Grace and peace to you in the Name of Jesus Our Lord and Savior.
The recent earthquake in Haiti has challenged millions of people to face this terrible tragedy with faith. Our hearts break when we learn of the devastation to this very poor country. Countless people have died and millions are at a loss at how to go forth and overcome this immense disaster.
One scripture that keeps coming to me is from Psalm 46:1-2: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea...
Another translation, The Message, says ...God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains.
Our faith in a risen Lord Jesus enables us to find the strength to go on and to respond to adversity with confidence that God will provide. One way God provides is through the Body of Christ - the church.
I received a call from two Haitian women living in Westborough, on the day of the earthquake, desperate for hope that their families were well. They had called 411 and asked for the ‘first church’ and our church phone number was given. Truly it was the work of God to put us together. I met Wildade and Bernadette Jean-Louis at the CVS in Westborough and they followed me to First UMC. We prayed at the altar with Debbie Hennings, for strength and courage to face these days. We cried out to God as our ever present help in times of trouble. Wildade and Bernadette came to church on Sunday, January 17, and now have a church home that has surrounded them with love, support, and prayer. We have pledged our love to help them and their families in Haiti in any way we can. Pray for Wildade’s niece Chrissy and nephew Carlens, who are homeless in Bourdon and in need of care.
The United Methodist Church family is mourning the tragic deaths of two men of God who died in the Earthquake. Rev. Sam Dixon, director of UMCOR (the United Methodist Committee on Relief) and Rev. Clinton Rabb, director of the UM Volunteers in Mission (VIM), were in a hotel that collapsed. They survived together with Rev. James Gulley in a small 8 foot pocket under the rubble for nearly 70 hours. The Boston Globe obituary for Rev. Rabb stated that even in intense pain he was helping others be more comfortable by moving cement rubble away. Rev. Dixon and Rev. Rabb are inspirations for all of us as they have given their lives to helping others in the Name of Jesus. It is powerful to know that the United Methodist Church through UMCOR and VIM were already there in Haiti doing mission and relief work before the earthquake hit. As we pray for their families, grieving with them, we celebrate that our brothers in the faith are rejoicing in Heaven; hearing Jesus say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.” We are proud that our church sends men and women to where the needs are greatest.
The Body of Christ has responded by giving of ourselves to meet the need of the hurting in Haiti. We celebrate that in two Sunday collections - January 17 & 24 - our church family raised $4100 for UMCOR Haitian Earthquake relief. We are also collecting items for UMCOR Health kits for Haiti (please see this month's newsletter for details).
Though the earth give way we will not fear, because God is our refuge and strength. As the physical damage to buildings and lives took only seconds, the physical and spiritual repair will take months and years. But, let us not despair because God is working through His people (churches) to meet the need. To face this natural disaster, we must rely on a supernatural force called the Holy Spirit to empower us to make the difference. The outpouring of love and help comes from the heart of Christ and I am praying it will be coupled with a revival as many realized that an earthquake - real or metaphorical - can occur anytime and anyplace to any one of us. We build our lives on the solid rock of God’s Word and trust that, no matter what tomorrow brings, God will provide. The only thing eternal is our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
In this month of love, with Valentines Day on February 14, let us rejoice in the saving love of Jesus. “Agape” is a Greek word for an unconditional and Godly love that transforms us everyday. “Agape” love is what people in Haiti need. “Agape” love is what people need around the world and in Westborough and surrounding towns, in our own homes and families.
Bless you for being committed to the work of the church as the Body of Christ. Thank you for giving through your prayers, presence, gifts and service.
In Christian Love,
Pastor John
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