A message from Associate Conference Minister Don Remick:
The news of Hurricane Harvey and the images of the destruction have been occupying our headlines. Some churches have begun asking how they can help. You can always find helpful information about disaster ministries at our webpage (macucc.org/disasterresource) .
Disaster Resource & Response Team member Fred Meade has been deployed to Texas with the American Red Cross to provide disaster emotional spiritual care.
But our national UCC is already at work offering and planning for short and long term relief and recovery. This email came to us from our National Disaster Ministries Staff person Zack Wolgemuth:
Dear Friends,
I’m sure that all of you have been watching the news the past several days as Hurricane Harvey continued to strengthen and eventually made landfall late last night as a Category 4 Hurricane. Harvey was the first Category 4 Hurricane to make landfall in the US since 2004 and the worst of Harvey’s destruction is yet to come in the form of flooding according to forecasters as it stalls over TX dropping upwards of 40 inches of rain. Harvey’s full impact is yet to be determined but history tells us that the need will extend beyond the capacity of local, state, federal government and that there will most definitely be a need for helping families recover after initial emergency response efforts have ceased. This is one of the main reasons the United Church of Christ continues to focus our efforts on recovery. We recognize that walking with families and communities is what we are called to do.
As we seek to live out our vision of “A just world for all” and our expression of how we do this through the 3 Great Loves (Love of Neighbor, Love of Children and Love of Creation), responding to those in need during a time of crisis/disaster is imperative. Please continue to pray for those along the Gulf Coast and let us also not grow weary or forget the countless others who continue to recover from disasters in the US or those in distant lands who have been impacted by landslides, floods, drought, etc.
We live in tumultuous times of uncertainty where hopelessness abounds and so as the United Church of Christ we have the honor, privilege and calling to be a beacon of hope by expressing our love of neighbor, child and nature therefore, I would like to offer up a few options for all of us to humbly respond.
- Pray! Continue to pray for survivors and responders.
- Give! Financial contributions following disasters allow for flexibility in responding to the need at hand.
- US Disasters:
https://transactions.ucc.org/CampaignForm/UCChrist/emergency_usa- ---
- International Disasters:
https://transactions.ucc.org/CampaignForm/UCChrist/international_emergency_relief_fund
- Volunteer! UCC Disaster Ministries holistic approach focuses on the long- term, families and communities that can’t recover on their own. Sign up to volunteer at: http://www.ucc.org/disaster_disaster-volunteers
- Prepare! Be prepared for disasters so that you are not another statistic and are able to assist those in your community who have been impacted. http://www.ucc.org/disaster_national-disaster-resources
- Donate! Collect items to assemble CWS cleanup buckets. Engage local businesses, friends, family and coworkers. Don’t forget that UCC Disaster Ministries has matching grants to assist you. http://www.ucc.org/disaster_2017_matching_grants_for_cws_kits_home_page
- Stay informed! Continue to receive updates and important information. http://www.ucc.org/disaster
- Follow! Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/onegreathourofsharingucc/
May God continue to bless you and your heart for service.
In Christ,
Zach Wolgemuth
Executive, UCC Disaster Ministries
www.ucc.org/disaster/