A Note from Pastor Bill

Dear Saints,

I am the typical male when it comes to travel. I will never ask for directions, but I will look at a map when absolutely necessary. I like to know where I am going. I like to see the destination on a map, but I don’t like to ask how to get there.

Of course Mapquest and other online mapping services have made us guys very happy. Now we can memorize the directions at home on the computer and look really brilliant when we put the pedal to the metal. I also have to say that I am totally in love with Michelle, who is the “voice” of the GPS system on my Verizon phone, and although I don’t know her name, the woman who is the voice of road reason on the GPS in our Volkswagen is a total highway hottie as well. You won’t see me stopping the car at a 7-11 to ask for guidance, but you will see me hitting the on/start/map button on the center console to see and hear my way forward.

One of the things we keep hearing here at St. Luke’s is the request for a clear “map” for faith formation. We offer a lot of opportunities for spiritual growth, but we have not provided a clear picture of the paths that can be followed for intentional growth. (Just a clarifier here: we are not as concerned with the destination, as we are with the journey, but that doesn’t mean we are content with going around in circles, either!) Most of us won’t stop to ask for directions, but if we had a map or a clearly understandable process for faith development, we would utilize it. BIG time!

The Rev. LeeAnn Inman, our Minister of Spiritual Formation, has joined us to help with the mapmaking and the spiritual GPS work we have been wanting for so long. I will join her on Sunday to share the “Guide” mission essential, as we seek to “grow in grace and knowledge.” (2 Peter 3:18)

We will be thinking about scripture passages that depict us as malleable clay waiting to be formed by the potter, who is God. In her book, Making Disciples: Faith Formation in the Wesleyan Tradition, Sondra Higgins Matthaei writes, “In the Wesleyan tradition, faith formation and transformation are both acts of God’s grace and an invitation for human response.” LeeAnn and I invite you to join us this weekend to explore a St. Luke’s GPS (that’s a Grace Positioning System) and the shape we are given by the Master Potter’s hand.

With faith, hope, and love,
Bill

U2CHARIST

BIG NEWS      BIG GOAL      BIG OPPORTUNITY

Many of you were here when we challenged ourselves with “50K in a DAY” to build a Habitat for Humanity home. We built momentum through our worship services for many weeks and then sought to raise the entire $50,000 in one day through special offerings at what were then 4 services. When all was said and done we had raised so much money and had received commitments for in-kind construction that we built three houses! We have a NEW and EXCITING Challenge for 2007. It is called, “7-0 in 0-7 for Water, Shade, and Healing”

On October 7th, as we conclude our “What Are We Made Of?” sermon series, St. Luke’s is celebrating in typical St. Luke’s style by thinking big. We plan to raise $70,000 in one day for three mission projects related to our mission partners. The Water Project will be in Duverge, Dominican Republic. We will be working with Rollins College to provide education and 50 water filters for 50 homes as a pilot project in bringing fresh water to our brothers and sister in the D.R. The Shade Project will provide much needed safe place for children to play in Florida City, Florida (at the entrance to the Keys). The Healing Project will be a year long health clinic in Lauriston, Jamaica. This project takes the Shepherd’s Hope concept abroad as we work alongside volunteer Jamaican doctors and nurses as they staff their own free clinic.

The weeks to come in worship will bring more specific information about 70 in 07, so as always, don’t miss a week!