September 2007

Welcome to St. Luke’s!

People ask me what St. Luke’s is like. It’s hard to describe a group of 150 households, we are all so unique and gifted in our own way. And no one gets irritated faster by sentimental generalities than me; "we’re fun, we’re dynamic, we’re friendly…" Whatever happened to being real and authentic?

On any given Sunday you are bound to find approximately 180 people sitting in our comfortable cushioned chairs (that’s up from 110 last year). The atmosphere is very informal, the music is a little traditional and the preaching is…well I would have to let you be the judge of that. Let’s just say my favorite quote comes from Flannery O’Connor, "you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you odd."

St. Luke’s has one quality that I truly love and find unique, when someone from within or without comes forward with an idea our first response is not "slow down" or "we’ve never done it that way before" or "there are several committees we’ll have to run it by first" or "how long have you been coming here?" Rather, people here are eager to share our resources with any dreamer who comes along with a transformational idea. In 13 months serving this body of believers I have seen this happen time and time again.

To date we have a youth drama group (three plays under its belt already), a senior’s carpet bowling league, 40+ stitchers, a grief support group, a Community Chorale, a grandmothers group that has bonded with grandmothers in Africa.

And who am I? In addition to serving St. Luke’s I also am a Board member of Coverdale (a ministry for women experiencing the criminal justice system) and I volunteer five hours a week at the Brunswick Street Mission in downtown Halifax. One day a week I help cook and serve the meals at 6 am. and then lead a Bible Study for people from streets of Halifax from 1:30 – 2:30 pm.

This may help you get a sense of my style of ministry. Last week at the Mission a member of our study group gave me a 4 foot stuffed pink bunny. She knew my daughter loves pink. Because I car pool into the city at 5:30 am. I knew I would have to walk to my drive approximately 1.5 miles away. So I carried the pink bunny under my arm down Brunswick Street and up Spring Garden Road.

En route I had scheduled a coffee with the new Roman Catholic Priest in our area at the Second Cup. We had never met. But I guess by reputation he knew me since he entered the coffee shop, walked across the room and shook my hand. The rabbit was sitting next to me.

I insist on being called Kevin, I like to be teased and I don’t take myself too seriously. People say I am easy to approach. I am passionate about preaching, visiting (I have been to 110 of the 150 households so far) and outreach. Meetings are another story.

Please drop by and see us. If I know you’re coming I will offer you a coffee and some stimulating conversation. And if you’d like to meet the bunny I can arrange that too.

God bless,

Kevin