2010 Lenten Devotional Guide

The deadline has been extended for contributions to this year's Lenten Devotional Guide. Kindly put together one or more devotional pieces -- they needn't be long -- and drop them in Shereen Silwowski's mail folder in the church hallway by the end of the week.

This year's theme is your personal portrait of Jesus. Write a few lines on how you see him and why, using a Bible verse for context. You may focus on Jesus' role as a teacher, a healer, the Son of God, the King of Kings, your personal savior, the Messiah, or humble servant, God made Man, the Risen Christ, or something else?

If you need help picking a verse, the Bible Bulletin Board offers this list of Bible verses dealing with Jesus. If you need other help with your reflection, contact Shereen or Elizabeth, or contact Reverend Loril through the church office at 732-566-2663.

Please use the following basic format for your devotional piece:

Luke 18:16 "Then Jesus called for the children and ... Let the children come to me. For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

I see myself sitting at the feet of Jesus or gathered in his arms, feeling the love and devotion of a father towards his child. This verse inspires in me a feeling of reciprocal trust, acceptance, and unconditional love. An approachable parent with his obedient son or daughter.

Please help keep this annual devotional guide's tradition alive.

Haiti Update as of 31 January 2010

Randy Ackley, coordinator of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has published a video update for Presbyterian congregations discussing their long term strategy to support the people in Haiti and how local churches can help at this point in the process.

PDA has also published the following notices in recent days:

Help is on the way – what is needed, what is not

(Photo, right: The people of Haiti work together to distribute relief supplies. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, ACT.) Presbyterian Disaster Assistance continues to respond in Haiti. As of January 28, 2010, in addition to a key expert being assigned to Haiti to carry out assessments, $409,000 has been sent to assist with emergency needs. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is responding as a member of the ACT Alliance (ACT.)

The response in Haiti is still in the relatively early phase of emergency relief. The most effective way to respond is through financial support. PDA is not requesting material aid, other than the preparation of Gift of the Heart hygiene and baby kits, to replenish the supply after more than 35,000 kits have been directed to Haiti. Volunteers are not requested at this time.

Relief distributions

As of January 27, relief services through ACT partners include:

• distribution of clean water; installation of latrines; health/hygiene team
• provision of hot meals and/or funding to purchase meals
• health and nutrition clinics
• food distribution and assistance for people with disabilities
• hygiene kits, baby kits, blankets
• medicines

According to the January 27 OCHA report, the government is reporting more than 260,000 people who have left the earthquake-affected areas, moving to departments in the north and south. While Leogane was affected, the Hôpital Sainte Croix is functional, and together with the Faculte des Sciences Infirmiere l’Universite Episcopale d’Haiti (FSIL) nursing school is offering support to those injured. PDA is supporting these entities as they work with people injured during the earthquake.

Upcoming needs

As assessments continue, needs for intermediate support and long term recovery assistance will become more clearly defined. Updates will be provided on the needs and the response. Some of the needs being identified at this time include:

• Food preparation items and cooking facilities, for people to prepare locally purchased foods
• Support for restoring livelihoods
• Options for shelter
• Community based psychosocial support
• Staff care
• Rehabilitation services

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance will continue to care for those in need, regardless of religion, race, creed, or nationality of the recipients. The coordinated response will include (but may not be limited to) the areas of relief, education, psychosocial support, water and sanitation and disaster preparedness.

Message concerning Haitian orphans

(Photo, right: A family in Haiti affected by the quake. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, ACT.) Randy Ackley, coordinator for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, urges caution when reading and sharing information about children left — presumably — orphaned by the January 12 earthquake in Haiti.

This report does not refer to the issue of orphans who were already in the process of adoption prior to the earthquake. Some of these are the children you might see on news reports or other communications, as they arrive in the United States.

Caution is needed when dealing with other children in the disaster area. Frequently, well meaning people and organizations rush to get the children out of harm’s way and into the arms of well meaning adoptive parents. Unfortunately, there are often issues related to the fact that the children may actually still have caring and concerned family, even parents, in the disaster area who were separated due to the event. Taking such children out of their own communities in these circumstances does not do them a service when they have caring family who would eventually find them.

Another issue is to watch for the security of the children, to avoid not-so-well-meaning people preying on vulnerable children following a disaster.Protection of children should be a key issue for all of us, and sending them out of their home area may not be the appropriate answer.

As media gives attention to various aspects of humanitarian care for disaster survivors, please be aware that underlying issues must sometimes be considered when discerning how to best serve the most vulnerable people. As assessments and the Haiti response continues, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), through PDA, will make every effort to support the children of Haiti affected by this disaster in an effective and appropriate response.

