Dear Members and Friends of EvUCC, 

In 1995, a heat wave left 739 people dead in Chicago. One thing was obvious after the disaster. Many of the deaths took place in the poorest neighborhoods, where there was little or no air conditioning. Two communities, Englewood and Auburn Gresham, are located next to each other on Chicago’s south side. They have similar poverty and ethnic backgrounds. Nevertheless, Englewood had one of the highest death rates, while Auburn Gresham one of the lowest. 

Further study showed that even without taking the heat wave into account, Auburn Gresham’s resi-dents lived an average of five years longer than Englewood’s. What was going on? Simply put, people were out on the sidewalks of Auburn Gresham. There were stores in their community and local peo-ple shopped there. There were restaurants, community centers, and churches. All this meant that people went to places where they recognized each other, knew each other, and, if someone wasn’t there, missed them! As a result, during the heat wave people in places like Auburn Gresham checked up on each other. 

By contrast, people who lived in places like Englewood had no stores or restaurants or community centers. Their neighborhoods had been mostly abandoned by businesses (and even churches). Peo-ple didn’t walk around much on the sidewalks and chose to stay close to home, and as a result, they did not know each other. No one checked on those who were really suffering because no one knew who they were anyway. 

The implication is that being community, being concerned and caring about each other saves lives! The fabric of our towns, schools, neighborhoods, and houses of worship is strengthened when we look out for one another. When a person in need reaches out a hand for help, there is often someone there who is willing to lift them up! 

As people of faith, we are responsible for each other, to each other, and beyond, to the folks who share our communities with us. Unlike Jesus, we can’t control the storm. But we can step forward in faith as Peter once did. Peter had the faith to get started by jumping out of the boat in the midst of the storm, but recognized he could not do it on his own. In times of turbulence and struggle, we need to reach out to each other and pull each other up! 

I would encourage you to reach out a hand to Jesus for help. And don’t fail to reach out a hand to a sister or brother to help. Creating and maintaining networks of community is the way we save each other when the heat waves linger and the storms of life are raging. It’s the way we are the body of Christ. It’s the way we demonstrate Jesus lives! 

With the greatest of hope! 

Pastor Bill