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Dear friends in Christ,

"Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.  Take away the hindrance of our sins
and make us ready for the celebration of your birth, that we may receive
you in joy and serve you always."

ELCA Domestic Disaster Response and Lutheran Disaster Response are
responding to flash flooding that swept through thirteen counties in south
central Kansas last month.  In Arkansas City, a rain-swollen river broke
through a levee, flooding 300 homes.  In Butler county (mostly the town of
Augusta), over 1,000 homes were affected.  Because of the flash floods,
most affected houses had major damage or were destroyed.  FEMA reports that
in some areas flooding was more severe than the devastating 1993 floods.

Lutheran Social Service of Kansas/Oklahoma (Bernice Karstensen, President)
has been responding through LDR disaster coordinator, Christine Iverson.
Efforts have been coordinated with local ELCA and LCMS pastors.
Congregations have organized cleaning crews, opened emergency shelters, and
served hundreds of meals.  Resources for children were distributed.  Most
of the survivors are low income or elderly persons - the "poorest of the
poor."  Many are at risk mentally, emotionally, and physically.  The
insurance fraternal, Aid Association for Lutherans, has provided matching
funds.

LSS and Lutheran Disaster Response are now working together to the mental
health needs and unmet needs of the elderly in both Arkansas City and
Augusta.

This response brings to 30 the number of disaster to which LDR has
responded this year, the highest yearly total in our ten-year history.
This is 11% higher than the 1996 response (which held the previous highest
number of yearly disasters), and 76% higher than last year.

Finances present a major challenge for the church to serve well.  As of
November 1, yearly income for domestic disaster response is less than 40%
than it was during the same period last year.  We still are responding to
the 1997 blizzards and floods in the upper Midwest, and are now beginning
major new responses in Puerto Rico and Texas.

"Take away the hindrance of our sins and make us ready for the celebration
of your birth, that we may receive you in joy and serve you always."  As we
prepare for Christmas, I give thanks that over the years the church has
been able to respond to so many brothers and sisters in need.  And I pray
that in this holy season, we will receive Jesus Christ in joy and continue
to serve him fully.

Please remember in your prayers (personal and congregational) those who
sorrow because of the chaos and loss of natural disasters.

As you consider how you might serve the Lord who comes, think about the
possibility of volunteering for clean up and recovery efforts.

As you receive Jesus Christ in joy, please respond with your generosity for
others.

To contribute:


    ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response
    PO Box 71764
    Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764

    Credit card gift line:  1-800-638-3522

    LCMS World Relief
    P.O. Box 66861
    St. Louis, MO 63166-9810

    Credit card gift line:  1-888-930-4438

Joining you in joy and service,
Gil Furst

GILBERT B. FURST  (written on Sat, Dec 19, 1998, at 10:10 am)
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: 773-380-2822  FAX: 773-380-2493
Visit our website:  www.elca.org/dcs/disaster