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Dear friends in Christ,

One of the most powerful Holy Week images for me is in the Upper Room, when
Jesus pours water into a basin and washes the disciples' feet.  The "Lord
who kneels to serve" provides a model of love and humility to those who
would follow in his name.  Through the ministries of Lutheran Disaster
Response, people in desperate situations are experiencing the humble
servanthood of Jesus Christ through the ministries of their Christian
brothers and sisters.

As we approach Easter Day, I am thinking about the vast number of people
affected by the devastation caused by recent natural disasters.  In my
mind's eye I see houses, communities, islands, countries, where life is
forever changed for those who happen to live in harms way.  And I also see
people's faces - adults and children - so often the poorest of the poor,
the forgotten, the "least of these."

A Holy Thursday prayer reminds us that "on the night of his betrayal, Jesus
gave his disciples a new commandment: To love one another as he had loved
them."  As I stand with people affected by wind and floods, hurricanes and
tornadoes - I am also deeply aware of God's presence, even in the troubled
days.

On behalf of innumerable disaster survivors, I remember in prayer this day:

 *  the outpouring of prayers, expressions of love, and financial
contributions by countless individuals and congregations;
 *  the continuing and steady ministry of relief and recovery work, long
after the headlines have been written, in such diverse places as Kansas and
Puerto Rico, in Arkansas and Texas;
 *  the hundreds of volunteers who "kneel in servant love" by travelling to
unknown places to help unknown people in the name of Jesus Christ;
 *  for the support of staff and colleagues in different units of the
church, for the members of our "Lutheran Coalition" and other faith groups
who offer assistance and help the ministry of service to others.

As we move through from Lent towards Easter, I thank God for the Christ who
kneels to serve the world.  And I thank God for our Lutheran church, which
witnesses to its faith by following the kneeling servant Lord into
devastated places, responding to his love and bringing resurrection hope
and help to others in his name.

In Christ,
Gil Furst


GILBERT B. FURST  (written on Thu, Apr  1, 1999, at  3:34 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: 773-380-2822  FAX: 773-380-2493
Visit our website:  www.elca.org/dcs/disaster