September 6, 2005
“Mama,
it’s gone”
My son Chris (25) decided to leave his apartment and stay
with friends (during Katrina). He showed up Tuesday in shock and disbelief. He said, “Mama, it’s
gone, (the town’s) all gone.” Chris was the manager of an upscale restaurant…(it, along with) all the scenic
drive homes, some dating back to the 1800s were gone, ripped into debris. Then he said he saw five dead people in a ditch by the
restaurant being put into body bags and loaded onto a pickup truck. He could barely speak…
An email account from Maria on the Gulf
Coast
We’ve all seen the horrific images. The scope of devastation
is overwhelming. We know already of twenty-four Episcopal congregations in the Gulf Coast region who have completely lost their
buildings in the storm. Some of you have shared that the media coverage, which includes the heroic and sacrificial efforts of so
many, has become too painful, too numbing, or too frustrating to watch. Many of you have responded generously with your prayers
and resources and have asked, “How can we do more?”
Clifford and I have been blessed to hear this question from you, our Beloved sisters
and brothers, for it reflects so well the image of Jesus that our congregation seeks to follow and runs so counter to some of our ugliest, national
passions. In the “blogged” words of Atlanta’s Mark Camp:
Rather than worry about politics, race, and wouda, shoula, coulda, let’s worry
about human beings who have been created in the image of God who are now in suffering and are in need. These are the ones whom our
Savior Jesus Christ has commanded us to help, not to do as the Pharisees and sit back and question as to why things are or how things got that
way. Or worse, as the Disciples who asked: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born
blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, “said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of
God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me…” (John
9:1-4)
Rather than armchair quarterback right now, our commanded duty as Christians is to get into
action and do something to alleviate the suffering that is going on. The question is, “What would Jesus be doing if he were
on the earth right now in the affected areas, laying blame or meeting needs?” Let’s do all we can to meet needs
and leave the blaming, second-guessing, all the rest aside.
So what can we do? Here are some options to consider.
1) Pray. The faithful prayers of God’s people marshal vital heavenly resources for the survivors
and the recovery effort. 2) Continue to contribute sacrificially to help alleviate the immediate suffering of
others. Two agencies, among many worthy ones, are http://www.er-d.org/ or http://www.redcross.org/. 3)
Volunteer to care for evacuees here in Charlotte. The Red Cross is looking for folks who can work eight-hour
shifts (12am-8am, 8am-4pm, 4pm-12pm) at the Charlotte Coliseum and others who can four-hour shifts to staff the disaster relief phone
bank. To volunteer as a shelter worker or disaster relief phone bank volunteer, please call 704-378-4641. 4)
Assist children affected by this disaster by providing specific care and comfort items that you can personalize with notes and
cards. Contact Julie Sanniota at 704-542-2557 or jsanniota@carolina.rr.com to receive email details of how you can join this effort, which is
spearheaded by a Charlotte former Red Cross mental health disaster team member. 5) Pray about assisting with transitional
housing. Many folks in our wider church and local community, including our own Bishop
Gloster, are working tirelessly to find ways to connect folks in ways that will be positive for both hosts and evacuees.
Charlotte’s Trinity Episcopal School is one such group. We are happy to receive and pass on any information learned
from you and official agencies. Just let us know!
J. Derek Harbin, priest
Around
Beloved… Visit the new website for Church of the Beloved at http://www.churchbeloved.org/. It, along with this weekly e-news,
are two ways we are seeking to improve communication as Beloved grows…Christian Formation Registration for adults and
children will follow worship this Sunday, September 11… FaithQuest also begins this week.
For more information or to register your child ages three to fifteen, visit www.belovedgarden.org or contact Clifford King Harbin at Beloved Garden (704.752.8989)…Beloved vocalist
Shana Blake is in Baton Rouge with another member of her band helping those in need…Kevin Krantz is being
murdered and Al Krantz is helping to solve the case in CPCC Theater’s production of Agatha Christie’s A Murder is
Announced playing September 16, 17 (best bet for tickets!), 23, 24 at 8pm and the 25th at 2:30pm in Pease Auditorium,
uptown. Please support this grandfather/grandson duo with a “Break a Leg” message at one of the shows.
To purchase a $12 ticket, please call the Box Office at 704-330-6534 or visit the Box Office from 11-4pm….Encourage your friends and
neighbors to stop by and say “hello” to Mary Reid and Clifford King Harbin who will be at Beloved
Garden’s booth at Harris YMCA’s 3rd Annual Christian Organization Fair this Saturday, September 10, from
9-Noon… Those with the gift of “Helps” are needed to staff Beloved Garden’s Information and
Children’s Craft Activity Booth next Saturday, September 17 in the parking lot in front of Bi-Lo from 10am-3pm (contact the Development Office
if you can make time to help)...Last week our mistake in identification omitted Jim Calandro as one of the Beloved servants who
received email kudos for jumping a worshipper’s dead car battery. Well done, Jim!
Serving
in the world…Besides our individual and collective prayers and
efforts for those impacted by Hurricane Katrina, Beloved’s already scheduled September human needs outreach opportunity is the
3rd Annual Walk and Talk for Reading on Saturday, September 17 for Charlotte’s Thompson Child
and Family Focus (formerly known as Thompson Orphanage and more recently, Thompson Children’s Home).
This Episcopal ministry has assisted North Carolina children in need for over 115 years, with this event raising money for their
literacy programs. If you would like to walk, you will need to pre-register. Beloved’s Worker
Bees (youth 9-12) and metamorphosis (youth 12-15) are participating and seeking sponsors as
well. Registration opens at 8:30am and the walk begins at 9am. To register online, visit http://www.thompsoncff.org/ and enter the site. Printed information
will be available on Sunday. For more information, contact Deacon Deb Blackwood at 704.957.8209.
Cookies
anyone?…Twice a year, folks from Beloved join other Christians in baking cookies for Kairos, a
faith-sharing, evangelistic weekend for prisoners in the Kershaw Correctional Institution. Each weekend needs about 60,000
home-baked cookies! Homemade cookies are a tangible expression of Christian love and an indication of God’s concern for a
group of men who seldom encounter either in the course of their daily lives. Pray as you bake that God will use your loving
sacrifice to shine the Light of the Beloved into the dark corners of the prison. (This could be a great family or small group
activity!) Your Oatmeal (w/o raisins), Peanut Butter, Molasses, Chocolate Chip, Ginger or Sugar Cookies should be between 2 and
2-1/2 inches in diameter and not more than ½ inch thick. It is very important not to use icing or any other type of
coating, topping, fruit or nuts in or on the cookies. Bag your cookies, a dozen at a time, in labeled, quart-sized
storage bags and bring to worship on September 18. May God bless you for your gift of baking!
In our
Prayers…The victims of Hurricane Katrina and the relief efforts underway around the
nation…Dan Hood’s brother, Scott, who is serving in Iraq…Nancy and Tony Hodgson’s
granddaughter, Emily…the pressing need to fill the four additional janitorial staff openings at Community House Middle School…the
upcoming Thompson Walk on September 17 and the September 22-25 Kairos weekend at Kershaw Correctional Institution and team members
Rick and Ricky Jordan…give thanks for Ben Copeland finding a job…keep his wife, Jennifer
Sanders in your prayers while she looks for a job working with children.
Upcoming
Calendar…
