Wow! Can you believe it is almost 1 year since we gathered to celebrate St. Luke’s 100th anniversary in ministry. What a memorable weekend it was praising God in fellowship with current and former mayors, our Bishop, pastors, staff and church members. Participants of all ages were delighted and deeply touched with many asking…” Can we do this again next year”?!?!
And so, a new group was born in February of 2024! The Annual Outreach Event (AOE) team of about 25 individuals answered the call to brainstorm possible events/activities. Many great ideas were offered up and after conferring with staff we have found a way to partner with various ministry teams this year. Please join the AOE team on Sunday, April 28 at 11:15 am in the Fellowship Hall. At this gathering we will continue to fine tune our ideas. Your voice is important to us. Please join us for a fast-paced fun hour of planning/dreaming. Beverages and treats will be provided. It’s time to start cleaning out your closets! June 6-8, 2024 Garage Sale, Kids Jumpy Houses and Ice Cream Social Mark your calendars for the a church wide garage sale coming June 6-8, 2024. We will partner with the Faith Formation Ministry Team who will be offering Jumpy Houses and an Ice Cream Social to the public on Saturday afternoon, June 8th. Information regarding VBS and other child related activities will be handed out to all garage sale visitors. More information will be available in the coming weeks. It's never too soon to plan for the holidays. November 8 & 9, 2024 Holiday Market and Fine Arts Festival Calling all St. Luke’s artists, crafters, bakers and lovers of unique gifts. Outside vendors and St. Luke’s families will be joining together to present a festive Holiday Market and Fine Arts Festival! More information to follow soon! To join in the fun, have your questions answered or to receive more information about the Annual Outreach Events team please contact Deb Krieg 612-799-3686 / [email protected] or Barb Roberts 952-412-5453 / [email protected]
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April 20th (9:00 AM) and 21st (after both worships)
“Many hands make light work.” – John Heywood There is some heavy lifting to do at St. Luke’s when it comes to caring for the property – both inside and out. St. Luke’s is blessed with very generous members sharing their time and resources. We are being asked to do so again this coming weekend. St. Luke’s Spring Clean Up’s primary focus is yard care. Please join us on Saturday, and/or Sunday. There is dead foliage to clean up around the irises, daylilies, and other plants. The weeds are already growing (do they ever stop?) and the mulch can be stirred. The Rain Garden needs several of the grasses and plants cut back. Please bring the tools you are comfortable using as well as gloves. Our property will never save a soul, and it will never disciple someone, however – our property has a direct impact on the church’s mission – specifically stating, “St. Luke’s is a Welcoming…” Someone visiting a church for the first time that is not cared for will be asking, “If they can’t take care of their building, how will they take care of me?” A first impression is just that, it will determine whether or not there will be a second one where they can be part of a “… and Growing faith Community, busy making Christ known to the World.” Beyond Blue Jean Weekend there are a number of other opportunities. What follows is a portion of Former Council Representative for Property, Marc Dunham’s 2023 Annual Report. It has been updated thanks to those who have stepped up to take on one of the many projects that need to be accomplished throughout the year - some are short term or one-time tasks. The greatest commitment is having the Holy Spirit stir within a member of our congregation to be the 2024-25 Council Representative for Property. Know that it is not a position carried out in isolation. There is a good crew of people already helping out. Also, I am grateful for Marc Dunham’s dedication and his willingness to mentor the person who accepts this position. Please see any one of the Council Members if you want to learn more… Property Report 2023 – Marc Dunham The Property Chair position is ideally suited to someone who is newly retired or those who have become empty nesters. There are situations that will come up where people of this vintage will be able to draw on life experiences to help problem solve. You also have the knowledge of past property chairs to solicit for help. They have been a great resource for me. The administrative side of the position is to attend the monthly council meetings and report on activities from the list below that may or not have happened. Arranging for entry into the building for contractors that are performing inspection or service. Soliciting pricing for projects that may arise or confirm/approve pricing for current vendors. There are no major infrastructure projects on the near horizon. St. Luke’s is in overall good shape. I believe the main focus will be continuing to do some of the maintenance that we use to contract out or did on our own. This includes:
