Archives: October 2005

“As you did it to the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”

Matthew 25:40

During our last month in Corpus Christi before we moved to Bella Vista, all over town there were reminders that Hurricane Season was about to begin. There were all kinds of materials telling everyone what to do if a hurricane headed towards the city.

When Hurricane Katrina hit the Upper Gulf Coast the people living there had also been told how to prepare for such an event. But, there are some things you just can't anticipate and hurricanes can produce incredible human tragedy. During times of deep pain and grief our nation once again turned to the Church for help.

Our first request for assistance came from Camp Mitchell. In twenty-four hours we had put together a team of ten and had gathered together supplies that the evacuees would need. However, our team was sent home but two of the team, Gwen Rakes and Sally LeBoeuf, stayed and sorted through the gifts sent from the churches in our diocese for the evacuees who never came.The supplies were later distributed to the places where the evacuees did arrive.

Second, our Outreach Committee immediately invited everyone to attend two meetings in order to decide what would be our best response to this tragedy. I asked the committee to first, continue the outreach ministries we were already committed to because those institutions and their clients were counting on us to continue our commitment to them. Second, it was immediately apparent that there were evacuees already among us and that we couldn't wait for governmental direction. We knew of some unfurnished apartments we could rent plus a furnished apartment. When the two nights of meetings had ended I appointed Ginny Ellison and Sue Scott co-chairman of the Outreach Committee, internal committees had been formed and we, St. Theodore's, mobilized.

As I write this, we have raised $15,000, rented four apartments, received ten evacuees, and are daily meeting their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. We have received as gifts for them two cars and enough furniture for four apartments. Literally tons of food has been donated! The Bella Vista Lutheran Church is joining with us in out efforts. There have been many, many acts of self sacrifice and giving from the heart by our parishioners. I would love to be able to list everyone's name but it would be a listing of our parish directory!

Last month I wrote to you about a vision the vestry retreat created. Only a few short weeks we were living into that vision! We married vision to the faces and hearts to those who had suffered the tragedy created by Hurricane Katrina and they now know us not by vision but by face and by heart. Once again St. Theodore's has a reputation –
a reputation I am excited to be a part of as your newly installed rector.

 

                                       In Christ's love,

                                               Fr. Ken †  

Archive 10 - 2005