Tuesday, December 26, 2006

"Good Works" DVD finished

The follow-up to "8 Days in Biloxi" is done. The DVD "Good Works: Ministry on the Gulf Coast One Year After Katrina" will be available for any donation. Bethel will have a shipment shortly.

Per a request, I'm including the chapter "Frank (Revisited)" edited from a brief visit with him last summer. Gave him an "8 Days" DVD and toured his house in the middle of remodeling. Passing on a howdy and a big thank you from him to some lovely volunteers who brought him a place to sit and hope for the future. He had lots of good news to share and slowly life is getting back to a form of normal. But its all one day at a time like for so many.



Sidenote: last fall I heard a story that some volunteers were working about a block over and were visited by a large man who asked for some help moving a chair from his FEMA trailer into his house. They did. They looked at the chair and looked at the gentleman and said "Hey, you're Frank!" He didn't understand. So he still hasn't watched the video. He's certainly busy putting a roof over his head but he needs to find a new agent.

Here is the original chapter "Frank" from "8 Days in Biloxi"


- Kent

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Judys Travels

This is a tentative schedule. We will update her itinerary as events are confirmed.

January 21st
8:30 AM Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Salem, Oregon
11:00 AM Worship at Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Salem, Oregon Pastor John Maas
Lunch with High School and Young Adults
Evening Cluster gathering of local churches Faith Lutheran
Church, 930 SW Queen Avenue, Albany, Oregon
Contact: 541 928-7660

January 23rd Evening Trinity Lutheran Church, Vancouver, Oregon

January 24th Late Morning Salem Pastor’s Study Group
7:00 PM Worship Our Saviour’s, Salem, Oregon

January 25th 7:00 PM Creator Lutheran Church, Sumner, Washington

January 26th 6:30 PM Cross and Crown Lutheran Church
Renton, Washington
Dinner and Worship at 8:00 PM
Pastor Glen Aaburg Contact: 425 255-5910

January 27th Noon Calvary Lutheran Church
Federal Way, Washington

January 28th 8:30 AM Bethlehem Lutheran Church
10:00 AM Marysville, Washington
11:15 AM

January 29th 1:00 PM Northwest WA Synod Office
Visit with Bishop Chris Boerger
7:00 PM Morningstar Lutheran Church
Monroe, Washington

January 31st 10:10 AM California Lutheran University Chapel

February 4th PM California Lutheran University Chapel

April 21st Buffalo, New York

Bethel Update 26

A Legendary “Rebel” Returns to the South...Free Clinic or Free Medical Center?... Christian Rock Artist to Perform... A Time to Rejoice... and more...

Read the latest update from Bethel in Biloxi (PDF)

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Note from Bethel

Dear Friends,

It is unusual for us to send a plea via our updates, but Christmas is coming and the needs of the families we serve are great at this time of year. I am new as a long-term volunteer to this ministry. A recent graduate fo Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, my heart led me back to the Mississippi Coast and to Bethel's Hurricane Katrina Minsitry, as many of you have been led. I believe this to be God's call for me at this time. I will continue to serve here as laong as there is a need for my pastoral services. I was shocked to find that recovery, though on-going is so slow. As families move back into refurbished homes, many are without furniture and household necessities as all of their resources have been used up in the rebuilding process. People are sleeping on floors as there is no budget for beds or bedding. Something as simple as a dining table can change the way a family lives together in their new home. We are still being asked for food and continue to serve 30 to 50 clients every day in our medical clinic.

People have been so generous in contributing money and supplies to support our ministry here, but it is hard for those who are far away to appreciate how the needs continue. We are planning a Santa Shop in which parents can come to choose toys for their children, and a separate shop in which children can shop for their parents. As we receive applications for families who are already our clients for rebuilding and support, we begin to understand the needs which extend beyond the immediate need for shelter. So many people were coping with immediate physical needs last Christmas there was hardly an opportunity to celebrate. For many this will really be their first Christmas since Katrina. The stories we hear are heartbreaking. As families have lost everything, so the children in those families have lost toys, books, other items of comfort and meaning. The opportunity is great to begin a relationship with families who strive to recreate a home for themselves and their children.

There are several means of creating those relationships. We have families to adopt for Christmas and through the year as they continue to rebuild home. We would be delighted to provide contact information if you or your congregation would like to sponsor a family for Christmas or longer. Several congregations in South Carolina delivered toys for our Santa Shop, but as applications come in, the need is greater than our supply. $100 Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Sears and Visa gift cards always touch the hearts of parents struggling to meet their family's expectations and allow families to meet their specific needs.

You have always been so generous in the past, we know you will want to partiacipate with us in supporting these families. Please call or e-mail us soon for information, and feel free to pass on this e-mail to anyone who might be interested in adopting a family or supporting our Santa Shop.

Blessings,

Barbara Punch
Pastoral Assistant