Mike Cole's Monday the 29th Update

I’m starting out today’s update with a paragraph from Carol Tompkins email to her congregation – Westminster PC in Beaumont. Carol’s advice is right on target for lots of folks in our presbytery.

“Please remember that we're once again dealing with a traumatic experience. Be gentle with yourselves and each other. Even if you didn't sustain major damage, the closeness to our Rita experience may trigger difficult moments. I know that for me there's just too much sky. I vaguely recall feeling the same thing after Rita, and it puts me in a bit of a fog whenever I realize there's just too much sky. I suspect when my neighbors start getting their roofs repaired, the sound of nailguns will probably trigger similar feelings. For others, it may be scents or different sounds; remembered landscapes that just don't look right, or any of a number of random senses. Don't try to brush it off and ignore it. Acknowledge what you're feeling, recognize it for what it is, and do whatever it takes to heal and get beyond it. We each go through the process of recovery in our own ways. Respect that in yourself and one another. It's another long journey we'll be taking with this one. Know that we are each wrapped in the never-ending love of Jesus as we once again go through the process of healing.”

Yesterday, I worshipped with FPC, Dickinson, FPC, Galveston and Emmanuel PC, Galveston. Each worship service was distinct and beautifully led. There were a lot of heartfelt prayers and tears among the members as they shared stories of the storm and what they are facing. These congregations are courageous as they face an enormous challenge because they know that they do not face these difficulties alone.

Don’t forget our presbytery-wide worship on Sunday, October 5 at 3 pm at FPC, Dickinson and Trinity PC, Port Neches as we praise the Lord for seeing us through this crisis, hold one another in prayer, celebrate communion and enjoy the fellowship of the family.

Tricia Pogue, our Presbytery Volunteer Coordinator for Ike Recovery has a new direct phone line in her office at CLPC – (281) 957-5859. Tricia’s email is: pda@clpc.org. Please contact Tricia for assistance, if you want to volunteer or if your church would be wiling to host work groups.

Photo Request - This request came in from Shane Whisler, the Director of Communications for the Synod of the Sun: anyone with any hurricane damage photos, please mail to Shane Whisler, Synod's director of communications: editor@pnnews.com. We cannot use photos from other company/news websites.

Our Ike Recovery Team is beginning to solicit churches that have the wherewithal to “adopt” or partner with a church in need. If your session or church would be interested in this partnership, please contact Tricia Pogue.

Those who would like to be trained as a spiritual care giver in disaster situations may attend the Spiritual Care Team Training event in Dallas on October 13(noon)-14 ( 3 pm). For more information, email Rick Carus - rick@gracepresbytery.org

A fund is available for any congregation needing disaster recovery financial assistance. Requests for up to $10,000 can be made by any congregation on behalf of itself or one or more individuals. Please complete the grant application on our website and mail to the Presbytery of New Covenant. Please contact Lisa Simpkins, Outreach Ministries Committee, at 713.412.3396 or lsimpkins@fulbright.com if you have any questions.

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News from SETIO (Southeast Texas Interfaith Organization) in their recovery efforts in the Golden Triangle, reported by Harland Merriam:

1. PRESBYTERIAN CLUSTER IN OUR AREA. Pastors and lay leaders from five of our area's ten PC(USA) Congregations met for lunch on Thursday, September 25th. Mary Marcotte, our Associate Presbyter for New Covenant Presbytery met with us, too. The congregations were: Trinity Port Neches, First Jasper, Pioneer Beaumont, Westminster Beaumont, St. Andrews Beaumont. We did a "roll call" finding out how each one of us was doing, how our members were doing, and how our church buildings were doing. We talked together about the PDA Village proposal, about how the Presbytery was organizing, and about a joint worship time on October 5th at Trinity Presbyterian in Port Neches. We'll meet again in a month, working on several projects in the interim.

2. SETIO "TABLE". Approximately 40 folks met at the second weekly SETIO "table" on Thursday afternoon from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. We shared information about both Relief and Long Term Recovery efforts in progress. The key Long Term Recovery players include United Methodist, Lutheran, Disciples, Presbyterians, Southern Baptists, and Christian Reformed.

