Dear Members and Friends of the Church of the Advent,
For the last few years we have designated a Sunday in the Fall as Mission Sunday and have requested a special collection for the Advent's various mission projects. This year we intend to respond to an immediate crisis and join our Bishops and other parishes in the Diocese in collecting funds to help those who have suffered in the gas explosions north of Boston last week. Below is an excerpt from Bishop Gates' and Bishop Harris' letter to clergy and parishes.
In the aftermath of the natural gas system crisis on Thursday, Sept. 13 that caused explosions, fires and emergency evacuations in the Merrimack Valley, all three Episcopal churches and one Episcopal school in the affected communities--Christ Church in Andover, St. Paul's Church in North Andover and Grace Church and Esperanza Academy in Lawrence--report no property damage and no known personal injuries but at least two church families in Lawrence and one in Andover whose homes were affected by fires. Many in all three communities--located about 25 miles north of Boston--continue to be affected by the evacuations and ongoing power outages. As of Friday afternoon, diocesan personnel were in the process of reaching out to the Brooks School in North Andover and the Episcopal chaplain at Phillips Academy in Andover.
The cause of the crisis is still under investigation by federal and state officials. News media report one Lawrence teenager killed and at least 20 injured in Thursday's disaster, which caused at least 60 separate fires and the evacuation of thousands of people from their homes. Many schools and businesses remained closed and some 18,000 electric company customers were without power on Friday, according to news reports.
The prayers and concern of our entire diocesan family are with those in the Merrimack Valley communities affected by this disaster. Bishop Gayle Harris and I, together with regional canon Martha Hubbard, have been directly in contact with the clergy of our parishes in those communities and our colleagues at Esperanza Academy. A number of their families have been directly affected, together with countless others who will need our support in the weeks ahead. I invite from all corners of the diocese your continuing prayers and contributions toward relief efforts.
To that end, Bishop Harris and I ask all congregations in the diocese to consider designating or collecting an offering in support of a diocesan relief response.
The Rt. Rev'd Alan Gates
This year we have designated Sunday, October 7 as Mission Sunday. Envelopes labeled Merrimack Valley Relief can be found in the Church and may be added to the Collection that day. Checks should be made out to the Church of the Advent. Funds collected will be forwarded to the Diocese.
Eric Fialho, Pastoral Assistant
Father Allan Warren, Rector