A Rock and a Bridge,

RBCC Monthly Newsletter
Vol. 23 No. 9 - October 2, 2005
Page 2

From Johnny Wray – Thursday, September 29th

In the aftermath of one of the deadliest and most devastating hurricane seasons in U.S. meteorological history, Disciples are responding promptly and generously. In the four weeks since Hurricane Katrina tore into the Gulf Coast, Week of Compassion has recorded more than $1.8 million dollars in designated hurricane contributions. That number is certain to grow past $2 million in the wake of Rita's wrath along the LA/TX coast. While Rita did not pack the wallop of Katrina, thousands of ranchers, farmers, fishers and others in small towns and rural areas have lost property, homes and livelihoods. The small Louisiana coastal towns of Cameron and Creole have been obliterated. In neighboring Texas, damages in Port Arthur, Orange and Beaumont may reach $10 billion.

Disciples have not been spared. According to Neil Lindley, interim pastor at First Christian in Port Arthur, church facilities have been heavily damaged. Unconfirmed reports indicate First Christian in Woodville, TX, may also have experienced severe damage. Initial reports to the Coastal Plains Area indicate that First CC, Northside CC and Victory CC in Beaumont had only minor damage to their facilities. The home of Northside's pastor, Don Joseph, was heavily damaged. As residents return home, we anticipate the number of Disciples' homes affected by wind or water damage to grow. WOC placed funds in the Coastal Plains Area before Rita hit, and Area Minister Herb Lynskey is already assisting impacted Disciples churches and members.

In hard-hit Lake Charles, LA, Monalisa Garrett, pastor of First CC, reports only minor damage to the church, though she is concerned about several church families and is assessing the situation now. WOC is awaiting word on congregations in Sulphur, Lafayette, Crowley and Leesville. Again, WOC placed emergency funds in the Great River Region for a rapid response to these congregations. And, we continue to uncover significant needs in congregations and communities. Altogether, WOC has now provided more than $400,000 in relief and recovery funds, including $118,000 in support of a major CWS hurricane appeal, support to 29 congregations and interfaiths responding to evacuees and displaced hurricane survivors, assistance to five congregations that are serving as Disciples "mission stations," one Disciples-related search and rescue team, and at least 10 congregations with facilities and/or members affected. These numbers continue to expand daily. WOC is working with the Coastal Plains Area and the Great River Region now to get the latest information on churches & members.

CWS is also in urgent need of clean-up buckets, as well as health, school and kids kits. Content information is available on the WOC website: www.weekofcompassion.org - click on Gift of the Heart Kits. A number of Disciples congregations and mission stations have already received WOC-requested shipments of CWS blankets and kits. Just yesterday, the mission station at First CC, Moss Point, MS, received a trailer load shipment of clean-up buckets, health and school kits, IMA medicines boxes and field tents from the CWS Service Center in New Windsor, MD.

WOC is deeply grateful for the strong & generous support from across the whole church. You are enabling us to respond quickly and responsibly to the ever-growing number of needs and requests we receive daily. You are also enabling us to plan now for the important long-term recovery work, including home rebuilding and community development; resettlement of the displaced; the many unmet needs of the most vulnerable survivors; pastoral care of both survivors and caregivers; and recovery support to affected congregations - to mention a few. WOC is already working with Habitat for Humanity to develop a special partnership with Disciples to build homes for families made homeless by Katrina and Rita and with CWS to ensure Disciples' partnership in scores of local long-term interfaith programs now developing across Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.

Thanks Disciples members and friends, for helping us be there now and for the long haul. God bless

ICE CREAM AND JAM FEST

Join us this Friday, Oct. 7th at 6:45 pm for an ice cream social and musical extravaganza. Ice cream will be furnished. Bring a cake. We’ll have a cake walk (some of you may be old enough to remember cake walks!) with any extra cakes – with proceeds going to the building fund.

Do you play a musical instrument? Have you ever played a musical instrument? If so, bring it along. People who want to share their talents will have an opportunity to perform. We’ll also have a “jam session” with all the instruments. Rhythm instruments will be available for folks whose talents lie in other areas.

NOTE 1: Dinner will not be served, so if you want a “real dinner,” eat before you come – but save room for dessert!

NOTE 2: This will take the place of Waste Watchers for October. Information about Waste Watchers will be available for anyone interested.

HAPPENINGS

Fri., 10/7 - Ice Cream and Jam (see article on page 1)

Sun., 10/16 - Consecration Day and Octoberfest – Dennis Landon, President of Higher Education and Leadership Ministries for the Christian Church (DOC), will be our guest speaker. Be looking for your favorite German recipes!

Reconciliation

This year’s Reconciliation Offering is currently at $318. This is about $500 less than last year’s offering. It’s not too late to donate for the Reconciliation offering. Just mark your check or envelope “Reconciliation.”

REMEMBER TO PAY YOUR BUILDING PLEDGE AS SCHEDULED!