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Dear friends in Christ,
"What can I do?" is a question people often ask me, as they seek ways help
the church respond to those affected by the September 11th terrorist
events. We feel helpless as we hear of the vast needs of so many people.
We want to do something.
I just returned today from New York. Amid meetings with local leaders, I
was privileged to be part of two group presentations by Foster McCurley and
Alan Weitzman (LDR Caregivers).
The morning group of 35 ELCA and LCMS pastors met in the Lutheran Church of
Our Saviour, in Mineola. There, in Bible study and reflection, the pastors
spoke from their hearts. One pastor told me he has a service this Friday
for a member of his congregation, a firefighter who arrived at a World
Trade Center tower five minutes before it collapsed. Another pastor
described to me the challenge of a memorial service she is preparing for a
single woman who had cared for an elderly mother. Pastors ministering in
these tragic situations have the same questions and feelings as many of us
do. There is the uneasy feeling of fear, a sense of loss at many levels, a
lack of concentration and zest for life, wondering why God could allow such
a thing to happen, anger at those who were responsible_ questions we ask
when our faith is shaken, and we find no sense in our sorrow.
But people are also finding answers. Bible passages become more meaningful
as we read familiar words with new vision. The words "Blessed are those
who mourn" are more powerful for those who have found spiritual strength in
community and special church services. The Psalms have renewed meaning as
we read their call for God to listen and to help. Knowing God listens to
our prayers helps us when we need to talk with someone. The loving
response of the country, indeed the world, has restored for many their
confidence in humanity. The selflessness of the firefighters, the police,
and the emergency workers has demonstrated the very best of people.
Last evening 30 community people came together. One person spoke of his
Godson who was trapped on the sixth floor. A woman's husband worked on the
86th floor and escaped death. "Sixty-three are missing from our town,
neighbors and friends" one woman said. Again and again people expressed
their pain, their sense of loss, their feelings of anxiety and anger_the
feelings so many of us across the country are experiencing. But they also
saw the good in people coming together, a new sense of community and
connectedness, people volunteering, people recognizing their own mortality.
"What can I do?" people ask me. What can I do for the forty-seven children
in our Lutheran Schools who lost parents? I asked that question directly
to Marlene Lund, Executive Director of the Lutheran Schools Association.
Her answer was clear. "The initial debriefing provided by Lutheran
Disaster Response has been so important to get people functioning again.
The resource people who are working with the schools have been unobtrusive,
supportive, and professional. Parents are relieved when I tell them they
won't have to keep their kids out of school because of lost jobs and
income, because the church will provide scholarships." I asked her what
she needs. "Please thank the people and tell them we don't need any more
cookies, quilts, pillow cases, bracelets, teddy bears, or beanie babies.
Please ask them to continue their financial support so teachers can be
trained to address the special needs of the children, and so scholarships
can keep the kids in school."
John Scibilia, LDR of New York Coordinator, in a recent written report,
described LDR-NY as "the church at ground zero with arms embracing all who
are in search of a new normal.... There is close to a three week waiting
period for the benefits for victim's families - the church provides rent,
living costs and groceries not accessible from any other source because of
the overwhelming numbers.... Lutheran Disaster Response of New York
provides the vehicle by which the church will participate and contribute
where it matters most, and will do so as long as it takes."
The church through Lutheran Disaster Response continues to respond to other
places as well. LDR is also responding to the September 11th events in New
Jersey and Washington D.C. LDR is responding to natural disasters, to
tornadoes in Kansas and Wisconsin, to floods in Virginia, West Virginia,
and Texas.
The challenge for ministry is great. "What can I do?" You can pray. You
can volunteer in areas of the country where repairs and rebuilding are
needed. You can support financially the coordinated efforts of the church.
You can be active in your own town, living peacefully where you are at this
moment. You can be an instrument of peace in your community, in your
family.
There is a great outpouring of love across the country in this moment
because of the September 11th events. As Christians, we love our neighbor
- not only from time to time as is happening now for many - but always,
because our Lord has asked us and shown us how. We love, because he first
loved us. Thank you for your on-going interest and support in providing
help and hope, comfort and renewal in the name of Jesus Christ.
To help those affected in our country by the September events, please send
your contributions to:
ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response - "September 11: Comfort and Renew"
PO Box 71764
Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764
Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522
Credit card gifts via the web: www.elca.org/disaster;
LC-MS World Relief - "September 11: Comfort and Renew"
P.O. Box 66861
St. Louis, MO 63166-9810
Credit card gift line: 1-888-930-4438.
Yours in Christ,
Gil Furst
GILBERT B. FURST (written on Thu, Oct 25, 2001, at 10:11 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
