| |
Maumee Valley Presbytery
Ohio, Michigan
 A team from Grosse Pointe Woods Presbyterian Church in Detroit supports flood relief efforts in Ottawa, Ohio.
In August 2007, up to 65 percent of the homes and businesses in Ottawa, Ohio, were affected by severe flooding. After the floods came, the area saw a flood of volunteers. At Ottawa Presbyterian Church, a congregation of ninety-eight members, volunteers showed up each Saturday from August through January to offer assistance. “They began coming as soon as the flood came,” said the Rev. Steve Elderbrock, “groups of volunteers from other Presbyterian churches who wanted to provide assistance.” Groups traveled from Adrian and Detroit, Michigan, from Columbus and Maumee, Ohio, some driving more than one hundred miles each way to volunteer their labor. Twenty-four homes in Ottawa have had repairs done by teams led by Ottawa Presbyterian.
Steve Elderbrock described the volunteers as a blessing. “We have met people we otherwise would not have had contact with,” he said. “That has been a real joy for us.” Often members of groups that come are not Presbyterians. “It is a blessing to meet people who give their time to assist our community,” he said.
After the flood, Maumee Valley Presbytery, working with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, formed a long-term flood relief team to coordinate efforts. Please pray for the flood survivors that they may remain hopeful.
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
Maumee Valley Presbytery’s 76 churches have 11,484 members.
Presbytery Staff
Elder Hilary N. Shuford, general presbyter
Jane Hedges, receptionist/administrative assistant
Beth Wenner, financial/administrative assistant
Rev. Dean McGormley, stated clerk
Elder Terry Dunn, treasurer
Rev. Tomas Pistora, dean, lay pastor training committee
Rev. Clair H. Brewer, hunger, health and housing ministries coordinator
Rev. Bob Bidwell, staff support for the branch of service to the world
PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Bharat Dhillon, BOP
Lydia Diehl, GAMC
Dawn Diggs, FDN
God of hope: we are human, we grow weary, we get discouraged. Sometimes the circumstances of this world threaten to wash us away. Be present today in ways even we cannot miss. Let your light shine into lives that seem dark, let your love flow into hearts that feel unloved, let the solid foundation of your goodness be the rock of security in our lives. We pray in the sure name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Ps. 27, 147:12–20 Ps. 126, 102
Jer. 4:9–10, 19–28
Rom. 2:12–24; John 5:19–29
|
|
