St. Luke's Blogs

When Bob and I took our first little church 35 miles outside of Huntsville, Texas, we had no idea of the lessons we would learn from our new family of faith. We grew up in Houston and this church was in a town of 250 people. Our home church, First United Methodist Church, at one time had been the largest Methodist Church in the world. Here we were at 18 and 19 living in a tiny town, with many years of college and a whole lifetime of learning ahead of us. We were to be married in 7 months. In addition to that, Bob was the student pastor, and I would soon be their “first lady.” We wondered how our congregation could look to us as their spiritual leaders since we were so young. Trusting us as such seemed natural to them, and they welcomed us with open arms. Quite often we would have members stop by with fresh produce from their gardens, meat from their farms, dinner, or baked goods. They were proud to share what they had with us, and we were very grateful for those gifts that helped sustain us during those lean years…

When I reflect on God’s grace, often defined as God’s unmerited, unconditional love for us, I am drawn to one of Methodism’s core beliefs: prevenient grace.  Prevenient grace, as we understand it, is God’s grace at work in our lives before we are even aware.  I have experienced that grace so many times in life.

Often, the experience of God’s grace comes to us through others, usually through a person who embodies God’s love. Mrs. Leggitt was that person for me. I first met Mrs. Leggitt as a very young child. For some reason unknown to me, something or someone led me to attend a small Baptist church right around the corner from my grandmother’s house where I lived for a while. I recall the first Sunday when I entered the sanctuary and chose to sit on the fourth pew from the front on the left. Before the service began, a lady asked if she could sit with me since I was by myself. At some point during the service, she put her arms around me, and I snuggled up next to her. I remember the smell of her soft powdery perfume, and her welcoming presence…

“I thought about being a reporter, but a news director told me I have an egg-shaped face.” Those were the words of my neighbor as she pulled back her hair with a sheepish grin, almost acknowledging the cruel remark as being true. She had seen a news report of mine and wanted to discuss the broadcasting industry as we were standing in our driveways one evening, many years ago.

“What an awful thing for someone to say,” I responded. “First of all, it’s not true. Second, you can do anything you want if you work at it. I’m sure you’d make a great reporter!” She appreciated the remark, but her demeanor made me think the psychological damage had been done. There would be no further pursuit of her journalistic ambitions. She was resigned to whatever “Plan B” was…

It is hard for me to fathom that this will be the third Easter that has been affected by the Covid Pandemic. I’ll never forget the moment in March of 2020 when we made the decision to stop in-person worship. Of course, we were really disappointed, butwe thought it would only be a brief stint. Since Easter was still a month away, it was inconceivable that Easter Sunday would be affected. But of course, we didn’t have in-person worship for Easter 2020. Week after week of having worship in an emptysanctuary was difficult. Now, I knew that everyone was watching online, but I still felt disconnected. It wasn’t until I had aSunday off and was able to join worship online that I felt connected with the family of faith. Worshipping online changed the way I felt about Sunday mornings because even though I couldn’t see anyone in person, I envisioned everyone watching online…

Throughout history, Christians have developed many wonderful practices that help us prepare for Easter. Lent is a time of introspection and repentance. It is a specific time that is set apart to deny ourselves, and give ourselves to God and others. Often, during Lent, Christians will fast. A fast can be as simple as giving up coffee or soda for 40 days or choosing to set aside a significant part of the day to not eat. When we fast, we work to fill that time with prayer, study, or service to others.

I first was challenged to fast during the season of Lent when I was in high school. It was really challenging. You never desire to eat more than when you are not allowed to do so…

Then Mary, when she came where Jesus was and saw him, fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled; and he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”  Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb; it was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. I knew that thou hearest me always, but I have said this on account of the people standing by, that they may believe that thou didst send me.” When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Laz′arus, come out.” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with bandages, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

In you, O Lord, I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame.
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
    incline your ear to me and save me.
Be to me a rock of refuge,
    a strong fortress, to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.

Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
    from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.
For you, O Lord, are my hope,
    my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
Upon you I have leaned from my birth;
    it was you who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you.

If you have been connected to St. Luke’s since April 2020, you have likely heard of the OKC Mobile Market. You may have seen videos, read about opportunities to serve in the program, and perhaps you have given a donation to the cause. If you have served on the Mobile Market, you know first-hand what God’s grace looks and feels like. I am closest to Him on Friday mornings, my favorite day of the week, when miracles happen because of a group of the most caring, devoted, and giving people I have ever been so fortunate to be around…

The Poteet Theatre is presenting Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat this week. TheBiblical story of Joseph aligns well with Lent, and our preparation for Easter Sunday. In the story of Joseph, we remember the ‘coat of many colors’ which Jacob gave to his favorite son, Joseph.  Joseph is a dreamer and an interpreter of dreams. One of Joseph’s dreams predicts that he will become a great leader and stand taller than his brothers. Out of jealousy, Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery, and from there he experiences great misfortune. Despite unfair treatment, Joseph remains faithful and honest.  We are told multiple times that, “the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.” Eventually, Joseph is thrown into the depths of a prison, wrongfully accused by Potiphar’s wife…

Our Lenten sermon series for this year is entitled Saving Grace. We’re looking at the ways the grace of God saves us to live life as new creations. The fascinating truth is that God’s love is revealed to us in numerous ways throughout our lives.

When I look back on my life, I know my parents were a primary way I came to know God’s love for me. I don’t take for granted how blessed I was to have the parents I did. My mother and father were incredible people each in their own right. Together, their strengths and weaknesses complimented each other in ways that were perfect for them to be great parents for me and my brother…