Special points of

interest:

A Word from your

Pastor

Breakfast with Pastor

Luke

New Adult Bible Study:

“The Case for Christ”

VBS: June 10th-12th

Women’s Ministry

Servant Event: Habitat

LWML Spring Rally

Youth Corner

Pastor’s Breakfast Words on Worship

2

VBS News NYG Sponsorship

3

Care Ministry 4

Council Minutes Financial Summary

5

Women’s Ministry News LWML News Birthdays/Anniversaries

6

Calendar 7

Inside this issue:

Wow! Thank you!

By the time you read this, we will be

on the other side of Holy Week and

Easter Sunday. Our church has been

tremendously active over this last

season of Lent, and I want to share my

thanks for some of the highlights.

First of all, I want to thank the nearly

100 people who have attended the

20|20 Vision meetings. Your input

will be a very important part of

defining and developing a vision for

the future of our church. Thank you

for finding the time during this busy

season!

Secondly, I want to thank everyone

who was a part of our Love Our City

efforts. I’ve heard some great stories

from our volunteers. Those who went

to AZ Brain Food shared how they

plan to go back and serve later this

year. The group at A New Leaf was

excited to discover that churches bring

daily meals to this non-profit

organization. The Habitat for

Humanity crew not only worked hard

on construction, but put together a

de l i gh t fu l mea l f o r a l l the

volunteers. Those who went to

Project C.U.R.E. shared how

impressed they were by this great

program, and how desperately they

need more volunteers. The 60 people

who went to Feed My Starving

Children helped pack over 30,000

meals in their 2-hour shift! One of

our volunteers was able to share the

Gospel with an international student at

ASU while attending a spring training

game. Our Kindergarten-12th graders

prepared 53 Salvation Army bags and

59 Blessing bags. Our volunteers

created over 500 Easter cards for

homebound people! And I haven’t

even covered the groups at House of

Refuge, UMOM, Child Crisis Center,

and the Blood Drive as well! Thank

you all for being a blessing to our

community!

Finally, thank you for all the volunteer

efforts, during Holy Week. The

number of extra volunteers needed on

Easter Sunday alone is staggering! I

am grateful for each one of you!

God bless,

Pastor Luke

A WORD FROM YOUR PASTOR

Volume 7, Issue 4

Living Lives for Christ April 2016

Page 2 Newsletter T i t le Volume 7, I ssue 4 Living Lives for Christ

Words on Worship

“Give Us This Bread”

~ Kip Fox ~

“Jesus then said to them, “‘Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’” They said to him, “‘Sir, give us this bread always.’” (John 6:32-34 ESV)

The disciples didn’t quite understand the full impact of what they were asking Jesus in this particular moment. They didn’t understand that Jesus would have to go to a cross and suffer a terrible death in order for them to receive “this bread.” They had just witnessed Jesus turning five loaves and two fish into enough food for 5,000…with leftovers! Now he was talking about having bread that would never leave them hungry again. If I were there, I would have assumed, based on the miracle I just witnessed, that Jesus was going to hand out pieces of magical bread. I would have been so excited about the prospect of never being hungry for the rest of my life, I would have joined them in saying, “Give us this bread, always!”

But they had no idea what they were asking. Jesus wasn’t talking about a magical piece of bread. He was talking about himself. And he wasn’t talking about a hunger that comes from the stomach. The hunger he spoke of was a spiritual hunger.

Because of our sin, there is an emptiness in our hearts that nothing on earth can fill. Only Jesus can do this. He is the “Bread of Life.” What must we do to have this spiritual bread that will make us whole? Jesus himself said, “Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall not thirst” (John 6:35).

It is truly a miracle what God can do with a seed. But we must make every effort to ensure that our hearts feast on the Giver before our mouths feast on the grain. Before dinner tonight, pray this simple prayer: “Lord, give us this bread always.”

Sunday, April 3rd, 10th, 17th @ 9:30 AM

VISIT WITH PASTOR LUKE

MAKE

FRIENDS

LEARN ABOUT OUR

CHURCH

Do you want to know more about our church? Starting

April 3rd, we’ll have three breakfasts and a lunch [April 24th

@ 11:45 AM] for those who are interested in learning more

about St. Luke’s. The breakfasts start at 9:30 AM each

Sunday in the Oasis and you are invited to come to as

many as possible. They’re a great way to get to know Pastor

Luke and make new friends. The nursery and Sunday

School classes are available for newborns and children.

Please RSVP and let us know how many are coming to

office@stlukemesa.com or sign up at the Info Center.