3. SETIO BOARD.

As Chair, I convened the SETIO Board of Directors after the "table" meeting. We confirmed our roll as the larger, umbrella organization for our region, seeing ourselves as pulling together and organizing the "table" for the Long Term Disaster Recovery Effort. We still have some defining to do as to the effective functioning of this "table". Several state and denominational groups have asked us to play this function. Also, earlier in the week, the local VOAD also confirmed the benefit of us assuming this function. We will be adding new Board Members at our meeting next week, to include more leaders from across our region.

4. STEPS FORWARD

I know our area recovery work has been very effective with our Case Management Round Table, which has not been led by SETIO, but by another of our area organization case management leaders. This group has done outstanding work with training volunteer case managers, bringing together various organizations to communicate and coordinate cases over the past three years. I hope we will re-energize this excellent work.

We are asking the "Directors" of the major Long Term Recovery Groups to meet sometime next week to talk together about these two elements: SETIO organizing the "table" for Long Term work, and someone organizing a regional cooperative effort for the Case Management elements of the work.

We do not yet have agreement on the Volunteer Coordination or the Construction Management elements of the Long Term Recovery effort. I have submitted the information to our Presbyterian Call Center with Beverly Antilley as the local contact for Presbyterian groups coming to our area. I believe she has already scheduled three Presbyterian volunteer groups for the next several weeks. I would expect these groups to work with case/construction management in both the SETIO and UMCOR efforts.

Beaumont, Pioneer – Lloyd Crosby reports that the church had its south-facing stained glass window blown in and its steeple ripped off. A Presbyterian Disaster Assistance team was able to get by and put blue tarps over the damage to keep out the elements. We have rain water damage, but not too much mildew. We have been running the air conditioner full blast to dry it out as much as we can.

What PDA is Doing and Where to Send Contributions

Today's Update from GP Rev. Mike Cole:

I know that some of you receiving these updates are wondering why the Presbytery or PDA isn’t coordinating immediate work sites and projects. The most direct answer is that other faith and volunteer groups are already equipped to organize for short-term immediate relief. We do not need to reinvent the wheel, when others specialize in this part of the recovery effort.

Presbyterians have stepped up to the challenge of long-term recovery work, which takes time to organize for a sustained effort over a period of months or years. Many of the groups and organizations who specialize in the short-term relief work will be gone within a few weeks. That’s when the Presbytery and PDA efforts will go into effect. Thus, for now, the best way for individuals or groups to serve is through SETIO in the Golden Triangle, Volunteer Houston or UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). After all, the name under which we all serve is Jesus Christ, not just Presbyterian.

The Ike Recovery Team will be working on ways to establish partnerships between churches in need with churches with resources. Your church does not have to wait to establish a partnership – please feel free to initiate this on your own. It would help us to know what is happening, so give Tricia a call.

Contributions for Hurricane Ike Recovery may be sent to:

The Presbytery of New Covenant

1110 Lovett Blvd.

Houston, TX 77006

Memo line: Ike Recovery Fund

Contributions for the 2008 hurricane recovery efforts may be sent to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: www.pcusa.org/pda

By the way, I plan on taking tomorrow and Saturday off as much as possible so the next update will come out on Sunday or Monday.

Just a reminder: Sunday, October 5 at 3 pm will be the time for our presbytery to gather in two locations: Trinity Presbyterian Church, Port Neches and First Presbyterian Church in Dickinson. We will celebrate communion, praise God, give thanks, prayer for all our churches by name and enjoy the fellowship of the presbytery family. Please make plans to attend and bring as many in your congregation as possible. We’d love to overflow both sites with praising Presbyterians!

Tricia Pogue, our Presbytery Volunteer Coordinator for Ike Recovery has a new direct phone line in her office at CLPC – (281) 957-5859. Tricia’s email is: pda@clpc.org. Please contact Tricia for assistance, if you want to volunteer or if your church would be wiling to host work groups.

Contact Information for the Army Corp of Engineers Blue Roof Program – (832) 851-3920. Blue rood tarps are available for pick up to protect homes with roof damage. You may also request someone to deliver and install the tarp.

Everyone should be aware that there are some fraud activities in our area. FEMA does not go door to door and they do not ask anyone to fill out forms. All FEMA representatives have photo ID’s. If there is any doubt about a person at your door, ask them to return later. Then report the incident to FEMA.

