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Hurricane Tragedies Continue To Inspire

by Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane, Editor

December 2005/January 2006

When hurricanes swept across the southern part of the country, waves of outreach poured from the local churches of the Massachusetts Conference, UCC, in the northeast.

Andrew Gustafson, Associate Conference Minister for Stewardship & Financial Development, reported that 124 churches within the Conference have contributed over $261,000 to date to the UCC's “Hope Shall Bloom” hurricane recovery initiative.

“When the call for help was heard,” says Gustafson, “the local churches responded, and continue to respond, in unique ways. Although the wind and rain have subsided, members realize that recovery will take long and continued efforts.”

Those efforts are forthcoming from many of the local MACUCC members across the Commonwealth. 

When a church organist’s relatives were affected by the hurricanes, First Church in Marlborough members rallied.  “A year and a half ago, we were left without an organist,” explains Cindy Vail, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “Abby, a friend of a member, graciously stepped in, offered her services and got a choir started.  She was originally from New Orleans, returned for visits often, and had just left the area before the hurricane hit.  Unfortunately, her sister, brother-in-law, nephew and other family members were not so lucky; their homes were demolished and they were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs.  The relatives – four adults and two teenagers – managed to take refuge in a one-room apartment in Baton Rouge.”  Upon hearing about the family’s plight, Marlborough members took up a collection and sent seventy pounds of new clothing and over $4,000 to the relatives. “It was our opportunity to give back to someone who gave tremendously to us,” Vail said.  “She stepped up to help us when we needed help, so everyone was more than happy to help as much as they could and give back in that way.”

Maureen  E. Baird, Chair of Social Outreach at Lakeville United Church of Christ, reports on her fellow members’ response to the disaster.  She explains that, at the suggestion of newly installed pastor Rev. Russ Chamberlain, the church takes up a special “Change for a Change” mission collection whenever there is a fifth Sunday in a month. Members and friends are invited to drop loose change – or currency or checks – into specially marked containers intended for a specific outreach. “The October offering went to the UCC’s Hope Shall Bloom fund which will aid victims of the hurricanes as they rebuild their lives,” she said.

Corey Lincoln and Jane Raithel, co-directors of Christian education at Pilgrim Church UCC in Sherborn, reported that after hearing about the hurricane, students and teachers immediately started thinking of ways they could help the relief efforts. Pilgrim Church School’s policy stresses hands-on mission projects that value time and talent as well as treasure, so they quickly planned a church school Hope Shall Bloom coffee hour bazaar. For the next month, classes made layered chicken soup mix and layered brownie mix in see-through containers, crafted fleece blankets, painted posters, baked cookies, and packed and labeled bags of flowering bulbs. Those efforts resulted in the students’ raising over $1,400 for Hope Shall Bloom. For the church members, it was a very meaningful and successful moment of intergenerational giving, they said.

“The recent devastation from hurricanes in the South is the worst collective natural disaster in recorded US history. It will be months, perhaps years, before the loss to property, community stability, and human life is known,” writes Wil Darcangelo, a deacon and Sunday school teacher at the Rollstone Congregational Church of Fitchburg.  “We must all gather together and use our talents to help in every way possible.”  Darcangelo shared his own talents recently when he released a music CD single entitled ‘Carry On’ to help and inspire those in need to carry on. ‘Carry On’ is currently in national release with a significant portion of the gross proceeds being directed to the United Way’s Relief and Recovery Effort.

“We prove everyday in the times we live, that we are an indomitable force that can weather any hardship when we band together,” says Darcangelo.

Diane Kessler of the Massachusetts Council of Churches has asked local churches to get the word out that support services are available for hurricane evacuees in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  In an email to Mass Council of Church members, Kessler explained that MassFaithHelps, the coordinating mechanism enabling religious bodies to provide companionship and assistance to Hurricane Katrina survivors who now are residing in Massachusetts, is asking faith-based organizations to get the message of available service delivered to those in need, especially to individuals who may have come to Massachusetts on their own, rather than through the evacuation effort at Otis Air Force Base/Camp Edwards.

Kessler wrote, “A statewide support structure has been implemented for those impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.   Evacuees can be connected with support personnel from Massachusetts communities of faith (www.MassFaithHelps.org) who will help the evacuees to acclimate to their new communities.”  Kessler continued, “To access available services and programs, callers from throughout the state should call CSR (toll free) at 1-866-426-9710.”

In addition to these efforts, the MACUCC has partnered with the Good Shepherd UCC (just outside New Orleans) to help in hurricane recovery efforts and support their ministries.  The pastor at Good Shepherd reported needing help in repairing Good Shepherd facilities and then hopes to aid other churches and neighborhood homes. Contact Andy Gustafson at gustafsona@macucc.org if you would like to join in the efforts.

Note:  The Massachusetts Council of Churches is an ecumenical partnership of seventeen Orthodox and Protestant churches/ denominations in the state, including the Massachusetts Conference, UCC.