In his sermon today, June 6, at Grace Church, Brooklyn Heights, Bishop Larry Provenzano called on members of the diocese to put their concerns and prayers for the Gulf Coast oil spill disaster into action.
He said, "The people of the Gulf region need us to stand with them. Unlike rebuilding homes, or repairing buildings, they need us to be with them in spirit and in person. Oil washing up on their shores following the events of the last weeks is just too much. As in any family we need to be together to pray, to console those who have lost the means to support their families and to help provide for their future."
"We need to consider mission trips," he added, "that should be for prayer and moral support. We all should also begin to fast from the use of oil as much as possible. And for as long as it is still safe, buy fish from the affected region and invest in the industries that have been devastated by this disaster. These are ways to bring hope and new life to dead places in our contemporary world. Let us act as Jesus did in today's Gospel, restoring life."
In comments after the sermon the bishop said, "Our prayers should include concern for those in government and the corporate sector responsible for the management of the crisis and for those who are doing the exhaustive containment tasks in the sea. The Holy Spirit will guide us toward our own courageous response to this environmental catastrophe and to better stewardship of the earth's resources."
"And let us give thanks for those in the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, whom we join in prayer and action, as they respond to this crisis."
Please click here for prayers and prayer resources from the website of the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast.
Bp. Provenzano has also been in contact with the bishop of Lousiana, the Rt. Rev. Morris Thompson, who felt that the morale of the people of the Gulf Coast is just beaten down. "Support and prayers are desperately needed."
Please click here for the website of the
Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana
