Middle East Crisis Response

On February 6, two powerful earthquakes hit Turkey and significantly impacted neighboring Syria. The first was a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in south central Turkey, followed hours later by a magnitude 7.5 quake in the southeastern part of the country. The two quakes have devastated Turkey and Syria, collapsing thousands of buildings and damaging infrastructure. Thousands of people have been killed, thousands more have been injured, yet search-and-rescue efforts are only in the early stages. A cold and snowy weather system now moving through the region complicates response efforts.

Lutheran Disaster Response is committed to supporting ACT Alliance and other partners in responding to these earthquakes. Mere hours after the earthquakes hit, ACT Alliance member organizations began distributing emergency supplies, including medicines, bedding and other relief items. A comprehensive response will be coordinated as the full extent of the impact becomes clearer.

Lutheran Disaster Response has been active in this region for several years, partnering with ACT Alliance, the Lutheran World Federation and the Middle East Council of Churches to accompany Syrian refugees and internally displaced people with food, water, shelter, health services and sanitation support. The epicenter of one earthquake lies near Turkish provinces that host hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees, which will only exacerbate the refugee crisis in the region.

Your gifts designated for “Middle East Crisis” will be used entirely (100%) to provide long-lasting support for those whose lives have been impacted by disasters in the region.

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This article first appeared at elca.org on March 1, 2022. Reprinted with permission. © ELCA.

Zoar Inclement Weather & Emergency Closing Guidelines

Zoar Lutheran Church Inclement Weather & Emergency Closing Guidelines
Your safety is our primary concern. Keep in mind that weather conditions may be more or less severe where you live, so use your best judgement when deciding to drive.

Purpose of Guidelines
The intent of this guideline is to ensure the safety of Zoar Lutheran Church’s guests, members, volunteers and staff and to provide effective communications regarding ministries and activities during severe or hazardous weather or other emergency situations such as power outages. Please use your best judgement when deciding whether to attend services or view online services at home.

Zoar Lutheran Church will inform the staff, congregation and groups about any closings as soon as possible. Any decision to close the church or to cancel services and activities because of inclement weather or other adverse conditions will be made by the Senior Pastor, Director of Church Operations and/or Church Council. The condition of streets, sidewalks, parking lots and plowing schedules will be taken into consideration.

Information Sources
Once the decision is made, the following will be updated:
Website
Facebook page
• Local news stations: WTOL 11 CBS, WNWO 24 NBC, WGTV 13 ABC

Severe Weather Schedule
• If there is a Level 3 Snow Emergency for Wood County, Zoar Lutheran Church will be closed, and all services and activities will be cancelled.
• In the case of inclement weather or other adverse conditions, we will make a decision about daytime services and activities by 7AM.
• We will reevaluate conditions in the late afternoon and communicate decisions by 4PM regarding evening services and activities.

If possible, the Pastor will present his message online. Go to the Facebook page to watch the livestream.

Hurricane Response

This hurricane season has brought devastating storms including Hurricane Fiona, which inundated Puerto Rico with rain, reminding people of the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017. Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida with near Category 5-strength winds, dumping record amounts of rain and causing catastrophic, life-threatening flooding. Authorities estimate the number of fatalities is expected to rise.

In response to Hurricane Ian, Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) is partnering with the Florida-Bahamas, Southeastern, North Carolina and South Carolina synods, as well as Lutheran Services Carolinas, to provide both immediate and long-term support. LDR anticipates relief will include water, food supplies, tarps, cleaning materials and other needs for those who have lost or damaged homes.

Will you partner with Lutheran Disaster Response to provide immediate and long-term hurricane relief?

Gifts to “Hurricane Response” will be used in full (100%) to assist those affected by hurricanes.

Ways to Give

Online: Click here to give now. Enter donation amount and information.

By mail: Make checks payable to Lutheran Disaster Response. Write “Hurricane Response” on your check’s memo line and send to: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, P.O. Box 1809, Merrifield, VA 22116-8009

By phone: 1-800-638-3522, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. central time.

This article first appeared at elca.org on September 30, 2022. Reprinted with permission. © ELCA.
Photo by NASA via unsplash.com.

Worship during COVID-19

Eastern Europe Crisis Response

On Feb. 24, Russian forces invaded Ukraine, launching land, sea and air attacks. Russia has launched air strikes across the country, including on the capital of Kyiv and other major cities. Airports are now shut, and few railway lines are operational. Millions of civilians fleeing the violence are heading toward Ukraine’s western districts and such neighboring countries as Poland, Moldova, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary. Over 300 civilians have been killed in the conflict so far, and damage to civilian infrastructure has left hundreds of thousands of people without water or electricity. Ukrainian men of military age (18-60) are forbidden to leave the country, so most of those fleeing the violence are women and children. According to one report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 1 million people are seeking refuge in neighboring countries including Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Moldova. There are major humanitarian concerns for both internally displaced people and refugees. Many of these Ukrainians fleeing their homes need shelter and such basic necessities as food, water and toiletries. Care for people also includes pastoral and psychological support to address the trauma they’ve endured.

Lutheran Disaster Response is accompanying our companions in Ukraine, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, as well as such ecumenical partners as Lutheran World Federation and Church World Service, in their humanitarian responses to the crisis. These partners provide refugees with immediate support and supplies such as food, blankets, water and hygiene kits.

Ways to Give

Online: Click here to give now. Enter donation amount and information making sure to designate

By Phone: Call 1-800-638-3522 to make a donation with a credit card. Operators are ready to assist you Monday through Friday, 8AM – 5PM Central Time.

By Mail: Make checks payable to Lutheran Disaster Response. Write “Eastern Europe Crisis Response” on your check’s memo line and send to: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, P.O. Box 1809, Merrifield, VA 22116-8009

Other Ways to Give: Become a monthly donor, make a planned gift, and more. Click here to learn more.

This article first appeared at elca.org on March 1, 2022. Reprinted with permission. © ELCA.

Photo by Rev. Zach Courter, ELCA. These are Ukrainian refugees arriving at a train station in Budapest and local volunteers are distributing food and other items.