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Southeastern Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
God's work. Our hands. 
 

E-News Special


May 3, 2011
Storm Damage Situation Update
  

se tornadosToday, Bishop H. Julian Gordy of the Southeastern Synod met with representatives from social ministry organizations in Georiga and Tennessee to review the disaster response situation in the synod.  He meets with representatives from Alabama and Mississippi tomorrow.

 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency reports the following for Tuesday, May 3:

 

Alabama

The Alabama Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains at Level I (Full Activation). As of May 2, there were a total 236 fatalities with 2,219 injured and 7 people missing in Alabama. Approximately 2,650 National Guardsmen have been activated across the state. As of May 2, approximately 150,000 customers were without power. As of May 2, the American Red Cross (ARC) reports 17 shelters open with 406 occupants. 

 

Georgia

The Georgia EOC is at Level II (Partial Activation). As of May 2, the total number of fatalities stands at 15 with 115 injuries reported.  As of May 2, approximately 1,401 customers remain without power. As of May 2, the ARC reports 3 shelters open with 18 occupants.

 

Mississippi

The Mississippi EOC remains at Level I (Full Activation). A total of 35 fatalities and 176 injuries have been reported. As of May 2, the ARC reports 2 shelters are open with 57 occupants.

 

Tennessee

The Tennessee EOC is at Level III (Emergency/Minor Disaster). There are 36 confirmed fatalities and 94 injuries. As of May 2, there were 23,749 customers without power.  As of May 2, the ARC reports 12 shelters open with 104 occupants.

 

 

Bishop Gordy has appointed the Rev. Deborah Halter as Pastor for Congregational Support in Alabama.  Pastor Halter will begin working immediately as a resource person for congregations affected.   

 

Many offers of volunteer assistance have been received from all around the country.  Bishop Gordy and synod Disaster Response coordinator, Sandra Braasch, are working with all of the social ministry organizations within the synod to begin the receipt of volunteer assistance and donations. 

 

Monetary donations can be accepted now, through several different channels:

 

Gifts to ELCA Domestic Disaster Response will be used entirely to respond to a series of spring storms, including tornados and floods. Gifts may be contributed at http://www.ELCA.org/disaster/storms on the ELCA website. Gifts may also be contributed by calling 800-638-3522, or by mail to ELCA Disaster Response, 39330 Treasury Center, Chicago, IL 60694-9300. Please write "U.S. Severe Storms" on your check's memo line.

 

Gifts can be mailed to the synod office for tornado relief within the synod.  Mail to ELCA-Southeastern Synod,  100 Edgewood Ave, Suite 1600, Atlanta, GA  30303.

 

If you wish your gift to be confined to use in a particular state, you may send contributions to a social ministry organization in that state:

  

Alabama 

Lutheran Ministries of Alabama
720 Shades Creek Parkway
Homewood, AL  35209

 

Georgia

Lutheran Services of Georgia
1330 W Peachtree Street, NW Ste 300
Atlanta, GA  30309-2904

 

All Things New Ministry

5555 Grove Place Crossing
Lilburn, GA  30047

 

MIssissippi

Lutheran Episcopal Services In Mississippi
P O Box 23815
Jackson, MS  39225-3815

 

Tennessee

Lutheran Services in Tennessee

P O Box 60597

Nashville, TN  37206-0597

  

 

 

 

Worship Among the Ruins

  
good shepherd window

Photo of Good Shepherd window in narthex of Christ Lutheran Church, miraculously untouched by devastation it reflects.  Photo by Luke Niiler

 

About 70 members of Christ Lutheran Church, Cullman, AL, gathered for worship Sunday, May 1, 2011 at St John's Protestant Church, in the next block over from the ruins of their former building, destroyed in the storms that ravaged the southeast the week of April 25. 

 

Pastor Sandy Niiler led an informal and heartfelt service.  Following a brief meditation, Pastor Niiler invited worshipers to share their thoughts.  The sharing included survival stories, affirmations of the past ministries of the congregation and resilient words of hope.   Members told the story of how the processional cross from Christ was found several blocks from the church.  It landed in the yard of an Episcopalian family.  They recognized that it was a processional cross and that it had to be from a liturgical church, almost certainly Christ Lutheran Church.  It was returned to the grateful congregation.

The organist related that, while the tornado tore apart the bricks, beams and windows of Christ Lutheran in Cullman, her glasses and the little cup of mints next to the organ bench remained undisturbed.

Prs Darrel and SandyPastor Darrel Peterson, Assistant to the Bishop in the Southeastern Synod, was on hand to give support.  He reported, "There was no electricity so we worshiped in relative darkness, with several large candles lighting the altar area.  The worship responses were spoken from memory as best we could.  We sang a familiar hymn from their Easter Sundays service and we closed with Jesus Loves Me."

Pastor Niiler reported that ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson called her Thursday evening just as she was preparing for bed.   He assured Pastor Niiler that she and the people of Christ Lutheran Church are not alone.    

ruinsMany around the room shared this sentiment, expressing thoughts and feelings with a real sense of hope in their comments.   There was a young couple present whose wedding was to have been June 11 at Christ. The wedding will go on...place to be determined.   The parishioners expressed gratitude to Pastor Peterson for the support of the Synod and ELCA.  Many said they could feel the prayers supporting them.  After worship, many members gathered around the ruins, continuing the conversations.