January 2024
St. Luke’s congregational mission statement is: “By the power of the Holy Spirit, we accept God’s call to spread the Good News, serve those in need, and share the victory of Jesus Christ throughout the world.” We confess, right from the get go, that we don’t have the power to do the Lord’s work on our own. We must be empowered by the Holy Spirit if we are going to be effective. Jesus tells His followers just before His ascension that “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts1:8) The Holy Spirit has come upon the Church, the people of God. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we accept God’s call to participate in the Lord’s work.
We focus on three vital actions that we accept as God’s call for us. The first is to “Spread the Good News”. On Christmas night the angel told the shepherds, “I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10, 11) When the shepherds saw the baby, “they made known the saying that had been told them concerning the child.” (Luke 2:17) We then, join in a long line of folks who have seen with eyes of faith that the Savior has come in Jesus, the Messiah of the world. We accept God’s call to spread that Good News, because it is “for all the people”. Our worship and music ministries, educational ministries, and elements of our evangelism ministries are all about “Spreading the Good News”.
The second part of our mission is to “Serve those in need.” When Jesus appears at the end of time He will say to those who have seen Him with the eyes of faith and so served those in need, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” (Matthew 25:34-36) We know in our hearts that whenever we serve those in need we are actually serving Jesus. He comes to us in many “distressing disguises” to allow us the privilege of serving Him. Our community concerns, elements of our evangelism ministries, and a great deal of the ministry of the Women of the ELCA are all about “Serving those in need.”
The third part of our mission is to “Share the Victory of Jesus Christ throughout the world.” Paul writes at the end of his wonderful sharing with the Corinthian church about the resurrection, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:56, 57) The powers of sin and death cannot overcome us because Jesus has won the victory over them. We accept God’s call to share this victory because it is for all of “us” throughout the world. Our property ministries are important not only for our facility needs but the needs of so many groups within the community to share. Our stewardship and finance ministries are all about the victory we take part in as we share the resources God gives us to use. In our youth ministries we are sharing with young people the victorious life in the Lord’s love. Our church council and special committees help facilitate our sharing of the victory of Jesus Christ.
As you eagerly await the calling a new pastor, continue to keep focused on the vital mission of St. Luke’s. You will then be ready for a wonderful new chapter in the life of this vibrant congregation.
Spreading, Serving and Sharing with You,
Pastor Carl