Sunday Worship service at Zion Lutheran Church in Shipman, Illinois begins at 8:45a.m. St. John's worship service in Dorchester, Illinois begins at 10:30a.m. If you currently are visiting our area or are looking for a church to attend, we invite you to attend one of our two sister churches in Shipman and Dorchester.From: The Rev. Daniel Rift
Director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).
Yesterday, a two-mile-wide tornado ripped through Moore, Okla., claiming many lives and leaving behind a devastating trail of destruction. Plaza Towers Elementary School stood right in the path of the storm's 166-200 mph winds.
Many Oklahoma residents already were recovering from storms even before Monday's tornado hit -- hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed this weekend as 28 tornadoes touched down throughout Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Illinois and Iowa. As strong winds and warm fronts continue to move across the nation, the threat for future tornado outbreaks is looming.
Your help is needed to bring hope to our sisters and brothers in need. Lutheran Disaster Response affiliates are already on the ground, assessing the immediate and long-term needs of those affected by the tornadoes. We already know it will be a long road to recovery, and your gifts are needed now to begin coordinating volunteers, rebuilding homes and offering spiritual and emotional care to those in need.
From Pastor Shaw:
In addition to this way of giving... we will be collecting a noisy offering at both congregations 100% of which will go to Lutheran Disaster Relief ear marked for US Tornadoes. A noisy offering is a collection of loose change in to large pots so that it makes a lot of noise. The idea is not to cut into your usual offering but rather a sacrifice of your change, what you have left over because God has provided for us in such abundance. If you have any ideas on other ways you would like to help the people of Moore, OK please contact me (Pastor Kara)!
Congratulations to Katie and Kellie Mans who were confirmed on Sunday, May 19th.
For bulletin announcements contact Rose Bagley at 618-836-7770 or e-mail rjbagley74@yahoo.com with announcements.
Our newsletter representative for the Parish Crier is Bekki Hammann from Dorchester.Welcome aboard Bekki.
Contact to submit items for this website is Carroll White at white_wood@yahoo.com
If you are in need of pastoral services, please contact pastor, Kara Shaw. Her cell phone number is 217-851-2439. Her home phone is 618-836-7134. The church office number is 618-836-5575.
Central Synod bishop:
S. John Roth
Bishop of Central/Southern Illnois Synod (ELCA)
524 So. 5th St.
Springfield, IL 62650
217.753.7915
If you have news you would like published in this online newsletter, please contact Carroll White at 618-372-8090.
