Congregations and districts contribute to tsunami relief.

Brethren individuals, congregations, districts, and colleges are collecting funds and material supplies to support the denomination's response to the tsunami. Here is a sampling:

Naperville (Ill.) Church of the Brethren, where up to 85 percent of the congregation are from India, have held three Sunday collections for tsunami relief. A total of $1,072 has been raised for the General Board's Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF).

In impromptu offerings on Sunday Jan. 2, Ridge Church of the Brethren in Shippensburg, Pa., raised more than $2,500, and Mount Morris (Ill.) Church of the Brethren raised $983. "This is a disaster of monumental proportions. If everybody does something, it will help," Ridge pastor Harold Yeager told the "Carlisle Sentinel" newspaper.

Skippack Church of the Brethren in Collegeville, Pa.; Green Tree Church of the Brethren in Oaks, Pa.; Providence Church of the Brethren in Royersford, Pa.; and Lower Skippack Mennonite Church held a joint service for tsunami relief Jan. 19. The Skippack congregation hosted the event. Pastors from the four churches conducted the service, which included special music, reflection, and prayer. The message was delivered by Skippack pastor Larry O'Neill. An offering was taken for Church World Service and Flood Relief.

Fair-View Church of the Brethren in Masontown, Pa., hosted a tsunami relief service on Sunday Jan. 23, which was sponsored by the Klondike Clergy Association.

Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Ill., is foregoing dessert at its Wednesday Common Meals during January—the money saved is going to the EDF for tsunami relief.

Frederick (Md.) Church of the Brethren brought a truckload of 1,400 Gift of the Heart Health Kits to the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., on Jan. 10. Among others collecting kits are First Church of the Brethren in Flint, Mich., which posted a note in "The Flint Journal" alerting the community that it will collect Health Kits through Jan. 24; Water Street Church of the Brethren in Kent, Ohio, which informed the "Beacon Journal" that it was accepting donations for Health Kits; and Northern Colorado Church of the Brethren in Windsor, Colo., where six Health Kits and six School Kits had been made up as of Jan. 13.

As of Jan. 14, Virlina District received $18,893.60 from special offerings, individuals, and groups associated with 24 different congregations. The district has distributed $15,190.60 to the Emergency Response/Service Ministries of the General Board.

At least two of the Brethren-related colleges are collecting donations for the EDF. Neighbors and friends of Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., have helped collect $5,400, according to the school's website at www.manchester.edu. The cash and check collection in the Business Office will continue until Feb. 1. On Jan. 20, members of the Manchester community gathered with 45 members of the African History class of Dr. Benson C. Onyeji for a brief reflection on the tragedy and a moment of silence. The Elizabethtown (Pa.) College Center for Global Citizenship is working with Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren to seek monetary donations as well as School, Health, and Medicine Kits, according to the "Elizabethtown Chronicle." The Business Office is collecting donations, the Office of Service-Learning is distributing kit instructions, and the Student Center is collecting kits.

Schools in Carroll County, Md., in the area around the Brethren Service Center, are holding fundraisers for the tsunami relief work being done at the center and collecting Gift of the Heart kits to be shipped from the center. Freedom Elementary is doing a "Health Kits Bring Hope" project; pupils at East Middle are assembling Health, School, and Baby Kits; West Middle is selling candy to help the center purchase and ship supplies, and is collecting Health Kits; Oklahoma Road Middle is collecting Health Kits; South Carroll High is collecting donations for the EDF; and the Board of Education offices has organized a Health Kit drive for employees.

Source: 01/21/2005 Newsline
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