Join UCC-wide prayers for Gulf of Mexico Sunday Aug. 22, 2010

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Join UCC-wide prayers for Gulf of Mexico Sunday Aug. 22, 2010
Written by staff and wire reports
August 17, 2010

The youth of the Florida Conference's Southeast Region will be among 
members of the state's 100 UCC churches holding community worship 
Sunday, Aug. 22, which has been designated "Disaster Recognition Day" 
in support of those affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 
the Gulf of Mexico.

The youth will gather at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne at 3 p.m. for 
an hourlong worship titled "Come to the Water to Pray."

Meanwhile, a public worship service at Pass-A-Grille (Fla.) Beach 
(16th Avenue), just before sunset, will feature music, speakers and a 
time of reflection, says the Rev. Kent Siladi, Florida Conference Minister.

"This will be a time of reflection as well as encouragement, as we 
recall our responsibility to be stewards of God's creation," says 
Siladi. Representatives from the UCC's national staff will also attend.

Siladi says the Pass-A-Grille service will address five expressed 
concerns: to identify and claim the church's source of all hope; to 
demonstrate the widespread concern of all UCC members; to declare the 
UCC's commitment to long-term recovery; to respond to people's anger 
and depression; and to strengthen resolve to end our dependence on oil.

Florence Coppola, the UCC's national disaster recovery coordinator, 
encourages UCC churches nationwide to get involved and to send 
stories and photos of churches' creative support to coppolaf@ucc.org. 
"We want to encourage all of our churches in the U.S. to do some type 
of worship event on the same day."

At Emmanuel UCC in Sebring, Fla., church members have planned a 
weeklong schedule of nightly services to address issues, encourage 
lament, and seek forgiveness and reconciliation between community 
members and area BP station owners, says church member Joyce A. 
Gordon. The week's schedule culminates in participation with the 
larger UCC beach gathering.

The order of worship for the Aug. 22 beach service is being made 
available in advance to assist churches nationwide who can utilize 
elements in their worship planning for the day. A special hymn for 
the occasion, O Gracious Maker, has been written by John H. Danner.