St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, Glen Ellyn, IL

Thank you, Pastor Seraphine for serving St. Luke so wonderfully this Sunday!

11th Sunday after Pentecost I am the Bread of Life!

From Arthur Brooks: “People who do have a strong sense of religious practice in their life—they just tend to be happier,” he says.” They tend to be happier people. They have a greater sense of organization in their life. They have a better sense of community. They have an underlying physics to their life, and they’re not trying to figure things out in the same way. And life is complicated. There are things that are going to pull you in every direction all the time. And it’s nice to have something that you can actually count on, whether you agree with every single part of it or not.”

Read the entire article, attached below, for more:

Can Religion Make You Happy? Arthur Brooks on faith and the loneliness epidemic

Pastor John Freidheim's sermon spoke wonderfully on July 28th about FEAR (based on the John 6:1-21 which covers the feeding of a large crowd at Passover and ends with Him calming the seas and Jesus saying to his frightened disciples "It is I; do not be afraid."

Pastor Freidheim: “Have you ever been afraid? Be honest…If you haven’t, I’d be surprised. We don’t know what’s happening tomorrow…What we DO know (and it’s important): we live within the love of God. So when we hear the words 'It is I; do not be afraid,' they are serious words. There is nothing, NOTHING, that can hurt us so bad that Jesus, died, will not love us and care for us.” Later Pastor finished: “Don’t be afraid to do what God calls us to do. ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’”

The full service is available:

10th Sunday after Pentecost 2024

Piano Recital at St. Luke: On Sunday, July 14th at 3:00 p.m., Gwen and Bob Holst will present a piano recital here in the Sanctuary at St. Luke. The concert will hold J. S. Bach's Goldberg Variations, Beethoven's Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1 - the companion piece to the "Moonlight Sonata," Beethoven's Eleven New Bagatelles, Op. 119 and works by Faure. In addition, two major compositions for Piano Four Hands will be played: Debussy's delightful "Petite Suite" and the brilliant Fantasy in F Minor by Schubert.

If you are looking for a positive way to beat the heat, come hear this concert. The music is wonderful, the playing is pretty good (to use a well-known phrase by Garrison Keillor) and the Sanctuary is cool. How could you spend your time better? Watch the White Sox?

There will be a free will offering that will benefit our Good Samaritan Fund, which supports those in temporary need of financial assistance.

We hope to see you on the 14th!

Photo from a 2020 recital of Gershwin!

Another JULIET! This month we went to Lu's Sushi and Chinese in Town Square, Wheaton. Wonderful food and service--for all 16 of us! (2 tables)

Happy Father's Day!

Just a little fun!

Thanks to all walkers at the Glen Ellyn and Wheaton Area CWS Crop Walk today, especially St. Luke members John and Sherry Wagner, Ron Couture, Roberta Stewart, and (representing Glen House Did Pantry) Rosemary Hahn. It was a beautiful day this year for the 3-mile walk for hunger. "We walk because they walk." https://events.crophungerwalk.org/cropwalks

From another page, a great story!

A church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday.
He wrote: "I've gone for 30 years now, and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons, but for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time, the preachers and priests are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all".

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column.

Much to the delight of the editor, it went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:
"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals.

But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

When you are DOWN to nothing, God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible & receives the impossible!

Thank God for our physical and our spiritual nourishment!

Another Bucket Sunday at St. Luke! All cleaning supplies benefit People's Resource Center and will be delivered to their (expanding) Wheaton location. Thank you all!

There was a wonderful turnout for JULIET (Just Us Ladies Interested in Eating Together) last night. It was nice to have so many members and friends at Cooper's Corner for dinner and conversation. (Check out our St. Luke "double"---yes, we have two pages and can't seem to solve that issue.)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/208543473967/?ref=share

TOMORROW IS THE ANNUAL COOKIE WALK! St. Luke members are baking and decorating Christmas cookies for you. Come to Fellowship at 10:45 to fill boxes of cookies for family and friends for $8 per box. There are even some gluten free options. The money raised goes to our Good Samaritan Fund, available to help those with special needs.
(Photo credit to sallysbakingaddiction.com)

Winter Coat Drive!
Sunday, November 5 through Sunday, December 3

Bring your Gently-used winter hats, gloves, scarfs and coats (for adults and children, alike) to our front entrance domain bin.

Please donate items in CLEAN, USABLE condition.

The people who depend on
the Humanitarian Service Project (HSP)
will benefit from your efforts.

