Thank You, Disciples

Saturday, January 8, A.D. 2005

Dear Friends --

The outpouring of generosity and concern from Disciples congregations, members and friends for the peoples and nations of southern Asia in the aftermath of the December 26 earthquake and tsunamis is truly a fitting expression of a church that believes and lives the gospel of Jesus Christ. Week of Compassion is deeply honored and humbled to be one of the channels of that goodness and will continue to work diligently to see that these gifts are used wisely and well to bring hope to the survivors of this "unprecedented" disaster and encouragement to our faithful partners who are, on our behalf, ministering to "the least of these."

Next week, WOC will offer a brief report on our response to date -- in particular, how the initial WOC pledge of $250,000 has been used thus far, and a possible response from Disciples for both additional relief assistance and for long-term recovery - where do we go from here.

In the meanwhile, please know that the survivors and our partners on the ground continue to solicit our prayers. In that spirit, Amy Gopp, a member of the WOC Committee and a third-year Disciples seminarian at Union Theological Seminary, offers the following prayer for the survivors of the earthquake and tsunamis:


God of Hope and Healing,

The suffering seems too great; the devastation of southern Asia too vast. We have been bombarded by images of death and destruction caused by the unforeseen tsunami, yet we are left looking instead of responding. How do we respond to such tragedy? How do we continue to trust in Your healing power when such loss occurs in the world?

Nevertheless, just as You were present during the parting of the Sea of Reeds, the calming of the storms and waters, and the curing of the sick and afflicted, so You are present during this crisis. We may not understand how You are working in the midst of such anguish, but we trust You are there, as You have been and always will be. You are The Great I Am. You are the One who tames the seas.

Grant us the wisdom to know how to pray for a people so far away but so closely on our minds. May Christ's healing balm soothe the souls and bodies of all those affected by the tsunami.

Yes, the suffering seems too great, but Your everlasting love, abounding grace, and healing power is even greater.

In this we trust and believe. May these convictions inspire us further as we respond to our sisters and brothers in southern Asia.

Amen.

photo by Paul Jeffrey