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....Presbytery team ........Chestnut Level PC.// <//Westminster WC PC

How You & Your Church Can Help

Hurricane Katrina Relief work in Gulfport, MS and the Westminster Volunteer Village continues to be the official Mission Project of Donegal Presbytery. Even a year and a half after the devestation, much work remains to be done. We hope your church will consider taking a mission trip to help in the rebuilding efforts.

• To plan a trip to Gulfport, MS and the Westminster Volunter Village site use the following information from a Presbytery wide trip in June 2006 (Note: use as a first step only)

• For a complete handbook of how to, what to bring, etc. click: Katrina Trip Mission Handbook. [There are frequent updates of these handbooks. This link is a good starting point including contact names & numbers, but be sure to get the most up-to-date hanbook if seriously planning a trip].
• If you have any questions contact Rick Schmidt (Donegal Presbytery's HAE)
  • cell: 717.880.6436 or frederick_schmidt@yahoo.com
• If your church raises funds for Hurricane Katrina relief we ask that you send it through the Presbytery Office. Write a cover letter with the check earmarking it for Katrina Relief in Gulfport, MS or write in the check's notes: Presbytery Katrina Mission Project . Mail your check to: Hurricane Katrina Relief, Presbytery of Donegal, Attn: Susan Harner, P.O. Box 10054, Lancaster, PA 17605-0054

• We also are looking for information to post on your church's trip to the Gulf Coast region - Mississippi, Louisiana or Alabama -(see below) - as well as developing a calendar of future trips (we would like a contact person with their telephone number & email address for those outside your church wishing to join your trip.
  • Send all such church trip information to Rick Schmidt frederick_schmidt@yahoo.com or snail mail it to him at Hurricane Katrina website items, Presbytery of Donegal, Attn: Rick Schmidt, P.O. Box 10054, Lancaster, PA 17605-0054

Donegal Presbytery Mission Trips tothe Gulf Coast for Katrina Relief Work

Guinston Presbyterian Church Completes its Eighth Trip to Louisiana

Guinston Presbyterian Church has made no less than eight mission trips to Louisiana for Katrina relief work. Linda Jordan Zimmerman has writen a synopsis of those eight trips. To read the complete article in pdf format click here: Pictures now included.

You can also read individual versions - with pictures - of each of their eight trips by logging onto www.guinston.org/katrina.html.

Wrightsville Presbyterian Church Trip to New Orleans: April 21 - 28, 2007

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A fourteen member team from Wrightsville Presbyterian Church made it's third trip to the New Orleans area - following trips in February 2006 & November 2006. The team resided at the First Presbyterian, New Orleans PC. For a complete diary of their trip including pictures in pdf format click here.

Other Church Mission Trips

First Presbyterian Church, York attends Bread For the World's Lobby Day in Washington D.C.

On June 12 2007, two carloads of men, women and children from First Presbyterian Church of York traveled to our nation's capital to Lobby with Bread for the World (www.bread.org).  They joined over 400 people who gathered there to participate in "Sowing Seeds: a Growing Movement"; a four day conference sponsored by BFW to educate and inspire Christians to work to end hunger in our world.  We met at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just behind the Supreme Court building to receive a briefing on the importance of the Farm Bill and how changes could dramatically feed more hungry people in our nation and around the world.  Just one important item included in the Farm Bill, which only comes up for a vote every five years, is the allocation for Food Stamps.  Then off we went with 40 other Pennsylvanians to visit our Congressmen and Representatives.  We were warmly received by an aid of Senator Casey who serves on the Agricultural Committee and supports the changes we advocated.  The aids for Senator Arlan Specter were also receptive.  Finally we hiked back across the "Hill" to meet with Representative Todd Platts who represents York.  It was an exciting day to see our democracy at work and to experience the difference a Christian witness can make in the halls of congress.  Your congregation can actively work for these reforms without leaving your church.  There are letter writing campaigns coming up that are easy to lead.  Just go to the web site, www.bread.org, and everything you need can be found.  We believe that ending hunger in the world is not an unrealistic dream, it is possible TODAY to feed the world, if only we have the will to do it!