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United Methodists offer resources to help people 'Be the Hope'

Sep. 23, 2005	 News media contact:   * ( ) * {531}

NOTE: Photographs and related coverage are available at
http://umns.umc.org.

By Linda Green*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - The United Methodist Church is urging members
to "Be the Hope" in responding to the needs of people affected by the
recent hurricanes.

The church is providing a wide range of resources to help individuals,
congregations and communities respond to those in need.

Resources provided by United Methodist Communications urge church
members and the wider community - in the words of the denomination's
recent ad after Hurricane Katrina - to "Volunteer. Take action. Be the
hope."

The church offers "a community of support, safety and security when
catastrophes disrupt the lives of individuals in affected areas," said
the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive officer of UMCom.

Those who volunteer to assist survivors "personify that hope and concern
of the larger community," he said.

"If you contribute to the United Methodist Committee on Relief for
long-term relief, if you put together flood buckets or hygiene kits, if
you join in prayer for those who are affected, if you volunteer to help
in cleanup or operate a shelter, or if you encourage your workplace to
make a corporate contribution, you are being a concrete manifestation of
hope," he said.

UMCom and other general agencies are offering guides, online services
and other resources for helping churches and individuals deal with
disasters.

Resources for grief, loss

At the United Methodist Board of Discipleship, leaders of children's
ministries are providing tips and links to help children deal with
disaster, grief and loss at
http://www.gbod.org/children/articles.asp?item_id=14862.

The agency's worship section has created a prayer titled, "Waiting on
Rita," at http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader
<http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=14931>
&item_id=14931. Other prayers and hymns for disaster response are
available at www.umcworship.org.

There are times when people want to lament or vent. The board and
Umc.org, the denomination's Web site administered by UMCom, offers
"Lord, Hear Our Prayers" for people to offer thoughts and prayers for
those who are suffering physically, emotionally or spiritually.

According the Rev. Safiyah Fosua, director of invitational preaching
ministries at the Board of Discipleship, the prayer resources "offer a
means for individuals and congregations to give voice before God in the
context of worship to what we are all feeling with the hope and
assurance that God cares about all that has happened."

Web tools, bulletin inserts

A resource from the United Methodist Committee on Relief and United
Methodist Communications allows individuals and church groups to invite
their friends and constituents to share in giving to bring hope and
healing to hurricane victims. The resource, "Friends Asking Friends,"
enables people to create a customized personal Web page to help friends
to give to UMCOR's Hurricane Relief effort. The resource is available at
www.UMC.org.

In an effort to support local church ministry needs throughout the
hurricane season, UMCOR has developed "Finding Hope in the Midst of
Despair," a church bulletin insert designed to be a source of support
for people experiencing difficult situations. The bulletin, offered in
Adobe PDF formats, is available at
http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/print/bulletininserts/hurricanekatrina.cfm.

The relief agency is also offering hospitality guides for churches,
individuals, camps and others hosting evacuees. Go to
http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/05/guidelines.cfm.

UMC.org has developed a set of tools allowing webmasters to offer
denominational Web-based stories, resources and even streaming video
through their church Web site. The newest Hurricane Response
"syndication" resource permits a church to raise funds to support
UMCOR's hurricane response. Visit www.UMC.org to learn how to add this
syndication to your Web site.

The denomination's site will continue to offer a timely collection of
denominational resources to support local church ministry needs
throughout the hurricane season.

Tips for responding

The United Methodist Endorsing Agency, at the Board of Higher Education
and Ministry, is providing tips for handling crises, written by Jim
Robey, at
http://www.gbhem.org/chaplains/WhatsNewInfo.asp?articleID=42.

The endorsing agency also has provided prayers for emerging workers and
caregivers.  The prayers at
http://www.gbhem.org/chaplains/worshipresourcesArticle.asp?articleID=6
ask for strength and guidance for those helping people in the
hurricanes' aftermath.

Igniting Ministry, the television and welcoming ministry of the United
Methodist Church, has developed three downloadable resources for local
churches to use in their print publications or as advertisements in
support of hurricane relief. Offered in a PDF format, these files can be
used as artwork for bulletin covers or inserts, on church Web sites, or
as posters in the church building. Visit www.UMC.org to download them.

Glory E. Dharmaraj and the Upper Room offer Scriptures, reflection and
comfort amid natural calamity. Dharmaraj, a staff member of the Women's
Division of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, urges
people to be a "good neighbor at
http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/wdnews.cfm?articleid=3445. The Upper Room
provides words or comfort and seven suggestions for healing and renewal
in the midst of stress and anxiety at
http://www.upperroom.org/comfort/article_flora.asp.

The Texas Conference and portions of the Southwest Texas Conference are
in the path of Hurricane Rita. Through the Southwest Texas Conference's
Office of Disaster Response, a checklist of actions to take before
hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and other disasters threaten was sent to
church leaders and members. The checklist at
http://www.umcswtx.org/flood/TE.pdf can be adapted for any natural
disaster.

Donations to support the United Methodist response to Hurricane Katrina
can be made online at www.methodistrelief.org and by phone at (800)
554-8583. Checks can be written to UMCOR, designated for "Hurricanes
2005 Global," Advance No. 982523, or the "Hurricane Rita appeal," UMCOR
Advance No. 901323, and left in church offering plates or mailed
directly to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068.

*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in
Nashville, Tenn.

News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org

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