May 20, 2025

Helping our Neighbors Impacted by Tornadoes

Author

Denee Bowers

Share

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


By Denee Bowers March 31, 2026
St. Lucas UCC is inviting members to share ideas for how the Mayberry bequest can faithfully support the long-term vitality of our church. You may submit ideas using any of the following methods: 1. the online survey (preferred) 2. printing the form at home 3. picking up a form outside the Sanctuary Please submit one idea per form, using as many forms as necessary. Responses are due by Sunday, May 3rd.
By Denee Bowers March 30, 2026
Monday, April 13 | 3:00 to 6:00 pm | 11735 Denny Rd., St. Louis, MO 63126
By Denee Bowers March 30, 2026
Join us for Easter worship on Sunday, April 5 at 9:30 am. As a part of our Old Fashioned Easter, everyone is invited to wear a hat, suit, gloves, or brings a Bible to church that day. Pastor George will donate $1 per hat to the St. Lucas UCC Disaster Preparedness Fund. We are holding a communion service at Friendship Village on Easter Sunday at 1:30 pm. Families are welcome to attend.
By Denee Bowers March 17, 2026
Join us for Good Friday on Friday, April 3 when we will remember the final hours of Jesus' life.  Service will be livestreamed on Facebook and our YouTube page.
By Denee Bowers March 10, 2026
Our March Mission Moment highlights One Great Hour of Sharing, a Special Mission Offering of the United Church of Christ. One Great Hour of Sharing supports partners worldwide with ministries that fund health, education, and agricultural development, emergency relief, refugee ministries, and both international and domestic disaster response.  Your giving to the St. Lucas UCC general fund helps us continue to contribute to OGHS and their work around the world.
By Denee Bowers March 6, 2026
Day of Service
By Denee Bowers March 6, 2026
Trivia Night
By Church Council March 5, 2026
Council Corner: Updates from the Regular Church Council Meeting - February 23, 2026 Informational Items: Best Practices for Responding to Requests for Cash from Strangers Members and staff are strongly discouraged from providing cash to strangers who request assistance while on St. Lucas UCC property. When approached, we encourage directing individuals to community resources that are better equipped to offer support. Recommended alternatives include: Sharing the Community Resources for Food & Utility Assistance list from the St. Louis Area Resource Directory ( www.startherestl.org ). For your convenience, copies are available outside the Sanctuary. Directing individuals to the Little Free Pantry for immediate food assistance. Additionally, the possibility of laminating and affixing the Food & Utility Assistance resource list to the Little Free Pantry is being explored to improve accessibility. Event Planning Workflow Reccomendations Work is underway to develop clearer guidelines for individuals or groups interested in hosting events at St. Lucas UCC. Please contact Tracy Mulderig with comments or suggestions. Actions Taken: Approved $2,114 from the Memorial Fund, as recomended, to repair the lighting system for the sign along Denny Road. Approved revised language for a new three-way Covenant among retired ministers previously employed by St. Lucas UCC returning as members, the St. Lucas UCC Congregation, and the St. Louis Association. Developed in accordance with the United Church of Christ's 2024 Manual on Ministry and guidance from the St. Louis Association, the covenant articulates shared expectations for participation in the life of the church. General covenant terms are available here: Covenants of Mutual Accountability Approved a plan for gathering information and input regarding the Mayberry Bequest and future overall expenditures, which was distributed in a special e-blast and in the March 1st bulletin. Approved a one-year renewal of the Parsonage lease under the current terms. Updates from the Special Church Council Meeting - March 1, 2026 Actions Taken: Approved a new 3-year contract with MS Lawncare for the main St. Lucas property, the athletic fields, the Parsonage, and the Sexton's house.
By Denee Bowers February 25, 2026
Wednesday Lent Services
By Denee Bowers February 23, 2026
History of the Black Community in St. Louis