FEMA urges those in need to hold on to finances as long as possible until FEMA can coordinate assistance. The needs are enormous and they are working as fast as they can.

Church and Congregation Updates:

Livingston, FPC – The clerk/church secretary reports that the church has major damage to the sanctuary. The upstairs ceiling ended up in the parlor, narthex and nursery. There was water damage to the activity building also. Both buildings are unusable for the time being but we are well on the way with removal of moldy stuff. All activities and worship will be in the fellowship building. We thank God for this new building even more than before. We were able to have one service last week – more of a prayer and praise. Hopefully this week we will have both services.

Presbytery Volunteer Recovery Coordinator Named

September 24 Update

We have a Presbytery Volunteer Coordinator for Ike Recovery – Tricia Pogue, a member of FPC, Pasadena and wife of Dean Pogue, the pastor is being trained in this volunteer position. Tricia will have an office at CLPC. As soon as we have a direct line installed for her, we’ll get that information out. In the meantime, she can be contacted by phone at: 281-488-6850 x330 or email at pda@clpc.org

Tricia’s responsibilities are:

1. Answer phone calls and direct volunteers to the proper resource so that they may respond to the disaster
2. Track requests for assistance
3. Refer inquires for donations to the proper source for designation (presbytery or PDA)
4. Collecting information on the skills that are available from a group
5. Referring skills summary to a project manager for follow-through when appropriate
6. Create and mange the database of volunteer groups and skills and refer to the project manager
7. When Villages are operational, follow up with interested groups and review procedures for referring registrations to the PDA National Call Center
8. Work collaboratively with the Project Manager, Case Manager, and other resource persons as they come on line
9. To assume responsibilities as requested

WELCOME ABOARD, Tricia!

Tricia Pogue, needs information on churches who are willing to host work groups. If your church could host a group, call Tricia and register your church as a host.

Opportunities to serve:

Volunteer Houston has a website up and running to register to volunteer at worksites - http://www.volunteerhouston.org/

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has worksites ready for immediate work. To register teams for volunteer for work: www.txcumc.org

Go to Volunteers then Register. Any questions- call Kathie Mann at 713-521-9383.

Ralph Hendricks is a volunteer working the Surfside, Freeport and Angleton area

Ph: 979-236-3630. Ms. Lee Thornton is working the Bayou Vista, Alvin, Texas City and Dickinson area - Ph: 409-925-1216. Register your work team, give them what they can do and how soon they can come. Also advise if your group needs housing.

The Golden Triangle continues to need work groups. To register, call Beverly Antilley is our Golden Triangle Volunteer Coordinator. Her phone 409 223-0118 She can handle groups coming in with work assignments and accommodations and other information.

Photo Request - This request came in from Shane Whisler, the Director of Communications for the Synod of the Sun: anyone with any hurricane damage photos, please mail to Shane Whisler, Synod's director of communications: editor@pnnews.com. We cannot use photos from other company/news websites.

Sunday, October 5 at 3 pm will be the time for our presbytery to gather in two locations: Trinity Presbyterian Church, Port Neches, and First Presbyterian Church in Dickinson. We will celebrate communion, praise God, give thanks, prayer for all our churches by name and enjoy the fellowship of the presbytery family. Please make plans to attend and bring as many in your congregation as possible. We’d love to overflow both sites with praising Presbyterians!

The Golden Triangle Cluster (they call it the Geneva Cluster) is gathering tomorrow at noon at St. Andrew’s in Beaumont for prayer, mutual support and encouragement. This is a great idea for all our clusters.

Here are today’s reports from our churches:

Tiki Island – C.O. Magee reports that Tiki Chapel made it okay. Lost front stairs but have back stairs. Worshiped there Sunday under the sanctuary. Security guards are using sanctuary for dorm so they can sleep in the day and guard island at night. Tiki is really a mess!

LaMarque – C. O. Magee reports that the church did great. Worshiped there Sunday too outside. Just got electricity Sunday afternoon. Glad everyone around here made it okay. Some houses gone though. Lots and lots of destruction.

Galveston, Westminster – Barrett Ingram reports that the church and his home are both fine. They plan on worshipping at the building on Sunday.

Jones Creek, Gulf Prairie – Tommy Badders reports some minor damage to the sanctuary roof but no leakage.

