St. Andrew's News Release!

News from St. Andrew's Chapel, the Episcopal Church in Montgomery, NY 14 May 2008 Village congregation responds to cyclone, quake victims Montgomery, NY--The small Episcopal congregation of St. Andrew's Chapel here is responding to the devastating human suffering in China and Myanmar. "Last Sunday (May 11) of course we prayed for the victims of the cyclone in Myanmar," said the Rev. Canon Dan Webster, Vicar of St. Andrew's Chapel, "but we also designated our loose plate collection to Episcopal Relief and Development. ERD has partners already in Myanmar and has been able to get resources to them to assist with shelter, water and critical supplies to alleviate the suffering." "I was deeply gratified that 18 people were able to donate $55 without advance notice for the ERD effort," said Canon Webster. "The generosity of our congregation is humbling," he said. This Sunday (May 18) St. Andrew's will designate its loose plate collection to ERD for Chinese earthquake victims. ERD is working with partner organizations in Sichuan Province to provide basic necessities to the thousands of victims whose lives have been devastated by the natural disaster. "We have an obligation as Christians to love our neighbors as ourselves," Canon Webster said. "It's clear from the gospel of Jesus that our neighbors are not just in Montgomery but throughout the world. What we do may be small by comparison to other churches and organizations but coupled with prayer we can do wonders," said Canon Webster. ERD is the Episcopal Church's humanitarian aid agency. More information about its work in China and Myanmar may be found at www.er-d.org . St. Andrew's Chapel is one of the more than 200 congregations in the Episcopal Diocese of New York. It has been witnessing to the Christian gospel in Orange County for 105 years.