Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for the freedom and security of our nation. The holiday originated during the Civil War, when citizens placed flowers on the graves of soldiers who had fallen in battle. It was first called Decoration Day, and several places claim to be its birthplace.

At 3:00 pm local time, a national moment of silence is observed to pay tribute to the fallen. The tradition was initiated by President Bill Clinton in 2000, and is known as the National Moment of Remembrance.

St. Lucas UCC remembers those from our church who died while serving their country:

Andrew Huegel

Andrew Huegel died during WWI in France on October 23, 1918 at the age of 27. He died of pneumonia while serving in the Army. Many WWI vets died of illness due to spending so much time in wet trenches. He’s buried in the St. Lucas Cemetery.

Harold Klein

Harold Valentine Klein died in WWII in Germany on January 18, 1945 at the age of 26. He was killed in action. He is buried in the St. Lucas Cemetery.

Larry Reynolds

Larry Reynolds was killed in a Jeep accident in Germany while serving. He died on June 3, 1945 and is buried in France.

Charles Jacob Rott

Charles Jacob Rott died in WWII on May 10, 1943 while serving in the Navy at age 36. He’s buried at Jefferson Barracks.

Arthur William Spindler

Arthur William Spindler died on April 1, 1944 at age 19. He is buried at St. Lucas. News of his death was in articles in the Post Dispatch. The airplane that he was piloting in WWII couldn’t stop in time on the aircraft carrier when he was landing.

Marshall Weidlich

Marshall Weidlich stepped on a mine one day after D-Day. He died in Normandie, France on July 19, 1944 at age 24. He’s buried at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. He was married at the time of his death (married in 1943). The Weidlich name is common in St. Lucas history. Bob Weidlich is a current member.

Information provided by:

The Heritage Committee

www.findagrave.com

Commentary: Congregant

The Sappington-Concord Historical Society will return to St. Lucas United Church of Christ this year to host the biggest, little annual Memorial Day celebration in South County. This year’s event will be at 9:00 am, Monday, May 26, on the green at St. Lucas United Church of Christ, 11735 Denny Road, 63126. The annual family-friendly celebration is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, and parking will be available on the east parking lot at St. Lucas UCC.

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Council Corner - August 24 Meeting Update

By Denee Bowers • September 4, 2026

Council Corner: Updates from the Regular Church Council Meeting – August 24, 2026 Informational Items: Update from Financial Ministry Meals on Wheels opted not to renew their annual grant funding for our Backpack program. We are currently seeking alternative funding – we appreciate the continued support of the Sugarbaker Foundation, which helps supplement this mission. The 2026-2027 Backpack Program is still being planned, but it could look different than previous years. Update from Physical Facilities Ministry The new breaker boxes passed the county inspection and we’re still in the process of labeling each breaker. Social Hall air conditioning is still leaking – will continue refilling the freon until the new coil can be install (see Actions Taken). Miscellaneous Updates Following discussion regarding the next step in the Bequest process, Council will develop a perspective to bring to the congregation by the Annual Meeting. It was not voted on but it was the consensus - that we would be prioritizing and developing a vision. Personnel Ministry is continuing their work on updating staff job descriptions and preparing for goal-setting, while finalizing budget recommendations for the Finance Ministry. The Cemetery is surveying the remaining open ground on the eastern area of the Park Hills section, allowing for more two grave and single plots. Looking Ahead – Items Upcoming in Next 1-2 Months Approval of 2027 Budget Approval of delegates for the Conference Meeting in November ( we have two of the three needed for the Conference meeting; still need four delegates for the Association meeting – please reach out if you’re interested in serving ). Performance Reviews and Goal Setting Employee Manual Updates (2019 version) Approval of revised Disaster Preparedness Proposal Upcoming Events – In an effort to better prepare for the various events and events within events, Council members use a more detailed calendar . We hope this tool also helps you better plan for Church activities. Celebration Sunday is September 13 th – this special St. Lucas tradition is open to everyone and follows the conclusion of service; it also falls on Grandparents Days, another reason to celebrate together. Community Meal is October 4 th – this one-time event commemorates Good Neighbor Week and is sponsored by a grant from ServMO and America250. More info to come. Actions Taken: Approved a bid from IFS for $16,986 to repair and replay the fellowship hall chiller coil and install hail guards. While we wait for parts, installation may not happen for 6 weeks. Approved appointments to the nominating committee (Kirk Dalgaard, Jack Laudenslager, and Linda Taylor). One council term is ending in 2026.