Haiti Earthquake Disaster Response

Dear Friends in Christ:

Once again, the front page of our newspaper stated: “Amid tension, Haitians pray, cry for help in the ruins”!

It is hard for any of us to comprehend the immensity of this disaster. Fox News Service reported that the United Nations has called this “the worst disaster it has ever seen”!

What do God’s people do at times like this? Our church has in place the”Evangelical Lutheran Church in America International Disaster Response”. It is working through long-standing partnerships on the ground to provide emergency food, water, shelter and medical supplies. Pastor Daniel Rift, Director of the ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal writes: “Financial gifts are urgently needed. Your gifts will be used entirely (100 percent) for immediate relief and ongoing recovery in Haiti. Your prayers and generous gifts will make a life-saving difference. Thank you for your partnership.”

You may give online at www.e.ca.ort/haitiearthquake, or over the phone by calling toll free 800-638-3522. Or you may give through our congregation’s Sunday offering, or mail making checks payable to “Abiding Love Lutheran Chruch”, designated for “Haiti Earthquake Relief”.

Also, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is launching a national $3 million “Helping Haiti” effort at thrivent.com/helpinghaiti. They will contribute $1, up to $I million, for every $2 in donations that Thrivent members make by March 31 to the ELCA Disaster Response. You may give by going online, or by calling 800-236-3736 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.n., Monday—Friday. When prompted, say “directory” and enter ext. 83003.

For your information, there are 12 congregations of the Lutheran Church in Haiti. The Rev. Joseph Livenson Lauvanus is the President. He has written: “We are a young and growing church. Everyone knows that Haiti is a poor country in the Western Hemisphere. We are thankful to have the goodwill of a church like the ELCA that understands the whole matter of togetherness, reinforcing what we call ‘the Communion of Saints’”.

This past Sunday I offered the following prayer:
“O God, you are our help in every time of need. You know the pain and suffering of the people in Haiti, and your love for them is very close through all those responding to bring help and hope.
May your spirit speak to our hearts to share our blessings with the least of these. May there be an outpouring of generosity, and ministry beyond belief as this world community responds to this disaster.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.”

— Pastor David Fetter

The Key to Unlock Each New Day in the New Year

Dear Friends in Christ:

I’m sure that you recognize the name of Bill Cosby, comedian, teacher, author, and actor. I recently came across this story from his early life. He is talking about his days of playing football in Philadelphia:

Bill says that his favorite coach was not much of a coach, but he sure did get us excited. Cosby tells of one time when the coach came into the locker room, called the players around him and said: “I have just been to the other locker room, and over there they think you are a bunch of wimps. They think that they are going to run all over you. In fact, they are going to run up into the stands and beat up on your parents and grandmother.”

“Now are you going to let them do that? Are you?” Cosby said — we shouted “NO.” Let me hear you say “fight.” We shouted “FIGHT.” In our excitement, we started running around the locker room! Slamming doors! Upsetting benches! Beating each other over the head! Screaming — “Let us out of here! We wanna go! We wanna go!”

Cosby says we raced out of the locker room. Up the dark tunnel to the football field. But the door was locked! We could not get out onto the field. We stood there, probably for ten long minutes, in a dark, cold tunnel waiting for someone to get a key and unlock the door. Finally, we walked out onto the field to play the game. And we were beaten 77 — 0!

Cosby ends his story by saying — “Pep talks can get us excited. But it takes more than excitement to win a football game.”

I’d like to propose that for us, as followers of Jesus Christ, more than “excitement” we need “enlightenment”.

For the next 5 Sundays, Pastor Lynnae and I will be giving a series of sermons on how the Bible ENLIGHTENS our lives as God’s people. And, with that ”enlightenment”, we will become more excited to continue regular visits to God’s word, worship, Bible study, and service to others!

I believe that this is the key to unlock each new day in the New Year. GOD’S BLESSINGS IN THE NEW YEAR!

— Pastor David Fetter

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