25 years of service as a pastor in the Army taught me how to notice the distinction between officer and enlisted, between the powerful and less powerful, between strong and less strong, and of course between friend and foe.   I know how tempting it is to notice  the powerful first and the conscious act of faith that is required to notice the least and last.   My great emphasis in the military and in civilian ministry has been upon following Jesus’ command to care for the least and last intentionally and first.   It is one of the key ingredients of Lutheran ministry anywhere in the world.  Would you believe that 1 in every 50 American citizens will receive some helping ministry from a Lutheran agency today?  Yes they will.   Here in the DC area I have served as a member of the Board of Directors of Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) – which is one of those Lutheran ministry agencies.   In fact, one of  LSSNCA’s refugee offices is on St. Paul’s land at the corner of Idlywood and Rt 7 here in Falls Church.  That we house one of those great Lutheran agencies is a sign that this is a key part of our ministry too.  St. Paul’s seeks to bless and love the least and the lost as servants of Christ.   It is a privilege to be part of that ministry.   If you wish to learn more about Lutheran agencies like LSSNCA, please go to our web site  www.lssnca.org