Thank you all for your concerns about and
prayers for our neighbors impacted by the disasters this
week. I just spoke with the Moderator of our
Samoan Ministries Table, Rev. Ioane Mailo, and he had
spoken this morning to the Congressman who represents
American Samoa and he, in turn, had spoken with
President Obama. They are grateful that our government
is responding promptly. However the needs are great, not
only there but in Independent Samoa, Tonga, Indonesia,
and the Philippines. As you may already have read
in E-news, our SCNC Samoan churches are leading a huge
relief effort of material items to be shipped to the
region. (Details can be found in the
current e-news
on scncucc.org ) But in addition, MONEY for
immediate relief and reconstruction is badly needed when
these major disasters happen. Thus, as you see below and
can link to the website, the United Church of Christ
Wider Church Ministries/One Great Hour of Sharing has
launched a Pacific Disasters Appeal. We know that
Neighbors in Need offerings will be gathered in your
churches this week and we trust that it will receive
strong giving for those needs are great. But God
is good and generous and we know many of your churches
and congregants will want to go an 'extra mile' in
reaching out also to our Pacific Island friends.
In addition, please consider using the litany available
on the site in your worship Sunday.
Your congregation may send your contributions to
this Pacific Disasters Fund through the Conference
office--with checks made out to SCNC and clearly marked
in the memo and report form, "Pacific Disasters".
As you see below, there may be specific designations but
it is also helpful to trust those who know the needs
best to distribute where the need is greatest. I
can assure you that our church partners in the region
will be our guides.
Thank you for prayerfully joining this response to
the disasters impacting our beloved neighbors.