Beginning April 3, 2016

9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Room

As a journalist, Lee Strobel knows

how to ask tough questions. As an

attorney, he knows how to weigh

the evidence. Join him as he takes

on the investigation of a lifetime —

one that changes him from an

atheist to a Christian — as he

seriously considers the evidence for

Jesus’ deity in “The Case for

Christ.” — led by Joanna Parks

Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest Lighting the Way...One Life at a Time™

The coming summer also means that some of our regular volunteers will be leaving, and we are in need of some

new faces! If you are interested in learning how you can help our homeless ministry once a month with evening

set-up, morning clean-up, sack lunch preparation, or laundering sheets and towels, please contact Terri Ewert at

308.249.1911 or Lindsey Ivey at 505.264.6830.

Arizona is warming up already! Many of the ladies we serve through

I-Help spend much of their time outdoors, and we would like to help

them beat the heat! We are collecting hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, and

water bottles to provide summer care packages when they stay with us

on April 24th. Donations may be left in the Information Center.

Page 3 Newsletter T i t le Volume 7, I ssue 4 Living Lives for Christ

St. Luke

VBS June 10-12

For More Information Contact: Caitlin.schroeder@stlukemesa.com

Or visit : https://www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/ez/stlukevbs

Prayer Requests

Post card from New Orleans

Post-Gathering Banquet Recognition National

Youth

Gathering

Participant

Prayer

Team

Member Prayer before, during, and after

the Gathering

Sponsorship Donation (suggested amount - $100)

National Youth Gathering Sponsorship Opportunity

The NYG Team invites you to join us in our journey to New Orleans by supporting us

spiritually, prayerfully, and financially. Check out the graphic below to find out how! See

Kelly Buckwalter (kelly@stlukemesa.com or 928.241.8038) to join a prayer team or with

any questions.

Page 4 Newsletter T i t le Volume 7, I ssue 4 Living Lives for Christ

From our Director of Care Ministry...

The Savvy Senior Solution to Cluttered Home

"So, the house is a little messy. So what," you may find yourself saying to your children, defensively, when they visit. And, of course, a house doesn’t have to be

spartan to be pleasant. But when things really start piling up, it can become more than just a matter of aesthetics. An overcrowded house can actually become a danger. Even if you’re not a hoarder, you may still be in need of some practical solutions for your cluttered home.

Understand How and Why Clutter Builds up

Over the years, a home can become cluttered for several reasons.

First, you just have a lot of stuff—you’ve amassed quite a collection of trinkets and mementos, and you just don’t have anywhere to put them.

Clutter can build up when you are struggling with mobility, strength, or balance issues. Things just end up being set down within easy reach. It’s much easier, not to mention safer, to leave the nonperishables on the counter-top than it is to balance on the step stool to reach high pantry shelves.

It could just be that you don’t have as much energy as you used to. You may start feeling drained halfway through a cleaning or sorting project. After a while, the clutter has piled up so much that you become overwhelmed by the scope of the project. Whatever the cause of your clutter, it’s time to confront the problem head on—before it becomes a danger.

The Dangers of a Cluttered Home

Having a cluttered house is not just a matter of neat versus messy. A cluttered home can actually be a physical danger. Towering piles of items can become a hazard if they fall—especially if you’re already a little unsteady on your feet. Articles lying on the floor or in walkways can trip you up when you’re not watching your step or the light is low. If, heaven forbid, a fire were to break out, stacks of flammable items like books or magazines can turn a home into an inferno and obstruct the path of firemen.

In addition to these physical dangers, a messy house can also present a mental health hazard. Clutter can make even the simplest of tasks more complicated, since it can make finding basic items frustrating. Another mental effect of clutter is the feeling that there is always a massive to-do list hanging over

your head in your own home, the place where you should be able to relax and rest. Physical clutter always leads to mental clutter which can be overwhelming and rob you of peace of mind.

Practical Solutions for Seniors Dealing with Clutter

Here are some quick and easy tips you can use to conquer your clutter today.

1. Start Small

If the clutter in your home is overwhelming, give yourself permission to start small. Tackle one drawer, cupboard, or closet each day. Progress can be made in baby steps. By the end of the week, you could have an entire room clutter-free.

2. Ask for Help

Your friends and family may be happy to spend an hour or two each week helping you declutter. Teen and young adult grandchildren are a great help in these kinds of projects because they can lift and carry items and help you sort them out. They may enjoy sharing memories with you and may even be able to help you post collectibles on eBay or Craigslist.

3. Gift Your Treasures to Loved Ones

Next Christmas, instead of hitting the mall for gifts, sort through some of your keepsakes to find treasures—a lovely picture frame, attractive silk scarf, or antique brooch, for example—that your friends and family members may love. Not only will you save money, but it is quite likely that your loved ones will enjoy these special gifts much more than a new sweater from a department store.

4. Have a Garage Sale

Why not make some money from decluttering your home? Purging is less painful when you know it will put cash in your pocket. Items like kitchen gadgets and appliances, gently used furniture, and pieces of home decor sell very well at garage sales.