Once again Larry Nelson, Julie Klein and others outdid themselves preparing and taking care of their garden areas last summer. Though it was said property committee worked hard to make St. Luke’s look nice for the 100th Anniversary, that is not entirely true. I think St. Luke’s should look like this all the time. When I was approached to take the Property Chair position, I knew from the beginning that what I wanted to accomplish most, was the improvement of St. Luke’s curb appeal. The timing was simply in God’s hands. The most rewarding time that I’ve spent as Property Chair has been starting and working with the Yard Care Group. The first year Greg Hornicke (75) showed up on many occasions. The second year Mark Bergherr (71) joined the group and Tammy Fawver (66) joined last year. This core group puts in a combined 50-60 hours per month during the growing season. The maintenance on the new rain garden alone is about 50 hours per season. Look forward to working alongside other members who love St. Luke’s and are willing and able to get a little dirty to spruce up our grounds – and light work it will be. Congregational Event, Sunday, April 14
Two Sessions: 9 AM and 11 AM Fellowship Hall What a joy to be in worship last Sunday, April 7 as 11 people joined St. Luke’s. A few of their responses to “Why did you choose St. Luke’s?”
If you are able, I’d encourage you to listen to the recording of the 10 AM Worship, April 7. The introductions are early in worship, following the announcements. Here’s the link. This coming Sunday April 14 following each Worship members are invited to attend a Faith Practices and Neighboring Practices conversation. This hour long experience will give you a sneak peak at what the St. Luke’s Practices and Neighboring Practices Team has been doing for the past seven months. It will be insightful and participatory. I guarantee you’ll enjoy your time. This project is supported by the Lilly Foundation’s Thriving Congregations initiative St. Luke’s was selected as one of the 15 Minneapolis congregations for the 2023-2025 Cohort. Over these two years six people: Leah DeShepper, currently President St. Luke’s, Adult members, Kelsey Newby, currently President-Elect, and Donna Tabat a Confirmation Adult Leader, Sadie Cinnamon Student Member, and Venessa Nelson a Community Member who serves as President of St. Luke’s Preschool, and me make up the team. Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices: Renewing Congregational Imagination is a two-year learning community for congregations in the Minneapolis Area Synod. We believe that vital congregations take seriously the small simple practices that build community, cultivate mutual relationships, and expand our awareness of God’s activity in the places where we have been called to live. Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices guides cohorts of congregations through a learning process focus on collaborative learning, community building, and spiritual practice. Congregations experiment with practices in their own community to build authentic relationships with neighbors, connect across difference, and engage contemplative spirituality. Practices are grounded in asset-based community development, intentional simplicity, and contemplative spiritual traditions. Each month, cohorts meet to process and support one another’s work, explore new practices, and build meaningful relationships. The Center for Leadership & Neighborhood Engagement guides each learner through the Intercultural Development Inventory and assists in developing an individual and community plan for growing in intercultural competence. Additionally, the cohorts engage in a parallel learning process with the Riverside Innovation Hub at Augsburg University and other Thriving Congregations Initiatives in the Twin Cities. We look forward to sharing this with you on Sunday with more to come in the weeks and months ahead. I believe this was a Spirit calling as St. Luke’s has been seeking a Director of Community Engagement. God answered our prayers with this congregational opportunity, where not one but five people are willing to lead us. It is living out our mission statement: St. Luke’s is a welcoming and growing community of faith, busy making Christ known to the world. Thank you to all who helped make St. Luke’s Easter so wonderful: Altar Guild, Brass, Camera Techs, Children Ministers, Choir, Communion Assistants, Greeters, Jubilee, Lectors, Sound Techs, Staff, Treat Hosts and Providers, Video Techs, Ushers, Welcome Desk Hosts, Worship Assistants, and all the Members who welcomed those who joined us in Worship. It was a grand day! Glory to God!
Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Easter is generally the strongest attendance day of the year. Sadly, one of the lowest attendance days of the year is the Sunday after Easter. “The Roman Catholic Church has a name for each Sunday of the calendar year. Want to guess what they call the Sunday after Easter? Low Sunday. It was renamed by Pope John Paul II in 2000 to “Divine Mercy Sunday.” That was a good call for JP2. Every pastor in America is praying for Divine mercy on the Sunday after Easter – that people will return. There are at least seven such events every year…call[ed]…the seven deadly Sundays. They are the Sundays after: Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Super Bowl Sunday and the two time-change Sundays.” wrote Pastor Phil Spry in his article, “The “Seven Deadly Days of Preaching” Churchplants.com. He continued, “Let me suggest: First and foremost, keep in mind that God is sovereign in all places and at all times.” The problem is that Easter, as well as Christmas, has become an event, when really it is to be a way of life. Our first reading on Easter Sunday, the Apostle Paul describes it: “If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus – Philippians 2:1-5 Over the next four weeks we will be learning more about this way of life in our “Friends in Christ” sermon series. We are obviously doing a pretty good job at this when people attend St. Luke’s, as you will hear this coming Sunday from the dozen new members who are joining. The common theme when asked why they are joining was, “St. Luke’s is just so welcoming.” Here’s my encouragement, can we be just as good at inviting, which really is all about listening. In the months ahead the Faith Practices and Neighboring Practices team will be offering opportunities for St. Luke’s members to connect with one another and our neighbors. Between now and then, live the Easter message as the Apostle Paul shared with the Ephesians: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God – not the results of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what God has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. – Ephesians 2:8-10 Christ is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia! This week we will gather at a Table, a Cross, and an Empty Tomb. We do all this in remembrance of Jesus – who did all of this for you.
Imagine being one of the disciples seated at the table when Jesus announces that “One of you will betray me?” How would you respond? Imagine being one of the disciples at the table when he takes the bread and announces, “This is my body given for you.” Then he takes the cup of wine and announces, “This is my blood shed for you? We hear these words every time we take communion. This coming Maundy Thursday, I invite you to think about this again, for the first time. Imagine being one of the disciples in the garden as he announces, “Keep Awake.” Can you? Imagine being one of the disciples who watches Judas kiss Jesus and then be arrested. Would you follow? Imagine being Simon of Cyrene on the side of the road watching Jesus collapse at the “weight” of carrying in the cross. Then a soldier tells you to pick up the cross. Would you carry it? Imagine being one of the people watching the Jesus hang on the cross and hear him cry out, “Father forgive them, they know not what you do.” Will you do likewise? Imagine being one the woman going to the tomb to find the stone rolled away, a young man sitting where Jesus laid and tell you, “He has Risen.” Would you tell anyone? We don’t need to imagine any of this. We are invited to do this in remembrance of Jesus… Maundy Thursday Worship – March 28, 7:00 PM Good Friday Worship – March 29, 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM Carrying the Cross with the Seven Last Words of Christ – March 29, 5:45 PM Easter Sunday – March 31, 8:00, 9:15, and 10:45 AM What a magnificent event to invite friends and neighbors. There will be a light meal, games, art activities, and a chance to get a picture with an Easter Bunny! Have you ever wondered what eggs have to do with Easter? Why do we dye and hunt for Easter eggs every year? What is the connection between Easter eggs and the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Many of us might think Easter eggs and Easter egg hunts are a commercialized form of the Easter celebration, but the roots are deeply embedded in the practices of early Christians in eastern cultures. There is religious significance behind the Easter traditions that we still practice today. Although eggs were a symbol of fertility and rebirth in pagan cultures, early Christians used Easter eggs to symbolize parts of the Easter story. Easter eggs represent the empty tomb from which Jesus resurrected. In early Orthodox churches, Easter eggs were blessed by the priests and given to members on the day before Easter known as Holy Saturday. During worship, Easter eggs are handed out to symbolize Jesus’ resurrection. The hard shell represents