January 17th, 2010 – The 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany

       “Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

        Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with them that weep.” Romans 12, 13; 15

       

        The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

        Behold, … the voice of one crying in the wilderness.” Mark 1, 1; 3

Dear friends and colleagues in ministry,

I have no doubt that by now all of you have heard about the earthquake and continuing fallout the world

witnesses every day as stories pour out of Haiti. This devastation and tragedy occurred among the poorest of

the poor and as the days pass, the situation becomes even more catastrophic. Permit me to share a portion of the

latest news from the Associated Press today – the latest revelation of just how horrifying this situation is:

            The old lady crawls in the dirt, wailing for her pills. The elderly man lies motionless as rats pick

    at his overflowing diaper. There is no food, water or medicine for the 85 surviving residents of the

    Port-au-Prince Municipal Nursing Home, just a mile (1 1/2 kilometers) from the airport where a

    massive international aid effort is taking shape.

    "Help us, help us," 69-year-old Mari-Ange Levee begged Sunday, lying on the ground with a

    broken leg and ribs. A cluster of flies swarmed the open fracture in her skull.

    One man has already died, and administrator Jean Emmanuel said more would follow soon

    unless water and food arrive immediately. "I appeal to anybody to bring us anything, or others won't

    live until tonight," he said, motioning toward five men and women who were having trouble breathing, a

    sign that the end was near.

In the days and weeks to come, this situation will continue to grow worse as pestilence and disease increase.

No one can begin to comprehend or feel the intense pain and suffering that these innocent people are enduring

and beside each of them is Christ, suffering with his people.

As baptized Christians, the gospel commands us to help and provide for the needs of those who are suffering.

The Apostle Paul is very explicit in his letter to the Romans concerning the needs of others. We hear the voices

of those crying – they are crying, near death and in the midst of rubble and devastation, for justice and mercy –

they are crying out to us.

The time has come for us to act and be the gospel of Jesus Christ. I ask that you take up a special collection in

your ministries in the next few weeks to be sent to the diocese for the Haitian relief efforts. Earmark the funds

that you send to Deacon Brian who will in turn send a check from the RACC to an agency who needs our help

and assistance.

Please continue to keep the people of Haiti and the relief and rescue workers in your prayers. Also pray for the

repose of the souls who have died.

Thank you all for your work and contributions to the needs of the our brothers and sisters in need.

In Christ Jesus our crucified and risen Lord,

    The Most Rev'd Timothy Edwards, Presiding Bishop

    The Reformed Anglican Catholic Church