Friends, as the rainstorm approaches, please watch our website for information about worship on Sunday… A PERSONAL PRAYER Gracious God,The storm approaches, and deluge and floods threaten. We find ourselves anxious about safety, about possessions, about comfort, about those we love. Pour over us with your love, and take away our anxiety, and put our trust in you. We pray for all who are affected by this storm, and that you might show us how to respond, putting our faith to work in love. (Galatians 5:6)God, turn our attention to others. Help us to put aside our own needs, that [...]

We've talking about hospitality at St. Luke’s – Open Hearts and Open Doors. Hospitality means so much more than a nice table setting or a welcome mat. It is a deep desire to connect with others. It is a focus on the other person rather than ourselves. It is a willingness to be inconvenienced, or even put one’s self at risk, to meet another’s needs. It is a desire for there to be no “us” and “them,” but only an “us.” It is a willingness to let others into our private space, and more importantly, a willingness to [...]

A PERSONAL PRAYER God, Sometimes, I am lonely.  Sometimes, I feel like I don’t fit in, alienated from those around me. Sometimes, I don’t fit with the progressives or the conservatives, the rich and powerful or the poor and marginalized, the church folk or the secular folk, the Bible thumpers or the Bible deniers. Oh, I know I am privileged, God. But nonetheless, that feeling keeps returning in moments of uncertainty. Strangely, as I talk to others, I hear almost everyone say the same thing. Why is that? Your Scripture reminds me that I am simply on a sojourn, that this [...]

A PERSONAL PRAYER God, I want, I want, I want. Sometimes it is “stuff.”  …a motorcycle, and the sense of freedom that comes with it. (Thank you for giving me a wife who loves me and forbids such a thing.) …a house in the mountains, with horses, and someone to take care of it. And while you are at it, throw in a private jet to get me there on the weekend and back in time to preach. Just dreaming, God. Yada yada yada…Sometimes, it is something else I dream of.  …security, a bank account big enough that I don’t have to [...]

A PERSONAL PRAYER    Jesus, you taught us that you were the truth, but, like Pontius Pilate, we are not sure what truth really means anymore. We live with the consequences of our violation of the ninth commandment; ours is a community of mistrust. We receive every bit of news, every statement from media or institution or leader or colleague, with skepticism. I confess that I have contributed to that community. God, forgive me… …when I say what others want to hear so that I will get their approval. …when I hide who I really am from others for [...]

A PERSONAL PRAYER              Yahweh Yireh, God who provides,You have always provided for all my needs. In times when I wondered if we would get by, we got by. In times I thought we would have enough, you poured in more than enough. My cup runneth over. I trust you. But I confess, God, that I don’t always act like I trust you. I have spent too much time worrying about money. I have rationalized selfish actions and greed. I have worked for deals that are fair, but are more fair to me than they are to others. I have given to others out of [...]

A PERSONAL PRAYER              Gracious God, I thank you God for my marriage, for the gift of a partner in life, for a love that is real and gritty and resilient.     Here is what I want: I want so much to be a man of my word, to be trustworthy, to keep all of my promises. I want to feel loved and appreciated, wanted and respected. I want loneliness to go away and to experience real intimacy. God, thank you for offering me what I want. I pray that you would show me how to grow my marriage so that my wife and I [...]

We pray. We study the Bible. We make friends. We tell our stories. We give ourselves away in generosity and service. A PERSONAL PRAYER God of love, Sometimes you just expect too much. Prohibiting murder seems sensible enough. But Jesus tells us we can’t be angry at our sisters or brothers? Seriously? And we can’t call them fools? And I am supposed to reconcile with my enemies? What you are asking for seems beyond the reach of possibility. I can’t do it. And yet, the words of Scripture echo in my mind. “If you can? echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him [...]

A PERSONAL PRAYERGod,Who do I think I am? Some days, I must think I am in charge of everything, and if I don’t do it, the world will fall apart. Forgive me, God, for forgetting that you created the world without me, and it can go on without me. I can’t seem to stop and trust you. Some days, I am a slave to my calendar and my task list, to the lifestyle I have chosen. I determine my self-worth based on how much I get done. Forgive me, God, for returning to slavery when you have set me free. Some days, I [...]

A PERSONAL PRAYER God, I pray that I do not use your name in vain. May I not use your name to make a bigger church that makes us look more successful and relevant, but instead use your name only for your agenda of gathering all of your children to you, and being an instrument of your kingdom. May I not use your name to promote religion, but rather faith and a relationship with you. May I not use your name to grow my business so I will be richer, or get my candidate elected, or promote the interests of my [...]