In the wake of the catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe and other areas of Central Texas, FPC is forming a task force to work in collaboration with other churches and partner organizations in the impacted areas. At this time, as search and rescue and preliminary assessment operations are ongoing, we have a window to prepare for the long-term work ahead. We are in the planning stages and are now seeking your support and volunteers ready to help in the weeks and months ahead, including:
FPC Disaster Relief Task Force:
We need individuals who can help coordinate, communicate, and mobilize our church family for relief efforts. If you feel called to assist, please contact Lindsay Selli.
Our collaboration with area churches, organizations, and Operation Blessing includes muck-out, rebuilding, sorting donations, and providing essential materials. More details will be available soon on how you can support the affected communities.
Operation Blessing: Join us for clean-up efforts in the Kerrville area, Mondays through Fridays until August 8. Full-day (8:30 AM - 4:30 PM) and half-day (1:00 PM - 4:30 PM) shifts are available, with training, lunch, and a t-shirt provided. Volunteers must be 18 or older and wear long pants and closed-toed shoes.
Your financial contributions are vital to support partner churches, organizations, and on-the-ground projects in which we participate. Please click the link below to contribute to this effort. Be sure to select the Flood Relief Fund on the giving form or specify it in the memo line on checks.
If you have been trained as a deacon, chaplain, Stephen Minister, or counselor, we would like to connect you with opportunities to serve the impacted communities through The Ecumenical Center. While they currently have many volunteers, there is an anticipated need for respite for caregivers, and the Center is working to establish standby teams to support communities and first responders on an ongoing basis. Please contact Mike Munroe to get connected.
In these trying times, our Mental Health Team is here to extend pastoral care and support to those in need. We offer companionship, mental health education, and connections to counseling services. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to us. We're committed to providing a safe space to process grief and restore hope through faith and community.
For more detailed information and additional resources, please read our article on finding comfort and mental health support in crisis. Together, we can navigate these challenges and find healing.
In times of crisis, each of us has the power to make a difference in the lives of those around us. Inspired by the Good Samaritan, we are called to extend love and support to our neighbors, especially during challenging times. Here are some ways you can help:
Help with an Open Heart: Approach helping others with genuine compassion. Volunteer to meet the needs of others, driven by a sincere desire to serve. Reach beyond your comfort zone to assist underserved and vulnerable neighbors, extending kindness to those who may differ from you in background or belief.
Listen and Respond: When offering support, it's important not to assume you know what your neighbor needs most. Start by asking what their immediate, tangible needs are, and take steps to help meet those needs.
Foster Connection and Support: Stay connected with those around you. Simple check-ins, whether via a call or a note, can provide comfort and help reduce feelings of isolation for those impacted by disaster.
Be Present and Patient: Recognize that recovery and healing take time. Offer your presence and be willing to provide ongoing support as needed, showing patience and understanding as needs evolve.
By embodying compassion and neighborliness, we can extend meaningful support to those who need it most, lifting each other up through the power of community and care.
