Saturday, March 12, 2011 | Last Updated Thursday, March 17, 2011 06:06 Pacific/Honolulu
Bishop's Japan Appeal
Particularly remember our sisters and brothers in the Nippon So Ko Kai and Archbishop Nathaniel Uematsu, and the Diocese of Tohoku and their Bishop, John Kato, which has been the hardest area hit.
Friday's earthquake (8.9) is the most powerful to hit Japan since officials began keeping records in the late 1800's. More than 30 aftershocks have followed, the strongest measuring 7.1.
"I have been trying to collect the information from the provincial office and from all the dioceses of NSKK [Nipon Sei-Ko-Kai; the Anglican-Episcopal Church of Japan]," wrote the Most Rev. Nathaniel M. Uematsu, Primate of Japan & Bishop of Hokkaido. "Because of the scale of damage and devastation, our communication has had great difficulty, and I have not heard anything from the Diocese of Tohoku which has been hit most by the earthquakes and tsunamis, and I am very concerned for Bishop John Kato and churches and people in his diocese."
I ask that all our congregations take a special collections on Sundays, March 13 and March 20, at all worship services. All money collected can be forwarded to (and checks can be made payable to) "The Episcopal Church in Hawai'i" here at my office. Please note that the money is for "Bishop's Japan Appeal". I will forward the funds collected to the Church in Japan as soon as we are informed how best to support the ministry in the impacted area.
I issue this call for prayer and a special collection, confident in your compassion, in the name of Jesus christ. I also send it with gratitude to the Diocese as we were able to send $5,000 (US) to Bishop Kuru Gray and Kite Wai Pounamu from the appeal at the end of February for recovery efforts in Christchurch, New Zealand. Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters there as well.
[Update 3/16/11: Any funds collected for the Bishop's special offering this Sunday, March 20th, will be directed to the ERD. I hope all congregations will continue to offer prayers for Japan and those impacted by the earthquake and tsunami. Please remember our military personnel and their families in Japan.]
Blessings,
+Bob
The Right Reverend Robert L. Fitzpatrick