Tornado tracks
This image from NOAA/NWS Des Moines shows the track of multiple tornadoes across Iowa on March 5. (Image courtesy of Iowa Annual Conference).
Still recovering from a summer derecho that flattened crops and buildings, Iowa was hit March 5 with an estimated 30 tornadoes that killed seven people and devastated structures.
The Rev. Catie Newman, disaster response coordinator for the Iowa Annual Conference, issued an email March 7 urging United Methodists to pray for the damaged communities and contribute to disaster relief and recovery. She also urged kind-hearted church folks to resist the temptation to rush out to help the hard-hit communities.
“Today, the communities are asking that un-invited, un-trained volunteers STAY AWAY! For now,” Rev. Newman wrote. “The communities impacted are in the assessment process and got heavy snow today. Coordinated recovery efforts are suspended for today! (3-7-22)
Rev. Newman also offered three concrete ways to help:
“Reach out to someone you know who was affected by the storm and call, send a note or text them. Knowing that others care and are praying makes a HUGE difference. It’s the best of who we are as a connectional church.
“Make clean-up buckets and hygiene kits. We have already delivered several thousand across Iowa and have plans to deliver more. Bring completed clean-up buckets to Annual Conference, we will have one of our Disaster Response Trailers next to the Midwest Missions trailer in the north parking lot. Go to UMCOR.org for how to make Clean-up Buckets and Hygiene Kits.
“Get trained and get a team together. When the time is right you can go and help. ERT and UMVIM Training will help to prepare you for volunteering. Contact Catie Newman to schedule ERT or UMVIM Training.”
Financial donations can be made online; checks payable to Iowa Conference United Methodist Church and marked for Disaster Ministries Advance #223 may be sent to Iowa United Methodist Church Conference, 2301 Rittenhouse Street, Des Moines, Iowa, 50321
Thoughts from a United Methodist Pastor in Ukraine
David W. Scott of UM & Global recommends viewing a video from a Ukrainian UMC pastor:
“The Minnesota Annual Conference on Wednesday posted a 25-minute interview (in English) with Rev. Volodymyr Prokip, UMC pastorin Lviv, Ukraine. Rev. Prokip reflects on his experiences and the experiences of his church in Lviv, the role of the larger Methodist connection in the present crisis, how to make theological sense of the war, and how United Methodists can help. Rev. Prokip is interviewed by Rev. Fred Vanderwerf, a district superintendent from Minnesota with a history of relationship with the congregation in Lviv. This is an excellent chance to hear directly from a Ukrainian United Methodist about realities in the country.”
COVID Dashboard
The dashboard of Johns Hopkins University's coronavirus pandemic tracking shows that deaths worldwide have passed 6 million people. (UM Insight Screenshot)
The pandemic that doesn’t end
Tracking COVID-19 and determining how to respond to it is like a perpetual seesaw. In some regions, especially parts of the United States, new infections have declined significantly while vaccination rates have increased, but around the world the pandemic remains relentless.
Here’s a March 7 status report from the Associated Press:
“BANGKOK (AP) — The official global death toll from COVID-19 eclipsed 6 million on Monday — underscoring that the pandemic, now entering its third year, is far from over.
“The milestone, recorded by Johns Hopkins University, is the latest tragic reminder of the unrelenting nature of the pandemic even as people are shedding masks, travel is resuming and businesses are reopening around the globe.
“Remote Pacific islands, whose isolation had protected them for more than two years, are just now grappling with their first outbreaks and deaths, fueled by the highly contagious omicron variant.
“Hong Kong, which is seeing deaths soar, is testing its entire population of 7.5 million three times this month as it clings to mainland China’s “zero-COVID” strategy.
“As death rates remain high in Poland, Hungary, Romania and other Eastern European countries, the region has seen more than 1.5 million refugees arrive from war-torn Ukraine, a country with poor vaccination coverage and high rates of cases and deaths.
“And despite its wealth and vaccine availability, the United States is nearing 1 million reported deaths on its own.”
In another headline, The Guardian writes: Experts urge US cities and states to prep for future outbreaks as Omicron slows. Melody Schreiber reports: “The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced new guidelines for judging community risk, shifting focus from cases to hospitalizations.
“More than 90% of the US is now at low risk of overwhelming health systems, which means requirements for masks and other precautions can be loosened, the CDC said.”
Bottom line for churches: Stay abreast of your local public health statistics on COVID-19 in your area. Follow local recommendations on masking and distancing and keep sanitizing no matter what.
Children’s pep talks bring joy
If you (like we) need a pep talk after all the bad news floating around, you’ll find one in this NPR story: Press 3 for a pep talk from kindergartners. A new hotline gives you options for joy
Adrian Florido writes:
“Peptoc, as the free hotline is called, is a project from the students of West Side Elementary, a small school in the town of Healdsburg, Calif.
“It was put together with the help of teachers Jessica Martin and Asherah Weiss. Martin, who teaches the arts program at the school, says she was inspired by her students' positive attitudes, despite all they've been through — the pandemic, wildfires in the region and just the everyday challenges of being a kid.”
The hotline number is 707-998-8410.
If your church is inspired to start a similar project, let us know.
Media Mentions as of March 7, 2022
St. Luke Community United Methodist Church Reopens After COVID-19, 2021 Winter Storm - NBC 5
Longtime Open Door Ministry cook hangs up her apron | Localnews | heraldpalladium.com
A church under siege - Global Ministries
Need a dress or tux for prom around Kansas City? This free boutique can help – The Kansas City Star
Providence United Methodist's community outreach includes Read and Feed boxes ... – Salisbury Post
Can Black and white churches partner in antiracist work? - PublicSource
Resource: Lenten reflections on mission experiences - Global Ministries
Ministry to hold open house on low-income properties project | Local News | morganton.com –Morganton News Herald
New Metrics for Measuring What Matters: Flourishing People & Thriving Churches - Barna Group
The quest to connect people with God and each other | Community | lockportjournal.com
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011. Click here to request permission to reproduce this article elsewhere.