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Reaching Out |
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Location: Blogs Brad's BlogMid-Week Missive |
 | | Posted by: Brad Miller | 5/28/2008 3:20 PM | Greetings!
This seems to be the season of natural disasters. From China to Myanmar to Iowa to California we read of stories of destruction and devastation unimaginable. In fact, we don’t have to look too far away to find people who have been devastated by tornadoes and storms. Right here in Georgia people are rebuilding. As close as Cherokee County and downtown Atlanta there are folks still trying to get their lives back. It is a heartbreaking task for those who have lost all their possessions and perhaps family members and friends.
We sometimes feel helpless in the face of such devastating loss. We aren’t sure which way to turn or how we can make sense of it all. But in our helplessness, we can still do something.
One of the ways we can help as members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is to donate to the Week of Compassion, a ministry of the Christian Church that assists those in the wake of natural disasters and other tragedies. Last week I spoke with Johnny Wray, the Director of Week of Compassion about possibly helping someone who was a victim of the Mother’s Day storms and all he asked was “What do they need and how can we best get it to them?” He didn’t ask if they were members of our church, if they were Christians, or anything about them. All he basically asked was “How can we help?”
Several of us here at BCC are asking the same thing. One of our own members, Pat Williams, a UPS pilot, recently flew a cargo plane load of relief supplies to Myonmar. He was participating in a volunteer effort coordinated by CARE, UPS and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. While we can be thankful for people like Pat who are willing to participate in that way, we can all participate in some ways, even if we can’t physically get there to help.
First, we can give to Week of Compassion. Simply make a check out to BCC and write “Week of Compassion” on the memo line and we will get your money there. One of the things you need to know is that because of their support within the Christian Church, every dollar donated to Week of Compassion goes directly to relief, not administration or fundraising. Johnny Wray told me that Week of Compassion is already hard at work in China and on the borders of Myonmar. They are at work in Atlanta and now, in Iowa. They will continue to work as long as there is support.
Second, I received the following note that originated from the International Student Office at Emory University which includes ways we can help with China relief. It is from a Chinese graduate student who has been in touch with folks in China.
Dear all,
Thank you very much for your concern.
I would like to ask you guys to spread the message around Emory community. The survivors are in desperate need of food, water, blankets, tents and medicine. Everyone can be of great help by making a donation. I'll list a couple of ways in what follows.
1. Consulate general of the people's republic of China in New York: http://www.nyconsulate.prchina.org/chn/ttxw/t434163.htm
2. Red Cross society of China: http://202.108.59.10/
3. Hong Kong Red Cross : https://www.redcross.org.hk/donation/user_donation.asp?langId=2
4. Canadian Red Cross: https://www.paypaq.com/redcross/new/index.php
5. US Red Cross:
https://american.redcross.org/site/Donation2?idb=401441092&df_id=2358&2358.donation=form1
I'll recommend Way 2 since it's the fastest and takes credit cards and the money goes directly to the area.
Thank you very much for your help again.
Best Regards,
Feng Chen
Third, I have been alerted to the need for help from a local family who suffered great losses in the recent tornadoes. They are friends of Nichole Woodward, our former secretary and BCC member. Following is Nichole’s note:
Hello everyone!
I wanted to let everyone know that a very good friend of mine, Celina Willis, lives in Woodstock and her home was severely damaged in the storms last Tuesday night. A huge pine tree fell on her home while she, her husband and their 6 children were in the home. She has lost basically everything. Beds, dressers, clothes, living room furniture and kitchen furniture. She is in high spirits and very thankful that her family is ok. She knows that everything else is replaceable.
Today, I am reaching out to all of you to see if you have anything that you would be able to donate to this family. I am trying to help them in anyway possible. They are currently looking for a place to live, but have not had any luck as of yet. Below is a list of the children's names, sizes and ages.
Stevie 14, size 32-34
Jordan 10, size 9-10
Justin 7, size 7-8
Laiken 6, size 6-7
Breonna 10, size 12
Jaley 2, size 2T-3T
The girls beds were salvageable, but the boy's bedroom furniture was ruined. If you have anything extra laying around that might be helpful please contact me via email or you can call me at 404-357-6660.
Thank you for your time,
Nichole Woodward
nwoodward0503@aol.com
How can you help? Give to Week of Compassion, Give to the Red Cross, contact Nichole about helping her friend. If you can bring things to the church for Nichole’s friend, I will make sure she gets it.
And don’t forget to pray: pray for those who have suffered, those who are on the ground to help, those who seek to rebuild. They covet your prayers and will be strengthened by them. Of that I’m sure.
For Your Prayer List:
Please keep Letha Morris in your prayers. She is feeling good and getting stronger every day. She is currently staying with her daughter Linda as she recovers.
Please keep Joan Palmer in your prayers. She is home and feeling good if just a little worn out after 9 days in the hospital. She suffered a small “brain stem stroke” but has fully recovered and is back on medication to address the cause. She hopes to be in church in a couple of weeks.
Announcements
There will be a work day on Saturday June 7th at the church sponsored by the Garden Club. It will be a morning clean up in the front of the church with some planting and pruning being done. Contact Daonne Caldwell for more details.
If you can volunteer to help out for Vacation Bible School June 21,22 and 23, in any capacity, please contact Debbie Kinney for information how you can help.
If you have a favorite hymn or praise song you would like sung in church this summer, let me or Jim Mowrey, choir director, know. We are putting together a list of favorites to use in worship this summer. If you love it, if you want to sing it, let us know!
There will be a very informative Official Board meeting immediately following worship on Sunday June 22nd. This will be a brief meeting designed to get everyone up to date on where we are in our discernment process concerning building improvements. A committee has been selected by the Executive Team and they will soon be hard at work prioritizing our needs, analyzing financial possibilities and seeking your input about what needs to be upgraded her at BCC. The meeting will be over by 12:45 p.m. on Sunday June 22nd and we will hold it in the sanctuary giving everyone a good opportunity to hear about the exciting possibilities in front of us. Among the things the committee is looking at is updating the sanctuary, which is getting a little worn down after 20 years and replacing our parking lots and curbs, but if you have an idea, come and see who is on the committee and find out who to get that idea to.
I hope you can make it to worship this Sunday as we gather once again for our first Sunday “Praise on Peachtree” alternative worship service in the Fellowship Hall. The theme this week is “You Shall Have No Other Idols” and the scripture is Exodus 20:3-5.
Be peaceful,
Brad | | | Permalink | Trackback |
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