Achala's story of love and survivalAchala never imagined she would raise her daughter in a country so far from home, with no clear path forward. But since fleeing Sri Lanka in 2014, her life has been defined by one purpose: protecting her daughter, Atika, and giving her the chance at a better future.
 General Assembly is a time when Disciples are able to come together as one body in worship and fellowship with one another. In Memphis there were moments of connection and joy, but the body of Christ was fractured by immigration policy that does not uphold the dignity of all. In a time when our immigrant siblings are under attack and cannot move freely to assemble, Disciples responded with a “Stand in the Gap”prayer vigil outside of the Memphis Immigration Court, sharing stories of those who were unable to join us and remembering that when one part of the body suffers, all parts suffer together.
Week of Compassion, Obra Hispana, and Disciples Home Mission, partnering with Repairers of the Breach, were able to bear witness to injustice while providing meaningful pastoral support to immigrants on their way to their appointments, some of whom stopped to pray with the vigil before walking into court, where immigrants are increasingly at risk of being arrested while just trying to follow the law. Disciples who want to take the vigil home with them have many options for getting involved. You can utilize this toolkit to plan your own vigil in your community. You can also join the Week of Compassion monthly call for people doing immigration and refugee ministries, a space to share resources, seek feedback, and join in fellowship with Disciples across the country working to “Stand in the Gap” with our immigrant siblings at this time. In August, we are adding a second option to provide more flexibility – join the 4th Thursday of the month at 3:00pm OR 7:00pm Eastern time. Email Grace Kozak, Associate Director for Immigrant and Refugee Response, to learn more and get the link to register. AND – COMING SOON! Sign up for the new bi-monthly Week of Compassion newsletter, No Longer Strangers, for resources, stories, and updates on the ways Disciples are moving in solidarity with immigrants and refugees. resources from GA257/23/2025 TEACH-IN handouts from mini-workshops at General Assembly
SNAPSHOTS FROM THE FIELD photo/info postcards OFFERING DURING WORSHIP
volunteers needed!3/4/2025 support ongoing recovery efforts Long-Term Recovery Groups and partners are in need of volunteers to help repair/rebuild homes in communities affected by disasters!
First Christian Church of Pikeville, Kentucky is hosting cleanup teams for the recent floods in collaboration with Pike County Relief Services. We have a few openings for Week of Compassion hosted weeks with our partners in Houston, Texas and in Mayfield, Kentucky. Our amazing partner organizations and trained Disaster Site Leaders are ready to receive volunteers! The following weeks are still available: HOUSTON - May 18 - 23 May 25 - 30 June 1 - 6 August 3 - 8 (in collaboration with Be the Neighbor) MAYFIELD - June 8 - 13 June 15 - 20 June 22 - 27 This is a great opportunity to be a part of a family’s recovery, one step closer to moving home! Visit the linked pages for more info, or contact Week of Compassion volunteering. building community & preparedness1/27/2025 Following the recent Winter Storm Enzo (January 20), Rev. Caroline Hamilton-Arnold (Associate Director for Domestic Disaster Response) shared a story and update from one of Week of Compassion's long-standing partners in the Houston TX area. While Week of Compassion did not directly fund the winterization work this year, Hurricane Harvey recovery grants helped build the resilience and preparedness infrastructure and the 'hub house' network. We contributed to the plumbing repairs on several houses dually impacted by Harvey and the 2021 Winter Storm. Week of Compassion is grateful to partner with groups like West Street Recovery (WSR), who are building cultures of community preparedness at a neighborhood level, through both material and relational interventions. Enjoy this update from our gifted partners (and photos of a Houston snowfall!)... Dear Friends, Allies, and Supporters, It seems like a major winter storm is now an annual occurrence in Houston. Winter Storm Enzo is historic in terms of snowfall, but luckily the damage in our community has been very minimal so far. ...  The weather has been kind so far, but we also believe the good news we are hearing is due to our work this past week and in the last few years. Since Winter Storm Uri (2021), we have invested heavily in winter weather resilience. Since that terrible storm, we have repiped dozens of homes with freeze resistant PEX. Almost every house with significant damage from freezes [the last four winters] was fully repiped with modern flexible plumbing. In addition we have insulated pipes in so many other homes. In late December we hosted a "Pipe Wrap Day", and with the help of many community members, and with a little follow up in the last week of the year we insulated the pipes on over 30 homes.  These 'house hardening' interventions are just one part of building a culture of preparedness. This winter WSR and the Northeast Action Collective (NAC) have used our hub houses to distribute over 90 small heaters that will keep families warm throughout this cold snap. In the lead up to the storm we staged solar chargeable batteries, stoves, hand warmers, bottled water and first aid supplies at 10 locations across the city, mostly in NE Houston but also in Sunnyside and Denver Harbor. Hub captains and assistants called their rosters and reminded them to cut off water at the main, and we messaged the NAC chat with instructions on how to do so. Finally, as the storm approached, one of our captains has been ill. We are really proud that we were able to coordinate distribution from her hub despite this. That is the sort of operational continuity that we have been working to build. For now, we are holding up. Enjoy the snow. Weather can be terrifying, but it is also a wonder and a source of curiosity, beauty and joy. Especially if you are prepared.  With love, WSR Maui - a volunteer reflects8/24/2023  photo courtesy Children's Disaster Services Judi Frost (right), a member of the Week of Compassion Board of Stewards, has joined Children’s Disaster Services teams deployed to Maui, caring for children and their families in the aftermath of the Lahaina fires. (NOTE: Our partners are currently requesting only trained volunteers. We are grateful for Judi and her CDS colleagues who have received extensive training and are experienced in these settings.) Judi is keeping a text-message travel journal with a small group, and we are honored to offer her reflections, humor, prayers, and photos here.
