Vol. 4 • No. 10  
April 1, 2005
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Work Teams Needed for Tornado Damaged Areas
Victims of last week's tornadoes that ravaged through South Georgia are realizing that help from even just one team for one day can make a big difference. Clean-up volunteers are needed immediately as these victims try to piece their lives back together.

If you have a team who can clean up debris in Seminole and Miller Counties, please contact Duren Williams, volunteer coordinator, at 229-220-4922. Your team will be assigned a specific location. Teams are asked to be self-contained.

Rebuilding volunteers will be needed soon in Wayne County (Screven). They are organizing themselves right now to be able to take teams and will contact us as soon as they are ready. That information will be sent out immediately. Churches are encouraged to begin recruiting work teams now. The long-term recovery organization is being organized.

Donated Goods Center Opens in Colquitt
A donated goods warehouse has been opened for victims of last week's tornadoes at 254 West Main Street in Colquitt, Georgia . The center, managed by Adventist Disaster Services, is receiving donated goods from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily. For a list of items needed, click here.

UMCOR Calls for Flood Buckets
UMCOR anticipates another season of heavy floods and storms. Flood buckets, the supplies that volunteers use to clean up water damage, are on UMCOR's most wanted list! You can find the specifications for flood buckets and other kits here. Please act now to ensure an adequate stock of these vital supplies. Or let your gift "go for you" - each flood bucket is valued at $45.00; on the memo line of your check write UMCOR Advance #901440, Material Resource Ministry, Flood Buckets.

UMCOR Rushes Aid to Indonesia with Coalition of Agencies
The United Methodist Committee on Relief today joined an ecumenical coalition shipping emergency aid to the island of Nias , hard hit by the powerful earthquake that struck Monday, Mar. 28, off the west coast of Indonesia.

UMCOR, in partnership with Church World Service, sent 35 boxes of medicines, 14 boxes of gloves, 500 tents, and 1,000 packages of emergency supplies on a United Nations helicopter, together with a water purification unit and other supplies. Both organizations are members of Action by Churches Together, the international ecumenical alliance.

ACT officials report that up to 85 percent of buildings were damaged in the 8.7 magnitude quake. The army, police, and survivors are still trying to evacuate people from under the ruins of buildings and houses. Complicating their work is the lack of heavy lifting equipment, and the small earthquakes that occur every few hours. Government officials estimate that there are still some 1,000 people, dead or alive, trapped under ruins.

UMCOR is launching long-term rehabilitation and rebuilding projects in the area and expects to be there for years to come. Donations can be given for UMCOR Advance #274305, South Asia Emergency.

The April issue of Interpreter offers practical ideas
Feature stories in the April issue of Interpreter, the official ministry magazine of the United Methodist Church,  tell you "It's OK to laugh in church -really," detail how nonprofit farms are making fresh vegetables accessible and available to low-income people, celebrate United Methodists' $15 million-plus response to the Dec. 26 tsunami and give ideas for providing care when your pastor faces a crisis. You'll also find new resources for your church's ministry in IdeaMart and JumpStarts, ideas for Living Our Your Faith in the Real World and "It Worked for Us" stories. Check out Interpreter OnLine at www.interpretermagazine.org. Then order your own subscription (8 issues for $12) by calling United Methodist Communications at  888-346-3862, or pick up a copy at your local Cokesbury bookstore.

Any specialty is welcome, according to Joseph Wagner, the director of Operation Classroom, a program that helps United Methodists link with their counterparts in Sierra Leone and Liberia to assist with Christian-based education and health care. He needs doctors to indicate their interest by the end of April, in order to prepare the grant application. More>>

Do You Speak “Methodist?”
United Methodists have their own terms that can be confusing to new members — and to some veteran members as well. For a quick and easy guide to some commonly used church terms, see the definitions here.

United Methodist Association links to senior drug program
(UMNS) The United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries is providing an efficient link for low-income seniors to the current Medicare drug program. The link allows seniors to be enrolled in the program by church volunteers, family members or any other person with Internet access. Seniors whose income is no more than $12,569 if single ($16,862 for a married couple) are eligible for a $600 credit toward their prescription drug costs if they are enrolled in Medicare Part A and/or Part B. The credit will be reduced to $450 for those who are not enrolled by March 31. It is available only to who do not have an insurance drug benefit. The association has added software created by DestinationRx to its Web site, www.UMAssociation.org to provide enrollment for the drug credit. Enrollment is offered in cooperation with Medicare and discount drug card sponsors.

Carr and Myers to Wed Saturday
Mr. & Mrs. Hugh E. Carr and Mrs. Grace Myers Request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children Angela Michele Carr to Rev. Kenneth G. Myers, Jr. on Saturday, the second of April Two Thousand and Five at four o'clock in the afternoon First United Methodist Church 302 Twelfth Avenue East Cordele, Georgia. Reception immediately following ceremony in the Activity Center.

Online Registration Now Available for Summer Camps!