Beloved St. Luke Community,

 

The Lord be with you!

 

Driving through the near empty streets of Edgewater, Uptown and Lakeview on my way to church this morning, I remembered what it felt like to move around New York City on September 12, 2001.  We hunkered down with loved ones, we were afraid, and our hearts yearned for connection with God and one another.  It was a tender time in church this morning.  And whether in person or in spirit, our hearts were, and remain joined together in the presence of Jesus and our love for one another.

 

A quote from Martin Luther reminds us that there have been times like this before.  When he was dealing with the Black Plague, he wrote these wise words that can help us think about how we approach things happening in our world right now:

 

"I shall ask God mercifully to protect us.  Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administrer medicine and take it.  I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollutel others and so cause their death as a result of my negilgence.  If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others.  If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above.  See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God."  (Luther's Works, Volume 43, p.132).

 

Here are some updates as we live in this time of pandemic:

 

As the details of Covid-19 continue to emerge, Saint Luke will update everyone as soon as possible.

 

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May the peace of Christ keep you safe and secure in the Body of Christ.

 

Pastor Stephen P. Bouman