Dear St. Paul’s Family,
We are currently living through what may be the single greatest flooding event to hit the town of Cherokee in recent memory, eclipsing the record-setting flood of 2010, and the memorable floods of 1965 and 1993. With the Little Sioux River at 26 feet yesterday (nine feet above flood stage) and with rain in the forecast through this week, we are all understandably living on edge and bracing for more to come.
I have been in regular conversation with Ben Shuberg, Cherokee County Emergency Response Director, and Catie Newman, the Northwest Iowa District Disaster Relief Coordinator for the United Methodist Church. With their guidance, the following is our church’s initial response to the disaster, including ways you can help:
CLEANING SUPPLY BUCKETS
This morning, the UMC disaster response team from the district will be delivering fifty cleaning supply buckets assembled by churches from around Northwest Iowa and dropping them off at the fire station, which is serving as the staging area for folks to call in their emergencies and pick up supply buckets. If you would like to assemble a bucket and drop it off at the fire station, a complete list of items can be found at the link below. [1] In addition, the district has numerous pallets of additional supply buckets that can be transported should the need arise later this week. If you have a large vehicle and would be willing to be a part of a caravan to go pick up those buckets later this week if needed, please let me know.
BASEMENT WATER PUMPS
Given the shortage of pumps available in local stores, I have also requested the donation of pumps from Methodists around the district to be delivered to our church for us to borrow and for anyone in our community to use. I expect to receive a few of those later today. If you or someone you know is need of one, please contact me or the church office. If you have one that you are not using, please consider writing your name on it and allowing it to be loaned out through the church.
RECOVERY ASSISTANCE
If your home has been affected by water in your basement and are in need of assistance in “mucking out,” contact City Hall. They are compiling a master list of folks who need help. If you are one of the fortunate folks who escaped major flooding in your home, I would encourage you to contact the church office to make yourself available to help someone else in the church or the community. I have already received a few requests for help, in anticipation of waters receding from their basements to begin cleaning out items. While it may be yet premature to go in and start cleaning out houses until water levels go down, it is not too early to put your name on a volunteer list and start assembling response teams.
EVACUEE ASSISTANCE
In the early hours of yesterday morning, some twenty-five houses were evacuated due to rising flood waters, and a number of them are expected to find temporary housing at MHI. I have asked Ben Shuberg to keep me apprised of the needs of those in emergency housing, so that we can be part of their assistance. If you are willing to provide a hot meal for one of those families, or are willing to provide children/infant care items to any families with kids, let the church office know and we will contact you as those needs arise.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
I intend to use the St. Paul’s UMC Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CherokeeSPUMC) for the latest updates on the church’s disaster relief efforts. You do not need to be a member of Facebook to access this information via the internet. In addition, check out the Cherokee County Emergency Facebook site (link below) for the latest official news from the county. [2]
TEND TO YOUR HEALTH
I am aware that many of you have been keeping vigilant watch over your homes the last two days, fighting against rising waters in your basements and caring for your loved ones and your possessions. Some of you on the outskirts of town using Cherokee Rural Water are without running water and will not be operational for another week. Many of you now feel isolated from the heart of town, given that three of the six main roads into Cherokee are submerged and inaccessible, rendering your usual short commutes now an immeasurably long one. This is all to say that many of you are running on fatigue and little sleep, with two nights of growing anxiety.
In addition to the typical reminders to eat, drink, and rest regularly, I suggest that you take some regular time to quiet your heart and your mind, gather your thoughts, and connect with God. Find an opportunity today to create a peaceful moment to sit still, perhaps using the following words from Isaiah 43:2. You may choose to repeat these words several times, separating each repetition with a minute of simply listening to your breath: But now, says the Lord—the one who created you, Jacob, the one who formed you, Israel: Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when through the rivers, they won’t sweep over you.
Of course, the St. Paul’s sanctuary is open and available for you to come and find a quiet place to pray, and I am more than happy to listen and offer you counsel. Remember, you are not alone. We are blessed by a town that really pulls together in moments of crisis, a church that knows how to be the church, and a God who promises never to leave you or forsake you.
GOD’S LOVE IN ACTION
Moments of crisis afford us opportunities to be clear about the mission of this church, which is to put God’s love into action. Yesterday, after learning of a need for debris cleanup at the home of church member Dennis Bahr, thirteen of you showed up with less than an hour’s notice by responding to my plea on Facebook. Words could not capture the grateful look on Dennis’ face when he saw the St. Paul’s team show up at his house and clear out his accessibility ramp so he could get into his home and pack his belongings and medications for evacuation. There will be more opportunities like these ahead.
Let us steel ourselves for the storms ahead, and unite together in courage, camaraderie, and compassion. We are the church, and we are called to be part of such a time as this.
Grace and Peace,
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
Email: mdevega@sp-umc.org
[1] http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/print/kits/floodbucket.stm
[2] https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cherokee-County-Emergency-Management-Agency/152108156402
SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE BEGINS THIS SUNDAY
We begin our summer worship schedule this Sunday, with services beginning at 9:30. We will resume our normal Sunday schedule the week after Labor Day.
No comments:
Post a Comment