Have you ever noticed the mental gymnastics that we use to excuse sin in our own lives? I’m not talking about the simple sight of hand we use in everyday life. You know the kind I’m talking about- “It’s not really a lie if I’m protecting another person’s feelings” or “What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” That’s bad enough, but I’m talking about the kind of mental gymnastics that even fools us. For example, I’ve heard many people, Christians, as well as, non-Christians say, “I may have to love you, but that doesn’t mean I have to like you.” Sure the statement seems plausible and it is convenient. However, there are not levels of love in heaven. There is not gauge that God uses to determine the point that we need to care for someone and the point where we really don’t need to bother with them.
While it is normal for personalities to clash, that doesn’t mean that we honor God by giving in to our feelings and care for some while avoiding others. The kind of love that we are called to practice is not convenient. We can’t just turn it on and off at will. Our love in Christ is challenging because it does not discriminate. It doesn’t play foolish mental games where we get to choose who we love and who love and like. God’s call for us to love others can be challenging and inconvenient. However, most of all, it is comforting.
It is comforting because God does not discriminate. We can be thankful that He doesn’t say, “I love all my children, but I don’t like them all.” We do not have to worry about which camp we have been placed by our heavenly Father. He loves each and every one of us with our discrimination or qualification. Paul said, “While we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Join us this Sunday as we explore the importance of acceptance for a thriving community in Christ.
Better Together
This Sunday we will start a new sermon series titled “Better Together.” The Bible says in Romans 12 “Since we are all one body in Christ we belong to each other and each of us needs all the others.” We need each other. God says community is not optional. You may not feel it. You may feel like “I'm very self-sufficient. I don't need other people in my life.” But the truth is you absolutely have to have other people in your life if you’re going to be all God wants you to be.
As Americans we idolize independence. In America we have the Declaration of Independence. We like songs like “I’ve Got to Be Me,” “I’ll do it my way,” I don't need anybody to tell me what it’s all about. We honor the Lone Ranger. We love the Lone Ranger. Of course, even the Lone Ranger had Tonto but we like the idea of being totally independent. We have bought into a myth that says that the key to happiness is independence. If I have relational independence, financial independence, independence in every other area of my life, if I don’t let anybody get too close to me but I'm totally self-sufficient, then I will be happy. And yet every year the suicide rate tends to rise. Obviously, that’s not true. God says that the key to happiness is not independence but inter-dependence. We need each other. We belong to each other. We need community in our lives. God wired you to go through life not as a solitary individual but in community. In this sermon series we will talk about what it means for you and me to be in community with each other and Jesus.
MOST Ministries - Quarterly Mission
St. Luke's quarterly mission for October through December is MOST Ministries. Please join us as we support their ministry in a variety of ways.
Sunglasses - If you have any non-prescription sunglasses lying around, MOST could use these to send with their eyeglass teams. Please consider donating them so that MOST can continue to send sunglasses with their teams.
Amazon Wish List - MOST has put together an amazon.com wish list (gift catalog) for the ministry and mission teams. Check it out here.
Call Process
As we take our next steps in the call process, we are opening the pastoral nomination process to the congregation through Sunday, November 12th. On Monday, November 13th, we will email the Michigan District office with the names submitted (if any) and request a new list. You can nominate Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) rostered pastors for consideration via this link :https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_THHEwIHg6vGKq2BKAA2ioxh1BVIc49q_Aac_EZwEq4/viewform?edit_requested=true
Please continue to pray for the discernment of our Call Committee, those who will be compiling a list of potential candidates, the men who will be on that list, and that Jesus’ will, above all, would be done! As we have been in the practice of doing, we will continue to keep the congregation updated throughout the call process. Our Lord continues to be in control of all things…may we continue to walk by faith.
New Church Website
If you’ve not done so, please visit the church’s website https://www.stlukeaa.org and check out its new look. In addition to improving the overall look of the website, we’ve made some improvements. First, there is a simple to use button on the front page that connects you to the livestream. Second, in the member’s section you will find an archive of the eNews issues that are sent out each week. If you missed something the first time it was sent, check out the eNews archive for a second chance to catch the news. Third, gaining access to Church center is a simple matter of selecting the “My Account” option in the upper right corner and you’ll be taken to the login screen.
