Rector's Message

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

For the past seven years we have selected a Sunday during the year to promote and encourage donations to Episcopal Relief and Development (formerly known as the Presiding Bishop’s Fund for World Relief.  Our Focus on the Fund Sunday this year is July 30^th.

Outreach has been a hallmark of Christians, with Jesus setting the example in the way that he reached out to the underprivileged during his earthly ministry.  In his final parable, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (25:31-46), Jesus stresses the importance of ministering to others.  It is a parable of judgment about who will enter the Kingdom.  Entrance is based upon those who feed the hungry, provide a drink to those who are thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit those in prison.

In the 1^st Century the apostle Paul made personal appeals to the churches he oversaw to take up collections to help the people of Jerusalem who were suffering because of a famine.

Famine, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, floods, the list seems endless, occur at what seems to be an accelerating rate in the world today.  Every week we hear of some disaster around the globe that we live on.  Sometimes it is in our own country, like the hurricanes last year.  Most of the time it is in other countries like Africa, Pakistan, and Indonesia.  Who is there to help in the time of need?  The governments provide rescue efforts and disaster relief.  Local and international agencies also provide disaster relief.  One of those international agencies that are consistently one of the first responders is Episcopal Relief and Development.  Episcopal Relief and Development or ERD provides emergency grants for food, water, and shelter.  ERD follows up with more funds as available and as needed.

While ERD does not have disaster relief teams and a cadre of volunteers like the Red Cross to dispatch to disaster sites, it has in recent years sponsored mission trips to areas to provide help.  Many remember hurricane Mitch that devastated Honduras in the 1990’s.  ERD has sponsored mission trips by Episcopalians and others to help build 500 homes for those left homeless from the hurricane.  I know of several people from our diocese that went to Honduras to help build homes.  ERD often works in this way, providing grants for the long term, after other agencies have left.

But ERD does more than respond to natural disasters.  It has been a leader in providing help to those affected by the AIDS epidemic in Africa.  It responded with financial aid to the victims of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and the region more than a decade ago.  It is providing food to the hundreds of thousands of people in Africa who are starving

Remember July 30^th and give generously so that ERD can continue its ministry in our name to the people of the world.   

Yours in Christ,

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