Dear St. Lukers,
We wrapped up another Wesleyan Way class this week, and it is always powerful to spell out who we are as United Methodists. Teaching our church’s history, theology, and practices reminds me why I am United Methodist, and why I continue to practice my faith within a United Methodist community. One of the distinct characteristics of Methodist theology and practice is our balance of focus on both personal holiness AND social holiness – it’s the same kind of concept that we at St. Luke’s refer to as “awakening disciples” and “revealing the kingdom.”
This is one of those weeks we see that integration of life and practice so clearly. We have spent the last six weeks on the road to the cross with Jesus, as we looked at all the ways he shows us what love on purpose looks like. And while the first thing on most of our minds is the upcoming Holy Week, the remembrance of Jesus’ last week on earth and final walk toward the cross and the tomb, at St. Luke’s we have one more opportunity to prepare ourselves for this powerful week of worship and remembrance.
On Saturday (March 23), St. Luke’s Missions is partnering again with the local organization Sleep In Heavenly Peace to build beds for kids in our community who don’t have beds of their own to sleep in. One volunteer I spoke with this week said she was able to be part of delivering our last batch of beds, and was so moved when the kids receiving the beds wanted to help put them together and make the beds, saying very proudly that this is “my” bed.
That’s what the concept of revealing the kingdom is all about – looking around, asking where in our community there is a need for equity and justice, and then responding in kind to help our neighbors live with dignity. It’s the perfect way to prepare for Holy Week, to practice a love that gives and serves, and then move into a week remembering the ultimate gift given to us in Jesus’ surrender and sacrifice, then moving toward resurrection Sunday as we recognize that absolutely nothing will stop the love of Christ, not even death.
I pray that you are entering intentionally and purposefully into this week, whether you’re coming home from a spring break trip or you choose to begin your Holy Week journey helping to build beds.
Join us on Sunday (March 24) for Palm Sunday as we remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem; Thursday, March 28 as we sit together in the upper room and share in the servanthood and remembrance of Maundy Thursday; and Friday, March 29 as we enter the darkest day, remembering the painful and haunting reality of Jesus’ crucifixion.
If you have friends who don’t already have a church home, be sure you’ve invited them to Easter Sunday (March 31) with us as well, so they can experience the joyful celebration of Christ’s resurrection as the hope of the world, inviting us to live resurrected, purposeful lives ourselves!
Thanks for being on this journey with me, and with one another. I look forward to seeing what our love on purpose can do.
Pastor Melissa