Flood Recovery

This piece originally appeared in an email blast from the Episcopal Diocese of WV. For the latest from the Diocese register for email updates at https://www.wvdiocese.org/news-events/subscribe-to-diocesan-communications/.

Over the weekend, many communities in southern West Virginia and surrounding areas were devastated by floods.

The Ven. Josh Saxe, Archdeacon for Community Resilience & Disaster Response Ministries, is working with Bishop Cowden, diocesan staff, and clergy and lay leaders from affected areas to learn how we can best support those on the ground as they recover from the flood and to help organize response effort. We are also working with Episcopal Relief & Development to bring resources to these areas.

If you would like to donate to flood relief efforts, you may do so through the donation portal on our website. Please note "flood relief" as the designation for your donation. We also encourage parishes to take up a special collection for flood relief, which can be sent to the diocesan office. Interchange Editor’s Note - St. John’s Parishioner’s may give via the Diocesan Website or by dropping off a check in the offering plate made out to St. John’s with “Disaster Relief” in the memo line.

Finally, we encourage you to pray for all those affected by these floods both here in West Virginia and in neighboring states.

God of compassion,

you hear the cries of all who are in trouble or distress;

accept our prayers for those whose lives are affected by storms and flooding:

strengthen them in their hour of need,

grant them perseverance and courage to face the future

and be to them a firm foundation on which to build their lives;

this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

(Prayer from The Church of England)