Helping our Neighbors Impacted by Tornadoes

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