Hurricane Sandy Relief

I hope this message finds you well in this season of the Holy Cross. Over the past week, our nation has been following the heartbreaking stories of the destruction wrought by Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast. We have witnessed the deadly force of this natural disaster—the loss of lives, widespread damage to property, and disruption of public services across the region.

With this directive, I am asking our parishes to conduct a special collection for hurricane relief on Sunday, November 11, 2012. Individuals can also contribute through our Diocesan website, www.armenianchurch-ed.net, where you can click on the “Donate” link and make a credit-card donation on our secure server. (Please note: In the lower part of the online information entry form, select the button “In Memory of,” and type “Hurricane Sandy Relief” in the memo bar that appears.)

All funds collected should be sent to the Diocesan Center (630 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10016) no later than Wednesday, November 21. All the proceeds collected will go to the relief efforts, to be distributed through the American Red Cross.

Above all, we ask everyone to pray for those affected by the storm. May our Lord grant eternal rest to the souls of those who have lost their lives, and may He bring a measure of comfort to their loved ones in this time of grief. We pray, too, that our Lord will touch the wounded with His healing hand, and guide the emergency crews carrying out the relief work across the region.

With prayers,

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian

Primate

Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America [publicrelations=armeniandiocese.org@mail71.us2.rsgsv.net]