Disasters
and Blessings! News and Comment about
September!
Disasters
Mean Opportunities for Extraordinary Service Near and Far!
It's agonizing to consider that a third hurricane may hit Florida. As I write on Thursday morning, predictions are that Ivan may well swing north. How can so many suffer so much?
Most of Florida is pretty well insured. Grenada was not. I asked Cory how hurricane proof the homes built in Juarez might be. He suggested that hurricane proof was not their concern, but simply rain proof was good enough. It would be tragic to see the neediest people suffer the greatest losses.
That's what makes our young people's mission trip to Juarez even more significant. Suffering in this world comes and keeps coming, like a series of hurricanes. Suffering and loss always brings hurt and sorrow. Sometimes in the midst of human suffering God works his wonders of healing and patient endurance and even hope to see through the suffering to brighter days.
God seems to work best when his people show up. I'm anxious to hear more of the report from our missionaries to Mexico in this weekend's services. And I'm looking forward to God's second piece of handiwork because of this mission. The first was, of course, the homes that were built for such thankful people. The second will be the response of those of us here in Missouri to the testimony of our young missionaries.
Who's going next year? And where should we go next?
Hurricane Relief
You should be very pleased to know that one of the most rapid and most significant relief efforts always happens through Lutheran World Relief, a cooperative work of the Lutheran churches in America. Because of our church supported structure, nearly 100% of your dollar donated goes into relief efforts. We are consistently rated at or near the top in percentage of offerings actually used to help people.
You can send checks for disaster assistance to Lutheran World Relief, 1333 So. Kirkwood Rd, 63122.
Good Samaritan
Service Center
Closer to home, the work of assistance for those in need continues also. Our Sunday evening ChristCare Group has taken on as one of their missional service projects the Good Samaritan Service Center for the Homeless. This Lutheran organization has been growing a tremendous track record for helping homeless families in the St. Louis area.
We learned recently that about a dozen of the major assistance agencies meet weekly to discuss those homeless families who have recently sought refuge in the shelters around town. The family situations and histories are shared, and those agencies most suited for a particular case offer assistance as they are able.
Good Samaritan specializes in families. They are not really suited for helping with problems related to addictions, but rather for families who need a "jump-start" to economic independence. They are often families who have suffered a serious setback due to catastrophic loss, illness or loss of a job and home. Some are two parent families, but most are single parent families, predominantly with a woman as the head of the household.
Through the generosity of churches and others, Good Samaritan owns a few dozen properties in St. Louis city and county, some houses and many more multiple family units. Families who are accepted into the program are set up with furniture and household goods to start fresh. Education and careful monitoring of home and family life are a big part of the program. Employment assistance and counseling for finances are also included. there is a wonderful day-care center at their headquarters on Russell also.
Once a family establishes a track record of independence and financial security, a home is found and they are able to take with them the household items from the Good Sam housing. the family helps clean-up and fix-up for the next residents, and a new family is brought in.
Good Samaritan is always looking for volunteers, especially with home repair and remodeling to prepare their homes for occupancy. Donations are helpful, but they have no trucks or vans for pick-up and no storage either. What works best is to let them know if you have furniture, and then remain "on call" to find a way to get it to them when the need arises, which can sometimes be a number of weeks. Best of all would be to help them find a place for clean, dry storage.
And of course your financial help is always appreciated. The ChristCare Group is sponsoring a Trivia Night fund-raiser on Saturday, November 6 over at Concordia Kirkwood. I hope you'll plan to attend. We'd love to see about a dozen tables filled with Mount Calvary people!
Moving on from our relief efforts, give me three more minutes of your time to read about our busy opening week of church activities after Labor Day!
Pre-School!
I just spoke with another parent from our pre-school about how thrilled they are to have their daughter join us this year. I had known about Mount Calvary's Center for Early Childhood Education before coming here, but was greatly impressed when I came at the educationally sound, but especially Christ-centered ministry to children.
It's hard to believe that over the ten years I've been here the CECE has grown and improved even more. We're celebrating ten years of "Kid's Day Out" ministry this year. You'll hear more about that later. It's allowed us to share the saving love of Christ with even more children.
Look around and see some of the nice improvements made possible by last spring's auction and art show. New playground equipment is going in, new carpet has been installed, some paint spread around. Thanks to the parent committee who worked hard to make it happen!
Sizzling Summer
Spectacular!
If you're reading this before Friday night, take my invitation to join us in the pavilion for the Sizzling Summer Spectacular, which simply means, "Let's meet with the neighbors!" The Board of Evangelism has invited Art Camp and Vacation Bible School families over for a hot dog and fellowship. Please come and introduce yourself to a family you don't know. Tell them why you love what Jesus is doing at Mount Calvary and invite them to join us! Hot dogs will be ready around six o'clock!
Confirmation!
We had our first session with the new confirmation class Wednesday! What a joy and a thrill to meet with parents and children to talk about Jesus and prepare for the wonderful day of coming forward to testify to their faith in the Savior, Jesus! God is at work. Please pray for these young people in their faith journey.
33 Days!
The 33 Days of Stewardship begins shortly. If you haven't picked up your book and study guide (a real bargain at only $10), please do so right away! So far, sales are very strong. We're glad to see such great participation as we join together to study, grow and discover what "extraordinary servants" can be.
God is at work in us, among us, around us and even through us. Get your book, set your calendar to begin the 33 Days on Wednesday the 22nd, plan to attend worship each and every week, and join us during the Bible Class hour, 9:15-10:15 each week for a group discussion of the biblical principles behind extraordinary servanthood. I look forward to seeing you there!