way to answer the question is to ask one in return. Just ask for Him to reveal Himself to you, and He’ll do the rest.

After worship, Dr. Gregory Love from SFTS, who is as good as any Professor gets, will speak about the many ways people have answered that question; Who do you say that I am? Some say mystic, others prophet, some say, zealot, some messiah. Who was this historical man and who is he to us today?

Eric Rowe, Beth Potillo-Miller and Erich Miller and I have lots of special music planned as well. 

See you Sunday,
Nicole