Friday, April 25, 2025
“He is risen indeed”
Dear church,
I hope you don’t mind me sharing a few very personal reflections during this Easter season. It’s been more personal than ever before. It’s what happens when you go through the emotional rollercoaster that leads you from deep sorrow to joy, from death to resurrection, from anguish to relief... Somehow it was fitting that Sam, our middle child with a medical file longer than the draft board of the Philadelphia Eagles, would rise from his bed and stand in his own power for the first time on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025. "He is risen! Yes, he is risen indeed!" Those words took on a whole new meaning. Sam has only improved since and has shed all tubes that were part of his medical support apparatus. Yesterday, when he was cleared to eat anything he wants, he wolved down a Philadelphia Cheese Steak. He also won one of our favorite family card games, an import from Germany. Today is his birthday and he will likely be moved to another floor in the afternoon. We expect that he will start rehab by the end of next week.
What a miracle that is! Did you know that some statistics say that the survival rate for people who were without a heartbeat for at least 45 minutes is less than 1%? And we are not talking merely about survival here. As a family, we were worried sick that his brain would be seriously damaged even if he survived. And yet, it looks like the hypoxic brain injury he sustained is on the minor side. He remembers a lot. When I asked him yesterday to name some American Presidents, he came up with one I didn’t even know. It was William Henry Harrison. And that is so typical Sam! Of course, he wouldn’t mention one of the more obvious ones but a somewhat obscure one, a name that was stored somewhere in the recesses of his brain. And so, we are filled with gratitude even as we feel exhausted from the emotional strain of the last two weeks and days spent in the hospital. We are grateful for your love and support, for prayers raised and meals delivered, for cards, especially today as this is Sam’s 23rd birthday. Thank you all! Prayers have been heard. Thank you, Lord! This year we experienced our own version of the resurrection story. "He is risen indeed!" What a miracle…
I would also like to mention the Homecoming and Celebration of Life Service tomorrow for Jim Kelch and his beloved wife Ruth (11:00 a.m.). Jim died last year at a ripe old age (almost 96) under tragic circumstances. His nephew Gary, a retired military officer from Tennessee, cared for Jim in his last weeks. For decades, Jim and Ruth Kelch were beloved members and leaders in our church community. Their ashes will be laid to rest at St. Peter’s Cemetery. Jim was a sweet, good-natured man and an amazing athlete and storyteller. I think the only time he broke the law was when he lied to get into the army at age 16 to serve his country. He fought at the battle of Okinawa. Prof. Emeritus Walter Taylor (formerly Columbus Lutheran Seminary) will be one of our speakers. He was an intern at St. Peter’s and a long time Kelch family friend.
Here is a link to the Live Stream of the Service: https://vimeo.com/event/5085780
Also, on Sunday between services, we will baptize Tullia Hughes in our Baptismal Garden. Please join us. The ceremony will begin around 9:40 a.m. His parents Laura and David Hughes have been faithfully attending services at St. Peter’s, and Laura participates in our Young Adult Group.
Have a most blessed weekend,
Pastor Andreas Wagner