Irene Schindler and Peter Stelnyk are the new co-chairs for St. Luke’s Community Engagement (CE) and they hope to extend the excellent CE awareness and engagement developed by the CE team under Patrick Crump’s leadership.

CE also hopes to understand and reflect the congregation’s shared concerns regarding the impact of recent program cuts, and the federal government downsizing, and the resulting disruption and impact on CE’s charities and populations in need. Our goal is to better direct and align St. Luke’s CE mission and giving across CE’s supported organizations.

We are also aware that the administration policy changes have hurt many in the St. Luke’s family. We hope to partner with other leaders in the faith community and local government leaders to disseminate resources, ideas, and even networking opportunities for those interested.

Besides continuing our work under the St. Luke’s clusters, CE hopes to further our ongoing outreach and dialogue with the related CE organizations, Montgomery County, and EDOW initiatives. We look forward to sharing these eorts with the St. Luke’s congregation, to better direct and align our financial support, and also in-kind contributions and volunteer eorts, in this changing environment.

We hope that all St. Luke’s contributions, awareness, and volunteer eorts are increased.But we also want to make space for taking care of each other during these challenging times.

The words of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks ring true:

Few people in recent years have escaped the feeling that strange and unprecedented things are happening. That’s why we need each other.

Societal freedom cannot be sustained by market economics and liberal democratic politics alone. It needs a third element: morality, a concern for the welfare of others, an active commitment to justice and compassion, a willingness to ask not just what is good for me but what is good for “all of us together.”

We also need to remind ourselves that when we feel overwhelmed, God is with us. There are so many passages in the Bible that can give us hope, squash fear, and renew our spirit. Here’s one passage from the New Testament that may remind us all that we can find joy even when things feel dark:

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me, you may have peace. In the world, you have tribulations; but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world. –John 16:33

We at CE are ready to respond with appropriate resources as part of our budget and giving efforts, where the need and actual giving historically outpace fiscal amounts. Thank you for being part of our community of “WE.”