Dear St. Lukers,

Right now it’s Sunday, worship just ended, and I couldn’t wait to write my Weekly Update article! I wanted you to know two things right off the bat:

First, during the 11:00 a.m. worship service, Fikirte Mariam Mengistie, our Executive Director of Missions, came walking into the Sanctuary. As a congregation you had already filled up the 400 extra hygiene kits for the children in Homestead. Thank you, thank you for the more than 800 kits you have made available to the most vulnerable among us. We will be planning a trip as soon as possible to deliver them.

Second, after the 8:00 and 9:30 a.m. services, we had a very special St. Luker living out Rule #2 of God’s park: You have to CARE! Little Sophia Vasquez (daughter of our Director of Connect Ministries, Liz, and our Chairperson of Stewardship, Raphnel) was spending time in the Sanctuary when she decided that every person who came in needed a hug. She hugged those leaving the 8:00 a.m. service, and then she went in and hugged people sitting in the pews waiting for the 9:30 a.m. service to begin. She hugged every person she saw – all on her own, with no prompting from her parents or pastors! If you could have seen the smiles on people’s faces when this precious little girl came up, without even asking, and just simply hugged their legs or their arms – it was priceless!

That’s what God’s Park is all about. Learning from children the etiquette shown in the gospel which is innate to them: to welcome, care, take turns, hug, make friends, and as this Sunday’s rule reminds us, to Share. On Sunday Pastor Jad and I will move from Luke 10 into chapter 11 concentrating on verses 33–36. Read the chapter and see how Luke uses Jesus’ words from the sermon on the mount in Matthew in a slightly different way in this gospel. How does the light we share bring out the light in others which might have gone out?

Speaking of our little lights, can we talk about the Jazz Ensemble and our youth singers! They did a great job on Sunday in Traditional worship, as did all the musicians in both venues. We are blessed by the incredible talent and the way our musicians across the campus share their gifts to lead us in worship. We hope to see you on Sunday, and until then, keep your lights shining like Little Sophia!

Grace and peace,

Jenn.

Click here to read the full Weekly Update