the sealed tomb, The cracking of the egg represents Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. While it might seem like a strange tradition to hand out Easter eggs in worship, early Christians abstained from eating eggs and meat during Lent. The fast was a form of sacrifice to prepare for Easter. Therefore, Easter was the first time Christians could eat eggs. Christians of Mesopotamia began the custom of dyeing Easter eggs. Originally, Christians dyed eggs red to represent the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the cross. Over time, this tradition spread throughout eastern Orthodox churches and eventually made its way to Catholic and Protestant churches in Europe. Early Christian missionaries dyed the eggs assorted colors to represent various aspects of the Easter story. They used yellow to represent the resurrection, blue to represent love, and red to represent the blood of Christ. Sometimes, the missionaries would paint biblical scenes on the eggs and hide them. The children would find the Easter eggs and tell the story associated with the paintings. Therefore, early Easter egg hunts helped children learn about the significance of Easter. One of the earliest Easter egg hunts that most resembles the modern Easter egg hunt can be traced to Martin Luther. During this time, men would hide eggs for women and children to find. The joy the women and children experienced as they found eggs mirrored the joy the women felt when they found Jesus’ tomb empty and realized He had risen. And then there is the Easter Bunny. Writings from the 17th century in Germany describe the “Oschter Haws” (Easter hare) for the first time. According to folklore, the Easter hare would lay colorful eggs in the nests (baskets) of well-behaved children. German immigrants brought this tradition of the Easter Bunny to the United States in the 18th century. We hope our Easter Egg Extravaganza will bring the same happiness and joy Jesus’ followers experienced when they heard the Good News of His resurrection. St. Luke’s Baptism Orientation
11:15 AM-Noon, Sunday, March 17 Gather at the Font in the Sanctuary St. Luke’s “First” Communion Class and Training 11:15 AM-1 PM, Sunday, March 17 Gather in Fellowship Hall This Sunday as a congregation we will celebrate Holy Communion during worship. Following worship there will be a Baptism Class and a First Communion Class. Baptism and Communion are the only two sacraments in the Lutheran Faith. A Sacrament is something we do, which is commanded by God and we receive God’s grace. Baptism and Holy Communion are the two rites which fit both those categories. Baptism Class is for those interested in being baptized or affirming their baptism. First Communion is for those who want to learn about communion, followed by a training for those who would like to take communion for the first time. We Baptize because it’s what Jesus has commanded us to do! “Go therefore and baptize…” In Baptism, God has chosen us, and we believe that through the waters of Baptism we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, which grants us faith in Jesus Christ. This gift is eternal and provides forgiveness of sins and a new birth as a child of God. Join us whether you are an adult seeking Baptism or interested in affirming your baptism, or have a child you wish to have baptized. In the Scriptures it is clear that entire households were baptized—including children—so, we welcome and encourage parents to have their children baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As they grow in years, it is our privilege as parents to help our children learn what it means to have been “marked with the cross of Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit.” Be not afraid! You are not alone in this. The church also takes great joy in helping you raise your child in the faith. (See our Milestone Ministries.) HOLY COMMUNION With wafers (gluten-free available) and wine (dark) or grape juice (light). St. Luke’s celebrates communion the 1st and 3rd Sundays during worship along with other special worships throughout the year. Receiving communion is Jesus inviting us to the table and providing us with all that we need to live in this world and the next. We believe that Christ is present in the meal. When Jesus held up the bread and wine, He said, “This is my body . . . This is my blood.” Communion of the most intimate acts of discipleship. I imagine the curiosity of the disciples as Jesus took bread and wine and said to them, “This is my body, take and eat. This is my blood, take and drink.” Following the meal. It is always a privilege to announce, “The body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen.” Such a beautiful and meaningful expression of our faith sadly turns into controversy. It’s as if we didn’t even hear the Post Communion Blessing, that these earthly elements, blessed and received, fill us with Jesus’ strength and grace, as we bicker over the particulars:
