✠Beheading of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John
Dearly Beloved in the Lord,
“Again we pray for the preservation of this holy Church…and every city and land, from the wrath of God, pestilence, famine, earthquake, flood, fire…and sudden death, and that our God Who loves mankind will be merciful, gracious and favorable towards us…”
We have all been apprised of the devastation brought about by Hurricane Harvey which has caused tremendous damage and displaced thousands of people. The effects of the storm are increasing with ongoing rain and new threats of flooding. Images of people being rescued from rooftops, cars submerged in water, and boats floating through the town to take people to safety give us just a glimpse into the disrupted lives of the people in the path of this deadly storm.
It will be several weeks, if not months, before the full effects of Hurricane Harvey are determined. Loss of life, loss of homes, and loss of livelihood are just some of what is facing the residents of the Houston area. People have fled the devastation with very few of their belongings but they will have many needs for the basic necessities of life.
It is our sacred obligation to offer our support to the residents of the greater Houston area and all those who are in the path of Hurricane Harvey. I encourage each parish in the Metropolis of San Francisco to pray for all those who are affected by the hurricane, and also pass a special tray on Sunday, September 3, 2017 to collect funds to assist those in need. All contributions collected for this purpose should be directed to:
International Orthodox Christian Charities
110 West Road, Suite 360
Baltimore, MD 21204
Donations for Hurricane Harvey relief can also be made directly to IOCC on their website.
Let us beseech our heavenly Father to preserve us from every probable calamity and, through God’s love, let us find strength and comfort to support those suffering from this devastation.
With Love in Christ,
+ G E R A S I M O S
Metropolitan of San Francisco