An Open Letter to our Students on Confirmation Sunday

Dear Confirmation Students, 

On Sunday, you and a group of fellow 9th grade students will stand before our congregation and share about your faith on a day known as “Confirmation Sunday.” It is a day that many of us once participated in years ago, perhaps at Saint Luke or another congregation. Like you, we probably felt many of the same emotions. Excitement, nervousness, joy. And like you, we were surrounded by others that had walked the road before us, paving the way with wisdom, patience and love. 

Some of you have grown up in this very church. We have watched you as you were swayed and rocked in your momma’s arms during worship. We have watched you run down the halls excitedly towards your Sunday school classroom, snagging a donut from the lobby along the way. We have watched you grow taller and stronger, quickly no longer the little one we once knew, but instead a young adult facing the world with wide eyes and a brave heart. 

For others of you we did not have the privilege of witnessing quite as many steps along your journey, but we consider it an honor to have gotten to know you and to have gotten to experience your wit, thoughtfulness, integrity, courage, silliness, honesty, and hope, even for just one day. You truly are an incredible group of young people.

Perhaps most importantly of all, we have watched you consider, question, and explore your faith as adolescents in an increasingly complex world. On Confirmation Sunday, you each will share a faith statement about your journey. Yet, the wonderful thing about this day is that it is not the end, nor is it the beginning. Instead, it is a pause, providing both us-your church family- and you the moment to reflect, to remember, and to cherish. It is a special day and on it we want you to know a few things…

1.  This is now your faith journey.  You are in charge of what you make of it. However, it is not a journey you ever have to travel alone. You have had tremendous support along the way from your family, your teachers and the congregation.  That will never change, so don’t be afraid to reach out, no matter how long it has been or what the circumstances may be. Good times & bad, we are in your corner. You are loved. 

2.  The journey thus far has led you to learn and realize amazing things about our faith and our experience. Savor that. Cherish the memories. Remember each step. Reflect on it. Take some time to pause and think about your journey. Isn’t it awesome to see what God has been up to in your life?  We think it is pretty incredible, too. 

3.  Enjoy being the center of attention on this special day. You are making this a special day for others, and they want to recognize and reward you with gratitude and support. It is a privilege and joy for the congregation, your friends, and family to mark this special day with you. The beauty of our faith is that it connects us with others. This is a special day for you, which means it is a special day for your church. 

Happy Confirmation Sunday!

May God strengthen you on your way, provide you with rest in moments when you question if you can continue, give you kind companions to share the load, and direct your steps along the hills and valleys of the journey. 

Please share in the comments below the top thing you hope they know on this special Sunday. 

Special thanks to Bill Baver for his contributions to this post. Bill serves not only as the President of Council here at Saint Luke, but also leads our confirmation program.

Setting the Thermostat to Peace

As a retired Major of the Pennsylvania State Police, Major Ben Brooks has seen and learned a lot about working with people. In a recent adult education forum at Saint Luke, Major Ben examined how we interact with each other and how we can overcome negative attitudes that limit performance and hinder our relationships. He asked forum attendees a simple question: 

“Can you recall a time when you felt discriminated against? ”

For some it may seem difficult to think of such an occurrence, yet the truth of the matter is that diversity, inclusion and bias impact us all.  It is not just about differences of race but any aspect that makes people different- age, gender, abilities, etc. It can take many different faces, but the result is almost always pain, brokenness, and conflict. 

We can model Christ-like behavior to affect the culture around us. Similar to Jesus, we live in a world with raising temperatures of division and conflict. Thankfully, we have the ability to set the thermostat to a place of peace, understanding, and inclusion. 

Here are a few ways to bring the temperature of a potentially explosive situation down a few degrees:

Look for the why- Often in conflict, we start with gloves on, full of anger, and ready to defend ourselves. Yet, to lower the temperature, we need to start with empathy. If we cannot understand where people are coming from, it is going to lead to continued problems. We must react to situations not based only on what we see, but we must look beyond the surface for the “why.” Often times, the reason for a person’s behavior will give you insight into the best solution. 

Check your baggage- Often times our opinions of people are based on past experience and these unconscious biases can affect behavior. Yes, you may have had a negative experience with “this or that type” of person before, but no two people are the same. Take some time to reflect on your experiences and heal. If you continue to find yourself in conflict being fueled by your baggage, consider talking to a wise friend or therapist. Do the work to check your baggage, you will be lighter. You’ll be glad you did.  

Choose your words wisely- Rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (Proverbs 12:18). Inflammatory words can raise the temperature of conflict, inflicting pain, spreading judgement, and leaving wounds. Yet, when chosen wisely, words heal. We can use words to calm a hostile situation, words to encourage the insecure, and words to invite others into relationship. 

Reframe the goal- As we navigate conflict, we must remember that unlike other “fights” there are not two opponents. With the goal of setting the thermostat to peace, we also join hands with those on the other side. No longer are we battling against one another, but instead we are collaboratively working together for the benefit of both. With the goal of peace and of honoring the humanity of those we encounter, we find that strangers become friends and enemies become teammates.