5. Install Practical Storage Solutions

After you've cleaned things out, install storage solutions that work for you. If stretching to reach tall cupboards is difficult, have someone help you put up low shelves. If hanging items in closets takes more time and energy than you have, install a row of hooks after you remove the clothes bar. Think outside the box and make your home work for you.

These solutions are just the tip of the organizing iceberg for seniors. Once you get started, you will feel so much freer, at rest, and relaxed when you are at home. Get started today!

Page 5 Newsletter T i t le Volume 7, I ssue 4 Living Lives for Christ

Council Minutes Highlights - March 12, 2016 Financial:

Kathy Paulson sent the updated financials electronically prior to the meeting.

LCEF Mortgage Payable is reduced by $10,731.63 (which still includes $1,437 of BTW donations) to $816,880.70 at 02/29/2016.

Elders:

26 guest connect cards were turned in at our services since December. Elders continue to follow-up with these families and individuals as well as inactives.

Reviewed and revised first four pages of proposed Appendix B – Financial Control Policies.

Pastor Updates:

2016 February average weekend worship attendance: 474

2015 February average weekend worship attendance: 448

2016 YTD average weekend worship attendance: 453

2015 YTD average weekend worship attendance: 436

Things To Note

-Continuing to make progress in ROCK. E-mail and texting services are now operational. Elders are having initial training at Saturday meeting. Next steps are to set up attendance and check-in features, and prepare for e-giving launch in conjunction with moving our giving records from Shepherd’s Staff to ROCK.

-The interfaith chorale event was a great evening of worship, exposing our church

to many new people.

-The senior adult Shamrock Farms trip was a success, with the maximum number of sign-ups being reached weeks before the actual event.

-20|20 Vision Meetings so far have had around 75 people in attendance. There are about 10 more signed up, and Pastor Luke will do a session with the staff. Michael Ivey has been tabulating responses, and we will review this data when the meetings are completed.

-LOC Weekend – still putting together the details of how many people involved and the statistics about impact, but so far the response has been very positive. Working with Feed My Starving Children and Project CURE (even though these are Saturday events) made it possible for more people to be involved this year. Another positive was using the children and youth Sunday School times for blessing bag and Easter card preparation. May look into keeping adult studies on LOC weekend next year. Thank you to Elders for coordinating many of the projects.

-Easter egg hunt will be in playground area, with no pre-gathering room, people can just come and receive instructions as they arrive in the breezeway to enter the playground.

-Easter breakfast by the youth will be laid out differently, with (additional?) entrance to Oasis through east door to help facilitate long lines after 8:00 service and provide more seating. Kelly has already applied for Thrivent Action Team card

this year.

-After exploring the option of going to a cloud-based server, it has been determined that for our needed and desired functions it will be better for us to replace our local server.

-Mayor Giles faith-leaders’ breakfast, was informative about a few good non-profit agencies working in the city, as well as a good networking opportunity, including the chance to meet a Hispanic pastor doing ministry just south on Stapley.

Things For Discussion

-Reminder: Circuit church leadership gathering at Christ Greenfield 12:30pm on April 3rd to discuss possible strategic-partnership endeavors. Spouses invited.

-Which date is best for a joint council-staff retreat: June 4th, June 18th, or July 2nd? June 18th.

-Last Easter we had 40 cars in gravel lot and another 20 cars in the street. This year we could see another 50 people in attendance at 8:00. So, we will be painting lines on the gravel, and asking leaders to park on the back row, facing the alley, on Easter morning.

-Discussion was had about launching Stephen Ministry.

The next council meeting will be at 2:00 PM on April 9th. The meeting adjourned with prayer.

Respectfully submitted,

Ryan Brooks

Month at 2/29/2016 YTD at 2/29/2016 2016 Annual

General Fund: Actual Budget Actual Budget Budget

General Fund Ordinary Income 67,834 61,086 134,550 118,872 710,810

General Fund Ordinary Expense (48,701) (50,722) (95,277) (100,394) (596,771)

Net Ordinary Income 19,133 10,364 39,273 18,478 114,039

LCEF Mortgage Principal Paid (9,295) (9,500) (18,555) (19,000) (114,000)

Net Income (Loss) 9,838 864 20,718 (522) 39

St Luke Lutheran Summary of 2016 Actual & Budget Totals - Month, YTD & Annual

Page 6 Newsletter T i t le Volume 7, I ssue 4 Living Lives for Christ

4/02/66 Phil & Marty Habegger

4/03/82 Alan & Jennifer Wamboldt

4/05/12 Timmy & Brittney Dass

4/05/59 Merle & Marcy Suntken

4/07/08 Bruce & Allison Preston

4/08/79 Scott & Dorel Phillips

4/09/76 Ron & Nita Muth

4/11/70 Lloyd & Ronita Walburn

4/12/80 John & Molly Yoccabel

4/16/83 Craig & Nancy Cramsey

4/16/76 David & Lydia Maughan

4/19/97 Michael & Renee Mosiman

4/22/95 Bruce & Rachel Berglund

“Joyfully Connect, Support, and Serve Through Christ”

Women’s Ministry activities schedule….

