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By Kathy L. Gilbert
United Methodist News Service

For many along the U.S. Gulf Coast, the new year starts Aug. 29, not Jan. 1. Hurricane Katrina hit Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana Aug. 29, 2005, followed less than a month later, on Sept. 24, by Hurricane Rita, which struck Texas and Louisiana.

As the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina came and went, United Methodist churches everywhere paused to remember lives lost and to give praise for lives saved. Special services were held and congregations collected an offering Aug. 27 for the Council of Bishops? Katrina Church Recovery Appeal.

United Methodist volunteers, including hundreds from the Baltimore-Washington Conference alone, have put thousands of hours into the recovery effort and donated $7.6 million in relief supplies. The United Methodist Committee on Relief raised more than $66 million and was recognized by Newsweek magazine as one of the 'big names in Katrina relief.'

In New Orleans, Katrina damaged 90 churches and displaced 80 pastors. In Mississippi the entire coastline from Pearlington to Pecan was flattened and more than 300 churches suffered some damage ? seven of them destroyed. In neighboring Alabama, one church was destroyed and another dozen suffered damage.

Hurricane Rita damaged church property in Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange and Bridge City in Texas and in Lake Charles and Cameron Parish in Louisiana.

A variety of services and vigils at United Methodist churches marked the anniversary of Katrina.

The Seashore District of Mississippi held an Aug. 26 Hurricane Katrina Remembrance Service at Seashore Assembly in Biloxi.

The 10 a.m. service remembered the lives lost in the storm and lifted up in prayer the pastors and others who have been on the front line of relief and recovery. Bishop Hope Morgan Ward, the episcopal leader of the Mississippi Area, spoke at the event.

The doors of United Methodist churches in the New Orleans area were open for prayer vigils on Sunday, Aug. 27, and Monday, Aug. 28. Vigils were held at Munholland, First Street, Bethany, Aurora and Aldersgate United Methodist Churches, among many.

The Council of Bishops invited United Methodist churches to support the Katrina Church Recovery Appeal by receiving a special offering on Aug. 27, the Sunday closest to the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

If your church did not take the offering on Aug. 27, it is not too late. United Methodist Communications has developed Katrina Church Recovery Appeal worship resources, including an order of worship, children?s sermon, and bulletin insert. More information is available at http://umc.org/churchrecovery.

Katrina Church Recovery Appeal DVDs are also available from district offices in the U.S. annual conferences.

Proceeds from the sale of wristbands inscribed with the words 'rebuilding churches and communities' will also benefit the Katrina Church Recovery Appeal. Bracelets are $2 each, with free shipping of orders of 50 or more. Order by calling (888) 346-3862 or going online to the appeal Web site.

Writing in the Mississippi United Methodist Advocate, Bishop Ward gave thanks 'for every prayer, every gift, every effort' United Methodists have given to help the Gulf Coast recover. 'You have continued in generosity during the past 12 months. How thankful I am for the light that shines through you,' she said.

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.