Rosedale United Church

Hello Rosedale friends, please add these thoughts to the significant information we are seeing from Japan.
The United Church has personnel based in Japan, and relationships with church partners there and in nearby regions.
As with many such upheavals, there is little we can do at the moment but pause, lament, and pray for comfort for those affected.  We will take time in our gathering tomorrow to offer prayers as a community for Japan.

Psalm 46

The God of Jacob is our stronghold

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.

In the meantime, the following notes are drawn from the United Church of Canada website.

——-

The United Church is calling its members to pray for the people of Japan following a major earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit the region on March 11.

General Council Office staff have now heard from all United Church Overseas personnel in Japan. They are still experiencing aftershocks but feel confident they will remain safe. Partners based in Tokyo are also reporting their personnel are safe. They are facing communications challenges within Japan and are anxiously waiting on news of family and friends. Colleagues at the Asian Rural Institute, a United Church partner based in rural Japan north of Tokyo, are safe as well. They are sheltering in a building that is structurally very sound.

The situation in Japan remains fluid. The extent of the devastation and damage is still not fully known. Attention is now also on the nuclear power plants in the quake area and the possibility of serious damage that could present dangerous consequences for people living near them. The United Church continues to monitor the situation closely and is ready to offer support as we are able to United Church personnel and partners.

While Japan has a well-developed emergency response protocol and capacity, the magnitude of the disaster presents serious challenges. Any donations received at the General Council Office, designated for earthquake relief and reconstruction in Japan, will be gratefully received online, or mailed to
The United Church of Canada 
3250 Bloor St. West, Suite 300 
Toronto, ON M8X 2Y4
Please hold our friends, colleagues, and all those affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in your thoughts and prayers.
For more information contact:
Pat Elson
Program Coordinator, People in Partnership, Asia Partnerships
Partners in Mission Unit
Tel: 416-231-7680 ext. 4016
Toll-free: 1-800-268-3781 ext. 4016