To make a donation through ELCA, click on the link below:

http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Responding-to-the-World/Disaster...

For more information refer to Pastor Person's remarks from her email to the congregation on January 14th:

Dear Holy Trinity Family,

At Holy Trinity this coming Sunday, you will have an opportunity to respond to the major earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday. If you would like to designate a special offering for the Haiti relief, HT will forward those funds to the ELCA Disaster relief fund. As you are already aware, on January 12 at 4:53 p.m., a magnitude 7.0 earthquake rocked the island country of Haiti, primarily impacting its capital of Port-au-Prince and its nearly two million residents. It is believed that over three million citizens of Haiti are affected. The epicenter of the quake was centered approximately 10 miles west of Port-au-Prince. Offices, hotels, houses and shops have collapsed. Over 30 aftershocks ranging from 4.2 to 5.9 have already been recorded.
Sources on the ground indicate that somewhere between 30,000 and 100,000 people have died in this catastrophic quake. You likely also know that Haiti is considered the poorest country in the Americas with an average per capita income of $790 per year (less than $2 per day).

The city is without electricity and the telephone network has been overloaded with calls making it impossible to reach friends and family.

The presidential palace is in ruins and many churches have been destroyed. Hospitals that were not directly impacted by the quake are overflowing and the search for survivors is intense. This catastrophe will exacerbate the suffering felt by many already living with hunger and poverty.

The ELCA, through the Lutheran World Federation, is already responding to the critical needs of survivors in Haiti. Thankfully, the LWF offices and staff on the island were spared in the earthquake, making it possible for work to begin immediately. Staff there will focus their immediate efforts on issues of water safety and sanitation, assisting with medical triage, and providing emergency sheltering for the many who are now homeless. The ELCA has long-standing relationships in Haiti through several organizations and the Lutheran Church in Haiti.

In anticipation of your generous gifts, ELCA Disaster Response has authorized $250,000 for immediate relief assistance in Haiti, with the possibility for an additional $500,000 as the full scope of this disaster continues to become clear. Your gifts are needed now to make this type of rapid response possible.*

While volunteers, especially skilled workers, will likely be needed in the coming months, the situation on the ground is still far too chaotic – no water, no power, few roads, and very limited communication – to support volunteers traveling to the area in the immediate days.

If you would like to serving by coordinating or helping with the assembly of Health Kits, please email holytlutheran@comcast.net.

Let us pray for the people of Haiti and the relief workers aiding them:

Loving God, in the communion of Christ, we are joined with the trials and sufferings of all. Be with those who endure the effects of the earthquake in Haiti. Protect those in the path of danger. Open the pathway of evacuations. Help loved ones find one another in the chaos.
Provide assistance to those who need help. Ease the fears of all and make your presence known in the stillness of your peace; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Grace and Peace,
Gretchen

*information from elca website

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Below is an email from ELCA Pr. Rick Barger:

Dear Friends and Colleagues in the Southeastern Synod,

I am communicating with you on behalf of the people of Haiti. Many of you know that Epiphany Lutheran Church is part of a national Lutheran movement whose mission is to create an alternative future of hope, sustainability, and dignity for the children of Haiti. This is a heartbreaking and devastating time for the people of Haiti and those associated with the Haitian Timoun Foundation. The news from our "family" and partners there is not good. On behalf of all, I invite your prayers and support.

You can channel immediate donations in several ways:

Right now there are, of course, immediate efforts by the US and others for first line disaster response. You can also donate through the International Red Cross and through the ELCA Disaster Response.

Donations can also be made directly to HTF through our website, www.htflive.org, 100% of all funds HTF receives go directly to Haiti.
We have people on the ground there and will deploy your gifts in the most effective way. You can also access updates on the situation there.

At Epiphany in Suwanee, Georgia, we will be having a time of prayer tonight in our worship center at 6:45 PM following our community dinner. For those of you in our area, we invite you to join us. If you would like to participate in your own setting, the service will be posted on our website later in the day.

In addition to all the prayers for our "family" and partners there, please note that HTF has an immersion team right now in Haiti consisting of Pastor Doug Hill, a former pastor in the SE Synod, Professor Brad Binau of Trinity Lutheran Seminary, two ELCA interns (one being Laura D'Angelo from St John's in Knoxville), ten seminary students who journeyed to get a firsthand experience with how HTF does grassroots mission. All we know at this point is that they are safe in Jacmel. Please keep them in your prayers.

There is a Haitian proverb, "Piti piti zwazo fè nich li." It means, "Little by little the bird builds the nest." In the aftermath of this incalculable devastation, we will all need to do our parts to help our "family" and the people of Haiti rebuild their lives, buildings, hearts, and hope.

PLEASE join us wherever you are for prayer tonight. There is strength when we gather, hear the promises of God, hold hands, and pray.

Pou tout moun kapab gen lavì (that all may have life),

Rick Barger

Founder and Executive Director, Haitian Timoun Foundation

Pastor, Epiphany Lutheran Church, Suwanee, Georgia