Dear friends in Christ,

On Sunday we entered the Advent season, a season of hope and expectation, a
season of preparation for the coming of our Lord Jesus.  I just returned
this afternoon from several days in New York City, where there is tremendous
hope and desire for Christ’s presence in the midst of profound grief and
sorrow.

This week “Camp Noah” staff from Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota are
present and in conversation with a host of local partners (Atlantic District
and Metro New York Synod staff, Outdoor ministries representatives,
LSS-Metro New York staff, Lutheran Schools Association, Lutheran Counseling
Center, House of Hope staff, and representatives of the local American
Baptist and Presbyterian Churches).  “Camp Noah,” a week-long day camp
program for children traumatized by disasters, has been provided for
Lutheran Disaster Response by LSS-MN across the country in response to a
variety of natural disasters.  The challenge now is to adapt “Camp Noah” for
the children in New York, New Jersey, and Washington D.C.  There is also
intention to broaden the “kindergarten to sixth grade” age groups to include
pre-school children and adolescents.  It is a huge opportunity to provide
hope and embody Christ’s presence for the children and youth whose joys have
been turned into fears and sorrows.

I met with our LDR-NY coordinator, John Scibilia, along with Bishop Stephen
Bouman (Metro NY Synod – ELCA and President David Benke (Atlantic District –
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod).  Although we spent a lot of time looking
are current and proposed programs and their financial implications, we spent
much more time reflecting on the magnitude of needs and on their personal
sense of support.  They, and the members of their congregations and
communities, feel the prayers and the responses of the whole church.  Bp.
Bouman tells of a mother in one of our Lutheran pre-schools who held a
memorial service for her husband on Tuesday and buried her mother on
Thursday.  Along with her three young children, “she has been overwhelmed by
the support through the school, from the synod, and around the country” he
relates.

“Project Life,” a parish-based program in partnership between LDR and
Lutheran Social Services-MNY, provides a network of case management through
the city.  Especially sought are people affected by September 11th who are
easily overlooked: the undocumented, the service industry and minimum wage
workers, and others who have little or no support systems.  The church is
providing help to them, walking them through the maze of services and funds
and counseling toward a path to the future.  Help and hope is being
provided.

I attended the tree-lighting ceremony at Lincoln Center one evening.  A
crowd gathered to hear fine music and singing, to laugh at some clowns, to
share songs and cookies and cocoa.  The mood was joyful, but it was
restrained.  The lighting of the tree in that warm darkness brought
predictable oohs and ahs.  My heart was moved as we sang the words “let
every heart prepare him room.”  Children were perched on the shoulders of
parents.  Those of us in the back stood on tip-toes to get a better view.
Some had black armbands with fire department logos.  The world is looking
for the coming Christ.  The people are stretching and yearning for the
message of hope and the signs of Christ’s presence.

As members of the church, we have the privilege of being part of God’s
“delivery system.”  We are helping to prepare him room in people’s lives.
There are so many across the country and around the world who want to help
their brothers and sisters in NY, NJ, and D.C.  We have the privilege of
bearing the message of hope and providing hands-on help in the name of our
Lord.

So let me thank you for your constant prayers.  I can testify to you, their
power is felt by those who are struggling to make sense of their new
circumstances as well as by those who are in ministry.  Thank you for your
generosity, which is providing incredible outreach to the grievers and
mourners, to those whose lives are filled with despair and fear.  And thank
you for bearing witness to the coming of the Lord, as in this Advent season
we reach out to others with the same love that God has reached out and
touched us.

Yours in Jesus Christ,
Gil Furst

GILBERT B. FURST (written on December 5, 2001, at 5:23 PM
  Director, ELCA Domestic Disaster Response (Division for Church in
Society),
  Lutheran Disaster Response (a cooperative ministry of the ELCA and LCMS)
  8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago 60631   PHONE: 773-380-2719  FAX:
773-380-2493
Visit our website:  www.elca.org/dcs/disaster