LDRNY Eletter | Eletter Archive
Dear Friends of Lutheran Disaster Response of New York:
Here’s the September 8th edition of Comfort & Renew Online, a weekly e-newsletter provided by LDRNY. If you have something to share, please drop an email to mikki@LDRNY.org .
LDRNY leadership reflects on Sept. 11 five years later
LDRNY leaders Bishop Bouman and President Benke share their thoughts and reflections on the fifth commemoration of Sept. 11. To read their words, go to www.LDRNY.org.
LDRNY hosts 5th commemoration at Holy Trinity, Manhattan, tonight
Lutherans from around the metropolitan New York area will meet tonight (Sept. 8), at Holy Trinity, Manhattan, to mark the fifth anniversary of Sept. 11. The commemoration event is sponsored by LDRNY, a joint ministry of the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod to help those affected by Sept. 11. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and includes special music and reflections from the Rev. Dr. Stephen P. Bouman, Bishop of the Synod and President of LDRNY, and the Rev. Dr. David H. Benke, President of the District and Vice President of LDRNY. To read the full news release, go to www.LDRNY.org and click on News.
LDRNY partner produces film about recovery from trauma
A partner of Lutheran Disaster Response of New York, David Grand, Ph.D., clinical director of Faithful Response, has made a documentary that focuses on recovery after traumas such as Sept. 11. Dr. Grand is a reknowned therapist who worked with many survivors and families of Sept. 11. His film, Come Hell or High Water, will be screened on Sept. 11, 6 p.m. at the Interchurch Center in Manhattan, home of the Synod office. Dr. Grand follows the lives of three people who have faced unimaginable losses from tragedies, and joins them as they travel on a healing journey to New Orleans to meet and support Katrina survivors. All are invited. For more information, go to www.LDRNY.org and click on Top News.
Ways to mark the fifth anniversary of Sept. 11
- Messiah, Flushing, Sept. 10, 10:30 a.m., Liturgy of Remembrance at the Eucharist
- Holy Trinity, Manhattan, Sept. 10, 5 p.m., Bach Vespers
- Ascension, Glendale, Sept. 10, special Litany of Remembrance included in the Service of Worship and Holy Communion.
- Trinity, Brewster, will be open on Sept. 11 for prayer from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Taize Prayers will be from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
-Gloria Dei, New Hyde Park, Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m., Candlelight Vigil for Prayer and Remembrance.
-Calvary, the Bronx, Sept. 11, prayer from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Meditative readings every half hour, with recorded music.
-Lutheran Elementary School of Bay Ridge, a ministry of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Sept. 11, 9 a.m., a service of word and prayer opening the school year and remembering 9/11.
- Ascension, Franklin Square, Sept. 11, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., prayers/reflection. 7 p.m. Holden Evening Prayer, 7 p.m.
- First Lutheran, Throggs Neck, and the Waterbury/Lasalle Association, commemoration service at 7 p.m. (patriotic songs, children's choir, candlelight vigil, sermon: Ulf Lunow). 718-829 0650.
- Our Saviour, Jamaica, Sept. 11, 8 p.m., Service of Remembrance and Hope
- Holy Trinity, Flatbush, joint service with St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Church, Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m., with a candlelight procession from Holy Trinity.
- 9/11 Unity Walk, Sept. 11, from Union Square Park to The World Trade Center Site. Convene at 5-5:30 p.m. at Union Square Park (the SW corner near the Gandhi statue). For more information or to volunteer, call Religions For Peace USA 212-338-9140 or e-mail: kmclark2@gmail.com Please no signs or protests.
- Screening of LDRNY film on trauma, Sept. 11, 6 p.m., Interchurch Center
FOR A MORE COMPLETE LIST, go to www.LDRNY.org and click on Top News.
Faithful Response offers preparedness brochures
If your area experienced a hurricane, would you be prepared? Would you know what to do? Faithful Response, an LDRNY partner, has created a series of preparedness brochures. These brochures were designed to help you begin to take the steps necessary to protect your family, business, school and house of worship. Just last week, the New York area was hit with the remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto. Even though Ernesto was considered a low-pressure system, winds and rain created chaos for many communities. Power was interrupted, trees were down and flooding blocked many roadways. Even though we know it is important to be prepared, more than 90 percent of businesses and 80 percent of home owners have yet to begin implementing a preparedness plan. Are you one of these families or businesses? It is not to late. You can order these brochures by calling 516-679-0080 or e-mailing Help@faithfulresponse.org.
Committee on Immigration offers briefing on the laws
The Metropolitan New York Synod is hosting a briefing on immigration law, offered by the Committee on Immigration, Sept. 9, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Seafarer's & International House, 123 East 15th St., Manhattan. Information will be provided on the basic terms and forms of immigration law, including what church leaders can do and how to refer a person. It also will include discussion of counseling migrants, reaching out, and ministering to the migrant community. The event will be led by immigration lawyer Jon Whitfield, Esq. For more information on this committee, go to
http://www.mnys.org/Resources/Resources_immigration.html
FEMA provides flooding information
FEMA offers many useful publications to help New Yorkers rebuild
their flood damaged homes. Download them from
www.fema.gov or order toll-free at
1-800-480-2520.
