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Dear Christian friends,
"I cannot remember a time when the Gospel bell was rung so clearly in word
and deed to so many people. I cannot remember a time when we were more
about what Christ has called us to do." So Pastor John Pederson, Trinity
Lutheran Church in Fort Collins, Colorado, ended his sermon the Sunday
after a wall of water destroyed 90 mobile homes and damaged another 1,000
houses on July 28.
Trinity Church quickly became a rallying point for help to the community.
Neighbors, businesses and Trinity's members brought food. In front of the
church, Trinity's youth put up signs that said: "Lunch-everyone welcome."
Soon the Fort Collins Museum staff asked for the signs, saying "Those signs
are part of our history now."
Lutheran Disaster Response, working through Lutheran Family Services of
Colorado, is coordinating relief efforts in Fort Collins and in the
Sterling area. Aid Association for Lutherans and Lutheran Brotherhood have
made matching funds available for local branches around the country to help
support the Colorado flood relief effort. To date, LDR has provided
$16,000 to give immediate assistance in the disaster relief efforts.
Pastor Gene Thiemann, the local LDR Coordinator, told of one family that
would be helped. The father was recovering from a broken neck when the
flood occurred. The mother has Lupus and MS. Their son, in California,
had an aneurysm the day after the flood did heavy damage to their house.
The next day the parents flew to California to be with their son. Members
of their congregation, Our Savior's, banded together to help restore much
of the house.
Self-contained cleanup volunteers would be off great help at this time.
You can contact Gene Thiemann at his home/office (970) 282-7763. Yes,
Christ has called us to ring the Gospel bell clearly. Your prayers for the
survivors of this disaster -- many who have lost their homes and
possessions -- will be meaningful and helpful. Your contributions to help
in this disaster relief effort may be sent to:
ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
PO Box 71764
Chicago, IL 60694-1764
Thank you for being part of what Christ has called us to do.
In Christ,
Gil Furst
GILBERT B. FURST (written on Sat, Aug 23, 1997, at 11:53 am)
Associate Director, ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
Internet address: [log in to unmask]
For more information, click on our web site: www.elca.org/dcs/disaster
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