ECPAT has prepared a manual about protecting children from trafficking and sexual violence during emergencies. ECPAT is a network of organizations and individuals working together to ensure that children around the world are free from commercial sexual exploitation.

There is much, much more to be done.  PDA is asking us to stand in the GAP for disaster survivors as we Give, Act, and Pray for Haiti and its people.

Mission, Worship, and Music Are the Focus at First Pres Muncie

The Reverend Ronald Naylor, is celebrating 25 years in the pulpit at the First Presbyterian Church in Muncie, Indiana, according to The Star Press. First Pres is his fourth pastorate, having previously served in Rushville, Indiana; Greenville, Ohio; and Port Huron, Michigan. He earned his masters of theology from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Founded in 1828, First Pres is the second oldest church in town, but the congregation remains quite vibrant in mission. With $189,000 in total mission giving last year (25% of overall contributions), the church's 686 members are able to be very active in both worldwide and local mission. The congregation has been able to send Reverend Naylor on 6 mission trips to Haiti, as well as on visits to Honduras and Mexico. They've sent him to Central Europe, even the Vatican. The church is also involved in Korea, not only because it has a sister congregation in Korea with over 10,000 members, but because an associate pastor conducts services for a contingent of 115 Korean worshipers in Muncie.

The church focuses much attention on its worship and music programs. It has a second associate pastor with extensive experience in music and youth; an organist who also serves as music coordinator; and a worship and music leader with a strong background in music.

Reverend Naylor is to be congratulated on his fine stewardship of what sounds like a wonderful congregation. You probably would have made a fine lawyer, but we're confident you've found your niche.

Donations Needed for Veterans Home

FPC Matawan is collecting donations for our 7th annual Valentine's Day visit to the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home in Menlo Park. Items are being collected through 10 February. The facility has approximately 290 veterans in residence, including 30 females. It would be nice to have Valentines for each.

Donations of the following goods or checks made out to the church earmarked for "Veterans" are sought:

Personal Items

• Electric razors
• Writing tablets and pens
• Hair brushes and combs
• Wheelchair bags, cupholders, and gloves
• Toothbrushes
• Large-face or talking watches
• Sunglasses
• Tissues

Clothing Items

• Sweatpants (L-XXXL)
• White tube socks
• Throws, shawls, Afghans (twin-sized)
• Baseball caps
• Decorative T-shirts
• Short sleeved shirts
• Sweaters (button-up, zip up)
• Winter gloves and hats

Recreational Items

• Arts and crafts supplies
• Sports equipment
• Movies (DVD or VHS)
• Music and relaxation recordings (CD or tape)
• Books (large print or audio), including Chicken Soup for the Soul
• Magazines and puzzle books (large print, if available)
• Board games
• Video games (CD)
• Clock radios and talking clocks
• Universal remotes
• Wind chimes and mobiles

Around the corner, around the Country

New Holland Presbyterian church is pleased to announce, that an organization that meets at their church, the Reciprocal Language Partnership, has received a $6,000 grant from the PCUSA. The English as a Second Language program partners native English speakers seeking to learn Spanish with native Spanish speakers seeking to learn English.

Looking for Presbyterians resources, reading material and manuals? Check out Discipleship Resource Center's Online Catalog for ideas and ordering. This contains theology books, Hymnals, and Books of Worship, including some works in other languages.

Feeling Like You Have Too Much to Do? Talk to Micaiah.

Micaiah Thomas, a 20 year old Spanish major at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, is probably doing a bit more than you did at her age. She not only goes to school, she serves as full time pastor of the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Hueytown. She preaches, handles funerals, etc, etc. Once she graduates, she hopes to become a missionary like her father. Read her story at Tuscaloosa News.

Presbyterian News - 18 January 2010

The following items were gleaned by the Presbyterian News service and from the PCUSA web site:
* January was declared "Prevent Human Trafficking" month by President Obama.

* Discover an Old Country, and travel to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, June 13-24 and September 12-23,2010. The cost is $2500 per trip.

* January 18, 2010, feature's the Presbytery of Beaver-Butler in the Mission Yearbook. It's not too late to purchase your 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study. This year's theme is "What a Difference A Day Makes", and features a 16-page color insert lifting up the mission work of Presbyterian Women. If you missed the bulk order the church made, you can buy a single copy for $9.25 by downloading an order form or ordering online.

