Louisiana hot meals
A volunteer at First United Methodist Church in Thibodaux, La., holds out a dish filled with stew that was served Sept. 4 to some 500 people affected by Hurricane Ida, reported Louisiana Conference disaster response coordinator Bob Deich on Facebook. Assisting First-Thibodaux was an Early Response Team from the Northern Illinois Annual Conference. (Facebook photo from Louisiana Conference).
UPDATED Sept. 10, 2021
A United Methodist Insight Column
If anyone still needed official sanction to pursue climate justice, they got it Tuesday in a statement from U.S. President Joe Biden. According to the Associated Press’ Morning Wire Sept. 8:
“NEW YORK (AP) — President Joe Biden declared climate change has become 'everybody’s crisis' on Tuesday as he toured neighborhoods flooded by the remnants of Hurricane Ida, warning it’s time for America to get serious about the ‘code red’ danger or face ever worse loss of life and property.”
United Methodists in Louisiana, the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states are pursuing relief and recovery efforts from Hurricane Ida, which was intensified by the effects of climate change according to meteorologists.
On the Greater New Jersey Conference website, Heather Mistretta documented the hurricane’s destruction in an article titled “Ida Powers Through Leaving Destruction in Her Wake.” Four congregations escaped damage from a monster tornado, but others suffered severe flooding and at least one pastor made a harrowing escape as floodwaters rose rapidly around his car.
“’Some sump pumps failed; other churches/parsonages do not have them. Some pastors are without generators and thus still without power. Some pastors are stuck in their homes because of floodwaters around the community. Some pastors are reporting injury, loss of transportation, water to the ceiling, and/or feeling traumatized by the event,’ said Rev. William M. Williams III, Gateway North & Palisades District Superintendent who was closely monitoring the impact of Ida along with NJ Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (NJVOAD)."
Read the full article from Greater New Jersey.
In New York Annual Conference, Bishop Thomas Bickerton wrote that Hurricane Ida has made life difficult for churches and communities.
‘Our hearts were heavy today as we read of the loss of life in our region,” Bishop Bickerton wrote. “The sudden and steady rainfall caught many by surprise. The New York Times reports that the storm is responsible for at least 40 deaths in the Northeast, with at least 12 casualties in New York City. Our prayers are offered to each family affected by this sudden and unexpected loss of life.”
Bishop Bickerton wrote that “thanks be to God, that with the exception of a few instances of storm-related property damage, flooding and power outages, all is reasonably well in the churches of our New York Annual Conference. Our clergy and Cooperative Parish Coordinators tell us that clean-up recovery efforts are underway and ongoing. Most of our facilities have seen little damage.” Nonetheless, the bishop urged United Methodists to “keep your eyes and ears open to the community around you in the net few days” for opportunities to help those harmed by the hurricane.
In the Louisiana Annual Conference, Britney Winn Lee interviewed pastors in southeast Louisiana about hurricane damage and immediate relief needs in an article, A Lovesong for the Long-Haul: LA UMC Pastors on Hurricane Ida Aftermath.
"What is essential now is exactly what we vowed to give as United Methodists: our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness; to show up in the ways we can for the people God loves for as long as is needed—a reality which is itself a story of grace," she wrote on the conference website.
Louisiana had immediate help from a disaster response team from Northern Illinois Conference. Northern Illinois' newsletter reported: “After spending a week traveling through some of the hardest-hit areas in southeast Louisiana, which suffered extensive damage from Category 4 Hurricane Ida, NIC Disaster Coordinator Colin Monk and his team from First UMC in Morris are heading home. They spent much of the time coordinating relief efforts, delivering supplies, distributing hot meals and sharing a caring heart. Follow their daily updates at facebook.com/nicdisaster.”
Louisiana Conference disaster response coordinator Bob Deich wrote on Facebook: “The awesome people of First United Methodist in Thibodaux are teaming up with our Louisiana United Methodist Disaster Response Team and the Northern Illinois United Methodist Early Response Team, to provide hot food for up to 500 meals ….” The event took place on Saturday, Sept. 4.
The next day, Sept. 5, First United Methodist Church in Houma held its first service since the hurricane, reported Houma Today:
“The Rev. Ted Fine told members to come as they are — and they did, some in athletic clothes and flip flops — for the 10 a.m. service in the prayer garden. About 25 people attended, along with Fine's dog, Fletcher. Folks brought out chairs from the building or brought their own from their cars.”
“… There were trees down and the playground was destroyed, but the church remained sound.”
“… On Saturday, Sept. 11, they will provide hot lunches for up to 650 people at 6109 La. 311.
Louisiana Conference officials still counsel willing volunteers not to “self-deploy” to the region because resources are scarce and damage assessments are under way. Instead, donations are the best way to help with immediate needs:
- Give to UMCOR’s U.S. Disaster Response and Recovery through Advance #901670.
- Donations also can be made through the Louisiana Annual Conference’s disaster response fund.
For more details on the United Methodist response to Hurricane Ida, read Sam Hodge's article for United Methodist News.
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.