February Mission Moment
January Mission Moment
Social Justice Ministry - January Spotlight
Social Justice Ministry - December Spotlight
September Mission Moment
In the 145 year history of St. Lucas U CC, the church has been blessed by leaders who have left a profound legacy. One of those leaders, Rev. Samuel Kruse was born on this day in 1858. Rev. Kruse's father, Michael, immigrated from Heide, Germany and was also a minister who was a part of the second graduation class of the Evangelical Seminary in Marthasville, MO. At age sixteen, Samuel enrolled in the pre-seminary program at Elmhurst College before continuing his theological studies at Eden Seminary. On July 15, 1880, he was ordained by his father into the ministry of the Evangelical Church. In 1882, Rev. Kruse was called to the recently formed St. Lucas Evangelical Church in Sappington, MO. He was installed on July 2, 1882 and remained in that position until July 26, 1925 -- 43 years!
August Mission Moment
Our high school youth mission trip was an incredible experience and refreshing to see Back Bay Mission fully embracing and serving the core values of the United Church of Christ. The following letter was from one of Back Bay Mission’s summer interns, Hazel. While this letter was intended just for our group, I think it summarizes the impression Back Bay Mission had on our group and the impact our group had on Back Bay Mission. And therefore important to share with the congregation:
July Mission Moment
In 2021, Juneteenth completed the long journey of seeking official recognition from the government and becoming a federal holiday in the United States. Juneteenth National Independence Day is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the ending of slavery.
June Mission Moment
Dear Beloved Community, Though St. Lucas UCC was mildly affected by the recent tornadoes, a large part of St. Louis was. From Clayton to Forest Park, The Loop to St. John's UCC- The Beloved Community, you can see the fallen trees, intersections without functional traffic lights, and automobiles trapped under branches. This is a lot to absorb and understand. Some of us may feel numb, shocked, unsure, or because we can't "see it", disconnected. But the damage of the storm is real and affects many lives, families, businesses, churches and neighborhoods. As members of St. Lucas UCC, who have been transforming lives as the hands and feet of Christ since 1880, there are things we can do. Our Social Justice Team has already been in active communication. Here are 3 things I would like to share, as someone who has pastored through disasters: 1.) When Council meets on Thursday we are discussing how St. Lucas UCC can best respond AND exploring how we can create a team that can respond to further events. 2.) Right now, you may feel an urgency to act and donate items. Money is always the best response. Making a donation to the Red Cross is a great way to immediately make a difference and know your donation is being used. Also, the MO Mid-South Conference has set up a special fund just for the 2025 St. Louis Tornado Response to make a donation to support recovery efforts. 3) Two weeks from now, folks will forget about this event and move on, while the people affected are still struggling. That can often be the hardest time for those who have been directly affected. We, as a church, are considering what can we do 2-4 weeks from now to assist those who are still dealing with the effects of the tornado. What happened on Friday is tragic, and the scars of the tornado will linger for a long, long time. Let us welcome and see how the Holy Spirit is calling us to faithfully respond as a united body in Christ. Peace and grace, Rev. George Miller Senior Pastor