God, What Can I Do?

Before I opened a newspaper, prior to turning on the news, my Facebook was bombarded with messages of prayer and support for the people of Oklahoma.   On Monday afternoon an EF4 tornado ripped through parts of Oklahoma leaving a path of destruction 17 miles long and 2 miles wide.  Already 24 people are confirmed dead and 9 of those are children, hundreds of others have been injured, houses have been destroyed, businesses totally demolished and even a hospital is beyond repair.  And even though we have instant access to knowing that people are in need, it still begs the question, "What can I do?"  In light of such massive destruction and devastation, "What can we do?"  Even though the immediate moments after a natural disaster are critical ones, it is important for us to know as the church, to know as the body of Christ, what we can do.  Let me give you some simple solutions:

1. PRAY-always, everywhere lifting those up affected by the devastation
2. GIVE-UMCOR-United Methodist Committee on Relief
3. SERVICE-there are always opportunities to work with our church or other churches to serve those devastated by natural disasters.  And in the following months we will keep you posted on service opportunities.

This weekend we will be taking a special offering for UMCOR, The United Methodist Committee on Relief.  UMCOR is a world-wide relief organization of our United Methodist Church that responds immediately to crisis, including this crisis in Oklahoma.  Every dollar that you give to UMCOR goes straight to the relief organization on the ground.  Look for special envelopes in your bulletins (checks made out to UMCOR) or visit UMCOR's website to give: www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Resources/News-Stories/2013/May/0521-After-Moore-Tornado and click on donate.


We are the church, the body of Christ, and we can help.

Blessings,
Pastor Rachel