Dear Hyde Park Family,
Thank you for the amazing response to the urgent plea for water last weekend for residents of Florida impacted by Hurricane Ian. In less than 24 hours, you donated about 4.5 tons of water, the equivalent of over 1,200 gallons. That water has been delivered down south at a United Methodist Church serving as a distribution site. You have also given over $7,000 in monetary donations. Thank you!
WHAT IS NEXT IN OUR RESPONSE?
Moving forward, we are working with the Florida Annual Conference Disaster Response Office, who is in close contact with local congregations and emergency officials throughout Florida. They are coordinating our Conference’s response by asking certain congregations to serve and give in different ways. Some churches have been asked to provide hygiene kits, others to provide flood buckets, others to provide baby supplies, and so on. It is a testament to the power of our connectional system that all of us together are rising to the challenge, without any one of us having to go it alone.
So, what have we specifically been asked as a congregation to take on as a next phase of our response?
Here are some options for you to choose from.
- URGENT NEED FOR TARPS
The Florida UMC Conference Disaster Response Office made us aware of a desperate need for roof-quality tarps for local residents. Because tarps are in short supply in local stores, the Conference will be purchasing 1,000 tarps through its connection with a national supplier, and it is asking for financial contributions to help underwrite the purchase. We at Hyde Park United Methodist have been asked to underwrite the Conference’s purchase of at least 100 tarps, at a cost of $75 each. If you would like to contribute toward that purchase, please click here.
- TWO OTHER GIVING OPTIONS
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is our denomination’s disaster relief agency, and it is already at work coordinating with local response and recovery efforts. All the money you give goes directly to help people in need. To give, click here.
The FL UMC Conference Hurricane Ian Fund has been established by Bishop Ken Carter and the Cabinet to assist local congregations who have been significantly impacted by the storm. Money in this fund will help support these churches and their ministry to their community while they are unable to raise support from their weekly offering. To give, click here.
- SIGN UP TO SERVE ON A WORK TEAM
Let us know if you are willing to serve on a relief and rebuilding work team, once we receive word that conditions are open to receiving such teams. Please click here so we can contact you in the future.
We continue to pray for all those who have been devastated by the storm and what may be a long road to recovery. Let us join in providing tangible ways to love and serve them.
Magrey
LAST SUNDAY’S SERVICE
If you missed worship last Sunday, we explored the concept of “survivor’s guilt.” You can watch it online here and share it with a friend who might find it helpful.
THIS SUNDAY: LEARNING TO WAIT
We continue in our worship series “The Art of Hearing God’s Voice” by discovering the value and challenge of patience. Let us learn to embrace these seasons of waiting as a way to stretch and mature our faith.