To: [log in to unmask]
Dear friends in Christ,
I just returned from Puerto Rico, where, after eleven months of work,
Lutheran Disaster Response is concluding its response to the destruction of
Hurricane Georges. These past days have been spent on disaster response
"closing down" and "planning ahead." On Monday evening a special service
was held at Reconciliacion Lutheran Church in Levittown. It was a service
of special music, chancel dancers, hymns sung to a Latin beat, sharing Holy
Communion. Entitled "Gracias Voluntarios!," this service was designed to
give thanks to God for the giant steps taken towards recovery, and to give
thanks to all the brothers and sisters who helped make that possible.
In the sermon, Pastor Graciela Rivera-Sanchez noted that "we confess our
faith though the creeds. But we also confess our faith through our
actions, which show in whom we believe." "Jesus," Pastor Rivera-Sanchez
said, "showed the example of how a servant loves, and how love serves. An
authentic servant acts in extraordinary ways to the immediate needs. But
every act of service points back to the supreme act of service on the
cross."
Indeed, the worshippers in this service said a strong "Gracias" to God and
to God's people. In these past eleven months, many prayers supported those
affected by Hurricane Georges. Many donations supported the relief and
recovery efforts of LDR. And many volunteer servants came to Puerto Rico
when they heard of the great need. From the first group of volunteers (St.
Paul Lutheran Church, Trexlertown, Pennsylvania) to the final group of
volunteers now present (New Life Lutheran church, Bolingbrook, Illinois),
over 650 persons have come in the service of the servant Christ. Numbers
don't always tell the whole story, but there are numbers to share: over 20
major and extensive repairs were made to properties; over 125 "minor"
repairs were provided; and over 2,000 homes and yards were cleared of
debris. Food and medication, comfort and consolation, tears and laughter,
compassion and love were all provided by the presence of Jesus' servants,
by Christian brothers and sisters who saw the need and came to be part of
the LDR response.
Following the service, Bishop Francisco Sosa (the Caribbean Synod)
expressed thanks "in the name of the people of Puerto Rico," to all who
came to help "in the name of the Lutheran Church, in the service of Jesus
Christ." He presented framed posters to some of the LDR staff, posters
celebrating the presence of the Lutheran Church in Puerto Rico for 100
years. And he acknowledged the special service of Brooke Burkey (LDR
coordinator), who has been present and working for the people and with the
volunteers from the very beginning of the response.
As I was leaving Puerto Rico today, I saw in my heart many scenes and many
people I've meet since Hurricane Georges: tear-stained faces, people
standing in ruins, incredible damage and debris; smiling faces, people
standing in repaired dwellings, cleaned yards and villages. Yes, "Gracias
Voluntarios!" God has been at work through your presence, through your
hands.
Lutherans, indeed, are people who care, people who love, people who bring
help and hope, people who serve in the name of Jesus Christ. On behalf of
the thousands who have seen Jesus in your prayers, in your support, in your
presence, I say a sincere word of thanks. Because for you, when the
worship service ends, your service in the world begins.
"Vayan en paz. Sirvan al Senor." - "Go in peace. Serve the Lord."
"Demos gracias a Dios." - "Thanks be to God."
Yours in Christ,
Gil Furst
GILBERT B. FURST (written on Wed, Aug 11, 1999, at 10:52 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
|