SEPA Disaster Updates: Resources

Christmas Reflections

Tue, 20 Dec 2005 18:04:27 GMT

The celebration of the Christmas holiday can feel like a weight and burden when lives are disrupted by disaster. This season, so many are struggling to put homes, communities and lives back together, and celebration can feel almost impossible in the midst of such loss.

The Gospel story has been so decorated that we can easily forget the real mood of that day long ago. The King of Kings could have chosen to be born anywhere he wished. He could have chosen to be born in a palace, or a mansion, or at least a comfortable home. Instead, He chose to be born in a barn, homeless and sharing space with those displaced by the circumstances of the day.

I am Rev. Kevin Massey, the new Assistant Director for ELCA Domestic Disaster Response and Lutheran Disaster Response. Prior to this call, I served for five years as a parish pastor, worked as a hospital trauma chaplain, and was involved with the Spiritual Care Response Team, a partner of the American Red Cross. With this team, I worked at Ground Zero in the fall of 2001. I have also served as a consultant with Church World Service, LDR and the Red Cross on spiritual care issues. I am proud to be undertaking this new role, assisting the work of the Lutheran Disaster Response around the country.

Last week, I traveled to New Orleans with members of the LDR Emotional and Spiritual Care Committee, continuing to support the ministries already underway there. I was deeply impressed by the parish clergy and the LDR coordinators and volunteers, working under the most difficult of circumstances. Christ is present in that place, bringing his comfort and love.

LDR.org has recently made great progress in the coordination of anyone interested in volunteering in the hurricane-affected areas. If you, your family or a group from your congregation is interested in volunteering, visit www.ldr.org/volunteers. This site contains the information necessary to answer any and all questions about the volunteering experience. Once you have learned all this, you can submit an online volunteer sign-up form for yourself (or on behalf of your group) to our local LDR coordinators.

These changes on our website correspond to a national advertising campaign that will be running in major markets around the country, starting December 18th. The ad calls for volunteers for those areas affected by the recent hurricanes. The message of the campaign is that while most volunteer work is not what most people would consider glamorous, it absolutely lives out the lessons of faithfulness and discipleship that Jesus taught us.

Finally, nearly 1000 college students, representing over 60 colleges and universities, will be working in the hurricane-affected areas this March. The collaborative effort, tentatively titled the “What a Relief!” LDR Spring Break, will have students and other volunteers working at sites in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. These sorts of opportunities have become increasingly popular among college students as an alternative to the traditional week at the beach or on the ski slopes, and many student groups were asking for a hurricane-relief trip this year.

Christ will always draw close to those in need. Let us each in our prayers this season remember those spending these days displaced from home, for that is where Jesus is pleased to be, caring for them and sheltering them.

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in clothes and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Luke 2:6-7

Kevin Massey, BCC
Assistant Director, ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
Assistant Director, Lutheran Disaster Response

New hunger/disaster bulletin insert

Thu, 10 Nov 2005 21:58:59 GMT

"We are there. We remember. We care."-- a reproducible bulletin insert--is online at www.elca.org/disaster; click on any of the pages and find the bulletin insert on the RIGHT-hand column under "Resources." Use it to encourage undesignated giving to ELCA World Hunger and either designated or undesignated giving to ELCA Disaster Response. Find it both in a two-up PDF format and as a Word DOC with graphic.

Hymn: May hope rise out of tragedy

Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:19:12 GMT

Paul Mittermaier, pastor of St. John's Lutheran in Jackson, Wisconsin, shares this hymn for congregational use.

MAY HOPE RISE OUT OF TRAGEDY

Eternal Father, strong to save,

The ocean's fury has been grave,

We've seen the pictures, felt the pain,

Of all those caught in hurricanes.

O hear us as we cry to thee

for those engulfed in tragedy.

O Savior, whose almighty hand

protects all those in every land.

Send help and aid of every kind

grant we a way to serve may find.

O hear us as we cry to thee

may hope rise out of tragedy.

O Holy Spirit, work your art

in every place and every heart.

Stir great compassion, healing, love

pour down your blessings from above.

O hear us as we cry to thee

may hope rise out of tragedy.

O Trinity of love and power,

bless all your servants in this hour.

To bring relief, to find a way

to rebuild and to heal today.

O hear us as we cry to thee

may hope rise out of tragedy!

Tune: Melita 88 88 88

Permission granted for use in congregational singing

Photos from MS

Mon, 26 Sep 2005 03:36:29 GMT

Tom Kadel sent a few photos along from his excursion to East Biloxi Saturday:

The main connecting bridge between Ocean Springs and Biloxi.

The Church of the Redeemer.

The Hurricane Camille memorial at Church of the Redeemer.

An East Biloxi street scene.

New! Photos from Biloxi

Tue, 20 Sep 2005 18:04:12 GMT

From Sue Edison-Swift, communicator for ELCA Disaster Relief:

Melanie Knutsen sent photos from a volunteer group drawn from two ELCA churches in Virginia: Lord of Life (Fairfax) and Lutheran Church of the Redeemer (McLean). They recently returned from Biloxi, Mississippi, where they helped with a food pantry and clinic operated at Bethel Lutheran Church and gutted some houses to get rid of mold. These photos are now up at www.imageevent.com/4ldr/bethelbiloxi — Melanie will be adding captions.

Please visit this album and the other Katrina-related albums up at www.imageevent.com/4ldr Find guestbooks to sign at the bottom of each album. The guestbook entries are heartwarming.

Video resources

Tue, 20 Sep 2005 05:55:34 GMT

If you have the ability to show mpeg videos on your computer in worship, classes, youth group, etc., check out the FREE music videos produced by Ecclesia (an emergent church in Houston) at www.theworkofthepeople.com. Video #2 is set to an updated translation of Psalm 137 that's quite moving.

Why give to LDR? Part II

Thu, 15 Sep 2005 19:58:57 GMT

Why give to ELCA Domestic Disaster Response and not to another fine charity like the Red Cross or the Salvation Army? The Rev. Joel Brandt, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Livonia, Michigan, says:

"I usually respond like this: "I'm a member of the ELCA. I give my blood to the Red Cross. But I give my money to the church, for two reasons:

1. I know it will be used not just wisely, but faithfully. That is, I know that undergirding those who collect and spend it are not just the humanitarian hopes and efforts of good people, but the mission of Jesus Christ. My gifts are a part of the church's witness to the love of God in Christ Jesus.

2. The Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way etc., can and do raise lots of money from the public at large. But the church can only really expect to raise funds from its own members. If we as members of the ELCA won't give to our own church, who will?"

More Hurricane Katrina images...

Mon, 12 Sep 2005 11:49:36 GMT

...from Christus Victor, Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and House of Prayer (Harvey) and Peace Lutheran (Slidell) in Louisiana are up on the Lutheran Disaster Response ImageEvent site:

www.imageevent.com/4ldr

I'd be happy to set up a folder for images from your Lutheran Disaster Response efforts. Send full-size images (two or three at time), with captions and photo credit(s) to sue.edison-swift@elca.org

Please set your digital cameras to "fine," or the equivalent for high-resolution images, so the pictures you send might be used in print as well as on the Web.

Blessings,

Sue

Sue Edison-Swift
Assoc. Dir. for Marketing & Interpretation (hunger/disaster)
Note new e-mail: sue.edison-swift@elca.org
800-638-3522, ext. 2969
FAX: 773-380-2406
www.elca.org/hunger
www.elca.org/disaster
www.elca.org/ecards
www.elca.org/giving

LIRS publishes guide to assisting displaced persons

Fri, 09 Sep 2005 21:44:54 GMT

From a notice from Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service:

Many friends and congregations across the country have asked LIRS about the opportunity to assist displaced Americans from Hurricane Katrina using the model of congregational (or other organized) sponsorship.

This brief guidebook offers an overview of the practical considerations involved in helping a family make a new home and a new life in a new community. We drew widely on our experience in refugee resettlement.

Please use the guide, distribute it widely, and bring it to any organizing meetings you have in your community. It is prominently displayed on the LIRS website at www.lirs.org for download and printing. We know there will be changes needed as time goes on! The guidebook will be updated weekly on the LIRS website and other changes will be noted as they come along.

Where does LDR money go?

Thu, 08 Sep 2005 20:44:20 GMT

How Does Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) Respond to Disasters? Where Does the Money Go?

Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) responds to disasters in five major ways:

1.) Hardship Grants - meeting the financial needs of individuals not met by federal agencies, insurance, and other organizations. These grants are given to the people most in need.

2.) Spiritual and emotional care - for victims of disasters, and for care-givers. Includes counseling, prayer, respite, and other care.

3.) Focus on children - through Camp Noah Day Camps. Information about this program is available online at http://www.elca.org/disaster/resources/05-08-10-noah.asp .

4.) Relief/Feeding Programs - supplementing federal agencies and the Red Cross. During Hurricane Katrina efforts, this includes evacuee centers.

5.) Volunteer coordination for rebuilding

Unlike some relief agencies, LDR is committed to long-term care and support. For example, LDR is still active in New York after September 11, 2001.

Lutheran Disaster Response is a collaborative and donor-driven ministry of the ELCA, through ELCA Domestic Disaster Response, and The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. It works effectively and efficiently because of its extensive network of trusted partners, including government agencies and Lutheran Social Ministry Organizations. When designating a specific disaster, one hundred percent is used for immediate relief and long-term recovery following that disaster. Giving to ELCA Domestic Disaster Response without designation allows for the flexibility to meet the greatest needs, support disaster-preparedness efforts, and respond swiftly to the next disaster.

Katrina photos available

Thu, 08 Sep 2005 10:57:16 GMT

There are two image albums in the Lutheran Disaster Response folder on ImageEvent (www.imageevent.com/4ldr) with photos you can use related to Hurricane Katrina:

(1) www.imageevent.com/4ldr/katrina has FEMA images from www.fema.gov (free, use photo credit); and

(2) www.imageevent.com/4ldr/houseofprayer has images shared by Pastor Rob Moore (Texas Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod) of the damage to House of Prayer Lutheran Church in Harvey, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. [Rob, if you have a photo credit we should use when using one of these photos, please add it in the comments; I've added your captions.]

Here's the trick for downloading a full-resolution image from one of these albums: (1) click on an image and then (2) click on it again before saving it to your computer. There's no need to log-in to save images, sign the guestbook, or add a comment.

Please share the other sites you find, like www.fema.gov, that have free, captioned, full-size pictures to share; I'll add them to www.imageevent.com/4ldr We can create other albums in the folder, too.

PLEASE, contact me if you have photos we can add to the site of LDR in action, ELCA/LCMS congregations in action and worship in response to Hurricane Katrina, or other related photos.

Blessings,

Sue

Worship and Disaster Response, Sept. 11, 2005

Tue, 06 Sep 2005 20:44:25 GMT

The pages from the most recent Hunger Guide for Congregations that links worship for next Sunday, September 11, and a focus on Domestic Disaster response, can be found at

http://www.elca.org/hunger/resources/hungerguide.html

See page 8 and the disaster litany from page 9. These will soon get put up under worship/prayer/reflection resources on www.elca.org/disaster .

New, larger web site button

Tue, 06 Sep 2005 16:46:57 GMT

The ELCA has released a larger version of the web site button. It is attached here and is also available for download at http://www.elca.org/disaster/katrina.

Rite for marking a time of natural disaster

Sat, 03 Sep 2005 17:36:08 GMT

Below is included a particularly fine and relevant resource written by ELCA Pastor Linda Henke (Aurora, CO), included in her book, "Marking Time: Christian Rituals for All Our Days." It is a prayer and liturgy for "Marking a Time of Natural Disaster." She welcomes it to be reproduced for one-time use with the inclusion of the copyright statement that appears at the end of the rite.

This is a particularly fine and relevant resource during these days of sorrowful prayer.

Kent Mueller
Rocky Mountain Synod

_____________________________________________

The Shadow of Your Wings
Marking a Time of Natural Disaster

Leader: The Lord be with you!
All:            And also with you!
his is a particularly fine and relevant resource.
Leader: Be merciful to me, O God, Be merciful to me, for in you my soul
takes refuge.
All:            In the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until the
destroying storms pass me by.

