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Volunteers cleanup at the Barre Congregational Church UCC Dear Friends, This has been a hard ten days for many of our Vermont Neighbors. While most here in Bristol have been spared, many others have suffered great loss due to the recent floods (even worse than Irene in 2011)! It is difficult to know how to help. I am including the following notice to let you know that great effort and energy to serve those in need is being done on our behalf through the Vermont Conference UCC. There are plenty of resources linked, and the opportunity to make donations to help, and of course, an opportunity for prayer. Many Blessings, Pastor Chris From the Vermont Conference of the UCC July 14, 2023 Dear Friends, We have been working hard to check on our churches and clergy in the aftermath of this devastating flood. Thankfully many of our churches have come through it ok, but several of our churches need our help and many of our families and communities, as you are all aware, are suffering and need our support. Our Disaster Ministries Coordinator, Rev. Greg Briggs has been working with our National Office and with our Local Communities to set up long-term disaster recovery support and have been helping with possible grants as well. We have put together a list as we keep track of the churches in need of immediate help and recovery, and also others who are asking how they can help. You can access the document here: click here to keep up to date. We are asking our church leaders to let us know what your church needs are at this time by adding requests to the document (whether that is cleanup crews, clean up buckets, water, etc.) or by emailing us at vermontconference@gmail.com or calling us at 802-728-4999. If your church can help others, please mark that on the list for us as well. We know as people of faith we can quickly come together and support one another in times of crisis and we have been seeing you do that in abundance! Please check out our Facebook page: Vermont Conference Facebook Page and website for more resources and updates: http://vtcucc.org/department-of-missions/disaster-ministries/ We are also aware that in a time of crisis we also need spiritual care and support. So we are inviting all of us, lay and clergy, to come together for a Vermont Conference Time of Prayer and Support this coming Wednesday, July 19th at 5 PM on Zoom. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83091247415 or call in by phone by dialing: 1 305 224 1968 US and enter Meeting ID: 830 9124 7415 We will pray for all those who have been harmed by the flooding in our state, our first responders, and for our efforts to recover. Please join us! We will also be taking an offering to support folks in need in our churches and communities. Hope to see you there! In a spirit of prayer, Lynn Bujnak, Conference Minister Paul Sangree, Associate Conference Minister Greg Briggs, Disaster Coordinator Jackie Lingelbach, Ministries Coordinator Elise Foster, Administrative Assistant The Vermont Conference is encouraging folks to donate to help our Vermont Neighbors you can donate: CLICK HERE OR by sending a check to: Vermont Conference, United Church of Christ 36 North Main Street Randolph, VT 05060 (We are very grateful for donations of all sizes!!!)
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