It is probably my age, because quite often I find myself reminiscing about the past. Growing up in a preacher’s family meant moving every few years. At one level I became quite good at it. All those losses were stuffed in a mental drawer, and we started over in a new city, house, school and church. That drawer of memories was pretty full and now it gets opened quite often, whether by intention or not. I feel pangs of empathy with those in Southern California suffering from the devastation of the fires which have angrily burned homes and neighborhoods to the ground.
We have all suffered loss and will continue to until we die. I recall a day, years ago, when my father and I drove to all the places where he had lived as a kid and as a young adult. We visited cemeteries—mostly forgotten and overgrown—schools now closed, a house or two that were still standing, and then to Knox County where he met my mother. My grandfather had been pastor of Asbury Chapel and it is there that my mother, and most of her relatives, is buried.
Growing up my brother and I spent many summers on the family farm in Knox County. We helped with the chores. I learned how to milk a cow, and my brother was driving a truck when he was 13. A white barn (cows and two horses) and a red barn (hay storage and tractor) were favorite places. There was a smoke house, a chicken yard, and standing grandly in front of it all was a large house built in 1812.
I loved that house. But when we pulled up in front that particular day, it was surrounded by link fence and the house had collapsed into the cellar. I burst into tears.
Those memories came back as I read about the California fires, and felt my stomach begin the churn as I imagined all the things and places that had been familiar to those folks in LA, but destroyed beyond recognition in just moments. The library, the school, the church. The place where someone had their first date, the field where they played, the movie theater, the drug store…all gone. Loss after loss after loss.
When we go to sleep we put another day to rest and expect to greet a new day in the morning. And that is what will happen…eventually. Humans cannot live long in the midst of loss or we would go mad. I have friends who are still processing the November election, who are still angry at the loss of their presidential candidate. They fear the end of democracy. But the sun sets and the sun rises. The days get longer. Spring will surprise us but it will arrive.
And there is one other thing. The most important thing. St. Paul, writing to the community in Rome, said “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?... I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” And that, in one way or another, is what sustains us in the midst of loss, even devastating loss.
Our parents are dead, even a grandchild. We have left places and people we loved. Right now I look up and see a painting of the best house of all, the one on the river in Winamac, IN. A condo is not the same as that house or the farm of long ago. But God is with us, just as God with all those who have fled from the fire, perhaps never to return. And still, God is with us.
So, in these days of terrible loss, there is a sustaining power that is beyond memory and beyond fear. That is where we can live and even thrive in these troubling times.
Blessings,
Larry+
Annual Meetingwill be Sunday, January 26th. It is very important for everyone to attend.
Prior to the meeting we will enjoy a parish wide pot-luck. Please txt Randi Thorson 608-445-7598 or email [email protected] regarding your contribution. Watch for a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex.
The Blood Drive is scheduled for 1- 6 PM, Tuesday Feb 4th. Contact
Bob Gonzalez to help. No matter your skills or abilities, there is a job for you.
Sunday, January 19th, 2025
Serving at this Service
Lector - Laurie Powers
Eucharistic Ministers - Dave Thorson & Bill Colby
Acolyte - Shawn Kelly
Greeters - Don & Laurie Powers
Technology - Brian Bowers
Counters - Dave Thorson & Bill Colby
Vestry Person of the Day - Don Powers
Coffee Hour: Carl Reimer
Thank you for serving!
Live stream link:
https://youtube.com/live/_HiF2xz2-C4?feature=share
Link to the bulletin insert
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x5Hx5RrjaI85CnkWBRnp9Hs_iXfZUp_y/view?usp=drive_link
Link to the Service Bulletin
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U_uGm8Lz0E7mMmkNanEfGk6fEM6oiLZ3/view?usp=drive_link
Bishop Vashti McKenzie will keynote the 40th annual MLK City-County observance in Madison on Monday, Jan. 20, 6 p.m. at the Overture Center for the Arts.
This is a wonderful chance to celebrate Dr. King with our neighbors.
Hello St. Luke's Parishioners!
Thank you for the participation of your church in the Madison Area Jail Christmas Card Ministry. We are greatly appreciative for all you did for this valuable ministry, it is such a special ministry for the senders and the receivers.
Karen Julesberg, MAJM Coordinator
From our Lutheran friends, just down the road in Monona.
A message from our intern Jonah Heiser
In light of the tragic shooting and the complicated feelings of grief, anger, numbness, and despair that many of us are feeling, I wanted to reach out to share the pastoral care available during this time of transition at St. Luke's.
In addition to Fr. Larry, I am available for pastoral care needs. As many of you know, I work as a hospice Spiritual and Grief Counselor in my day job. To reach me, please send me an email at [email protected] or call me at (608) 571-7627. If you have a different phone number saved for me, please update your contacts to this one. I am active on it during working hours, and I monitor voicemails and messages at all times for any urgent pastoral needs.
While we may not be as readily available as a parish priest, we want you to know you are not alone. If you are hurting, if you need someone to talk to, if you need someone to pray with, please reach out. I know many of you have strong, prayerful relationships with each other as well, and I encourage you to reach out to support each other in this time.
A reminder that people making offerings through the digital giving service can offset the fees that St Luke's is charged by absorbing them when making their gift. There is option to pay the fee whenever you give through the portal.
Weekly Morning Prayer
Morning Prayer Online @ 8:45 am
January 16 - Morris
January 17 - Morris
January 21 - Morris
January 23 - Morris
January 24 - Morris
January 28 - Morris
January 30 - Morris
January 31 - Morris
A steady stream of neighborhood people visit and are supported by the food and personal items from the St. Luke’s Little Pantries outside the front of the church. That means that there is a constant need for food and personal items to stock these pantries.
What items are most needed and appreciated? See the list below.
How can you help fill the pantries with these items? Buy items (preferably on sale) when you do your own grocery shopping and put them in the laundry basket at the back of the church. OR put a donation/check labeled “Little Pantries” in the Sunday offering.
Questions? Contact Laurie Powers (608-279-8162) or Sandra Ladik (608-575-7366).
Items in demand for the Essentials Pantry
Item
Amount/month
Bar soap (big bars)*
20 bars
Body wash
5 bottles
Shampoo
5 bottles
Deodorant (men)
DOZ
Deodorant (women)
DOZ
Toothpaste (large size)
2 DOZ
Tampons (well-known brands like Tampax)
8 boxes
Dental floss (often donated)
DOZ
Toothbrushes (often donated)
3 DOZ
Toilet paper (taken from St. Luke’s store)
10
Items in demand for Food Pantry
Rice-a-roni and things like it
Boxed Mac’N’Cheese
Canned goods like spaghetti and ravioli
Canned corn and, to a much lesser extent, canned beans
Canned tuna (large)
Cereal, dry (small boxes)
Oatmeal (buy in large packages, 8-10/package)
Ramen noodles (buy in large packages
Packaged soups
Diocese of Wisconsin Enews
Everyone once-in-a-while I like to remind folks that there is a lot of good information that gets published each week from our diocesan office. Consider signing up for our Diocesan eNews. It is a weekly set of announcements about events all over the Diocese of Wisconsin. Being on this list also insures that you received special announcements from the Bishop from time-to-time. (Of course they have been more frequent recently.)
