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In Today's Hotline:
- US: HOUSTON CHURCH IS OVERBLESSED
- HAITI: GIVING HOPE
- US: GIVE FAIR TRADE CHOCOLATE
- WORLDWIDE: UMCOR GIFT CATALOG IS HERE!
US: HOUSTON CHURCH IS OVERBLESSED
"We are better than okay in Houston, we are blessed . . . 'overblessed,'" wrote Burt Palmer, pastor of Bear Creek UMC, one week after Hurricane Ike made landfall. In spite of losing power from the storm, the church continued with its plan to open a shelter for evacuees and helped by providing food, laundry services, transportation and diapers in addition to housing.
Now that the emergency response to Ike is past, the focus is shifting to long term recovery from the third costliest hurricane in US history. The Texas and Louisiana Conferences are working with state agencies and faith-based groups to reach out to families who need assistance. UMCOR, in cooperation with its partners, is actively involved in the recovery process.
There is an urgent need for funds and flood buckets. Please help replenish the cleaning supplies contained in each flood bucket and view the contents here. You can also assist in recovery by giving to Hurricanes 2008, UMCOR Advance # 3019695.
After four storms battered La Gonave Island in Haiti for weeks, no food could get to the island for four weeks. In the words of Global Ministries volunteers, Joe and Shirley Edgerton, "20,000 people were hungrier than normal."
Through grants from UMCOR more than seven tons of food was distributed to 5,000 people in ten communities. According to Edgerton, "Along the road . . . people call out from the brush, children join us to walk a ways, all we meet greet us by name and touch our hands . . . a great celebration that says to 1,000 families on South La Gonave, the world knows they are here."
UMCOR is also helping Haiti with the delivery of health and school kits, potable water, stoves and building materials to help in recovery. You can support this work by giving generously to Haiti Emergency, UMCOR Advance #418325.
This Halloween, UMCOR, the General Board of Church and Society and Equal Exchange are encouraging congregations to purchase fairly traded chocolate or cocoa products through the UMCOR Coffee Project and Equal Exchange, helping farmers earn fair prices and reducing forced child labor.
United Methodist trick-or-treat bags and fairly traded Organic Dark Chocolate Minis are available through Equal Exchange's Interfaith Store. Every mini chocolate purchased through the UMCOR Coffee Project and Equal Exchange, will be accompanied by an informational post card about fair trade. This year, encourage trick-or-treaters to give rather than receiveĀhave them pass out fair trade chocolate and United Methodist informational cards to every home they visit.
Download "The Truth About Chocolate", UMCOR's new church bulletin insert, for ways to support fair trade and reduce forced child labor. You can also give to World Hunger/Poverty, UMCOR Advance #982920.
WORLDWIDE: UMCOR GIFT CATALOG IS HERE!
Gifts that serve others honor the birth of Jesus and show our concern for the whole family of God. Remember God's greatest gift by giving in Christ's name to help members of our extended family around the world. The gift catalog provides ideas for your gift giving this holiday season. Each item is an example of what your gift can accomplish. One hundred percent of all gifts will go to the listed Advance project.
Download UMCOR's 2008 Christmas List Flyer and share it with others to encourage them to give differently this year. Also download UMCOR's Christmas Wish List church bulletin insert and share it with your local congregation or church community.
UMCOR provides emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out more about UMCOR's ministries, please visit umcor.org. You can donate to any project by placing a contribution in the offering plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068; or by calling 1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted. You can also give online at givetomission.org. UMCOR is exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States and qualifies for the maximum charitable contribution deduction by donors.
United Methodist Committee on Relief
General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church
Room 330, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115
Voice Phone: 1-212-870-3816; FAX: 1-212-870-3624
Email: umcor@gbgm-umc.org
Web: http://www.umcor.org
UMCOR. Be There. Be Hope.
UMCOR's mission is to alleviate human suffering-whether caused by war, conflict, or natural disaster-with open minds and hearts to all people.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
