Image of letter from Christ Lutheran Church, Webster Groves

Christ Lutheran Church, our neighbor at 4 Selma Avenue in Webster Groves, chose to honor our Jubilee 150th Anniversary with a letter praising our faith community’s historic values and actions. The image at right will connect you to a PDF edition of the letter. Or, you might simply want to read the text of the letter, which follows:

June 21, 2016

Dear Members of First Congregational Church of Webster Groves,

God has richly blessed you as a congregation for 150 years! You have richly blessed Webster Groves for 150 years as you have lived out the love of Jesus Christ for your neighbors.

As Congregationalists you have indeed lived out your belief in the inherent equality and dignity of all human beings. Beginning with your break from Rock Hill Presbyterian because the presence of conformists to the sinful status quo of slavery, to the organizing of the celebration of the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King which continues to this day as a community wide event you have supported people of color. Your opposition of the internment of Japanese Americans and sponsorship for 2 Japanese families during the Second World War continued your stand for equality and dignity of all as well as becoming “Open and Affirming” including welcoming to “everyone regardless of ability, age, ethnicity, race, gender identity, sexual orientation or social-economic background.”

Your outreach and mission includes the homeless in your support of The Bridge, Room at the Inn, and Brown Baggers; the care of the earth in The Green Team; benevolences to 19 organizations plus the wider United Church of Christ; and special support locally of Webster Rock Hill Ministries.

What a wonderful legacy and example for all of us!

The members of Christ Lutheran Church, Webster Groves, congratulate you on this 150th Anniversary year, and we pray God will continue to bless you as you have been a blessing to others.

Sincerely,
Flo Saeger, President
Pastor Penny Holste
Pastor Keith Holste