Dear Friends,
We are approaching the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina which brought so much devastation to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. But in the wake of the destruction there came a wave of compassion and caring that brought thousands of volunteers who helped the people of the Gulf Coast begin to recover and rebuild.
This summer, on August 22-23, St. Paul United Methodist Church in Ocean Springs, MS is hosting a 10 Year Katrina Observance to remember and give thanks for those volunteers who came to the Gulf Coast. Many of these disaster relief volunteers were housed at St. Paul or flowed through St. Paul on their way to work sites. We are inviting all who helped with the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts to be our guest at a 10 year reunion.
This event will be held at St. Paul United Methodist Church, East Campus located at the intersection of Highways 57 and 90 in east Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
Some of the activities planned include:
• Saturday, August 22: Lunch with a presentation by Kathleen Koch, who will share her experiences as a CNN reporter in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Ms. Koch, a Native of Bay St. Louis, MS, authored, Rising from Katrina: How My Mississippi Hometown Lost It All and Found What Mattered. Also present will be Ocean Springs Mayor (both then and currently serving) Connie Moran.
• Saturday Afternoon: Tours to the neighborhoods and places that were served by disaster response volunteers. We will be able to see how the Gulf Coast has rebuilt in the last 10 years.
• Saturday Evening: Seashore District worship service that will include stories of God’s working through the volunteers who came to serve in the rebuilding.
• Sunday Morning, August 23: Worship at St. Paul UMC and a reception following. We will spend time sharing stories of rebuilding and taking time to say “thank you” to the volunteers who worked to rebuild the Gulf Coast.
Here’s how you can respond:
RSVP on the St. Paul UMC Website at http://www.stpaulos.org/katrina. We would love to hear from you! More details will be posted as details develop.
You can also join a Facebook group dedicated to this event called the CORE Reunion Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/CORE.St.Paul.Reunion/
And you can send e-mail to core@stpaulos.org or call St. Paul Paul UMC at 228-875-5701 if you need additional information.
Through it all, this will be a time of remembrance, reflections, and appreciation. We look forward to hearing from you.
Grace and Peace,
Jon Kaufman, Senior Pastor
St. Paul United Methodist Church, Ocean Springs