Hello, Friends!
      On Saturday Elizabeth and I attended a district meeting for church leaders, to glean some new ideas and remember some essentials that can benefit St. Luke and her ministries in this new era.
    Both the workshops I attended contained some useful reminders of tried and true (and ever new) wisdom about being in community and growing in the spirit.  One dealt with sharing faith stories, the other with engaging in respectful dialogue, and though I’d “heard it all before” and you probably have, too, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of how important it is to stay centered in such basics as the following:
*Keep it real—be yourself—offer an authentic witness.
*Be willing to listen, without judgment, and learn as well as share your story.
*Don’t be afraid to share how God’s love blesses your life, or to invite someone into the experience.
*Be open to receiving God’s love from others, often from the unlikeliest sources.
     Among the guidelines offered for staying centered in love while opening to growth and change were these pointers, in the form of the acronym “HEART.”
       I offered them last night at our Vision Team meeting, where we’re undertaking a process of examining and reenvisioning all aspects of our church’s life.   Last night’s focus was worship—and we’ll have many more conversations about that and other things, I’m sure, as time goes on.
      With our hearts in the right place, we can do all things, through Christ who is our strength.
      I hope we can all take counsel and comfort in these gentle reminders to live out Christ’s calling on us all—simply to love as we have been loved, to trust God, to stay
open, and enjoy the journey of growing into our full, free, true identity, as people made in Love’s image.     
      I hope you’ll find these simple guidelines useful in your daily life, and I hope you’ll bring your heart and the rest of you to worship, and learn, and serve, and play, and grow with us here at St. Luke.
       I look forward to growing with you this Sunday, and all our days to come.

Shalom,
Sarah

HEART PRINCIPLES

Hear and understand me.

Even if you disagree, please don’t make me wrong.

Acknowledge the greatness within me.

Remember to look for my loving intentions.

Tell me your truth with compassion.