A Note from Pastor Bill

Dear St. Luke’s Saints,

Tuesday I had a moment in time I will never forget. I stood outside of Dr. Phillips Hospital watching a red helicopter take off from the parking lot. For the first time ever, I knew the person being air-lifted. It was David Stephens, our Minister of Nurture. David suffered a heart attack Tuesday morning and not wanting to waste any time in treating him, the staff at Dr. Phillips arranged for immediate heart catheterization at ORMC.

David knows I am sending this information to you today, so I am not violating his confidentiality. In fact, by notifying you all in this manner we hope it will reduce calls and emails to his home as he recovers.

We all know that David commits himself to a very healthy lifestyle, both in terms of diet and exercise. (He is a marathon runner, an avid bicycler, and swimmer.) But it seems hereditary higher levels of cholesterol, which he has managed through his positive choices, caused a significant blockage in his heart. The good news is that the damage to his heart has been minimal and he should be able to return to his normal schedule in a couple of weeks. He received excellent care and two arterial stents, and as of this writing expects to be released to come home this weekend.

It certainly has been somewhat of a surreal experience to be standing at David’s bed, when he is the one usually standing at ours! Marca and the family are doing well now that David is on the mend. I know they appreciate your prayers and love. Please try to limit your calls to him so he can rest, but if you’d like to send your greetings to them, his email is dstephens@st.lukes.org, and their home address is 11552 Alepat Lane, Orlando, FL 32836-6104.

I couldn’t help but think about David when I remembered our topic for this Sunday in worship. We will be reaffirming our baptism at all services, as we traditionally do on the second Sunday of the New Year. Each of you will have an opportunity to come forward, feel the water of new life, remember what your baptism in Christ means, and take a memento of the service with you. The sermon title is “The Pleasure Principle,” and the text is from Matthew 3:17, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
These are the words which seemed to come from heaven when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John. We can understand why God would be “well pleased” with Jesus. The question we want to ask on Sunday as we renew our baptismal commitments is: “Is God well pleased with me?”

I have no doubt at all that God is well pleased with David, who has nurtured and guided us through baptisms, weddings, sermons, hospital visits, crisis moments, supportive listening and counseling, and memorial services. David welcomed most of us into membership at St. Luke’s and introduced us (even with mispronounced names sometimes!) to the congregation when we took our vows.

So join me in prayer for David and all who love him, give thanks for the gentle, loving ways in which he gives pleasure to his Lord, and make a point to gather with your other brothers and sisters in faith this weekend to touch the water that touches our hearts.

With faith, hope, love, and wet hands,

Bill