New Office Hours
Now that Julie Himebaugh has filled the vacant administrative assistant position at St. Luke, we will be adjusting our office hours. The church will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday each week. If you need to access the building outside of the normal office hours, call the church office (734.271.0550) during the regular office hours so that arrangements can be made to accommodate the request. If you drop-by the church outside of the office hours, the staff will not be available to let you into the building. Julie will be manning the phones from 8:30 to 12:30, Monday through Thursday. Please call during those hours if you wish to speak directly with someone. All calls received outside of the set office hours will be directed to voicemail. You can leave a message and the staff will respond at their earliest convenience.
Fall 2023 Bible Studies Sept. 10 - Dec. 10 West Wing Study: We’ll be utilizing a number of studies from Lutheran Hour Ministries. The topics include: Life Together, Martin Luther, Forgiveness, and God in Worship. This study will be led by a variety of people including Pastor Todd and our elders.
Women’s Study: Lynn Corker and Libby Fink will be leading a study geared toward women, in room 104/105. This year, we’ll explore what it means that God is with us now, and we’ll trace this promise of His presence from the lost garden of Genesis to the garden city of Revelation, where we will dwell with the Lord forever. A $20 study guide is available for this class.
Parent’s Study: Andy VanEgmond will lead a study for all parents with children in the congregation, in room 101/102. We’ll discuss the Sheepfold lesson for the week and work to build a strong community of parents here at St. Luke, as we all navigate the tricky task of raising kids in the faith.
Nursery: 3-year-olds and younger
Sheepfold: 4-year-olds thru 5th Grade
Youth Group: 6th-12th Grade
Craft Time It is time for another Iris folding class. If you have not done it before, this is a good class to start with. We will be creating Christmas cards. The event will be on Saturday, December 2, from 10:00 a.m. to noon in the West Wing. For more information contact Susan Jones:
55 ALIVE
Monday, November 13th from 11:30 to 2:30 55 Alive is meeting at Aubree’s Pizza in Ypsilanti on Whittaker Rd. They will have a Veterans Program with a presentation from Major Jim Dresbach, "Civil Air Patrol, History to the Present.". There will be a pizza, soup, salad buffet plus beverage for $5 and chicken wings for $2 more. RSPV to Arthur Clarke at .
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The Michigan District, LCMS is seeking applicants for an Assistant Business Manager. The position can be structured to be either full-time or part-time. This position assists the Vice President of Finance in human resources, business, financial, and legal affairs of the Michigan District. Position requirements include a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in business with coursework in human resources, a minimum of five years’ experience in the area of human resources and/or finance, and outstanding relationship building and communication skills. You can download a full job description here. If interested, please mail your resume to Mr. Chad Woltemath; Vice President of Finance; Michigan District, LCMS; 3773 Geddes Rd; Ann Arbor MI 48015 or email him at .
MOPS
Ann Arbor MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meets at ULC twice a month for fellowship and to support each other in raising our little ones. Many St. Luke moms have been members over the years! To keep costs down for our moms, we are selling boxes of Paperpie greeting cards for our fall fundraiser. Each themed box is $32 (tax included) for 30 cards (50 cards in the holiday box). Please follow this link to order online through October 31st: https://form.jotform.com/232613640713146
Contact Pam Kamrath at to arrange delivery/pickup of your greeting cards, or with any questions. Thank you for supporting our ministry!
Office Hours
The office doors will be monitored by the staff from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday. If you wish to enter the building during that window, ring the doorbell to the left of the door and wait for a response. Alternatively, you can call the office and make an appointment with someone on staff.
You can connect with Pastor Todd either by email or cell phone 734-213-4256.
Livestream Worship
There are two different methods for watching our worship livestream. Services are simultaneously streaming on Facebook and YouTube
Better Together
T Ministries - Quarterly Mission
It is time for another Iris folding class. If you have not done it before, this is a good class to start with. We will be creating Christmas cards. The event will be on Saturday, December 2, from 10:00 a.m. to noon in the West Wing. For more information contact Susan Jones: 
