Dear Companions on the Journey,

Water is a precious commodity. In a drought, the one thing everyone needs is rain. We baptize with water. Clean clothes and dishes with water. We make sure our gardens grow with water. Water is essential to life. From our vantage point, the ongoing emergency in Los Angeles is the shockingly limited water supply alongside relentless winds. The two have combined to bring about the worst fire in the history of our country.

Countless lives have been turned upside down as people rush to evacuate from a fire that outpaced human power to respond. With embers being picked up and being carried via wind, nothing is safe from fire, and the danger continues to develop. The crisis has not come to an end.

After a natural disaster comes to an end, then requests for assistance go out that are well-articulated and clear. This disaster has continued for seven days and has yet to come to an end. The need for assistance is varied, changing, and will grow as the fires continue to burn and spread.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Altadena was destroyed by the California wildfires on Jan. 8.

Photo: Earle Rothwell

Episcopal Relief and Development (ER&D) is the way our denomination supports disaster response and recovery efforts on the ground. ER&D delivers funds into the hands of bishops who can then provide immediate assistance to people, ministries, and parishes. ER&D is already providing support and assistance to the Diocese of Los Angeles as their bishop and leadership teams determine how to help the people of their beloved city and diocese.

In this case, my friend and colleague, Bishop John Taylor, has declared that all donations to the One Body, One Spirit Annual Appeal of the Diocese of Los Angeles will be used to help institutions and individuals most affected by wildfires.

The need in Los Angeles is urgent and growing in scope. Rather than waiting for funds to be gathered across our diocese, which will delay our response, I urge you and your parish to give now, directly, and generously to ER&D or One Body, One Spirit.

We also must hold the people of Los Angeles in our prayers. Bishop Taylor is posting regular updates on Facebook. I find them helpful to guide my prayers, and I hope you will follow his posts, too. The people of Los Angeles have a long road to travel through this disaster. Our prayers and support with help them with this journey.

Grace and peace,

The Rt. Rev. Carlye J. Hughes

XI Bishop of Newark

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