Dear Friends,
Only two weeks ago, many of us were enjoying the mountains and fall colors at our all-congregation retreat in Highlands, North Carolina. As I accompanied our children and youth picking up bright leaves and hunting for pine cones under blue skies, I was reminded that Mother Nature can be stunningly beautiful this time of the year.
As I read my newspaper this morning, I was also reminded of Mother Nature’s dark side. “Damage unthinkable,” read the Atlanta Journal Constitution front page headline as it reported on the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Mother Fury’s incredible winds, flooding and snowfall on some of the most populated areas of the Eastern United States have left thousands without homes, millions without power and billions of dollars in property damage and lost business. In assessing the damage to New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, “Nature is an awful lot more powerful than we are.” Indeed, it’s times like these when we may recognize our vulnerability and how dependent we really are on one another.
At Northwest, we are stepping in to help by donating this Sunday’s offering entirely to the American Red Cross. You can also make an immediate $10 contribution by texting REDCROSS to 90999.
Mother Nature may have shown her power this past week, but we can show our compassion and concern for those who need us now.
Yours,
Terry