Just yesterday I was in contact with my friend in Asheville, NC. Although they sustained some fallen trees and a flooded basement during Hurricane Helene, everyone is okay. But the whole region was without power for two weeks, and the roads were unpassable. Any of us could hunker down for a couple of days, but what about after that? When everything falls apart, the natural instinct for people is to walk to the nearest church for help.
My friend is a retired Episcopal bishop. He walked to a Pentecostal church and stood in line for bottled water and food. Neighbors then walked to check in on each other, and shared what they could. When everything falls apart, we turn to God and we turn to each other. My friend experienced tremendous grace.
The photo above is from the basement of the Music & Education building. In case of a local disaster, St. Bart’s is prepared to be a point of grace. We have blankets, MREs, water, first aid kits, and more. We keep our stock up to date, even though, God willing, we pray we will never need it. But if something does happen, we are prepared to be that church that people walk to when everything falls apart.
It’s hard to imagine needing these supplies, but not hard to imagine the grace that would flow from our church in a crisis.
Mother Nina+
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