As seen in a recent post (enjoy!):

A notice from Minnysota Lutheran Airlines:
WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE LUTHERAN AIRLINES IS NOW OPERATING IN MINNYSOTA! ALSO SERVING VISCONSIN, NORDERN MITCHIGEN, NORT & SOUT DAKOTA!
If you are travelin soon, consider Lutran Air, the no-frills airline. You're all in da same boat on Lutran Air, here flyin is a upliftin experience:
- Dair is no first class on any Lutran Air flight.
- Meals are potluck. Rows 1 tru 6, bring rolls; 7 tru 15, bring a salad; 16 tru 21, a hot dish, and 22-30, a dessert.
- Basses and tenors please sit in da rear of da aircraft.
- Everyone is responsible for his or her own baggage.
- All fares are by free will offering, and da plane will not land til da budget is met.
- Pay attention to your flight attendant, who vill acquaint you wit da safety system aboard dis Lutran Air.
Okay den, listen up; I'm only gonna say dis vonce: In da event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, I am frankly gonna be real surprised and so vill Captain Olson, because ve fly right around two tousand feet, so loss of cabin pressure would probably mean da Second Coming or someting of dat nature, and I wouldn't bodder with doze liddle masks on da rubber tubes--you're gonna have bigger tings to worry about den dat. Just stuff doze back up in dair liddle holes.
Probably da masks fell out because of turbulence which, to be honest wit you, we're gonna have quite a bit of at two tousand feet, sorta like driving across a plowed field, but after a while you get used to it. In da event of a water landing, I'd say forget it. Start saying da Lord's Prayer and just hope you get to da part about forgive us our sins as we forgive dose who sin against us, which some people say 'trespass against us,' which isn't right, but what can you do?
Da use of cell phones on da plane is strictly forbidden, not because day may confuse da plane's navigation system, which is by da pants all da way. No, it's because cell phones are a pain in da w***o, and if God had meant you to use a cell phone, He wudda put your mout on da side of your head.
We start lunch right about noon and it's buffet style wit da coffeepot up front. Den we'll have da hymn sing; hymnals are in da seat pockets in front of you. Don't take yours wit you when you go or I am gonna be real upset and I am NOT kiddin!
Right now I'll say Grace: Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let deze gifts to us be blessed. Fader, Son, and Holy Ghost, May we land in Dulut or pretty close.

It is officially Autumn, and our front pots have been beautifully updated for the season. Thank you to our landscape "crew!"

Still time to help out the Food Pantry this week.

Our top needs list has been updated! ❄️ CRACKERS are the most desired item this week. JARRED PASTA SAUCE & BOXED PASTA are also needed, followed closely by TOOTHPASTE/TOOTHBRUSHES and then LIQUID HAND SOAP 🧼 We would be very grateful if you could shop for a few extra of these items this week! 🙌🏿 If you will be bringing by fresh produce, we can accept those Mon-Thurs, 9-11am. Thank you!

Our top needs list has been updated! JARRED PASTA SAUCE & BOXED PASTA are our top needed items this week, followed closely by TOOTHPASTE/TOOTHBRUSHES and then LIQUID HAND SOAP 🧼 We would be very grateful if you could shop for a few extra of these items this week! 🙌🏿 If you will be bringing by fresh produce, we can accept those Mon-Thurs, 9-11am. Thank you!

January is our month to support the Food Pantry. Here are some of the things they need.

You can help your food insecure neighbors stay warm and cozy this week by donating items from our updated needs list. JARRED PASTA SAUCE is our top needed item, followed closely by CANNED TOMATO SAUCE or PASTE. 🍝 CANNED BEEF STEW or SLOPPY JOES are also other great donations that will help keep tummies full. We would be very grateful if you could shop for a few extra of these items this week! 🙌🏾 If you will be bringing by fresh produce, we can accept those Mon-Thurs, 9-11am. Thank you!

You can help your food insecure neighbors stay warm and cozy this week by donating items from our updated needs list. JARRED PASTA SAUCE is our top needed item, followed closely by CANNED TOMATO SAUCE or PASTE. 🍝 CANNED BEEF STEW or SLOPPY JOES are also other great donations that will help keep tummies full. We would be very grateful if you could shop for a few extra of these items this week! 🙌🏾 If you will be bringing by fresh produce, we can accept those Mon-Thurs, 9-11am. Thank you!

We hope you celebrated the holidays in a meaningful way! ⭐️ If you are looking to start 2023 off by doing something for others, please consider donating items from our New Year's Needs List. SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER are at the top of this week's list followed closely by COOKING OIL. We would be very grateful if you could shop for a few extra of these items this week! 🙌🏾 If you will be bringing by fresh produce, we can accept those Mon-Thurs, 9-11am. Thank you!

Some of our members will remember Pastor Paul Hayes from years past. We have heard from his current home church in Warrenville that he has passed away. We ask for prayers for his widow, Jane, and family.

Our hearty Christmas Fellowship. All say, "Merry Christmas to you!"

A blessed Christmas Day to one and all! Our Sunday, Christmas Day, communion service is at its usual 9:30 a.m. time.

We regret that our recording of the wonderful Christmas Eve Service has been lost due to an unexpected snafu with the memory card.

Thank you to all who contributed to a beautiful Christmas Eve service: the St. Luke Choir, Music Director and Organist Bob Holst, Recordist Kristina Powers, Pastor John Seraphine, and the many behind-the-scenes helpers.

May God bless you today and always!

An annual tradition at Trinity Lutheran: a Live Nativity! This coming weekend on Saturday and Sunday.

Beautiful anthem this morning, Josh Groban's, "Thankful." It's worth a closer look at those lyrics, again. Thank you, Lisa Miller!

