The mission of Concordia Seminary continues with as much energy as ever, but in unprecedented ways. Because St. Louis is under a “stay at home” order, the Seminary is physically closed. Only a skeleton crew is on campus to support e-learning and our physical and financial infrastructures. All teaching and learning is online. Almost all meetings are online. Like everyone, we’re trying to cope but doing so as people of faith. What follows is the conclusion of an email in which I shared emergency measures with our students, staff and faculty.
In closing this difficult but necessary letter, let us remember the resource of our Christian faith and our Father’s invitation to pray.
Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me (Psalm 50:15).
Heavenly Father, we call upon You in our perplexity and need. We pray that You will give wisdom to all in this crisis. For the medical community, we ask Your abundant mercies upon their care for the sick who have been stricken by this disease and for those who fear infection. For scientific researchers, we beg You to give insights that lead to swift discoveries in research that will mitigate this crisis. For our governmental leaders, we pray for reasoned and persuasive presentations so that the general public will act with calm discipline for the welfare of all. For those whose employment is curtailed or eliminated, we pray for their aid through efficient governmental and faith agencies of help. For our congregations and all the people of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, we pray Your Spirit will give hope and reassurance that our holy faith offers through Your Word and the ministry of the church. May we all lift up our eyes to the hills, knowing that our help ultimately comes from You, “our very present help in trouble.” And for us, the faculty, staff and students of Concordia Seminary, we pray growth in humble and dependent faith, patience in this tribulation, and hope and confidence because of all Your promises centered in our living Lord Jesus Christ. In His saving name we humbly pray, Amen.
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