May we all search past the surface, live with light hearts, medicate with our words, and find ourselves together, enjoying the temperature of peace.

Special thanks to Marcia Skoglund for her contributions to this post. Marcia helps coordinate and plan adult education at Saint Luke.  

3 Ways To Be More Like A Wheel & Less Like An Island

Is your church congregation more like an island or a wheel?  Are you an isolated island who only connects with each other? Or are you a wheel with spokes reaching beyond your walls, expanding to your community?  All of us logically know we should be more like a wheel but at times this feels hard to accomplish.  We don’t even know where to start.

We have all (hopefully) had experiences with gatherings of individuals who worship in a variety of different spaces, and in various ways, and walked away feeling graciously welcomed.  Sadly, this is not always the case and there are many who have been so hurt and disillusioned by religion that they would not even consider stepping foot in a church.  As church attendance across all denominations declines and we look for ways to connect with our community, we must realize how important it is to get out of the sanctuary and to try to connect with our community, in the community.  At Saint Luke you often hear our pastors emphasize  “All are welcome, No exceptions,” but maybe we need to say that to our broader community and not just on Sunday mornings to those in the building?

In a passage in the book of Matthew (28: 16-20), Jesus tells his disciples, “Go and make disciples.”  Jesus was known for being out and about in the community, talking to tax collectors, widows and Gentiles.  In fact, I believe most of his sermons were on a hillside or in someone’s home, not in a temple or a religious space.   He did not wait for them to join him in the building, but sought them in their unique spaces.

Here at Saint Luke we have decided to look for opportunities to connect with our community as a whole and individually.  We will try harder to get out of our “bubble” and to discover new ways to reconnect with our neighbors in their spaces.  

Here are 3 steps you can take to join in on this venture to be less like an island and more like a wheel…

1. Check out the article- "The Face of the Church is Changing” by Megan Brandsrud. Be inspired and start dreaming of leaving the island for more wheel like ways of living.

2. Be on the look out-  Pay attention to your natural connections in the community, not with the goal of just inviting them to come in, but with eyes to see ways that you can share God’s love with them right where they are at.  Remember, it’s not really about getting a welcoming message out about Saint Luke, but most importantly that with Jesus-“All are Welcome, No Exeptions.”

3.  Have open arms- Even a wheel has a center hub. Gathering together in religious settings does have value and a place. Yet, if the goal is for others in the community to be able to easily join in, we must be sure that we are ready to welcome them with open arms. Say hello to someone new at service. Offer a tour to a guest. Invite a visitor over for coffee.

Lord, mold and shape us. Round our rough edges and mend our brokenness. Transform us, individually and as a church, until we reflect your heart to the world around us. 

Special thanks to Jen Wright for her contributions to this post. Jen leads a Sunday morning adult group called, Table Talk. Table Talk is an adult discussion group about using our faith in everyday life.  

Director of Music Ministry

Meet John Rea, our new Director of Music Ministry. His love for music has taken him on an incredible journey, helping others experience worship through the beauty of the creative arts. At Saint Luke you will likely find him at the organ masterfully playing a lovely hymn, laughing along with our kids as he leads them in song (even in super speed with hand motions!), or giving creative guidance to the talented choirs and musicians at rehearsals.

John comes to Saint Luke with not only heart, but much experience and skill. He was trained classically on piano and organ, studied classical voice, and even started a Christian rock band while in college at Temple University. He has composed hymns, anthems and musicals for the church, and created a theatre partnership with a synagogue in Philadelphia. His hymn, 'God's Work, Our Hands' debuted in the 2014 SEPA Synod Assembly. 

John began his work as a church organist/choir director in 1986 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Conshohocken, PA, where his father served as pastor. He also has served as Director of Music at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, PA, where he built the music program from one senior choir when he arrived to two junior children choirs, a senior choir, a summer series of vocal and instrumental soloists and an intergenerational bell choir. He also created three Christmas Pageants, as well as wrote and directed a musical based on the Christian fairy tale, The Three Trees. In The Three Trees, the intergenerational cast of 50 worked with Spiral Q Puppet Theatre from Philadelphia to create over 40 puppets that lived on 15 foot bamboo poles!

John not only has a passion for making music but inviting others into the process regardless of their skill or knowledge level. He has taught music and liturgy to children ages 2 – high school. He’s introduced percussion instruments into the fabric of worship, even directing a brass quintet for holiday services. He has experience directing vocal soloists and instrumentalists, both acoustic and electric, from beginner to expert. 

Outside of church, he is the Founder and Artistic Director of MacGuffin Theatre & Film Company, a nonprofit arts-based education program for young actors.  He is married to his best friend of 11 years, Stacey-Kyle. Stacey serves as Pastor for Youth and Family Ministry at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Phoenixville.

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We thank you gracious God for all that care and nurture Your people. May You fill them with peace, ingenuity, determination and gladness. Fortify their hearts for the great work ahead.