Leader: Though the earth should change,
All:            Though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea,

Leader: Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with
its tumult,
All:            Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your
faithfulness to the clouds.

Leader: My soul takes refuge in you, O God.
All:            Hide me in the shadow of your wings!
                (Psalm 36:5; 46:2-3; 57:1)

Leader: (addressing those gathered) At this time of disaster, we are faced
with painful reminders that the forces of nature are beyond our control. We
gather together to seek refuge in God's abiding love for us, to be assured
of God's authority in the midst of nature's chaos, and to pray for strength
and courage in the face of pain and sorrow.

Reader: A reading from Isaiah, the fortieth and forty-first chapters:

                Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the
everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not ... grow
weary, his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faith and
strengthens the powerless. Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their
strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not
be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Do not fear, for I am with you; do
not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I
will uphold you with my victorious hand.

                The word of the Lord!

All:            Thanks be to God!

Leader: Let us pray.

                Mindful, O God, of your dominion over all creation, we long
for the assurance of your abiding love.

A brief silence is observed for silent reflection.

Leader: For those whose lives are in harm's way, we pray:
All:            Protect them under the shadow of your wings!

Leader: For those who have been injured or whose loved ones have been
killed, we pray:
All:             Comfort them under the shadow of your wings!

Leader: For those whose losses leave them without safety, refuge, food, or
clothing, we pray:
All:            Shelter them under the shadow of your wings!

Leader: For those who will bring aid and seek to restore order in the midst
of chaos, we pray:
All:            Guard them under the shadow of your wings!

Leader: For those who seek courage to face an uncertain future, we pray:
All:            Renew their strength under the shadow of your wings!

Leader: For those who will journey together on the long road toward renewal,
we pray:
All:            Bind us as one under the shadow of your wings!

Leader: For those whose specific concerns we name before you now ....

Time is allowed for participants to briefly state particular prayer
concerns.

Leader:         For these and for whatever else you see that we have need
of, we pray,
All:            In the name of Jesus Christ, our refuge and strength. Amen.

Leader: May God bless us and keep us,
All:            that the shadow of God's wings may comfort and sustain us!

Leader: May God's face shine on us and be gracious to us,
All:            that the shadow of God's wings may give us strength and
courage!

Leader May God look on us with favor and give us peace,
All:            that the shadow of God's wings may enfold us in love!

Leader: The peace of the Lord be with you always!
All:            And also with you!

The rite concludes with a sharing of the peace.

C 2001, Linda Witte Henke, in Marking Time: Christian Rituals for All Our
Days (Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing)

Disaster response button for your website

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 21:01:00 GMT

Update: button is in the Katrina photo gallery on this site.

We have created an ELCA Disaster Response button on Hurricane Katrina for use on your Web site. The button is a gif; 109 pixels wide by 57 pixels high. The gif is available for download at http://www.elca.org/disaster/katrina.

Karen M. Dersnah
Web Designer
ELCA Department for Communication
773-380-2973
www.elca.org
www.daveyandgoliath.org

Katrina logo

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 18:40:06 GMT

A logo you can use for disaster relief is at http://www.ministrylink.org/disaster.gif

Prayers, Reflections and Worship Resources

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 18:37:21 GMT

A growing Web index page of "Prayers, Reflections and Worship Resources in Times of Disaster" is at www.elca.org/disaster/resources/05-09-01-katrinaprayer.asp . And, if you check that site later today, you are likely to find even more resources there.

"God of mercy,
in your hands is the earth and all that is in it.
We pray for the people and animals,
the cities, towns, and lands
that have been devastated by hurricane Katrina.
Hear the cries of those who suffer;
give comfort to those who have lost so much,
solace to those who mourn,
healing to the injured,
and strength to those who have come to their aid.
Extend your rainbow of hope over that region,
that sorrow may in time give way to gladness;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

© Augsburg Fortress 2005
(with permission for you to reprint or project this for your congregation's use.)

Eric

The Rev. Eric C. Shafer
Director
ELCA Department for Communication
www.elca.org/communication
www.daveyandgoliath.org
www.gracematters.org
"Living in God's amazing grace"

Why give through ELCA disaster response?