Daily Update from GP Rev. Mike Cole

September 23 Update from General Presbyter Rev. Mike Cole:

The General Council met today and approved the formation of an Ike Recovery Team. The IRT is authorized to meet the immediate needs of the presbytery following the hurricane. Members of the IRT at present are:

Rev. Alan Brehm

Rev. Tom Sharon

Rev. Steve Oglesbee

Rev. Mary Currie

Rev. Pat Clark

Rev. Margaret Desmond

Arnetta Boson

Melissa Brown

The General Council also appointed a planning team to organize two simultaneous worship/communion/fellowship opportunities on Sunday, October 5 (World Communion Sunday) at 3 pm in the Golden Triangle and South Harris County/North Galveston County. As soon as we have the location details, we’ll get the word out. This will be a great time for us as a family to gather to praise God, share our stories and to hear first-hand what is happening in the recovery effort.

We are still seeking someone to serve as a financial officer for the IRT. We also need volunteers to help us for the next couple of months in the following areas:

Worksite Assignment Manger – someone to work with the Volunteer Coordinator in assigning work groups to work sites

Case Workers - people to do on-site visits of families needing assistance. It would be especially helpful to have folks with degrees in social work.

The Golden Triangle area is prepared to receive work groups immediately. Beverly Antilley is our Golden Triangle Volunteer Coordinator. Her phone 409 223-0118 She can handle groups coming in with work assignments and accommodations and other information.

Clean up buckets can be take to Clear Lake Presbyterian Church. CLPC will oversee the distribution of the buckets to the community.

Here are the reports we have received today:

Livingston, FPC – Star Starling reports: The building that houses the sanctuary has a great deal of damage. The oldest building that was called the Activity Building (where we ate supper last year for the Fall Conference) has been damaged too. Both buildings now have mold.

Orange, FPC – Jeannie Alexander, Clerk of the Session reports the following:

• Microbial growth is present in the Fellowship Hall on the ceiling, walls, and furniture.
• Hatch blew off the roof and let water in through the Sanctuary.
• Thermal imaging was done and traced the track of the water from the roof where it went throughout the building.
• Drains were displaced during the storm on top of the building and let water directly in through the pipes.
• Two return vents in the hardwood floor of Fellowship Hall are drains that lead to the basement, thus how the water entered the Basement.
• We have no flood insurance. Tidal surge is considered flood water for insurance. We have an 80,000 dollar deductible for our insurance policy on the Lutcher building as per our insurance reps.
• Basement had less water in it than the flood water outside. Debris line outside was not to the entrance of the church. If it were flood water, it would be equal to the height of the flood water outside.
• No debris got into the church. Debris line in the yard is the key.
• The flood was salt water. Basement was pumped and cleaned and there is no evidence of salt water sediment in the basement. It appears the water came from the roof down.
• Organ pipe chamber was assessed and photographed as well. Microbial growth is present in there as well.
• Hardwood floors in Fellowship hall were “cupping” from the water. 60% chance they will not lie back down. Floors are unique with the crawl space under the hardwood floors between the floors and the concrete. Concrete and crawl space is being dried now. If we had to install a new floor, a protection could be put in place.
• Microbial growth is covered by insurance if it is caused by the damage from the storm.
• The basement has sewage on the wall.
• Relative humidity was 91.8% when LCI got here.
• Items are being packed out, cleaned, and put into PODs outside stored cleaned.
• Water did not run on top of the ceiling in Fellowship Hall. It ran down the drains and the humidity made the ceiling sweat and that was the cause of the microbial growth.
• Trough around the dome that houses the lights is holding water.
• Molding in the Sanctuary has fallen down where it got wet.
• There is water saturation in the Good Shepherd stain glass window frame.
• Wall by the big columns in the front of the sanctuary by the angels also has 4-5 foot water intrusion in the ceiling there.
• Fellowship hall ceiling is sagging. When cleaning it, it is possible that the plaster could start to fall.

Photos From First Presbyterian Church, Pasadena

Rev. Dean Pogue, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Pasadena sent the photos in this slideshow. Here is Dean's description of the pictures:


One of our members lives directly on the water in San Leon, about 12 miles south of Clear Lake. According to insurance adjustors, she lost about 85% of her home and its contents. The attached photos show our church cleanup group (First Presbyterian, Pasadena, Texas), responding to her SOS for help.

