In this Week's Update:

Upcoming Worship

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

Upcoming Small Groups, Classes & Sign-ups

Daily Devotional

A Note from Pastor Jenn

Dear Fellow APP's

Bill and 26 St. Luker's are in the Holy Land having an amazing trip. Here is an update from Bill:

May 4, 2010 - Tiberias, Israel

Dear St. Luke's Saints,

I am writing this from the 8th floor of a hotel balcony directly on the Sea of Galilee. We have just returned from the final stop of our first day of the tour, which was a time of reaffirmation of our baptisms at the Jordan River. A dozen persons in our group donned traditional white robes, waded into the cool water of the Jordan and were immersed by me. The less adventurous had water placed on their heads, but the amount of water was less important than the moment itself. It was a busy place where many other Christians and first-time believers were gathering with priests and pastors to celebrate the Sacrament.

It was a cool spot, in more ways than one, to conclude the day. We visited the Mount of the Beatitudes, the site of the feeding of the 5000, the beach where Jesus met the disciples for breakfast after the resurrection, took a ride on a boat on the Sea of Galilee, ate traditional St. Peter's fish, saw where the demon-possessed swine ran over the cliff after Jesus cast them out of a Gentile in Gadara, spent time in Beth Shan among Roman ruins, and generally got a good feel for the area where Jesus spent most of his ministry.

Imagine, we did all of this in only one day! Tomorrow takes us to Nazareth and to Caesarea on the Mediterranean. We will go to the top of Mt. Carmel where Elijah challenged the priests of Baal, who were loyal to Queen Jezebel. Although we are so many miles from Orlando, you are close to us in our thoughts. We have remembered you and prayed for you, and will continue to do so.

Shalom,
Bill

Sometimes it takes getting out of the routine of life and experiencing something different to have a new perspective on how you live and who you are in this world. Walking the roads of Christ and the apostles must give such valuable meaning to one's spiritual walk and reignites a deep sense of calling for the sojourners. In day to day life, with all of its stress and busyness, this idea of being God's Amazing Powerful People, while a privilege, seems downright daunting. As Marianne Williamson writes, "Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness, that most frightens us." We have to sometimes take a break from the daily grind, and see life with fresh eyes. Whether it's walking the ancient Holy Land, or sometimes, simply serving in a neighborhood or community different than our own, we understand our significance for God in deeper ways.

This leads me to a point of celebration of your Amazing Powerful work as People of St. Luke's. This past Friday, Ruth McKeefery and I attended the Orange County Public School Recognition event for Partners in Education and Additions volunteers. Each school was allowed to nominate outstanding Partners in Education and Addition volunteers who had made significant differences for their school community. Then each area learning community chose 3 from each category to recognize for their commitment and work. St. Luke's IMPACT program was recognized as one of the outstanding Partners in Education in the Southwest learning Community for all of your work at Pineloch Elementary. As if that wasn't enough, John Horn was recognized as an outstanding volunteer at Mollie Ray Elementary, George Fuller at Vista Lakes Elementary, and Jennifer Logan at Sandlake Elementary. What a gift it was to see how St. Luke's amazing, powerful people are being recognized for their dedicated work in serving our schools and sharing their hearts with students. But as I have heard from so many of you who serve these children, you receive from them often more than you give. That is the beauty of giving your life to God's work, you not only serve others, but your heart is filled and your passion renewed. Isn't God's economy wonderful?

This week in worship we will celebrate the life giving Relationships of an APP. Ortberg writes, "More than anything else, we are shaped by people. Some naturally help me live in the flow and make me want to be the best version of myself. They see the best of me when I cannot see it. They cheer me on when I grow toward it." As we look at the first church in Act's 2 we will see how this was their definition of community from the very start. I hope to see you Sunday so we can be a part of life giving worship together as the community of St. Luke's.

On a follow up note, if you missed our "Change the World" Sunday on April 25 please check out this link to see what exciting things are happening and what you missed.

Grace and Peace -
Jenn

St. Luke's Saints,

Wow - wasn't Lent and Easter a fabulous season at St. Luke's this year? Much time and energy is put into planning and conducting our worship services as well as the many other elements that help us all connect and grow closer to our Lord and Savior. With that in mind, I would like to ask you to take a few minutes and give us your feedback on the Lent Season. Please click on this link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9TVDVYF and take the 10 question survey. Your responses are confidential but will be shared with our staff and laity who lead the Proclaim Ministry Essential area. Your thoughts are very important to us and we depend on them to help us move forward in our planning for 2010 and beyond.

Thank you in advance for your time,

Chuck Mallue, Lay Leader