If we live, we live to the Lord; if we die, we die to the Lord; and so, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’' forever.  -Paul's letter to the Romans, 14:8
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
Our partner in ministry, the Rev. Douglas Hugh Strachan, died on April 2, 2019.
 
Doug Strachan was born April 16, 1942, in Cumberland, Maryland. He was confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church (Brooklyn, Maryland) in 1958. Doug was a graduate of Towson University (BS, 1968) and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (now United Lutheran Seminary; MDiv, 1974). He was ordained by the Maryland Synod of the Lutheran Church in America on October 27, 1974.

Doug's first call was as the Pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church (Brunswick, Maryland) and Luther Chapel (Petersville, Maryland). In 1979, he moved to the Metropolitan New York Synod to serve as the Pastor of Christ's Lutheran Church (Woodstock, New York). He was called back to Maryland in 1981 as the Pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church (Baltimore, Maryland; now Amazing Grace Lutheran Church). He served there until 1989, when he was called as the Pastor of St. Timothy's Lutheran Church (Timonium, Maryland; now merged with Grace Lutheran Church). In 1999, Doug was called as Pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church (Curtis Bay, Baltimore, Maryland), where he served until he retired at the end of 2010. Prior to attending seminary, he worked as a parole and probation officer for the Baltimore Courthouse and the Maryland State Department of Parole and Probation.

Douglas Hugh Strachan and Mary Clare Graves were married in Baltimore, Maryland on May 28, 1970. He is also survived by his daughter, Kimberly Strachan (Mitchel Guinn) and his grandchildren, Liam, Riley, and Megan. A funeral service will be held on Monday, April 8 at 11 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church (226 Washburn Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21225). Pastors, Deacons, and Members of the Order of St. Stephen are invited to vest and process (ready by 10:45 a.m.), and the color of the day is white. The family will receive visitors at 10 a.m. and a luncheon will follow the service.
 
May our brother Doug rest in peace and rise in glory.
 
With you in Christ,