Highlights - GA20238/21/2023  What a joy it was to be together in Louisville at the July 29-August 1 General Assembly, our first in-person gathering after four years apart. Great conversations, new and renewed connections, engaging workshops, powerful worship, and meaningful resolutions filled our days together. Week of Compassion staff, board, partners, and supporters are grateful for the vision of the whole Disciples church, and to be part of this Kindom of God, within and among us.
Here are just a few highlights of our Assembly experience:
preparing for extreme heat5/30/2023  In recent years, we have witnessed and experienced the impact of extreme temperatures on the health and livelihoods of people within our communities across the US and Canada. In extreme heat, your body works extra hard to maintain a normal temperature, which can lead to sickness and even death. In fact, extreme heat is responsible for the highest number of annual deaths among all weather-related hazards.
We can prepare ourselves and our communities for extreme weather events and help save lives. Here are a few resources related to extreme heat preparedness you can reference or share with others. For Individuals
early response in Turkey & Syria2/16/2023 Only 10 days after catastrophic earthquakes shook Turkey & Syria, more than 40,000 people are dead and 80,000 more injured. Tens of thousands of buildings that remain standing cannot be used for fear of collapse. Syrian refugees welcomed into Turkey over the last decade and longer, fleeing ongoing conflict in Syria, have settled primarily in the Turkish provinces that are now those most hard-hit by last week’s earthquake. UNICEF has called it ‘a humanitarian emergency on top of a humanitarian crisis’. Syrian children who are 12 years old and younger have never known a time without disaster and sustained emergency. As the numbers climb past our imagining, and even frequent media images can’t capture the scope of the destruction, the faithful work and unfailing commitment of our global ecumenical partners provides images of hope in the midst of such loss. The Department of Ecumenical Relations and Development of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch - one of Week of Compassion’s partners through ACT Alliance - was recently in Aleppo and other affected areas, inspecting the situation of affected families receiving assistance and shelter. GOPA-DERD is intentional to provide immediate aid as well as review the emergency response work and assistance provided, listening to needs to ensure that communities are cared for most effectively. In addition to ready-to-eat meals, hygiene kits, warm clothes and winterization kits, and baby food, clothes, and diapers, partners through ACT Alliance are also providing medical care and consultation, equipment and medications, and psychosocial and trauma care for children and adults. Week of Compassion remains in close contact with colleagues and ecumenical partners responding in the affected communities, ensuring that immediate needs are met and that systems and responses are in place for the extensive long-term recovery that is ahead. Gifts to Week of Compassion designated ‘earthquakes’ will be used 100%
to respond now and in the efforts to come. on lament & hope2/9/2023  Many friends in ministry are rethinking the Sunday School, small group, or even sermon plans for this weekend. In the wake of unfathomable loss in Turkey, Syria, and the region, how can we find a word to name such pain and sorrow? How can we possibly see God in the midst of it all?
Months ago, Rev. Dr. Casey Thornburgh Sigmon created a powerful reflection on this year's Special Offering text, Lamentations 3:21-23. Her insight to the scripture, questions for thoughtful response, and reminders that lament and hope co-exist in most every moment, might be just what you need. Find the Sermon Starter & Scripture Commentary in the Planning & Resource Guide, along with all other materials, at our Special Offering Resources Page, and by direct download. |
