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On Friday, March 31, a tornado touched down in the Greenbrier section of Chesapeake, and proceeded to travel eight miles into Virginia Beach causing major destruction along the way. The Virginia Conference Disaster Response Team received the call for assistance Saturday, April 1, and within minutes a team was on site to remove debris and do roof tarping for six homes. Clergy from the Elizabeth River District who serve in various roles with the Conference Disaster response team, including Kirk Culpepper, Frank Jennings, Ellen Comstock, and Bob Pihlcrantz were present Saturday organizing volunteers, coordinating equipment, and with spiritual and emotional care to survivors and volunteers. Currently, there are about nine homes in Virginia Beach that did not receive assistance over the weekend. If you can help with debris clean-up and more or have volunteers in your church who would be interested, please contact Rev. Kirk Culpepper at 757.434.0078 or kirkculpepper@vaumc.org.  Earthkeepers are United Methodists commissioned by the General Board of Global Ministries who are keenly aware of the ecological challenges in our world today and feel called to be part of a movement to transform the world.
Earthkeepers work with congregations and communities to have a theological base for Caring for Creation. They work with different ministries/projects such as: landscaping with native plants; creating community gardens in urban "food deserts," instituting recycling; advocating for renewable energy policies, or working for environmental justice by cleaning up rivers, landscapes and toxic waste sites near their communities. They may do all of these things and more! Earthkeepers are laity and clergy, students, part-time and full-time workers, and retirees. They may have a vocation that allows them to focus on caring for creation during their regular work hours, or they may choose to volunteer their time. Eden on the Elizabeth (River) Ellen Comstock, retired clergy,living in Portsmouth, was commissioned as one of the 1st VA Earthkeepers in November. She is available and looking for ways to resource ER District churches to develop theological grounding, goals and projects to maintain and improve the Elizabeth River watershed while deepening their spiritual awareness and commitment through caring for creation. Eden on the Elizabeth looks to pilot: 3-4 or more small to mid-size UMC churches in the ER watershed developing projects to deepen mindfulness of river vitality and sustainability, and develop and implement projects to lessen pollution and enhance water quality and quality of life, in the ecosystem surrounding the river. Collaboration with the Elizabeth River Project. Contact: Rev. Ellen W.Comstock 757 373 3137 (cell) ewcoms@verizon.net or ellencomstock@vaumc.org |
ERD BlogThe latest information, reflections, and notifications from the Elizabeth River District. Archives
June 2018
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