Here at St. Luke’s, we invite all children four years of age and older, along with adults to attend the First Communion Class and Training. Faith Formation is a lifelong journey, so no one ever ages out of it. All are welcome. It would be fun to hear your comments on these: What does it mean to you to receive communion? What questions do you have about communion? That is the eternal question. During St. Luke’s third Wednesday of Lent Worship, we will be looking at The Apostle Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 15 that shares Paul’s views on immortality and imperishability. The conversation deepens in Mark Chapter 12, when Jesus is confronted by the religious leaders concerning life after death,
I thought it would be fun to look at two reputable studies concerning the question, first a Gallup International Association (GSI) and the other from Pew Research. After reading these, it would be fun to hear your comments of “What will heaven be like?” From Gallup Research: “Two thirds of respondents around the world claim they are religious. Slightly more people believe in God and there is a life after death. A majority also agree that there is a heaven and hell (although respondents are more confident in the “Good place” than the “Bad one”). Whether religious or not most people seem to believe that there is some mighty power beyond our understanding – a God. Below are a few of the highlights from the special poll conducted by Gallup (GIA) in 2016: 61 countries covering over two thirds of the global population (and more than 90% of those countries which are free to conduct and publish opinion research). Two thirds (62%) of respondents around the world say they are religious, with one in four saying that they are not religious. Atheists account for 10%. The rest are not sure. God and Afterlife More people believe that there is a God. While 62% self-identify as religious, 72% say that there is a God. Just under one in seven (16%) however do not believe that any God exists. 10% are not sure. Most respondents around the world (57%) think that there is a life after death. One in four (23%) do not believe that anything happens when we die. 15% cannot say. Heaven and Hell 59% believe in heaven, with one in four denying its existence. Fewer people (yet still a majority, 53%) believe in hell. From a Pew Research Study – Nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults say they believe in heaven. (The survey did not immediately offer a definition of heaven, though subsequent questions explored what respondents think heaven is like.) A majority of all Christian subgroups say they believe in heaven. Belief is much less common among religiously unaffiliated Americans (37%). This unaffiliated group includes those who describe their religion as “nothing in particular” half of whom believe in heaven – as well as agnostics (26% of whom believe in heaven) and atheists (3%). “I love that 3% percent of those who deny in the existence of God still believe in heaven.” - Rob Roughly a quarter of all U.S. adults (26%) say that they do not believe in heaven or hell, including 7% who say they do believe in some kind of afterlife and 17% who do not believe in any afterlife at all. Respondents who believe in neither heaven nor hell but do still believe in an afterlife were given the opportunity to describe their idea of this afterlife in the form of an open-ended question that asked: “In your own words, what do you think the afterlife is like?” Within this group, about one-in-five people (21%) express belief in an afterlife where one’s spirit, consciousness or energy lives on after their physical body has passed away, or in a continued existence in an alternate dimension or reality. One respondent describes their view as “a resting place for our spirits and energy. I don’t think it’s like the traditional view of heaven but I’m also not sure that death is the end.” And another says, “I believe that life continues and after my current life is done, I will go on in some other form. It won’t be me, as in my traits and personality, but something of me will carry on.” An additional 17% of respondents who believe in neither heaven nor hell (but do believe in some kind of afterlife) express a belief in people enduring a cyclical existence or becoming enlightened after death. As one individual puts it, “Maybe something like nirvana or enlightenment? I like to imagine that the living world we inhabit is like a cradle for the soul. We spend our lifetime (or maybe many lifetimes) learning and growing, and then in the afterlife we retain all those memories from our life(/lives), and the lessons we’ve learned, and that we exist for some greater purpose that living prepares us for.” Among many other responses, some people believe that people’s energy rejoins the universe in some form, while others feel that people simply enter a period of peace without suffering. And many people in this group (42% of everyone who says they believe in an afterlife but not in heaven or hell) did not offer a response. In addition to asking about general belief in heaven and hell, the survey asked about specific characteristics of these two destinations to determine what Americans think they are like. In the case of heaven, respondents were presented with nine prospective traits, and asked whether heaven is “definitely like this,” “probably like this,” “probably not like this” or “definitely not like this.” Of the items listed, U.S. adults are most likely to say that in heaven, people are definitely or probably free from suffering, with roughly seven-in-ten members of the general public holding this view. This perspective is nearly unanimous among the 73% of Americans who express belief in heaven. Majorities of Americans also express confidence in the ideas that in heaven, people are reunited with deceased loved ones (65% of all U.S. adults say this), can meet God (62%) and have perfectly healthy bodies (60%). Roughly half of all U.S. adults (48%) believe that people in heaven are reunited with pets or animals that they knew on Earth, while more than four-in-ten say that people in heaven can see what is happening on Earth (44%) and can become angels (43%). Smaller shares believe that people in heaven are able to have relationships with people who are still living on Earth (25%), or that they can choose whether they want to stop existing (15%). This is just a small part of each of the studies. I would encourage you to look at each of them in their entirety: Gallup (GSI) and Pew Research And now it is your turn. What do you think heaven will be like? It is important that we take time to look back so that we can move forward. The road we travel today may be different, but God, Jesus, and Spirit are the same. The Season of Lent is a time of Discipleship, to be renewed, refreshed, and recommit to picking up our cross and follow Jesus. That has been happening here for 101 years…
This poem written for St. Luke’s 50th Anniversary is found on pages 137-138, in “The Fields Were Ripe.” A History of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, to celebrate the 75th Anniversary. As you read it, what can we learn to move forward today? The People of St. Luke’s by Marv Koch Five people met one Sunday morn in Brown’s new Oxboro store, And then Judd Thomas’s “Front Porch” was church for some weeks more. A committee formed to build a church in nineteen twenty-four And God provided them the way, St. Luke’s great name it bore. By prayer and hope and faith and love and labors of their hands. They built the church through sacrifice near where our church now stands. When times grew hard and money short, they struggled bravely on For Christ and for His Kingdom here and souls that must be won. The 40’s brought us some relief but war struck home here too. And robbed us of two of our sons who fought for me and you. A parsonage was built for us, an organ we did buy It served us more than twenty years, my how the time does fly. The population boom was on, the schools soon overflowed The basement of our church, we loaned to help to ease the load. A parish education wing became a vital need We realized that dream quite soon for God does surely lead. A nave so new and different then was planned as we did grow For the old church burst at the seams three hours in a row. A fellowship and meeting hall was built as we had planned. Two full-time pastors served so well this ever-growing band. Burden bearers and strugglers groups add depth to Christian life. Whole families can participate – children and man and wife. Our God is surely present here, we know He leads the way For people live the faith they claim. Praise Jesus Christ today! The poem tells the history of the church, but more importantly, it tells about the people of St. Luke’s “…by prayer and hope and faith and love and labors of their hands, they build the church… It is the people who make up any church, the people whose faith, love, and labor build the church and carry on the work of God’s kingdom on earth.” These people had a common bond of membership in St. Luke’s. Under the guidance and leadership of ordained clergy, the people of St. Luke’s have become ministers of the word of God equipped to do His work in His Kingdom. We know that… “…there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. – 1st. Corinthians 12:4-7 What jumped out to me is that this all started by 5 people. There were good times, bad times, struggles and celebrations, but through it all the people knew that “Our God is surely present here, we know He leads the way, for people live the faith they claim. We live in a society that does not join or commit, but as people of faith we know a God who joined us, walking the earth as Jesus. We have a God who commits to us be with us always through the Holy Spirit. We are doing three things currently to be church in this time and place. First, we are inviting members to opt in for the new directory. Contact the office if you would like to be included. Thank you