South Asia Tsunami Relief
Link
to International Aid Groups
A
collect for victims of the 2004 tsunami in South Asia
Our
Chaplains Respond
Chaplain
QuikNote - Update on South Asian Relief Efforts
05 January 2005
Dear OBSC Family:
“Doctors
Without Borders” has announced today they are not accepting
any more donations for South Asian relief. If you would continue
to donate to Episcopal Relief
and Development they would appreciate it. Many of you
have helped in the past week. Thanks and again thanks.
Our office is in
contact with the Navy Chief of Chaplains Executive Assistant,
Chaplain Smith, on updates of the Joint Task Force for South
Asian relief efforts. I share what we have heard:
As of 30 December
2004, the military has established a Joint Task Force for
this operation under III Marine Expeditionary Force Commander
in Thailand. USS Abraham Lincoln battle group is heading in
Sri Lanka operation area and the Air Force is setting up areas,
too. C130s are carrying relief into the area because they
don’t need much space to land, as many of you know.
P3s are doing air surveillance by camera to get data on conditions.
The Navy in the region of Korea and Japan especially is coordinating
the Joint effort. Unit chaplains are heading into the Area
of Operation (AOR).
As of 3 January
2005, Chaplain Smith indicated that the overall structure
is the same with a second battle group in the area on a large
helicopter platform. The level of commitment has gone up significantly.
More chaplains are entering the AOR. The stretch of the Armed
Services with two war fronts and this relief is huge. Fortunately
the yearly exercise COBRA GOLD in this region with the different
countries with III Marine Expeditionary Force taking the lead
made the relief effort start-up appear seamless.
I raise
up your ministries in prayer in this New Year,
The Rev.
Gary J. Parker
Bishop's
Notebook
29 December 2004
Holy Innocents
In the
midst of Christmas 2004 are two "Holy Innocent"
days. The one is our traditional one and the other is unfolding
in the Indian Ocean with the countless tens-of-thousands of
innocent children's deaths. The death toll from the tsunamis
continues to rise, with more than 80,00 people reported dead
at this time. The State Department and UN are briefing the
world right at this moment. President Bush has announced a
tsunami aid coalition.
Relief
organizations are distributing medical supplies to prevent
the outbreak of disease, but their main focus is dealing with
the wounded. There could be as many dying from communicable
diseases as from the tsunami. With the lack of clean water
and sanitation, the initial terror associated with the tsunamis
and the earthquake itself may be dwarfed by the longer term
suffering in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and the
Maldives. Than there is Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Somalia,
Tanzania, Seychelles, and Kenya who have reported deaths as
the tsunami crossed the Indian Ocean on Sunday.
This Quiknote
is an urgent appeal from Bishop Packard to contribute if you
will to the Episcopal Relief and Development fund or the Doctors
Without Borders. Our church has reached out to the affected
dioceses and will provide more aid in the coming months. This
office has come in contact many times with Doctors Without
Borders through our bishop's travels. It was founded in 1971
by a small group of French doctors who believed all people
have the right to medical care regardless of race, religion,
creed or political affiliation, and that the needs of these
people supersede respect for national borders.
The need
is huge and we ask in this Season for your assistance. The
links below are for your consideration.
Blessings
upon you and your families and ministries in the coming year.
The Rev.
Gary J. Parker
Director
for Veteran Affairs, Healthcare, Prison, Emergency Response
and Maritime Chaplaincies
How
You Can Help:
Doctors
Without Borders
Episcopal Relief and Development
Our
Chaplains Respond:
“
I
appreciate the note that just came to my e-mail re the Tsunami
and it's devastation. The area it affected in India is the
southeast coast, Madras and the province/ state of Tamil Nandu.
I was scheduled to go to the CSI Diocese of Madras Synod Jan
12-16 then to do pastoral care teaching as I did last year.
This changes the nature of my visitation radically. I will
be doing the hard work of relief and grief counseling now.
Please pray for me and for the people of the Diocese of Madras.....”
“Let
the Bishop know we sent $200 to ERD — all we could afford
right now, since I'm no longer getting a salary (and $150
of it was from "Christmas money" my wife received
to buy clothes — bless her, it was her idea).....”
“We're
putting out an update today, asking for parishes to do a special
collection this Sunday. Doctors Without Borders will be one
of the suggested recipients. Thanks for your fast thinking....!”
“Thank you for the information in your 29 Dec. '04 e-mail.
We intend to contribute $100 to ER-D for this purpose. The
need is staggering, our help so small.....”
“Thank you. I hope to make a collective contribution
through our local parish on Sunday. The Episcopal Relief Fund
and Doctors Without Borders do wonderful work in time of disasters.....”
A
collect for victims of the 2004 tsunami in South Asia
Contributed by Timothy Dombek, St James Church, Greenville,
South Carolina, USA
O
merciful Father, you have taught us in your holy Word
that you do not willingly afflict or grieve the children
of humanity: Look with pity upon the sorrows of the
people of Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia,
the Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Somalia and the inhabitants
of islands around the Indian Ocean affected by the earthquake
and tsunami waves, for whom our prayers are offered.
Remember in mercy these, your children, O Lord, created
in your image; nourish their souls with patience, comfort
them with a sense of your goodness, lift up your countenance
upon them, and give them hope.
Stir
the leaders and peoples of the nations of the world
to a compassionate and generous response: that we may
give swift medical attention to the injured and dying;
safe shelter to the homeless; clothing to the naked;
food and clean water to those who hunger and thirst.
Bless
all those whose lives were lost, comfort all families
in grief and uncertainty, and receive the souls of the
unknown dead.
We
make this prayer through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen
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