Dear St. Lukers,

Yesterday I read a poem I’ve had on my wall for about six years. I don’t know what prompted me, but I turned to my inspiration board behind my office door and there was the inspiration I needed for starting a new series this week. The poem is entitled “The Invitation" by Oriah Mountain Dreamer (a Native American Elder):

"It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.

I want to know what you ache for,

And if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing."

On Sunday you filled the crosses with your holy discontents. In reading the responses, the Holy Spirit is stirring the baptism water of St. Lukers in mighty ways. From supporting women and children in poverty, fixing the foster care system, speaking up about inclusion, acceptance and rights, to helping people feel cared for, valued, and not alone, the Holy Spirit is calling forth this congregation to find ways to reveal the Kingdom of God in our city, state, and nation. These are the responses of what you ache for, God’s Declarative, Non-Negotiable Acclamation (DNA) of your life. This is the genetic foundation to help you build your 23 & Me vision.

Which leads us to the big question: What do we do with all of these God-given DNA and spirit-claimed stirrings? How do we answer the writer's question – do we dare to dream of meeting our heart's longings?

Welcome to 23 & WE. God has brought us together as the body of Christ at St. Luke’s with different gifts and experiences, but similar stirrings, discontents, and callings. God has work to be done in our community, needs to be met in our neighborhoods, God’s Kingdom to be revealed in our city and state. Those needs, the work, is directly connected to the stirrings, callings, and discontents of our congregation – because God wants us, as St. Luke’s, to work together and make things happen. Your discontents and vision are probably directly connected with the vision God has for how St. Luke’s will live out its mission in the next couple of years. But this means we need to do a little Spirit listening.

Sunday we begin the practice of...

If you would like to participate in an upcoming listening post as part of our 23 & We visioning process, click the button below to sign up and learn more:

Special Note: The finance office is working diligently to prepare year-end giving statements. If you have an email address on file, you are automatically registered for electronic statements. They will be sent out in several batches beginning this week. Please make sure that arena@st.lukes.org is listed as a trusted address with your email provider. Before you call the finance office, check your spam/junk folder to make sure the statement isn't there.

If you do not have an email address on file, you are automatically registered for paper statements sent by US Mail. They will be sent out by January 25. If you are registered for email statements but need paper instead, please email Andrea Whisnant-Burgis at awhisnant@st.lukes.org or call 407.876.4991 ext. 227 to request paper statements. Your patience during this busy year-end processing is much appreciated!

Save the Date - Registration for St. Luke's Child Development Center's 2023-2024 school year opens soon:

• Registration for Alumni Families opens on February 2

• Registration for the community opens on February 15

For all required forms and additional information click the button below:

Thank you to all who gave a special Advent Offering in December. Your generosity and gifts totaled up to $55,030 for the FLUM Children's Home and ZOE Empowers! Way to go, St. Lukers!