“The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachings to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. A sense of awe came over everyone. All the believers were united and shared everything.” Acts 2:42
Dear St. Lukers,
“Just look what God can do!” I’ve shared this quote before from my friend, Rev. Terri Stead Pierce, who serves at Joy MCC. All this week I’ve been hearing this statement in my head as I’ve watched how the Holy Spirit is shaping us and focusing us as an Acts 2 church.
“Just look what God can do!”
SHARED MEALS
We had two food distributions this week. In East Winter Garden we served 100 hot meals and produce to 250-300 people continuing the work we began several weeks ago. This partnership of meals is connecting with Cheers Restaurant, Society of St. Andrews, and Shepherd’s Hope. Based on the produce distribution, the American Heart Association and the University of Florida IFAS Extension share nutritional benefits and recipes. When we partner with others to fill the gaps of our communities, we create stronger, interdependent webs of mutuality as Dr. King taught us.
This same kind of partnership has created a second distributions site for meals on our own campus. Working with your generosity, 4 Roots (the non-profit foundation sponsored by 4 Rivers Smokehouse) and Feed the Need Florida, joined forces with St. Luke’s leaders in the arts community to distribute more than 250 hot meals as well as produce on Tuesday. These meals went to local theme park workers and artists of all kinds who were overwhelmed with the love they received as a thanks for all they do for our city. St. Lukers received this open letter of thanks from one of our guests on Tuesday:
Before I even left the lot I was crying- the good kind of tears. I had no idea how much I needed that, how much my soul needed that. My stomach is grateful for real food and I’m excited to cook BUT my soul… my soul needed that so bad. I have never before been on the receiving end of a more clear depiction of what the church, any church, should be. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for loving on our community and for filling my soul today. For reminding me that what we do is special and that sometimes we need to accept the love back that we are used to giving so freely. You are all appreciated more than you know.”
St. Luke’s will continue distributing meals through the summer and increase days as the need and funds arise.
You can be a part of this incredible movement of the Spirit making us an ACTS 2 Church!
- If you would like to help distribute meals at St. Luke’s click here to sign up.
- To assist with meal distribution in East Winter Garden, email Amy Winslow.
- If you would like to share a meal at either of these sites you can give online here.
SHARED EVERYTHING
So many of you have stepped up and given with incredible generosity to St. Luke’s Coronavirus Emergency Help Fund. Whether through a gift given online or through the 10% donation we receive from the weekly 4 Rivers food truck meals you purchase, we have raised over $50,000 to help our community.
This week your Coronavirus Emergency Help Fund giving has started to help people in our community. We have guided people through systems of assistance already in our community and state. Others we have helped with mental health co-pays, rent and pharmacy costs. Information on how to receive assistance was given to everyone who received a meal this week at our two food distributions.
You can be a part of this incredible movement of the Spirit making us an ACTS 2 Church!
- If you know someone in need of assistance or willing to participate in a micro loan as they wait for federal assistance, please share this link.
- If you have some experience and gifts in walking with people through budgeting, filling out assistance, and navigating systems, you can sign up to be a part of the team here.
APOSTLES TEACHING AND PRAYER
Sunday we turn to Paul’s sermon to the people of Athens in Acts 17:22-31. Fred Craddock writes “the readings for today (Sunday) announce the meaning of the resurrection of Jesus Christ to persons who live in a variety of difficult circumstances.” This would normally be a season of graduations and celebrations for high school and college seniors. Saying goodbye and moving on to new dreams and visions is what graduation is all about. But as we know, celebrations have been cancelled or have moved online and no one quite knows what the fall will bring for colleges or jobs.
Sunday we are going to celebrate more than 40 St. Luker graduates. We will celebrate their accomplishments, they will lead us in liturgy, and their stories will be our eyewitnesses to love. Paul’s teaching in Acts will invite us, as they did for Athens, to meet God who has been at the center of their lives all along as Creator and Preserver. We will offer words not only to our graduates, but to all of us as we graduate into new visions and dreams with God as our Creator and Preserver.
During worship we invite you to post pictures of you holding signs of congratulations or post your own senior pictures using the hashtag #stlukesjustlove to celebrate our graduates with us!
Just look at what God can do when the church focuses on what we are called and empowered to be as eyewitnesses to love. Can’t wait to see what comes next.
Grace and peace,
Jenn.