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March's
Newsletter
Page 2
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A Rock and a Bridge,RBCC Monthly Newsletter |
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Mark you calendars! The Columbia Peace Coalition is joining peace groups across the nation holding events to mark the third anniversary of the Iraq invasion and call for an end to the war. The theme is "Stop the War-Exit Now", and participants will be provided with traffic signs reflecting this theme. The demonstration will take place at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 19th at Courthouse Sq. in downtown Columbia (rain site: Boone Commission Chambers). There will be some good speakers, (at least one will speak from a faith perspective) good music, and lots of opportunity for interaction with like-minded people in our community. This is a real opportunity for us as a faith community to make a powerful statement of our opposition to the war. The Peace Coalition has set a goal of getting at least 500 people out to this event. If you plan to attend, please fill out one of the little orange sheets in the narthex and place it in the marked box. Please do plan on coming.... and bring some friends with you! |
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WEEK OF COMPASSION Pakistan Quake Relief and Recovery Efforts Continue the high mountains of northern Pakistan, thousands of survivors from the Oct. 8 earthquake must deal not only with the loss of shelter but also the bitter cold of the Himalayan winter. While the most fortunate survivors have tents, plastic sheeting, kero-sene heaters, and blankets, many people have very few resources to stave off the cold. Church World Service continues to provide emergency winter relief to thousands of quake survivors - including tents, heaters, blankets, and woolen clothing - and has expanded its response operations to include much needed psycho-social care; distribution of health and hygiene kits; and expansion of water and sanitation systems in its tent villages. CWS has also begun recovery and rehabilitation planning with many survivors in anticipation of spring and warmer weather, including a construction training program for young men in the trades of masonry, carpentry, plumbing, welding and electrical - all skills that will be essential when actual rebuilding work can begin in April. Disciples through Week of Compassion have now provided $283,000 for quake relief in Pakistan and India, including $272,000 for the CWS appeal. Our goal of $300,000 should be reached in the next few weeks. WOC is grateful for the many, many designated gifts from Disciples members and friends who are making this strong response possible. Help Sent to Philippines Last week WOC sent an initial grant of $5000 to Disciples partner, the UCC in the Philippines (UCCP), in response to the devastating landslide in Southern Leyte province. Hundreds of people, perhaps as many as 1500, were killed. After further assessment, the General Secretary of the UCCP has requested additional funding to meet immediate needs for shelter, food and medical care for survivors, as well as to begin reconstruction and rebuilding efforts. More than 60 members of a local UCCP congregation in Barangay Guinsaugon were killed, including the pastor and his young son. The church building was also destroyed. WOC is sending another grant of $5000 for the response work of our UCCP partners. Other disaster responses this week include a WOC grant to an urgent appeal from Action by Churches Together (ACT) to assist some 200 farming families in Bolivia where heavy rains and flooding damaged or destroyed thousands of homes, farms and communities in Jan. and Feb. Website: www.weekofcompassion.org FINANCIAL NOTES In February, we received special offerings for the Souper Bowl of Caring and for Week of Compassion. To date the totals for those offerings are: Souper Bowl of Caring: $ 46.84 Week of Compassion: $398.00 Last year, we collected over $800 for Week of Compassion. You can still contribute – just note “WOC” on your check or envelope. |
SCHEDULE The Northeast and Ozark Lakes Area Christian Churches have announced the 2006 camp schedule. There are camping events for youth from second grade through high school as well as a family camp. Camps include those at the Rickman Center as well as canoe and backpacking trips (for 6th - 12th graders). RBCC will provide assistance with registration fees for youth interested in attending. Early bird discounted registration is due April 15th. See Ann Robinson or Letitia DenHartog for forms or more information. LENTEN PRAYER BREAKFASTS The Interfaith Council is again sponsoring weekly prayer breakfasts on Wednesday mornings
during Lent. Time is 7 to 8 am. A donation to help defray the cost of the breakfast is welcome.
The schedule is: HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
April 8th FISH FRY Fish Dinners on Friday Nights |