Here they are:

THANKFUL
Somedays, we forget to look around us
Somedays, we can't see the joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give
So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us, to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for
Look beyond ourselves
There's so much sorrow
It's way too late to say, I'll cry tomorrow
Each of us must find our truth
We're so long overdue
So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And everyday, we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us, to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for
Even with our differences
There is a place we're all connected
Each of us can find each others light
So for tonight, we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day, we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us, to be the change
And even though this world needs so much more
There's so much to be thankful for

June is our month to help support the Food Pantry. Here are some of the things they really need.

Please help us stock our shelves with items from this week's top needs list! PAPER TOWELS/TOILET PAPER 🧻 remains at the top of this week's list. SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER/DEODORANT, and FEMININE PERSONAL PRODUCTS 🧴 are other items that your food insecure neighbors could really use right now. We would be very grateful if you could shop for a few extra of these items this week! 🙏🏾 If you will be bringing by fresh produce, we can accept those Mon-Thurs, 9-11am. Thank you!

Pastor John Seraphine had a pitch-perfect sermon on Sunday, given the violent school attack in Uvalde, TX, last week. Check it out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFh86OPwt_I&t=3672s

7th Sunday of Easter

A Letter From Bishop Yehiel Curry Addressing the Events of January 6, 2021

Dear Partners in Ministry,

Wednesday afternoon, after a day of virtually meeting and planning with MCS pastoral staff, I closed the Zoom window on my computer. Satisfied with our collective work, I took a deep breath, grateful for a wonderfully dedicated and highly competent team.

After a few moments, I glanced at my phone. Immediately, I realized that the notifications and text messages that I had received throughout the day were more than I could count. Friends, family, and colleagues, many of whom are of African descent, had reached out to me, shocked. Many texted me similar words. “They would have shot us,” they said, again and again.

“If it was us, we would’ve been shot.”

I opened the office door, shouting into the empty space, “What’s going on?” Two others were in the office. Neither of them had yet heard the news.

For me, Epiphany, January, the New Year, is a time of vision boards and new beginnings. Hope for something new greets us as we gaze at the child cradled in Mary’s arms. And yet, I saw no hope as I looked at this news.

As the headlines “The Capitol Under Attack,” “Far-Right Mob Attacks the Capitol,” “Mayhem in the Capitol,” and so on appeared on my screen, something happened in me psychologically. For a moment, time seemed to collapse. As I watched white supremacists carrying Confederate flags into the US Capitol, I recalled images of the same flag flown by plane over sporting events in 2020 and carried into Charlottesville in 2018.

Seeing white supremacists walking freely in a place that symbolizes our democracy, I saw, at the same time, the white supremacists who’ve been encouraged at rallies and marches across our nation, year after year, as leadership at our highest levels has refused to call out bigotry, acknowledge systemic racism, or condemn racist violence against people who look like me.

Seeing this crowd in DC receive a pep rally and praise from the president, I recalled images of tear gas released on peaceful protestors on those same DC streets, and I recalled the president posing with our sacred scriptures, blessing violence against the peaceful crowds.

Lastly, as I saw images of men and women, known neo-Nazis, and holocaust deniers holding banners, threatening violence, and carrying weapons, met with very little police presence, I could not help but also see images of Anjanette Young, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Freddy Gray, and countless others, flashing through my mind—one scene, one death, one trauma after another, after another, after another. I could not help but see officers acquitted of the excessive use of force and officers acquitted of murder based on assertions of fear—acquitted because they claimed to be afraid.

“They would have shot us,” I heard again the words of my siblings.

“If it was us, we would’ve been shot.”

Yes, in seeing the events in Washington DC this week, I saw the events not only of the past four years but of much of my life. And this was not my experience, alone. It was also the experience of countless Black people and people of color all across this country, those who reached out to me, and those whom I have yet to meet.

Indeed, Wednesday was more than Wednesday. It was trauma, reopened, flooding back in, and forcing us to relive those moments of pain and oppression, again and again.

For me, Epiphany, January, the New Year, is a time of vision boards and new beginnings. Hope for something new greets us as we gaze at the child cradled in Mary’s arms. But the events of this past Wednesday were nothing to look forward to. Indeed, these events once again highlighted the disparities that exist in our nation, reminding us again that the pursuit of peace, justice, and equity must never cease.

As we search for an alternative future, the future of God envisioned in Jesus’ teachings about God’s Reign of Love, I’d ask that you recommit with me to the work of dismantling white supremacy in our hearts and in the world. Will you do this?

I ask also that you’d pray with me for all those who are currently living with renewed fear and resurfaced trauma and pain.

Of our leaders, I ask that you take this moment as an opportunity to have courageous conversations with your family, neighbors, and community. We trust that when we gather in Christ, God might instigate change in even the most hardened of hearts and that God, indeed, is with us as we work toward a church and a world where nobody has to say, “If it was us, we would have been shot.”

As we continue to process and take action together, please reach out to the synod staff for prayer, for guidance, and for partnership, as we follow Jesus down paths of justice, righteousness, and liberating love.

In Christ,

Bishop Yehiel Curry
Metropolitan Chicago Synod, ELCA