to those who have already opted in or let us know that you would not like to be in it. This will be a protected document available to those who participate. We will print copies for those who like one. This is an invitation to participate. You have the option of whether or not to be in it. You have the option to have your picture in it or not. It will be online once we have made 100% contact with all our members. Second, thank you to all who support St. Luke’s in time, talent, and treasure. First, those who pledge and give. Second, those who give, but do not pledge. Third, those who do not give a recorded gift. To make a budget it is helpful to know what money is planned to be given. If you have made a pledge, please confirm the amount. If you have not made a pledge, prayerfully consider doing so. We will adjust the budget accordingly. If you do not make a recorded gift. Third, we are living out the mission… St. Luke’s is a welcoming and growing community of faith, busy making Christ known to the world. We will have more than a dozen people attending our “Get to Know St. Luke’s” lunch this coming Sunday. There is still room for you. Please gather in Fellowship Hall following the 10 AM worship. Looking back to look move forward, let us follow the lead of those who came before us as written on page 138 of the 75th Anniversary book, “…the people of St. Luke’s have become ministers of the word of God equipped to do His work in His Kingdom.” Praise Jesus Christ Today! St. Luke's is one of the runner up award winners of the national Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) 2024 Cool Congregations Challenge. The contest is sponsored by Interfaith Power & Light, a nonprofit organization inspiring and mobilizing people of faith and conscience to take bold and just action on climate change. The Cool Congregations Challenge, is an annual national contest recognizing “Cool Congregations” that are becoming energy efficient and sustainable role models within their communities. This contest accepts applications from religious congregations around the United States who are doing work to address global warming by reducing their carbon footprint. There were 125 applicants for six entry categories. St Luke's won an Energy Saver award for cutting energy use 56% switching to LED lighting, upgrading to efficient gas stacking boilers & building automation and installing solar. We have been awarded a $500 runners-up award. The following Energy Update describes the many energy initiatives we have undertaken at St Luke’s. Energy Update Since 2020 St Lukes has undertaken significant energy saving initiatives including installation of solar panels, a new 96% efficient boiler system, a new building automation system and additional conversion to LED lighting. These changes have resulted in significant energy cost reductions as well as significant reduction of greenhouse gas production. Outside temperature variations and changing building use patterns over the years also affect energy use. The new boiler system consists of 4 interacting heating modules. As temperatures drop outside, additional modules are only engaged when more heat is needed thereby making the system very efficient. The new building automation system provides both electric and gas savings due to more efficient electric motors and better temperature control. During 2018, before the updates, our electric usage was 147,139 kWh and natural gas usage for heating was 14,509 therms. During 2023, the electric use was 68,240 kWh and gas was 8,017 therms, a 54% reduction in electric use and 45% reduction in gas use. Our energy use reduction resulted in a carbon emission reduction of over 129,000 lbs of CO2 into the atmosphere. The solar panels generated approximately 75,000 kWh of electricity during the past year resulting in over a $5,000 reduction in energy charges. In addition, the PV credit from the solar panels was over $2,400 and the Saver Switch credit from the air conditioners was $1,530, further reducing our electric bill. Also, the Demand Charge on the electric bill is approximately $200 less due to St Luke's using less electricity during the year. The total cost savings of these initiatives was approximately $12,000 for electricity costs and $4,000 for natural gas costs. For comparison, the electric bill for 2018 was $17,775 and the bill for 2023 was $5,834, a savings of almost $12,000. Other energy efficient upgrades in 2023 included the installation of the new roofing in the the education wing which allowed for the installation of R30 installation to that roof section. The conversion to LED lighting in the education wing and the sanctuary will also provide future energy savings. Much thanks to all who helped make this happen including Larry Nelson, Marc Dunham, Mark Hagelin, Jean Lingen, Kevin Schulz, David Carpenter, and others. If you are interested in helping on the Energy Committee, please contact Larry Nelson. |
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