“When you are really poor, when you do not have money for utility bills, rent, or groceries, you seldom think about politics, global warming, or the stock market. Worrying about society’s troubles is something of a luxury.” That was Rob Gurnee’s provocative comment when we talked to him at coffee hour on Sunday, February 16, 2020.
Rob, in his role as Executive Director of Lutheran Community Services in Wilmington, Delaware, sees really poor people every day. His organization tries to feed them, pay their utility bills and rent, clothe them, repair their homes, and help them to give up the expensive habit of smoking. Even with the stock markets at record highs, his organization struggles to help those in crisis.
It was just over two years ago when he took the helm at Lutheran Community Services. The job agrees with him. He still has that smile!
At our church, Rob serves as an eucharistic visitor; that is, once a month or so, he takes the bread and wine of communion to members who cannot make it to Sunday worship services, often because they are bedridden. During the service, eucharistic visitors like Rob come forward and the celebrant says, “In the name of God and of this congregation, I send you forth bearing these holy gifts, that those to whom you go may share with us in Christ’s body and blood.” The entire congregation then says, “We who are many are one body, because we all share one bread, one cup.”
Click here to visit the Lutheran Community Services website.
Click here to see other SsAM member photos by Danny Schweers.
