Susquehanna Conference Disaster Response

  By Douglas Hoy, Disaster Response Coordinator Recently, my wife and I spent a weekend camping at Greene Hills Family Campground & RV Park. It was a relaxing time and we enjoyed experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells of God’s creation. The colorful foliage, the sound of the nearby river, and the smell of cooking over a camp fire brought back fond childhood memories. We ended our weekend by attending the worship service. Vance Hart, the chaplain, shared a message of the importance of yeast. He spelled out how it is used to make bread and ferment grapes. As he spoke, I began to think about the aroma of freshly baked bread and the process of making it. Assemble the ingredients. Dissolve the yeast. Mix in the remainder of the ingredients. Knead the dough and allow it to rest and rise. Then, bake it and serve it. As these thoughts ran through my head on the drive home, I was reminded of the scriptural significance of bread and yeast.  Bread is not just something that sati...

Emergency Rental Assistance Even as the American economy continues its recovery from the pandemic, millions of Americans face deep rental debt and fear evictions and the loss of basic housing security. Recently, the Supreme Court blocked the Centers for Disease Control’s eviction moratorium. If you know of someone who needs Emergency Rental Assistance to cover overdue rent and utility bills, have them go to the following website to get connected and apply to programs in their local area. Emergency Rental Assistance Programs  

Did you know... COVID-19 vaccines are effective against severe disease and death from variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 currently circulating in the United States, including the Delta variant. Infections happen in only a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated, even with the Delta variant. When these infections occur among vaccinated people, they tend to be mild. If you are fully vaccinated and become infected with the Delta variant, you might be able to spread the virus to others. People with weakened immune systems, including people who take immunosuppressive medications, may not be protected even if fully vaccinated. If you haven't been vaccinated, please consider it. Call 1-800-232-0233, or go to www.vaccines.gov to find a vaccination site near you. Now that we have come together, let's take the steps to stay together. 

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) responds to disasters in the United States and around the world by working with communities and local partners. When a disaster overwhelms a community’s ability to recover on its own, UMCOR provides essential relief supplies and supports long-term rebuilding efforts. While UMCOR is not a first-response organization, it stands ready to accompany communities in need over the long haul of their recovery until a “new normal” is established after a crisis. “Early in and last out” is a guiding principle of UMCOR. With disasters such as Hurricane Henri affecting the East Coast, wildfires in the west, and the destruction in Haiti, there are many opportunities to support UMCOR efforts. Information about UMCOR disaster response efforts can be found by clicking U.S. Disaster Response or International Disaster Response. To provide financial assistance to the UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response and Recovery effort (Advance #901670), click here . To give to...