On Election Day, Holy Cross Lutheran Church will offer a special service to reconcile the struggles citizens have faced during this election cycle. The service will be the first of its kind for Holy Cross Lutheran. Pastor Peter Morey who has been with Holy Cross Lutheran in Spring Hill since 2014, expressed deep concern with the toll the election has taken on spirituality in America.
“I have members of my congregation who are no longer welcome in their family’s homes.”
“I have people in my church who have had their faith shaken by this whole experience,” said Pastor Morey.
“It’s really tearing us apart, not only on emotional levels, people are very angry, but also on a spiritual level. It’s really affecting our country greatly, so much so that families are being torn apart by this,” Pastor Morey explained.
As Pastor Morey listened to the struggles just within his own congregation, he decided that these issues needed to be brought to God so that God can provide the healing.
That is where the Election Day Service comes into play.
“The intent of the service is to bring reconciliation, the reconciling ministry of God in Christ, to the forefront of our minds on a day when all we think about is division,” said Pastor Morey.
The service is open to those of all faiths and will offer the Sacrament of Holy Communion to anyone who wishes to partake.
Pastor Morey explained that Communion is a sacrament of the church and a sacrament is something where through the church, through the reading of scripture, God is present in that element, be it bread, wine or water. “The Church enacts these rituals embodying that which God has called us to do,” said Pastor Morey.
As St. Augustine described it , Morey stated, “The sacrament is a visible means of an invisible grace.”
“It enables us to feel and know through faith that God is with us in that moment. Just like a child that has to touch and taste everything, humans, in God’s eyes we are always his children. We’re always in need of that tactile connection to God,” Pastor Morey further explained.
He also explained why everyone is welcome to take Communion. “We believe in an open table – the church belongs to God- we all are family in God and everyone is welcome. God feeds all people.”
Through the service and the Sacrament of Holy Communion, Pastor Morey intends to ” plant the seeds of renewed hope and community so that we can be one again…”
Election Day (Nov 8th) Services will take place at Holy Cross Lutheran Church 6193 Spring Hill Dr, Spring Hill, FL 34606 at 7am (when polls open), noon and 5pm. Each service will be approximately 20 minutes in length.
Holy Cross Lutheran Church offers several forms of community outreach including an affordable preschool, a large food pantry which serves 15,000 people per year in partnership with Feeding America. They also provide a free Thanksgiving Meal on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving which is open to the entire community. They usually serve up 20 to 30 turkeys each year along with the fixings. Pastor Morey said they are in need of canned vegetable donations.
“We’re hoping to do our best to build the kingdom where everyone is fed and everyone is clothed and everyone has dignity. We believe that God loves them and we should too and that requires action. That’s what we try to do. Love is not a passive thing it is an active thing,” said Pastor Morey.
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Regular services are held on Sunday:
9AM contemporary worship
11AM traditional worship
5PM blended worship