Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8
Dear Luther community, as many of you now know, recent Luther Seminary alum Phil Hett ’19 was killed in a car accident over the weekend along with his daughter Abigail. Our community mourns this incredible and heartbreaking loss. Phil’s oldest daughter, Jillian, survived the crash but will face a long recovery in the hospital. Please join in prayer for Jillian Hett and her family.
While Jillian mends in the hospital, funeral arrangements are on hold for Phil and Abigail. As information becomes available, I will update the Luther Seminary community with news. Susan Candea, bishop of the Central States Synod, will offer prayers at Bethany Home Village where Phil served as pastor. I am told that Phil’s ordination was her first as bishop.
The Central States Synod will soon be gathered in assembly. Among the documents shared is a story from Phil. I share this quote and the above scripture passage, offered out of Phil’s deep faith and abiding trust in God. You can read his whole letter on pages 30-31 of 2021 Walking Together.
So, what was it like to be in ministry at a nursing home, in the middle of the pandemic? Life giving and sorrowful, heart breaking and hopeful, tragic and even sometimes mundane. But, always, always, always, never a step or a breath or even a heartbeat away from the complete and total love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Because nothing, not even Covid 19, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Phil Hett
Pastor Jeni Grangaard
sempastor@luthersem.edu