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 18:35:39 GMT

Please feel free to share this information:

One of our newer ELCA churchwide staff members asked yesterday why he
should give to ELCA Domestic Disaster Response (DDR) for Hurricane
Katrina relief instead of giving to the Red Cross, the Salvation Army or
another major U.S. charity. It is a very good question, especially with
all the news and entertainment media attention on gifts to the Red
Cross.

Although ELCA Domestic Disaster Response/Lutheran Disaster Response
works closely with other domestic disaster agencies like the Red Cross,
I can think of three good reasons to give to DDR:

* 100 percent of my gift will go to Hurricane Katrina relief.

* As a Thrivent member, Thrivent will match my gift (see
www.thrivent.com ).

* The ELCA has a reputation for being on site, helping in disaster
recovery, long after other groups have left. For example, nearly four
years after 9/11 we are still working in New York City.

I also know that Lutheran Disaster Response provides unique services.
In addition to meeting those needs often not covered by federal and
other agencies, LDR provides spiritual and emotional counseling
services, with attention to care for the care givers, and attends to the
needs of children through the Camp Noah day camps.

For those who are new: Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) is a
collaborative ministry of the ELCA (through ELCA Domestic Disaster
Response) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Churchwide staffer
Heather Feltman is the DDR director and LDR executive director. Much
more at www.elca.org/disaster

You can contribute to ELCA Domestic Disaster Response through your
congregation or synod office or directly by mail (checks payable to
"ELCA Domestic Disaster Response") to P.O. Box #71764, Chicago, Illinois
60694-1764 (note "Hurricane Katrina relief" on the memo line) or with a
credit card by phone (800/638-3522) or online (www.elca.org/giving).

Eric

The Rev. Eric C. Shafer
Director
ELCA Department for Communication
www.elca.org/communication
www.daveyandgoliath.org
www.gracematters.org
"Living in God's amazing grace"

Prayer in the wake of Katrina

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 18:29:55 GMT

Prayer in the Wake of Katrina

As we all seek to respond to the devastation brought on by Hurricane
Katrina, Augsburg Fortress offers the following prayer for use in worship.
You may reprint or project this for your church's use.

God of mercy,
in your hands is the earth and all that is in it.
We pray for the people and animals,
the cities, towns, and lands
that have been devastated by hurricane Katrina.
Hear the cries of those who suffer;
give comfort to those who have lost so much,
solace to those who mourn,
healing to the injured,
and strength to those who have come to their aid.
Extend your rainbow of hope over that region,
that sorrow may in time give way to gladness;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

© Augsburg Fortress 2005

Prayer for Katrina victims

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 18:25:01 GMT

Note #15825 from Mark Stahura to ELCA COMMUNICATORS ONLINE:

Augsburg Fortress is offering a prayer for churches to use in worship in response to Hurricane Katrina. As we all respond to this tragedy, prayer is a way for us to link to those in need. You can find this prayer by following the badge titled "Prayer in the Wake of Katrina" on the Augsburg Fortress home page (www.augsburgfortress.org). We hope to post other prayers at this same place in the days to come.

Mark Stahura
Marketing Manager
Augsburg Fortress

Katrina Reproducible

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 18:22:52 GMT

bulletin insert/disaster alert is now up on the Web at www.elca.org/disaster

Sept 11 is Disaster Response Sunday

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 18:19:45 GMT

The current Hunger Guide for Congregations (pp. 8--9) offers suggestions, recommends resources, and provides a reproducible litany and prayer petition for lifting up Domestic Disaster Response on Sunday, September 11.

Congregations will receive the ELCA Domestic Disaster Alert postcard about the Hurricane Katrina response early in September. In the meantime, "prepare to care" by reviewing pages 8--9, ordering the Disaster Response pew envelopes (ISBN 6-0002-0399-3), and watching the Website at www.elca.org/disaster

Hunger Guide: ISBN 6-0002-0431-0, available from Augsburg Fortress, 800/328-4648, www.augsburgfortress.org/elcahunger

Available online at www.elca.org/hunger/resources/hungerguide.html, see pages 8--9