Conference News
Earthquake Response -- Chile & Haiti
Recalling the words of Psalm 27,
"The Creator will shelter me
in the day of trouble,
Will take me in and conceal me
under the folds of the tent,
Will set me high on a rock
out of harm’s way…"
Let us keep in prayer all who have been displaced by the earthquakes in Chile and Haiti, those who have been injured, those whose loved ones have died, and those who are engaged in rescue.
Gracious One,
May Your presence be with all who mourn today,read more...
An Appeal for Prayers of Solidarity and Support for the Philippines
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
We share with you the recent news of the gruesome massacre of unarmed civilians in the Philippine province of Maguindanao. To date, close to 60 people were killed including 17 Filipino journalists and two lawyers known for their human rights advocacy. A statement by the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, “A Massacre Most Foul, Gross, and Utterly Repugnant” is posted below.
This wanton taking of human life is a grim reminder of the pervading culture of impunity and the lack of respect for human rights that currently exists in the Philippines, which has been increasing since 2001 and is currently related to upcoming national elections. In addition to affecting the lives of innocent Filipinos, it has also impacted the lives of our sisters and brothers in the United Church of the Philippines who maintain a heroic and faithful presence in the face of the ongoing violence, and whose members clergy and lay are among the arrested, murdered and disappeared.read more...
Local Relief Efforts for the South Pacific
Here are links to local efforts:
Puna Ole Ola UCC in Stockton is coordinating a local relief effort.
Kalavaria UCC in San Carlos is coordinating a local relief effort.
Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa is coordinating a local relief effort.read more...
The Geography of Compassion
…responding to the recent disasters in the Pacific
“…Do not sweep me away with those who disdain You…..
I walk in utter reliance upon You,
That you will deliver me, and be gracious to me.
My feet rest on level ground…”
Psalm 26: 9, 11-12 [Redemption Songs]
Psalm 26 is one of the assigned scripture readings for Sunday, October 4. The lines cited above took on eerily appropriate meaning this week, as typhoon generated floods, earthquake dispatched tsunamis, and more earthquakes and aftershocks brought upheaval and devastation. “Do not sweep me away…..”
Here in the Northern California Nevada Conference, where so many of us have family, friends, all kinds of ties to the Philippines and Samoa, where we know so many people of those Pacific Islands who walk, every day, in utter reliance and close relationship to the Creator, we have been praying most earnestly for God’s deliverance and graciousness for all who have been affected and afflicted by disaster. What has struck far away has struck close to home. This is the odd geography of compassion. read more...
