The interior of Baker (La.) Presbyterian Church sustained damage after Hurricane Gustav peeled the metal roof from the building exposing it to the elements. Donations to help this congregation should be made to Presbytery of South Louisiana (memo: Baker Presbyterian), 12909 Old Hammond Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70816.
PDA sends six team members to South Louisiana
BATON ROUGE 9/8/08 from Alan Cutter, general presbyter of South Louisiana:
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has sent six members of the National Response Team to be with South Louisiana Presbyterians for the next 10 to 14 days. Those team members are Terry Coggins, Mark White, John Hill, Al Thompson, Bruce McGraw and Rob Moreland. They come from all over the United States, from California and Washington to New Jersey and Tennessee. We are glad to have them here.
Yesterday, two members of the National Response Team, along with General Presbytery Alan Cutter and his wife Ann attended worship in the fellowship building of the Baker Presbyterian Church.
"At the end of a moving and reflective service Pastor Charlene (Heaton) had the congregation sing a hymn she had written," Cutter said. It is based on Mark 4:35-41 and was written in honor of her brother Chuck Mitchell, who was dying. "She has given me permission to share it with you and the larger church."
Editor's note: Please do not reprint the following hymn without permission from the author. Donations may be sent to the church as indicated in the caption.
A Day Begun in Peace and Hope
Meter:8.6.8.8.6. suggested tune: REST
(The tune is familiar and we often sing it as "Good Lord and Father of Mankind.")
A day begun in peace and hope
May end in raging storm.
Our moorings cut, our bearing lost.
We cry, O Christ, keep us from harm,
And lead us safely on.
Distress wells up within our hearts
As we contend with fear.
We agonize for those we love,
Whose precious lives we hold most dear.
Christ, lead us safely on.
O Christ, who weathered wind and storm
Upon a lonely hill,
Attend all those adrift and worn,
Awake! Bid angry waves be still,
And lead us safely on.
O Holy One, Wise Sovereign God,
Awaken faith within!
Your presence can restore and heal,
Your love can grant up peace again
And lead us safely on.
© Charlene Heaton 2001
Gustav peels roof from Baker Presbyterian
Hurricane Gustav peeled back the roof of Baker (La.) Presbyterian Church but inflicted only minor damage to the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance's Volunteer Village in Luling, near New Orleans.
On this side of Baker Presbyterian Church, Hurricane Gustav peeled back a corner of the roof. On the other side most of the roof is gone.
Baker, about 10 miles north of Baton Rouge, has a congregation of about 100 members. Charlene Heaton is their pastor. Donations to help this congregation should be made out to Presbytery of South Louisiana (memo: Baker Presbyterian), 12909 Old Hammond Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70816.
The Volunteer Village known as "FISH Camp" sustained minimal damage, according to the Rev. Lisa Easterling via e-mail. She is pastor of Luling's First Union Presbyterian Church, which hosts the camp on its property located 25 miles west of New Orleans.
We are compiling damage reports and will print the summary here.
New Orleans church facilities in good shape
UPDATE from Alan Cutter, general presbyter of South Louisiana 9/5/08: Update from the New Orleans area shows that the churches are all in good shape except most do not yet have power. All the homes that volunteer groups working with the presbytery's Project Homecoming had rebuilt and are currently rebuilding also came through in good shape.
The same good news applies to homes that have been worked by groups that have stayed at the facility in Slidell and in Lake Charles. The PDA Villages Olive Tree (East New Orleans) and Fish Camp (Luling) will reopen as soon as they are manned and have power and services. The PDA Village in Houma (Good Earth) has not yet been checked as people have not yet been into the bayous to check on homes and churches.
Baton Rouge and many of the parishes throughout Louisiana remain in crisis mode with very limited power, no schools in session, limited communication, depending upon FEMA, the National Guard, and the kindness of strangers for food, shelter, and water. It would appear at this moment that hardest hit areas are around Baton Rouge and down in the coastal parishes in the area between the landfall made by Rita and Katrina in 2005. As assessments are made throughout the state that assessment may change as flooding has become a real problem after four days of rain.
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