Dear Called Followers of Jesus,
What a beautiful week of worship and listening we have had since Sunday. In both spaces we worshiped, praised, and heard Christ calling us to follow Him, and as a church to go where He is leading us. We had many responses to our first two discovery questions, both on paper and through our online poll. If you were not here on Sunday and have not had a chance to answer the questions (what brought you to St. Luke’s, and what keeps you following Jesus at St. Luke’s), please click here to send in your answers. The more information we have, the better as we discover our giftedness and strengths as a congregation. You can also sign up to join us at an upcoming listening post to share even more of your thoughts and ideas.
This week we are continuing the work of discovery as we move on with the next few verses in Matthew 4. After leaving their nets to follow Jesus as his students, the writer tells us of the great fame that begins to grow as Jesus and his disciples begin their ministry of teaching and healing. Listen to Pastor Jad’s lecture about these verses on this week’s podcast episode as you prepare your hearts for worship, and check out your Monday Learn, Live, Love, and Lead email to consider the questions raised to prepare you for our next question of discovery.
This week in my social media memories a picture came up that struck me. It was from January 22, 2017, the day we all went from the Sanctuary into the shell of what was to become Founder’s Hall. We went in at the end of worship and signed our names on the concrete floors, walls, and stage.
We put a Bible signed by all of you who were here at the very center of our stage to remind ourselves that no matter what is happening there, Jesus Christ and the Word of God are our foundation. That room now holds Contemporary worship, theatre shows, concerts, speaker events, and Wednesday night classes, and in that sacred space Christ has been proclaimed; babies, youth, and adults have been baptized; lives healed; people have celebrated the home-going of saints and the beginning of marriages; and the arts and speakers have reached thousands with our core values centered in Christ’s love. This space would not have been a reality without the 4D Vision and the work of the same vision process we are in now. Joy filled the air with the opening of the space the following June, but that special January day, standing in the shell of a space, imagining what could be and committing our lives to be the foundation will be a moment I will never forget.
I know as we think of those old shelled out walls, some of you may be thinking, “We see similar walls every week in the Welcome Hall!” Well, I’m here to share some good news! Insurance has been settled, the roofing contractors have been hired, and equipment and supplies arrive today! The roof work will begin on February 6, and the new roofs for Building C should be completed mid-March. Hallelujah, and great thanks to Scooter Leonard, Debby Zutter, and the Trustees for staying on top of this work night and day to bring this to fruition. And who knows, maybe there’s a connection again to the dreams of tomorrow found in the unfinished buildings of today.
Can’t wait to see you Sunday as we discover all the ways Jesus Christ is moving in our midst.
Grace and Peace,
Jenn.