Presentation 7/19 by David Horst

from New London Homeless Hospitality Center

Speak out for those who cannot speak,

    for the rights of all the destitute.

Speak out; judge righteously;

    defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 31:8-9

Wear your yellow GWOH tee shirt and join us on Sunday, July 19 as we welcome guest speaker, David Horst, from New London Homeless Hospitality Center during worship. David Horst, pastor and street outreach worker for NLHHC will share about his direct experiences working with the unhoused population in our area as well as how we can support this mission to combat homelessness.

In his presentation, “The Call to Service,” Rev. David Horst shares with us his work and ministry as Manager of Outreach and Engagement at the New London Homeless Hospitality Center, a place of welcome and safety for adults experiencing homelessness in southeastern Connecticut since 2006. With the sharp rise in homelessness in our region and state, the Homeless Hospitality Center is a leader in homelessness response and housing, collaborating with dozens of public and private programs and agencies. Learn more about the Homeless Hospitality Center and how we can become more involved with its mission on this Get Fired Up for God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday.

Rev. David M. Horst is a community minister serving as Manager of Outreach and Engagement at the New London Homeless Hospitality Center. Before moving to southeastern Connecticut, he served Unitarian Universalist congregations in the Boston area, Nantucket, northern New Jersey, and Connecticut for more than 20 years.

In his early career, Rev. Horst worked in marketing, communications, and arts and event management. He is a 1977 graduate of Utica College with a B.A. in Journalism, a 1999 graduate of the Harvard Divinity School with a Master of Divinity, and a 2019 graduate of the Rowe Center in Massachusetts with a Certificate in Spiritual Guidance.

He is an active member of the Norwich Area Interfaith Association, Rose City Pride Committee, Indivisible Norwich, and the Connecticut Coalition to End

Homelessness.

Rev. Horst and his family live in Norwich, Conn.

Questions? See Leigh Sammons. Learn more about NLHHC at https://www.nlhhc.org/

A Note from Yvonne Kawaya at Chikumbuso

Chikumbuso Community School

Lusaka, Zambia 13 May 2026

"Dear St. Luke Church Group,

Greetings to you and my family. As for me here am okay. I want to inform you how I spend my holiday. The holiday went on well from the beginning my Aunt used to teach me math, games and how to wash clothes as well as cooking nshima, but one day my Grandfather got sick we though we will get better but no he died on 7th May, 2026 we list Grandfather who was trusted by the family. I felt bad and sad. Have you ever felt sad or bad? That’s all I had to say hope to hear from you soon.

Yours with love

Yvonne Kawaya"

Coming Soon: God’s Work, Our Hands

Sunday, September 13, 2026

Welcome home! What sweet words to hear!

For our 2026 GWOH Sunday, we will be assembling “welcome home” kits for the New London Homeless Hospital Center (NLHHC). These baskets will be for clients who are transitioning from unhoused to housed, providing supplies for their new residences and helping to set them up for success. A sign-up sheet will be posted and we will begin collecting items in July. Questions or concerns?

Please see Leigh Sammons.

Camp Firelight 2026!

Link for the VBS volunteer sign-up

2026 ECUMENICAL VBS

Dates: August 3-6, 2026 (Monday-Thursday)

Time: Dinner at 5:00 PM

VBS begins at 5:30 PM and ends at 7:30 PM

Location: United Methodist Church of Gales Ferry, 10 Chapman Lane, Gales Ferry, CT (Upper Level)

Campers: PreK 4-year-olds through 5th grade are invited for songs, Bible stories, crafts, and science experiments.

Volunteers: Youth in 6th grade and older, as well as adults, are invited to serve as cooks, camp leaders, and counselors.

Sponsored by St. Luke’s Lutheran, St. David’s Episcopal, and Gales Ferry United Methodist churches. Costs are underwritten

by the sponsoring churches.

Questions? Contact Joanne Moorehead at QuilterJAM@aol.com or 860-608-4449

Fill out the Google Form here.

St. Luke Garden

We could use a few folks to help check on the Garden plants just one day a week. We are all set on Wednesday and Sunday. The other days could use a pair of eyes (10 minute checks) to make sure things look “normal”. We will train you on “normal”.

-Ray Heller

Lifelong Learning News

Kids Corner is looking for volunteers to run a class or assist with set up and organizing. There is a sign up sheet outside the kitchen. You can sign up to help one time or a few! If you are interested please see Erica Sullivan or Mark Larson with any questions.

Crisis Meals

Please contact Pastor Heidi or Sue Anderson if you are in need of meal assistance during a difficult time.

RaiseRight Gift Cards

How it works... merchants give St. Luke a small percent of each card you purchase. For example, you purchase a $100 Stop & Shop gift card, then St. Luke gets $4 you get $100 in groceries. Do this 4 weeks a month and you give St. Luke $16 at no cost to you!These dollars support the church's good samaritan funds which Pastor Heidi can use to support anyone during tight times. It's convenient for you and supports our outreach ministries! It’s a win-win! There are 100's of participating merchants like ShopRite, Dunkin Donuts, Home Depot, Walmart, TJMaxx, Amazon, and Subway just to name a few. To get cards deliverd to St. Luke Order on line at:

 https://www.raiseright.com 

OR  Raise Right cards are available for purchase by check on the First and Third Sundays each month after Worship. 

For more information contact

Pat Robbins or Crystal

Dame or  Email churchoffice@stlukegf.org 

Picnic in the Narthex every Wednesday!

Join St. Luke members for Picnic in the Narthex every Wednesday at 11:00 AM at St. Luke Lutheran Church! Pack a snack of your own liking.

Ours is an expandable circle; so, come and join us and get to know your church friends better! Call St. Luke at (860) 464-7897 for more information.

Donate to St. Luke Online!

Did you know you can donate to St. Luke from the convenience of your own home?

Donating online allows you to choose where your funding goes - the current budget, altar flowers, the building fund, the Sanctuary renovations fund, the memorial fund, and more!

Click here to make a secure donation!