Pastor’s Blog

     Well, I have to confess, I was more than a bit disappointed in the result of this year’s Super Bowl.  After the Colts went up by ten points I thought we were on our way to another championship.  The newspaper’s headlines stated “Super Letdown.”  Maybe so, however, we know that disappointments will come.  Not everything always goes our way.  The Super Letdown is actually a very minor inconvenience compared to the struggles many go through each and every day with the loss of gainful employment, a home that can no longer be afforded or loss of a loved one.

     In the book of Hebrews 2:8, God lets us know that, at present, not all things are under our control.  We will experience disappointment, some very minor like our favorite team losing, and some very severe such as the earthquake disaster which recently hit the island nation of Haiti.  Hebrews goes on to tell us that, even though these things are true, we can still look to Jesus who went through the same types of struggles and disappointments so that He can be a faithful minister.  When difficulties arise remember the words of our Lord regarding tribulation in this life, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  

Respond Now to the Disaster in Haiti

As you've been reading about the recent earthquake that has devastated the small nation of Haiti, killing millions and displacing countless numbers of people, you may be wondering what you can do to be a part of the response.

If you'll allow me, I'd like to offer a few suggestions.

First of all, please be on your knees for the people and nation of Haiti, not only one time today, but continually. Relief and healing are far from present in that nation today and it is our privilege and responsibility to walk alongside our sisters and brothers in prayer for relief, safety, healing and restoration. So please, keep praying.

Secondly, for those of you that would like to do something tangible, Week of Compassion of the Disciples of Christ Church, has excellent ways that you can help in the initial relief response. Currently the major needs are simple ones: first aid supplies, blankets, hygiene materials, water, food, etc.

WoC has created a way for you to send those materials to their headquarters so that they can be shipped to areas that are in desperate need of them. In this case, Haiti.

Below is the link you can visit if you'd like to do something. I'd encourage you to talk to your family, your Bible Study or Sunday School class, your friends or even your Thursday night Euchre club. Anyone can help and this is an excellent way to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

http://www.churchworldservice.org/site/PageServer?pagename=kits_main

WoC has 4 different kinds of kits that you can choose from. Each kit meets a specific need. For example, you could decide to do a hygiene kit. You would include these items and send them to Church World Services: hand towel, washcloth, comb, soap and a toothbrush.

Each kit has specific instructions and can be sent to:

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE
Brethren Service Center Annex
601 Main Street
P.O. Box 188
New Windsor, MD 21776-0188
(Please include both the PO box and the street address on boxes.)

Also, please include at least $2 to cover shipping costs.

If you do not have access to the computer at home, and are interested in putting together one of these kits and would like instructions for doing so, please see me in the main office. I will have the directions available for you. They can also be located on the literatur shelf outside of the sacnctuary.

Donations to WoC are also always welcome.

In addition to the response that the Disciples' Church is having, there are countless other good organizations that are responding as well. I would encourage you to do some research as to what is being done by whom and then respond in the ways that match up with your ability to.

Here is an excellent website to keep up on the current situation in Haiti. It takes a bit of work to navigate but it really has up-to-date info. Basically you'll find the foundational documents that the media are using for many of their facts and figures:

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/dbc.nsf/doc100?OpenForm

Thank you for taking the time to read through this. I hope that something tweaked your interest and you've decided on a way that you can practically respond to the gigantic need in Haiti.

Blessings,

Jami Throne

Week of Compassion is Coming...

     The Week of Compassion Offering will be received the last two Sundays in February. Several people have asked if the money  can go directly to Haiti.  I talked with a lady in the Week of Compassion office this past week and she said that we can designate money to go to Haiti through our Week of Compassion Offering.  I was going to set our WOC offering goal at $500.00, but with the disaster that we are all seeing in Haiti, I would like to see if our congregation could raise $1,000.00.  Pastor Chris and I will be doing some WOC activities beginning in February.  So hopefully with all of this information, you will want to give generously when we receive the Week of Compassion offering on February 21st and 28th.

Rita McCabe
World Outreach Chairman
 

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