Save the dates and watch the bulletin for more info….

Saturday, April 9th ~ 10:00 AM Feed the hard-working Habitat workers. Sign up to prepare food and/or serve the workers.

Saturday, May 14th ~ 9 AM Join us as we visit the Musical Instrument Museum in Scottsdale. We will carpool from St. Luke’s, go

on our self-guided tour, eat some lunch, and drag our weary feet back. It’s a great trip even if you’ve been before.

June [Date TBD] Get your summer toes on! We will be taking over a nail shop for pedicures. We’ll let you know when, where,

and have you sign up for a particular time. We’ll keep you posted.

SPRING CELEBRATION

St. Luke Lutheran Church

Saturday, April 2

9:00am-Registation

[$10 includes lunch]

9:30am-Program

Guest Speaker: Family Promise of Greater Phoenix

Family Promise rescues primarily first-time homeless families, provides emergency shelter, and basic needs in a sixty-day program designed to assist their return to self sufficiency.

Ingathering: toilet paper & paper towels

Birthdays of the Month... 4/13 Mae Yoccabel

4/14 Pam Glidewell

Alex Wamboldt

4/15 Lilliana Aman

Carol Edwards

Charles Vark III

Betty Williams

4/17 Zachary Heller

4/18 Logan Clark

4/19 Jonathan Beffel

4/19 Jason Spurling

4/21 Wade Albee

4/21 Dolores Natzke

4/1 Marge Nelson

4/2 Donna Owens

4/3 Craig Cramsey

4/4 Kathie Streifel

4/5 Phyllis Christiansen

Brenden Hageman

4/6 Wayne Flohrs

Andrea Wiley

4/7 Luke Hennings

Jane Horton

4/8 Connie Einspahr

Hunter Hillis (Kolzow)

Floyd Parker

4/9 Loreeta Pepper

Ronita Walburn

4/10 Carol Juilfs

4/11 Dale Ulmer

4/13 Laura Kolsrud

4/22 Matthew Gile

4/23 Kelsey Hartman

4/23 Joshua Worl

4/24 Marty Habegger

4/25 Gerald Lamping

4/26 Owen Lindberg

Kayci Tellez

Dennis Vogts

4/27 Clyde Hanselman

Bonnie Puckett

Joshua Schlag

Lucille Wagner

4/28 Marie Dawson

Kayla Piel

Jane Melching

Tim Powell

4/29 David Cramer

4/30 Sandy Anderson-

Bolduc

Anita Roder

Monday, April 18th

12:00 PM

Potluck Fried chicken will be provided!

Please bring a side dish or dessert to share.

This is our last

meeting!

Page 7 Newsletter T i t le Volume 7, I ssue 4 Living Lives for Christ

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St Luke Lutheran Church

807 N Stapley Drive

Mesa, AZ 85203

NON-PROFIT

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

MESA. ARIZONA

PERMIT NO. 21

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

SENT WITH BLESSINGS TO...

stlukemesa.com Living Lives for Christ

807 N. Stapley Drive

Mesa, AZ 85203

Phone: 480-969-4414

Fax: 480-969-4801

Email: office@stlukemesa.com

St. Luke Lutheran Church

See Our Web Site

“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8). It’s hard to believe that it is already April!! The end of school is getting close and I’m sure you’re all busy with all kinds of activities! It can be easy to be overwhelmed by things. Family, friends, and other obligations take up a LOT of time! However, the

psalmist reminds us that God can be a refuge from everything that is negative in our lives. A refuge, or safe place, that provides us joy and peace is an invaluable thing when the going gets tough. Whether you find your refuge in God through quiet time reading your Bible, or maybe jamming out to fantastic worship songs, letting yourself rest in God is essential to building your faith. Joining other youth in fellowship is just the cherry on top!

I hope to see you at our events this month. I enjoy talking with you as we hang out and form lasting relationships. Make sure you are “friends” with Luke Youth-Group on Facebook to stay up to date with activities. Also, if you ever need to get in touch with me for any reason, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or text (928.241.8038) or email (kelly@stlukemesa.com).

April Plugged In Calendar

**Events begin at 11:45 with lunch**

April 3 ~ 5th – 8th only. Pot Luck at the Park. Bring your family & a dish to share! Renee Lindberg is the contact person for this event!

April 10 ~ High School only. It’s movie time with Caitlin!

April 17 ~ 5th – 8th only. We will be roller skating at Skateland! Kathleen Short is the contact person for this event!

April 24 ~ High School only. The Mooney house will be hosting a pool/food/chill party! Come hang out!