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To: [log in to unmask] Dear Christian friends, The hearts of America have been shocked and turned to sorrow over the recent schoolyard ambush that killed four students and a teacher in Jonesboro, Arkansas. This senseless act of violence has left that community, if not the entire country, in grief and mourning, doing soul-searching and self-examination. Our Savior Lutheran Church, Jonesboro, and its pastor, Laird Duran, have been reaching out in ministry to the families and school staff. In the midst of this great tragedy, a message of hope is being offered to the grieving and hopeless. Lutheran Disaster Response is helping to extend that Gospel message. LDR is sending Dr. Foster McCurley and Rabbi Alan Weitzman, authors of "Making Sense out of Sorrow," to Jonesboro to help the community begin to come to grips with their grief and loss. They will offer in a number of settings a Biblical perspective to this heartbreaking situation. A small cash grant has also been sent to enable a Lutheran presence in developing caregiving for the pastors, faculty members, and others who are helping in this situation. As we approach the end of Lent, we people of the cross remember that we do not walk alone through that dark "valley of the shadow of death." Please keep our brothers and sisters in Jonesboro-and all who are suffering the loss of life and property throughout the country--in your prayers and in you hearts, that God may be a strong and loving presence in us and through us. In Christ, Gil Furst GILBERT B. FURST (written on Wed, Apr 1, 1998, at 10:12 pm) 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