September 9, 2011 Flooding Disaster Response Update
Upper Susquehanna Synod Bishop Robert L. Driesen has written a pastoral letter regarding this week’s flooding in our synod. He asks that pastors also share the letter with members of your congregation. You can access that letter by clicking or pasting the link below:
http://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/Floods-2011.pdf
The synod is also providing some worship resources that can be used this Sunday, September 11, 2011. These resources can be accessed by clicking or pasting the links below:
Worship Resources for Natural Disasters:
http://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Worship-Resource-for-Natural-Disasters.pdf
Prayers of Intercession in Response to Floods:
http://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Prayers-of-Intercession-in-Response-to-Floods.pdf
September 11th Tenth Anniversary Resources:
http://www.uss-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/9-11-tenth-anniversary.pdf
The Upper Susquehanna Synod’s Disaster Response Team met again on Friday, September 9, 2011. Bishop Driesen and the deans of the synod’s conferences met via conference call to update the flooding situation. The hardest hit areas seem to be in Columbia County in the Bloomsburg area; and Lycoming County in the Montoursville, Muncy, Hughesville, and Clarkstown areas. The synod office has also been in contact with our full communion partners to help coordinate response efforts. It is believed that work teams from out of our area, coordinated by Diakon Lutheran Social Services, will be coming to help with clean-up efforts in the next two weeks.
Pastors will meet with conference deans next week to continue to provide information to the synod about needs. As was shared yesterday, the synod is requesting the following:
- Pastors should be in contact with their respective conference deans to share information about conditions in their communities. Contact information is listed at the end of this message. Information shared with deans should include status updates on church buildings, homes of pastors and parishioners, and any other community needs.
- Congregations can begin to solicit monetary contributions for flood response. The synod office is now accepting donations to be used as relief efforts begin. Donations can be sent to the synod office, marked “Flood Response,” or can be submitted by adding the designation and amount to the normal Synodical Remittance Form. It is important to remember that at this stage, monetary donations can be used more readily than donations of items.
- If there are volunteers who would be willing to be part of work crews to help with clean-up efforts, that information should also be shared with conference deans so a coordinated effort can be organized.
Also participating in today’s meeting was Gary Hutchinson, Diakon Disaster Response Coordinator for our synod; Rev. Karl-John Stone, Assistant to the Bishop; and Chad Hershberger, Director of Communications for the synod. Bishop Driesen and the synod staff continue to hold all those affected by flooding in prayer. Updates will be shared via our synod e-mailing list, our website (www.uss-elca.org) and our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/usselca).
CONFERENCE DEAN CONTACT INFORMATION
Please use e-mail when possible to report information
Buffalo Valley
Pastor Jill Seagle: pastorjills@windstream.net
(W) 570-538-2015; (H) 570-538-2141; (Cell) 570-713-7359
Juniata Valley
(Dean Gary Roth is out of town this week. Please contact Pastor Mathiason)
Pastor Chris Mathiason: Cmathiason001@luthersem.edu
(H) 717-463-2490; (Cell) 570-829-5237
Middle Creek
Pastor Wayne Muthler: pwayne@ptd.net or wmuthler@ptd.net
(W) 570-743-3052; (H) 570-743-2311; (Cell) 570-850-5830
North Branch
Pastor Chad Hebrink: pastorchad@verizon.net
(W) 570-752-3196; (H) 570-759-0177; (Cell) 570-204-1262
Tulpehocken
Pastor Constantine Havir: revhavir@yahoo.com
(W) 570-286-5125; (Cell) 570-847-8737
West Branch
Pastor Gunther Bernhardt: prbernhardt@gmail.com
(W) 570-547-1170; (H) 570-547-7150
