Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Grace and peace to you.
Since I wrote to you last month inviting your support for relief efforts in Ghana and Venezuela, our eyes have continued to be opened to the growing reality of disaster and destruction, grief and loss, unfolding around the world. In recent days, we have become especially mindful of the devastation caused by earthquakes in Colombia and now Indonesia. As the needs before us continue to grow, so too does our opportunity to respond as Christ’s hands in the world—with prayer, compassion, and generosity.
We continue to hold in prayer the people of Venezuela, Colombia, and Indonesia: all who are grieving, injured, displaced, uncertain of what comes next, and all those working to provide urgent care, shelter, and support.
Even as we respond to these urgent needs, we give thanks for the compassion and faithful response of parishes in our diocese, whose generosity has allowed us to meet our commitment of $10,000 to support the Church in Ghana following the recent devastating floods. We continue to hold the people of Ghana, the Church in Ghana, and all who are serving those displaced by the floods in our prayers.
To support these communities, collections for the International Disaster Relief Fund will continue. Gifts raised through the Diocese of Long Island will be shared with Episcopal Relief & Development as they work to identify local and diocesan partners providing relief, care, and recovery support for those affected in Venezuela, Colombia, and Indonesia.
I invite every parish to continue holding all who are grieving, displaced, and serving in relief efforts in prayer and, as you are able, to receive or extend a special offering. Checks may be made payable to The Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, with International Disaster Relief Fund in the memo line. Those who wish to designate their gift for a particular response may also note Venezuela, Colombia, or Indonesia in the memo line.
Please send gifts to:
Office of Stewardship
The Episcopal Diocese of Long Island
36 Cathedral Avenue
Garden City, NY 11530
Thank you for responding with generosity, prayer, and the compassionate love of Christ.
Faithfully
The Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano
Bishop of Long Island