Info Updates as of January 15, 2010 - Haiti

In a PCUSA news release today, good news was heard about four missionary teams and several missionaries. Property was another matter entirely:
* A 20 person medical missionary team from Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church, Lawrenceville, NJ arrived just before the quake occurred for a previously arranged medical mission and went right to work.
* A group from First Presbyterian Church in Atlanta is reported accounted for near Port-au-Prince, and is helping with disaster relief as they plan the best route to come home.
* A third group from Warrenton Presbyterian Church (VA) is well and accounted for about 70 miles away from Port-au-Prince.
* A fourth mission team from First Presbyterian Church in Lacrosse, WI (facebook link) was in Haiti on medical mission work when the earthquake hit, and is planning to return home soon.

A PCUSA-related Hospital, Sainte Croix, in Leogante, was destroyed.

Update on Missionaries Babe and Hare

Missionary Sharyn Babe is recuperating in Fort Lauderdale, FL from a leg injury suffered from the collapse of her apartment building. Her husband Rodney suffered minor injuries and is attempting to make his way to Ft. Lauderdale.

Mark Hare and his wife Susan are safe and accounted for in Papay, a town 100 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - The PCUSA has already donated $100,000 from One Great Hour of Sharing funds to help with the immediate crisis needs. PDA is accepting donations through PDA account number DR000064. Gifts can also be made by calling Presbytel toll-free 800-872-3283 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. (EST) and checks can be mailed to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, Penn. 15264-3700. Most congregations are also receiving donations during worship services this weekend.

Local Community Resources for Haiti Relief

To pass on to people you know, or provide nonperishable food supplies:

Current as of January 14, 2010

Financial Donations
Donations to the International Response Fund can be sent to the

American Red Cross
P.O. Box 37243
Washington, D.C. 20013

or made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org <http://www.redcross.org/>

Donation of Goods
Medical (first aid) supplies and nonperishable foods may be dropped off to Christian Louis, Coalition for Haitian American Empowerment of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. He can be reached at 732-455-5546 or 732-492-0360. The drop off location is at 1310 Asbury Ave. in Asbury Park. They plan to ship out supplies next week.
Sisters Academy is serving as a drop-off center for goods from 1/14-1/16, 8a-4p; goods include tables, water purification systems, and clothes. Sisters Academy is located at 1416 Springwood Ave. Asbury Park, NJ 732-774-9056.

Locating Family Members
Red Cross Family Links Website through ICRC: http://www.icrc.org/familylinks

Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network. SATERN has volunteers that have been monitoring Ham radios all night for info coming from the area. Should anyone be looking to locate a loved one or get any info on someone they can register at www.qso.com <http://www.qso.com/> and go to "health and welfare registry".
Russ Hendrickson. KC2VFH

People trying to locate U.S. citizens living or traveling in Haiti should contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747 or 202-647-5225.

Another Mission Worker in Haiti Sharyn Babe

As the Presbyterian World Mission team works to ascertain the status on their missionaries to Haiti, please keep Sharyn Babe in your prayers, along with Mark Hare.
Sharyn has a site on Mission Connections that you can follow to see what she's been up to there since 1987. Sharyn is pictured below with her husband, Rodney.

News Update on Earthquake

I received an email after the original post on the PCUSA response to the earthquake in Haiti.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is working to provide relief.  Donations are welcome.

In addition, the local chapter of the American Red Cross is seeking to provide assistance and grief counseling to identified Haitian residents living in the Monmouth and Ocean County areas.  The largest identifiable populations are in Asbury Park and Neptune.  They have notified churches in that area that ARC is ready to help.  The contact at the Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross is Cleo Hendrickson, Director of Community Initiatives, phone 732-493-9100.

Haiti Hit by Massive Earthquake

A massive earthquake, registering 7.0 in magnitude rocked the Caribbean country of Haiti on Tuesday. The Associate Press reported this morning the quake, the strongest in 200 years, has resulted in near complete devastation, affecting perhaps 3 million people. Many international agencies are coordinating to help.

Stateside, Haitian immigrants living in the United States are praying and hoping for the best at this time.

As of this morning, the Presbyterian Church has not issued a news release on PCUSA's role in helping. Presbyterian Mission Connections has a site featuring Mark Hare, a missionary sent to Haiti in 2004 to help with MPP, a 30 year old farmer's cooperative to help reinforce their agricultural work. Mark has many photos and stories about his work in his blog. I've taken the liberty of posting one of those photos here (see above).

Many organizations will be providing relief to Haiti at this time. MSNBC has a list of many groups that are active in the nation and will gladly accept donations. Among them are the American Red Cross which will be providing $200,000 immediate support to the Haitian relief effort, to help with food, water, temporary shelter and emotional support.

You can follow the Presbyterian News Service to see what the response from PCUSA will be in the near future.