Dear St. Lukers,
What an incredible first Sunday of Eastertide and celebration we had this week. The Sanctuary was packed, the music was soaring, and the Holy Spirit was all around us as we focused on what it means to Be ALIVE and REJOICE as resurrection people.
I’m sure you have heard by now, but yes, there was an announcement on Sunday. As a part of the annual Florida United Methodist Conference announcement of moves, we shared that Pastors Jad and Melissa will be returning for another year of ministry at St. Luke’s, and I will be taking a secondary appointment as Director of Conference Vitality and Leadership Development with the Annual Conference. I will be both Lead Pastor here and serving in this new role on the Bishop’s Appointive Cabinet through April 1, 2026. I will then move to the conference role full-time.
In January of 2026, The Rev. Corey Jones will return to St. Luke’s as Co-Lead Pastor with me to serve in a three-month transition period. He is in the process of finishing his current role as Executive Director of the Warren Willis Camps and Retreat Center, and will then become Lead Pastor at St. Luke’s the first week of April 2026. We are excited for this time of transition and change, trusting that God has plans for this congregation and community through this period and has great things in store for the future. As I said on Sunday, resurrection doesn’t just lead to new ways of living, it also offers us new callings and new ways to lead our lives. As we move through this time as a church, what might resurrection be calling you to explore in how God wants you to lead and live in new ways? As our Scripture this week says: So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!
What new things has resurrection given to you? How do the new things revive your spirit and your understanding of who you are and what God is calling YOU to do? This week we will focus on the word REVIVE and what it means to have a REVIVAL of our identity and spirit. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to listen to the newest “Your Week with St. Luke’s” podcast episode (available wherever you get your podcasts) as Pastor Jad talks about our Scripture from 2 Corinthians 5:13-19. We hope to see you in worship this Sunday for a revival of our spirits. It’s good to BE ALIVE at St. Luke’s with U!
Blessings and grace,
Jenn.