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Naperville church feels connection with victims In pictures, they stand smiling and proud in front of the blue house they helped renovate in impoverished east Biloxi, Miss. Less than a month after the group of parishioners from Naperville’s First Congregational United Church of Christ made that trip, the house is gone and they find themselves coming together again to pray for the safety of the friends they made on their missionary trip. “It’s actually a place that I have a connection to, so it’s a lot more affecting than it ever would have been without our trip,” said Jared Hall, a 16-year-old parishioner. “We met all these people and have done all this work. I am very concerned about the people we helped.” The church at 25 E. Benton Ave. is holding an interfaith prayer service for victims of the hurricane starting at 7 p.m. today. The Rev. Greg Skiba said he’s talked with a number of other ministers about holding the service at his church because of its recent connection with the region. “The hurricane is something that will likely be the focus of church in some way on Sunday for many of us,” he said. “It’s something we’ve been putting together really quickly.” On July 30, a group of 10 youngsters and six adults left Naperville for the Gulf Coast for a weeklong mission. They rehabbed two houses — one in Biloxi, another in Gulfport — and worked in a soup kitchen. By all accounts, the homes they worked on are gone and the mission that organized their efforts has been decimated by Hurricane Katrina. “I think anyone would question this,” Hall said. “For me personally, I believe you just have to keep believing and have faith that something new and something good will come of this sort of destruction and tragedy.” Skiba said he has been in contact with the director of the Biloxi mission that organized the group’s work. She had fled the area but heard reports little remained of her offices in Biloxi. “I’ve seen the pictures, too,” Skiba said. “The area in which the mission and its buildings were is just not there anymore.” Skiba said anyone is welcome to attend the prayer service, which will be led by a number of clergy from Naperville churches. “Many people have relatives and friends who have been affected by this disaster,” he said. “We want to give people the opportunity to grieve and pray together.” |
• Copyright © 2007 First Congregational Church |
