LDRNY Eletter | Eletter Archive
Dear Friends of Lutheran Disaster Response of New York:
Here’s the April edition of Comfort & Renew Online, a monthly e-newsletter provided by LDRNY. If you have something to share, please drop an email to mikki@LDRNY.org .
LDR provides litany to assist in prayer for Virginia Tech
LDR, at the request of Bishop Mauney of the Virginia Synod, will hold consultations in May with Lutheran clergy and congregational leaders to assess the needs after the tragedy at Virginia Tech last week. A litany has been prepared for congregations to use in praying for and remembering those who are affected by this terrible event, including not only those who lost family members or friends but all of us in our grief from this violence. To download the litany, visit www.elca.org/disaster and see the section titled For Congregations. To read more of how LDR is helping, go to www.LDRNY.org and click on Top News.
Salem, Bay Ridge, lends a hand in New Orleans
Pr. Harriet Wieber of Salem Lutheran Church, Bay Ridge, accompanied by her children, traveled to New Orleans in February during President's Week. They volunteered their time at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, a refurbished church that houses Camp Restore. To read the full story and see photos, go to www.MNYS.org. Click on Headlines.
Bishop shares post-9/11 spiritual exploration in new book
What sustains Christians when they are confronted with tragedy and grief? How do Christians live in the changed world of post-9/11 reality? Bishop Stephen Bouman addresses these questions as he shares his own personal story and the stories of others in his latest book, Grace All Around Us: Embracing God’s Promise in Tragedy and Loss. In Scripture, God’s promises are made real, says Bishop Bouman. God’s faithfulness is expressed tangibly in places of hurt and hope. The passion emanating from Ground Zero in New York has become, for him, a kind of Holy Land, and it is from that Holy Land that he offers this book as a “diary of an urban bishop,” looking at tragedy and loss through the eyes of a pastor called to be a bishop. With awe and respect for the many people whose faith and compassion have left a mark on his life, the Bishop explores the struggle between doubt and faith and the effort to pray in the midst of grief. To read more, go to www.LDRNY.org and click on Top News.
New Ground Day Camp seeks host churches for this summer
New Ground Day Camp offers an exciting way to connect with the community and energize your congregation. New Ground Day Camp is a partnership with Koinonia and Lutheran Counseling Center. The host congregation registers community children for a week of fun. Koinonia provides a trained team of college-age camp counselors to facilitate safe programming which includes worship, Bible study, games, crafts and more. Lutheran Counseling Center provides an advisor in residence to assist campers in learning life skills such as communication, non-violenc, and identifying your support system. This faith-based program, with funding support through LDRNY is open to all children helping them move beyond the events of Sept. 11th and to stand on New Ground. For application materials go to www.KoinoniaNY.org and hit the Koinonia NYC button; or call Pr. Ann Tiemeyer, Director, at 212-669-6130.
Bishop Bouman co-authors piece about immigration
Bishop Bouman is one of three authors of an op. ed. piece sent to the New York Times by Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Along with Ralston H. Deffenbaugh, Jr., President of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, and The Rev. Gerald L. Mansholt, Bishop of the Central States, Bishop Bouman calls on our leaders to make more faithful decisions about immigration in a piece entitled, What Would Jesus Say About Immigration. You can read it on www.MNYS.org. Click on Headlines and Scroll to In Other News.
Bible Society TV show features Koinonia NYC ministries
Koinonia NYC;s Faith Walks at Ground Zero have been featured on the national television show American Bible Society Presents. The show has aired, but can be viewed online at www.abspresents.com. Go to the home page and hit the episode button to view episode 25 aired April 1. Pr. Ann Tiemeyer, Koinonia NYC Director, and Lisa Ballan-Boyer did a wonderful job in expressing the tremendous impact of this Koinonia ministry. Ballan-Boyer was a primary developer of the Faith Walk program and is a regular Faith Walk leader. This Koinonia ministry is a unique and powerful witness to the crucified and risen Christ. For more information and a registration form go to www.KoinoniaNY.org, hit the button for Koinonia NYC and then scroll down to the Faith Walk section. To schedule a Faith Walk date call the Koinonia NYC office at 212-669-6130.
Go Direct and protect yourself
Last year alone, about 57,000 U.S. Treasury-issued checks were forged --nearly $54 million in estimated value. You can protect yourself from theft by signing up to have your federal benefit payment direct deposited into your checking or savings account. It's a small but important step that will help protect your family's income in case the unthinkable were to happen. LDRNY is working together with Go Direct, a national campaign sponsored by the Treasury and Federal Reserve Banks to encourage more Americans to
switch to direct deposit. Simply call the toll-free number at 800-333-1795, or sign up online by clicking on the Go-Direct banner on www.LDRNY.org. It takes just a few minutes and it can make a big difference in your financial safety. If you or those close to you are still receiving Social Security or other federal benefits by check, please consider switching to the safest, easiest option -- direct deposit -- today!
Trees wait to be planted at World Trade Center site
The WTC Memorial Foundation recently dug 31 sweetgum trees for the Memorial Plaza and transported them to a nursery in New Jersey, where they will continue to grow until they are planted at the World Trade Center site. To learn more about the Memorial and Museum and see additional photos of the trees for the Memorial Plaza, visit www.buildthememorial.org/trees.
Army sets up hotline for wounded soldiers and families
The Army has announced a toll-free number "Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline" at 1-800-984-8523. The hotline aims to provide Soldiers wounded and injured in the current war and their families with a resource to obtain outpatient-related assistance for issues they have not been able to resolve through their own chain of command or medical treatment facility; and to capture information from soldiers and their families on the quality of outpatient care, in order to ensure prompt and thorough response to concerns and to increase the reality and perception of soldiers receiving timely, quality care. The Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline will be initially staffed 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (EDT) Monday through Friday.
LDRNY planning to release 5-year report
LDRNY is producing a five-year annual report of the agency’s projects, programs and funding. It will be mailed to churches and partners soon.
Take a planned Faith Walk around Ground Zero
With summer almost here, it’s a good time to visit New York City. LDRNY partner Koinonia NYC invites you to take a Faith Walk around Ground Zero. Faith Walks are inspirational and educational tours of Ground Zero and surrounding landmarks, encouraging healing and hope in the face of despair. If you’re planning a trip to New York City, or want to read more about others’ experiences, go to www.LDRNY.org. Participants always report back that they liked the Faith Walk. Here is a comment from one person: "It was informative, very moving, and certainly uplifting. In your very kind and thoughtful manner, you put us all at ease. Your friendly way made us all able to participate and enjoy this opportunity."
Make a gift to LDRNY
LDRNY is grateful for the gifts it receives. You can earmark your gift to LDRNY for 9/11 assistance, programs for children, or wherever help is needed most. To send a gift, see the contact info below.
LDRNY contact info
To contact LDRNY, call 1-866-864-1600, or send an email to Mikki@ldrny.org. Visit the website for information on any of our programs – www.LDRNY.org.
LDRNY
22 Cortlandt St. 10007
New York, NY
1-866-864-1600
212-406-9736
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