The following litany was translated and shared by Rev. Franklin Ishida, Director for Asia – Pacific Continental Desk. They come from the National Council of Churches in Japan in commemoration of the One Year Anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, 2011.

Prayers for the first year remembrance of the East Japan Great Disaster
L: Let us pray to God the Father, who accompanies us in our sorrows.
O God, hear our voices. These are the voices of those who met their tragic deaths.
C: Lord, hear our prayers

L: O God, hear our voices. These are the voices of those who grieve the loss of loved ones
C: Lord, hear our prayers

L: O God, hear our voices. These are the voices of those who have had to leave their homes, threatened by radiation.
C: Lord, hear our prayers

L: O God, hear our voices. These are the voices of those who are giving their hearts out to embrace survivors in their every need.
C: Lord, hear our prayer

L: Gracious Father, look upon us who cry out to you in pain and sadness. Help us to trust in your mercy from the depth of our hearts. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray.
C: Amen

National Council of Churches of Japan
Catholic Central Council

At least 64 tornadoes touched down in 14 states last week leading to over 50 deaths, thousands of destroyed homes and displaced peoples. To help lift up the response we have created a bulletin insert for your use. Download it here.

You can also learn more at the ELCA Disaster Response page U.S. Severe Spring Storms and support the effort through donations page.

If you are interested in volunteering, please visit the Lutheran Disaster Response volunteer page.

This Sunday is one year anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan. We have created a bulletin insert to help remember our brothers and sisters affected. You can download it here. (pdf)

Also, check the ELCA Disaster Response page Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami. We will be posting an online resource highlighting the anniversary and the work of the church in responding to this disaster in the next few days.

Another way of responding is to support the ELCA Disaster Response General Fund which helps us respond immediately in places like Japan when disaster strikes.

The following update is from Vern Hall, the Schoharie Basin Team Leader for Lutheran Disaster Response, of the situation in Upstate New York. The area was hit hard by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in August and September 2011 respectively leading to heavy rains and intense flooding. The update is also a good reminder that disaster response work is about the long-haul and even when national and regional attention fades the work still needs to be done.

On February 20, 2012, I had the pleasure of meeting with 60+ volunteers from Lutheran congregations in Columbia County in the flood-devastated town of Prattsville in the Schoharie Basin. They were a continuing part of the Lutheran volunteer presence in the area. On the 28th, 6 months into the recovery effort, there was a gathering of Remembrance, Hope and Recovery in the town of Schoharie. It occurred at 6:30PM, after sunset and the town was dark from the many still empty and unrepaired homes; still empty, because 6 months is not enough time, not enough money, and not enough workers to tackle the job of recovery. Not all the money from FEMA has arrived. Many still wait to hear from insurance providers. And people are simply exhausted. Preliminary estimates are that it will take at least $30,000,000 to recover to a new normalcy. Less than $2,000,000 has been raised. Interest has waned and those not affected wonder why the job is not yet done.

The Green Shirts – Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) are arriving March 7th to begin their assessment and that job is estimated to be finished by the end of March. At that time, our Long Term Recovery Group, SALT (Schoharie Area Long Term, Inc.) will have definitive answers as to just how much more will be needed. Disaster Case Management teams will begin receiving clients and referring them to the Unmet Needs/Financial Assistance Committee for resolution. Currently, there is not anywhere near enough funds to do the job. It is estimated that it will take at least 3-5 years to bring us to the new normalcy. Help will be needed from our friends and neighbors, our brothers and sisters in Christ. The faith community is playing a large role in the recovery and has done so since the floods happened. Several churches themselves were devastated, but rebuilding is going on. Hope springs eternal. Our faith makes us strong.

We are hopeful that other Lutheran congregations will continue to help us in the recovery to the new normalcy. Volunteers and yes, funding. And, it is not only in the Schoharie Basin that the troubles lie. The Binghamton area and areas along the Mohawk were also hit and will also need our help. Lutheran Disaster Response is stretched thin, even with help from the National church. More is needed and for a long period of time. Keep us in your prayers and remember us with your continued contributions. Donations should be channeled through Lutheran Disaster Response. Volunteers can contact SALT and they will be directed to where the need is.

– Vern Hall, Schoharie Basin Team Leader for Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR)

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Gifts to ELCA Disaster Response allow the church to respond at home and globally in times of need. Donate now.

The Minot Daily News has another article this week on an ELCA congregation in Minot. This time they are highlighting First Lutheran, which is located very close to the river. It was saved from major flooding by the dikes that were built right outside its doors. Unfortunately sewage backup led to extensive damage of their basements.

The fact that this is the second article on the churches from the paper and the content of this article really drove home for me that disaster response is a marathon, not a sprint. Reading Pastor Ken Nelson’s words about the added decisions flooding has brought to First Lutheran’s leadership from the usage of space, the clean up of damages and connection with church members makes one exhausted thinking about it. Yet, as Pastor Ken eloquently put it at the end of the article, as we look forward to Easter: “There is resurrection even in this life. You can live again in houses that looked like tombs last July.” I’m sure there’s a sermon in there somewhere :).

Please continue to keep the people of Minot in prayer during this Lenten season as they continue to be defined not by this tragedy but their inclusion in the body of Christ to which we all belong.

Read the article: First Through the Flood

A new article from the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) looks at the violence in South Sudan from the perspective of Michael Mading, the LWF South Sudan Emergency Coordinator. It walks through how he has gone about coordinating and implementing the LWF’s response and gives a good description of what disaster response looks like in the field. It also introduces us to Michael and why he is doing the work he is doing. It’s a good read, giving a perspective we don’t usually have access to. If you have a few minutes, I’d recommend giving it a look.

Read the article: From a Tent in Cattle Country

To learn more about the LWF response in South Sudan: LWF Blog

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Gifts to ELCA International Disaster Response allow the church to respond globally in times of need. Donate now.