Flooding assistance deadline extended
The deadlines have been extended to register for assistance to help aid recovery from uninsured or under-insured losses stemming from the late-June flooding. Registrations for the New York State Individual and Family Grant Program and federal aid, as well as programs administered by Empire State Development Corporation, will now be accepted until Oct. 2. For the New York State Individual and Family Grant Program, call 1-888-7-NYS-AID (1-888-769-7243) or TTY: NYS Relay 711. Lines are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Flood victims can also register online at
www.labor.state.ny.us <http://www.labor.state.ny.us/> . New York State's Helpline number is 1-888-329-7540 (open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Saturday). For more information on flood recovery assistance
programs managed by the Empire State Development Corporation, call 1-800-STATE-NY or go online at www.empire.state.ny.us/flood_grant.
Shop for a cause!
Mark Saturday, September 16 as the day to shop at Macy’s - any Macy's nationwide- to benefit Faithful Response. Contact Joan or Michael at the Faithful Response office (faithfulresponse@ldrny.org) to buy a $5 ticket. Your ticket then gets you 10-20% off your purchases at Macy’s.
LDRNY, Faithful Response plan pastoral retreat this fall
LDRNY and its partner, Faithful Response, are planning a retreat " Strategies for Pastors During Times of Crisis and Anxiety" -- Nov. 13-15, with Lutheran pastor and psychotherapist Dr. Peter Steinke as the keynoter. Dr. Steinke is an expert on family systems theory, and is often called upon to discuss how pastors can take care of themselves during crisis. Watch this eletter for details on the retreat.
LDR posts "What a Relief" video
Lutheran Disaster Response, in cooperation with the ELCA Communication Services unit, has produced a video to document the alternative spring break efforts of college students along the Gulf Coast. In March, nearly 1,100 college students from 54 different schools participated in the first-ever Lutheran Disaster Response "What a Relief!" spring break. The students lived and worked for a week in locations all along the Gulf Coast as part of the long-term recovery from the 2005 hurricane season. To watch the video, go to www.LDRNY.org and click on Top News.
LDR seeks volunteers to rebuild after hurricanes
It's almost a year since Hurricane Katrina, and another hurricane season is upon us, but the rebuilding work from the 2004 and 2005 storms is far from over. Lutheran Disaster Response is committed to the long-term recovery of the areas affected by these disasters -- a commitment that could last as many as 10 years. Volunteers are needed at LDR sites in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Volunteers must be 16 or older, in good health, have a good attitude, and be willing to work hard. The conditions, especially with summer's heat and humidity, are less than glamorous. But the work is rewarding. If you're interested in putting together a work crew, visit www.ldr.org/volunteer.
Red Cross still provides 9/11 aid
As the fifth anniversary of Sept. 11 approaches, the American Red Cross reminds you that people affected by this tragedy can still receive financial assistance if they need it for mental health and substance abuse treatment. The deadline to enroll in the 9/11 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Program is Jan. 2, 2007. More than 10,000 people have already enrolled. Visit www.9-11mentalhealth.org.
Pace University hosts 9/11 conference
Pace University, near the LDRNY Comfort and Renew Center in Lower Manhattan, will host a conference Sept. 6-8 entitled"AfterShock." ? The event will focus broadly on the consequences of 9/11, and will include forums,
presentations, and an exhibition on rescue, recovery, and response. To receive complimentary admission, you
are encouraged to pre-register at www.pace.ed/aftershock.
Does your church want to learn about preparedness?
Michael Arcari, program director for Faithful Response, an LDRNY partner, is available to discuss disaster preparedness at your church. He can discuss how to be prepared, along with showing what goes into a Go Bag, or a topic of special interest to you. To schedule a talk at your church, call Arcari at 516-679-0080, or faithfulresponse@ldrny.org. Visit www.LDRNY.org
Take a planned Faith Walk around Ground Zero
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. If you’d like to make a donation to honor or memorialize someone, send a check to LDRNY at the address below. Tell us who should be notified of the gift, and please provide an address. Thrivent members will have their gift matched.
You may now make a gift to support the work of LDRNY among the hidden victims of Sept. 11 online, thanks to Lutheran Community Foundation’s Charity Finder. Go to
http://www.thelcf.org/donors/charityfinder_details.asp?charity_id=145
Events, programs and training on www.LDRNY.org
You’re reminded to check the LDRNY.org website often for a complete listing of events taking place around Ground Zero and in lower Manhattan, and for programs and training relating to 9/11. They’re listed here: http://www.ldrny.org/comfort/comfort3.asp
Helpful sites you may want to visit
• Lifenet www.9-11MentalHealth.org 1-800-LIFENET.
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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