The Sunday Journal
Greetings and a warm welcome to all.
Most of us here today are aware of the earthquake and its devastating effect on Haiti.
Port-au-Prince has been demolished and thousands of people have died and countless thousands have been displaced. The greatest needs right now are our prayers, funds for food, water, and medicine and medical personnel. We don’t understand why these things happen to a nation of people already so affected by generations of turmoil and set-backs that have rendered them the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. We know that our God is a loving and caring God; one who weeps and grieves with the people of Haiti, and who shares our compassion for them. Just as God had given humans free will and choice, so has God given to nature its freedom. Earthquakes happen – just as do hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, and floods. Nature takes its course as part of the created world around us. As spiritual beings we feel the hurt, the pain, and the loss of our fellow brothers and sisters in Haiti.
This tragedy strikes us here in our diocese even more profoundly because of our thirty-plus years of close relationship with the people in Cange and the surrounding regions of Haiti. For us, this event has names, faces, and places, and this makes the cross real and palpable in the context of this earthquake. There is an Episcopal Diocese of Haiti whose bishop is the Rt. Rev’d Jean Zache Duracin. Many people from our diocese have made countless trips to Haiti, and have been directly involved with the dam, the water supplies, the hospitals, schools, and the agricultural initiatives in Cange. Many of us have met and know Father Frits Lafontant. Fortunately, they are safe. The bishop’s wife was slightly injured and the Sisters at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Convent in Port-au-Prince are safe and accounted for.
However, there are approximately 98 congregations, missions, and preaching stations in the Diocese of Haiti and the condition of some of them remains unknown.
The people of this beautiful and quaint nation have been changed forever. Yet, theirs is a spiritual culture, and history has shown them to be incredibly resilient in the face of oppression, disaster, and many upheavals in their lives. My friends, despite the dreadful news reports and grim photos coming from Haiti, we need to keep in mind that where there is the cross, there is always the resurrection. This theology is the foundation of who we are as Christians and as Episcopalians. We can all play a part in the resurrection with the people of Haiti. We can pray and we can give. The Episcopal Relief and Development Program receives money annually from all the dioceses through the Episcopal Pledge for times like this one. When disasters strike, more is needed. There is information in your bulletin insert on how to help. Ginger Tidman is our parish ERD representative and Scooty Burch at Holy Trinity, Clemson, is our Diocesan representative. If you have any questions Ginger, Scooty or I will be happy to answer them.
Shalom,
Deedie+