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Dear friends in Christ,
"We come together as those who show mercy, in need of mercy and renewal.
We come carrying scars and wounds, because we have loved." These words of
Pastor Rick Barger, Abiding Hope Lutheran Church in Littleton, Colorado,
set the tone for a retreat this week with pastors and counselors who have
been ministering to those who have been so dramatically affected by the
April 20 school shootings at Columbine High School.
I just returned from Colorado, where I joined Dr. Gary Harbaugh (Lutheran
Disaster Response pastoral care specialist) for a "Care for the Caregivers"
retreat with nineteen Lutheran pastors and counselors from Lutheran Family
Services of Colorado. We listened as these care providers shared their
stories of sorrow and death, vulnerability and heartache. They spoke of
their congregations and families, of their community and of individuals, of
people who are trying to make sense of the senseless, of people who are
struggling with destruction and death. They also spoke of strength found
in God and in the support they are experiencing from their brothers and
sisters across the country. The words of II Corinthians came to mind:
"For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our
consolation is abundant through Christ."
Several pastors asked me to express their thanks to you, brothers and
sisters in Christ, for your great out-pouring of love, support, gifts,
letters, cards, e-mail. Through your prayers, those who are experiencing
the pain and tragedy are comforted. Through your contributions, LDR has
been able to provide such blessings as counselors for students and
families, additional staffing for congregations, specialists for school
faculties and administrators, workshops for community leaders, and retreats
for caregivers.
From the very day of the shootings, Lutheran Disaster Response (a
cooperative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) has been reaching out in compassion though
Lutheran Family Services of Colorado (Chet Evenson, President).
Please continue to remember, in your personal and congregational prayers,
those whose lives are filled with the tragedy of the Columbine School
shootings, as well as those who are "carrying scars and wounds" because
they are showing love.
Please continue your thoughtful contributions, which will enable Lutheran
Disaster Response to continue these ministry efforts in Colorado into and
beyond the beginning of the new school year next month.
Please send your contributions to:
ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response
PO Box 71764
Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764
Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522
LC-MS World Relief
P.O. Box 66861
St. Louis, MO 63166-9810
Credit card gift line: 1-888-930-4438
Thank you for your continuing support, so that mercy and renewal can
continue to be provided to the people of the Littleton, Colorado, area.
Thank you for sharing the love God has provided to you, so that same love
can be given to those bearing the scars and wounds of ministry.
In Christ,
Gil Furst
GILBERT B. FURST (written on Sat, Jul 10, 1999, at 3:48 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
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