CHRISTMAS HOPE FOR UPPER MIDWEST FLOOD VICTIMS
Members of St. Mark Lutheran Church, Grand Forks, N.D., hope to
brighten the homes of victims of the 1997 Red River Valley Flood this
Christmas. The church will collect and distribute hand-crafted or
purchased Christmas ornaments that they call "Symbols of Faith."
St. Mark is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America. "The flood was a devastating disaster for our community,"
said Colleen Carlson, a member of St. Mark. "We are still very much
at a rebuilding stage and members are spending their money purchasing
furnaces, washers and dryers ... things that go in the basement," she
said. "Many flood survivors lost all their Christmas decorations. We
cannot replace their Christmas heirlooms, but we would like to give
them a new start. The goal is to provide Christian-theme decorations,
such as angels, bells and stars, to as many members of our
congregation as possible," she said. "We would also like our members
to use this opportunity to do outreach by giving 'symbols of faith' to
friends and neighbors." Extra Christmas ornaments will be shared with
other ELCA congregations. "Cash gifts are also welcome as we wish to
purchase light sets, tree stands, and more," said Carlson.
For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
