St. Luke Lutheran Church

If you are reading along with us in our journey through the Bible, you would have read of several events that you might have found disturbing. I’m talking about the times that God’s reactions to something we might call a mistake seemed out of proportion. For example, in Numbers 3:4, Nadab and Abihu died suddenly for offering “unauthorized fire” before the Lord. We could also look at Moses and Aaron, who were not permitted to enter the promised land because Moses struck the rock rather than speaking to the rock in Numbers 20:11. For most of us, these sudden and tragic punishments of God fly in the face of our perception of God as a God of love and mercy.

A danger in addressing these passages is explaining them so that they are no longer true to the facts in the Scriptures. For example, we could say that Nadab and Abihu were punished because God was making an example out of them. God didn’t want to be harsh, but He wanted to set the tone for the priestly office. The common explanation makes God sound almost reasonable, which is the problem. If our explanations make God seem reasonable, we have become guilty of interpreting God through our image.

These shocking responses to sin remind us that God is very different from us.  The prophet Isaiah said it best:
Isaiah 55:8-9
            For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares
the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher
than your ways and  my thoughts than your thoughts.

We have a little dog that loves to be underfoot while cooking in the kitchen. Gracie often gets tangled in our feet because she thinks she knows where we are going and which prep area we will head to next, and she figures wrong. She doesn’t understand the food prep process. She doesn’t understand what we are trying to accomplish, and her lack of understanding results in a trip hazard for us and a kick hazard for her. As much as we like to think we know God’s ways, we are further removed from understanding God than Gracie is in understanding me.

So, what do we do with these uncomfortable passages? First, let the uncomfortable passages remind you that God is a mystery. His ways are not our ways. Second, we can remember that death, though terrible, is not the same as eternal damnation. We don’t know about the eternal fate of Nadab and Abihu. We do know that God made a promise of salvation to them, as He has made a promise of salvation to us. Perhaps their death is like a coach pulling a player from the game. They were found unsuitable for the game, but they are still on the team. The point is that these challenging portions of the Old Testament remind us of the depth of God’s love that has declared, “I will remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:34).  We can always find confidence that God is with us, and God is for us.

• We received a list of 12 names from the Michigan District office.
• After reviewing those 12 names, we decided to move forward with 9 of the names for consideration.
• After contacting those 9 pastors to see if they were open to an interview, 4 of the pastors indicated they would be open to interviewing.
• We conducted interviews with those 4 pastors.
• After discussion, the committee decided to hold second interviews with 2 of the candidates whom we  felt would be good fits at St. Luke.
• Unfortunately, both of those candidates asked to be removed from consideration.

While this is disappointing news, we continue to trust that God is guiding this process. Both Pastor Todd and the Michigan District office shared with the committee that there is a significant pastor shortage. Most calling congregations are having similar experiences to St. Luke.

We are working with the district on identifying new candidates for consideration and are opening up the Pastoral Candidate Nomination Form for St. Luke members to submit names through February 25, 2024.  CLICK HERE FOR THE FORM

Your call committee will continue to work diligently and prayerfully as we seek our next Sr. Pastor.  Please continue to lift this process up in your prayers.  If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to any member of the call committee.

Life Light Bible Study

This new group will be meeting on Monday evenings, from 7-8:30PM from Feb. 5th through June 10th at St. Luke. This winter and spring we will be covering the book of Genesis. Register here.

West Wing Bible Study: Join us in the West Wing for a discussion based on the previous week’s through the Bible readings. If you have a question, or a comment for further discussion, you can send it in for inclusion in the class by using the form located at https://www.stlukeaa.org/bible. God’s Word is powerful and effective. Please join us this Sunday as we continue our one-year journey through the Bible.This week. Rev. Dr. Rob Kasper will be leading the Bible class discussion.

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

Easter Flower Orders Due March 18 
We are taking orders for lilies that will be used to decorate the sanctuary for Easter. Please consider offering a plant as a Memorial or to give thanks to God. Click here  to order and pay for your flowers. Orders are due March 18!

Craft & Fellowship Time
Due to the success of previous projects making paper crafts and crocheting and knitting prayer shawls, baby items and such, starting on 3/2/2024, St. Luke will begin hosting a monthly craft session. Teens and adults are invited to attend the craft session from 10 am-12:00 pm on the first Saturday of the month in the West Wing. Although a craft project will be identified for each month, participants may complete the project at their own pace with no pressure to complete it by a certain time. Participants may work on projects to keep for themselves or to donate to St. Luke for distribution to St. Luke members or community members as appropriate. Participants will also have the option to bring their own project and work on that instead during the monthly sessions.

On March 2, we will be making centerpieces to be used during the upcoming Easter breakfast here at church. The centerpieces will be similar to those used at the Epiphany breakfast but with an Easter theme.

In April we are looking forward to meeting with fellow knitters and crocheters to work on an item of your choice. Feel free to bring your latest project or, start a prayer shawl, lap blanket, baby blanket or hat or whatever is calling you to make it. We have a limited supply of donated yarn and hooks and needles if you need anything to get you started.

Watch for future announcements regarding additional craft projects we will work on during the rest of the year. We look forward to gathering with our crafty maker friends to make things that bring joy in creating and in some cases, giving and receiving.

In order to help plan for the event, please register here. However, you are still welcome to attend even if you do not register.

March Project Information:
When: March 2, 10 am-12 pm
Where: West Wing
What: Easter Centerpieces
Supplies needed: St Luke will provide supplies for this project

SPRING is right around the corner and it’s the perfect time to “GROW YOUR US”!
What better place to learn more about how to do that than at a fun evening event where you’ll enjoy the company of other married couples, play some games with prizes, partake of a delightful dessert, and hear about how YOU can “GROW YOUR US” in YOUR marriage!
Come join us:

All married couples – any ages, any number of years married, friends, family, co-workers – are invited to join the festivities! To register and purchase your ticket ($15/couple) for this wonderful one-night event, click here to sign up.  If you have any questions, please contact Debbie at