A Note from Pastor Beth

Jesus said, “I am the vine and you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 9:5)

Dear St. Luke’s Saints,

Have you ever had one of those days at work or at home when you said, “It sure would be easier to get done what I need to get done if people weren’t involved!” Pastor Jenn and I have joked on hard days here at the church office that we were ready to quit and get a job that worked with inanimate objects only. Things that could be easily moved from one place to another, had no opinions about things and no feelings to hurt… now there’s a little a slice of heaven! But, of course, this is definitely not how ministry works or how life works for that matter and if it did I’m certain that the “little slice of heaven” would turn into a very lonely “anything but” in no time at all.

We humans have been in need of each other and companionship since the beginning of time. It started with the story in Genesis when after his creation Adam asked God for a partner to live with and God created Eve. Throughout generations the people of Israel stuck together as best they could knowing that God had a special purpose for their community and that their identity was best expressed as a people, not solely as individuals. And then we come to the New Testament and encounter the witness of Jesus who called 12 disciples to work with him in ministry to thousands and had close relationships with many others like Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha, just to name a few. The early church community that begins to form in the book of Acts is the place where the story of Christ is shared and chapter 2, verse 44-45 goes as far as to say, “All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all as any had need.”

As we consider our core value of “community” this week during worship it’s important to remember this shared history we have as people of faith. Although it might seem easier sometimes to just do our own thing, God has created us and called us to work, live, love, laugh and cry with Him and each other. Although here and there we may have to suffer through a few “sour grapes,” the vast majority of the fruit produced when we connect in this way is very sweet indeed. How are you connected to others in the branches that connect to the life-giving vine of Jesus Christ? I look forward to seeing you on Sunday as we gather as a group of imperfect people who are able to do our best and be our best when we’re together!

Blessings,

Beth Farabee-Puckett
Minister of Worship