A few notes: Her house was built on piers, and the steps to her front door were washed away. Entry was via step ladder. The storm surge washed away everything on the ground floor. She lost quite a few sentimental items, although she was able to salvage some family photos, including her high school photo, and ones of her son and her dad.

(Photos courtesy of Dean Pogue)

Thank you, Dean! If you have photos to share, please send them to us and they will be shared on the blog.

Volunteer Opportunities and Church Status Updates

September 22 Update
from Mike Cole

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED--CAN YOU HELP?

We are getting our support structure in place to coordinate offers of assistance with needs in our communities. We need volunteers to help us for the next couple of months in the following areas:

Worksite Assignment Manger – someone to work with the Volunteer Coordinator in assigning work groups to work sites

Case Workers - people to do on-site visits of families needing assistance. It would be especially helpful to have folks with degrees in social work.

Financial Officer – A CPA serving on the Ike Recovery Team to help administer funds and design systems of financial reporting and accountability.

The Golden Triangle area is prepared to receive work groups immediately. Beverly Antilley is our Golden Triangle Volunteer Coordinator. Her phone 409 223-0118 She can handle groups coming in with work assignments and accommodations and other information.

Clean up buckets can be take to Clear Lake Presbyterian Church. CLPC will oversee the distribution of the buckets to the community.

The High Island Retreat Center will be housing some teachers from the High Island Independent School District who lost their homes to the storm. There is still no electricity on High Island and no generators available. If anyone has a generator they are no longer using and would be wiling to donate/loan it to the Retreat Center, that would be very helpful to those we are housing. The teachers also need food, cleaning supplies and toilet paper.

Focus – The discipleship and renewal event of our presbytery is STILL scheduled to happen on Saturday, October 4 at Northwoods. We have extended the early-bird registration deadline to September 29. I would encourage all of us to attend – I plan on being there. It will be a great opportunity to gather with friends and colleagues, be uplifted by great presentations and recover some sense of normalcy.

Here are some recent updates on church communities:

Houston, St. Giles – Greg Feigh reports that that they are without power and will be for at least another week due to a downed line behind the church. They have some wind damage plus water "in the usual places"

Hunstville, FPC – Ken Jack reports that the church has been without power until Friday. Church sprung a few leaks and had a little damage to our chapel steeple, but that is about all. We have many less trees in the little city now, however. I lost a 100 foot pine that fell away from my house instead of toward it.

Eagle Lake, FPC – Ed Triem reports that the church did not have any damage nor did any members have any problems. We were very blessed not to lost power and hosted other family members here who lost power.

Pasadena, Faith – Joe Delgatto reports that the church had no structural damage from Ike. However, a leak in the sanctuary ceiling caused water to come the floor. As of today (September 21St) there is still no power. Services were canceled for September 14 and 21.

Houston, Heights – Mark Downs reports that our physical damage in minimal and even more important, all our members are safe, just a little uncomfortable. More powerful than the hurricane winds was the blowing of the Spirit. The church worshiped this morning "unplugged", including no air conditioning. Last week we were able to distribute ice, water, and food to the Heights community. We have also had teams go out and help clean up for those who needed help. With no phone or internet, we still have kept our Angel Food program going and have yet another record number of orders for the month of September. This week we hope to expand our mercy effort beyond the Heights and help others in our larger city and presbytery.

Cleveland, FPC – Gene Marion reports that the church at Cleveland is recovering from IKE'S visit. Most of our members left town and there was no health threat to any of them. Damage was limited to houses and tree limbs in the yard. However one member had two trees fall on her house another had one fall on his mobile home. The church had a tree come through the south wall of our fellowship hall. We are hoping that our insurance will cover the damage. Most of us were without water and electricity for about a week. The church was closed for one week.

Got Presby-IKE Photos?

If you have some good, high-resolution photos of Hurricane IKE damages to Presbyterian churches or relief efforts by Presbyterians, please email them to the Blog Administrator, Jody Harrington, at the address in the sidebar.

Presbyterians Today asked me to try to get some for them. I'll forward the photos to the editor, Eva Stimson.

Many thanks to those of you with power who can read this and respond.