EMLI-PROFILES

Welcome from Mary Beth Welsh
EMLI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

From the first news about the Covid-19 global pandemic, EMLI received unexpected donations, one from a bishop and others from church members, with notes saying they wanted to help those who are helping others suddenly in need -- sheltering in place or surviving in place with no shelter. Also, parishes began asking EMLI to help them respond to the growing crisis.

An emergency EMLI FRONTLINE FUND was created, both to request donations and in turn to assist parish Covid-19 ministries. As many as possible. As quickly as possible.

Here, we are sharing profile stories from leaders and volunteers receiving FRONTLINE support, as well as sharing stories about other churches and volunteers across the diocese, all facing their own health risks but courageously serving in Frontline Ministries. Christ is on the Frontline.

We are pleased to share these Profiles with you from the FRONTLINE.

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canon fred vergara - temporary employment of a practical helper for homebound parishioners and neighbors

6/5/2020

Profile
The Rev. Canon Dr. Winfred Vergara
Holy Trinity Church, Hicksville

Left to Right: John Dhinakaran; son Andrew and youth leader at Holy Trinity; parents-in-law the Rev. and Mrs. Gopal from Church of South India who visited them in Hicksville; John’s wife, Oswin, a vestry member and on the altar guild; and son Andrew, an acolyte.

Several of our members have lost their jobs, including a family of four who are our most active members.

The mother serves as vestry member, is on the altar guild and is a Lay Eucharistic Minister; their two sons serve as acolytes and the father serves as videographer and a volunteer handyman.

In trying to help this displaced family, we have temporarily employed the father as practical helper to those who are homebound, especially the elderly, the widows and those with disabilities. In our parish alone, some 20-30% of our parishioners fall into this category.

Hopefully, this kind of practical-help ministry can be extended beyond the parish into the Hicksville community.

He assists in whatever needs fixing in their household or does some lawn mowing or runs errands for groceries, to pharmacies, and the like.

Through some monetary assistance, he can buy gas for his car and buy food for the family, until such time that he can get back to work.

The Rev. Canon Dr. Winfred Vergara

Canon Abby Murphy - our years of outreach ministry unexpectedly prepared us for covid outreach

6/2/2020

Profile
The Reverend Canon T. Abigail Murphy
St. Elisabeth's Church, Floral Park
St. Thomas' Church, Bellerose Village

father roger joslin - an inspired common ground garden raising vegetables and giving them away

5/27/2020

Profile
Father Roger Joslin
Holy Trinity Church, Greenport
Missioner, North Fork Episcopal Ministries

Inspired by the work done by the Garden of St. Francis in Bellmore, our Common Ground garden is a cooperative effort among our two North Fork Churches and Treiber Farms, Episcopal Ministries of Long Island and a host of volunteers from the wider community.

We have 32 raised beds in full production - raising vegetables and giving them away.

Happy Planting.

The Rev. Roger Joslin
North Fork Missioner
revrogerjoslin@gmail.com

mary mattarella - my faith, parish and my circle help me and my pandemic mission

5/23/2020

Profile
Mary Mattarella
St. Ann's Church, Sayville

"Lord have mercy" - st. john's episcopal hospital far rockaway medical staff and health teams

5/22/2020

Profile
Medical Staff and HealthTeams
at St. John's Episcopal Hospital

The New York Times published a news video
on May 22 about St. John's extraordinary pandemic efforts.

>> CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW YORK TIMES VIDEO
https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000007097093/coronavirus-st-johns-hospital-far-rockaway.html

Bishop Provenzano's message to the diocese
about the NY Times video report.

May 22, 2020

Dear Clergy and Members
of the Diocese of Long Island,

This morning, the day after our commemoration of the Ascension of our Lord, I was brought to tears by a New York Times front page 12-minute online news video about the demanding and extraordinary coronavirus work by the medical and support team at our St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway.

We all have “read” about the devastating pandemic. The video powerfully shows us the cost to the victims of the disease and the cost to our hospital personnel.

Please find time to watch: "Lord Have Mercy" - "Inside One of New York's Deadliest Zip Codes," on the New York Times website:
https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000007097093/coronavirus-st-johns-hospital-far-rockaway.html.

As I sat and watched this report, I prayed “Lord have mercy” over and over again as tears ran down my face in gratitude for the selfless care of our doctors, nurses and staff, and in sorrow for the pain and anguish this virus inflicts on victims and their families.

I could not be prouder of our people at St John’s Episcopal Hospital. Regardless of their faith backgrounds, I see the gospel being lived out one patient at a time, one family at a time - over and over again. This is for real. “Lord Have Mercy” Amen.

Bishop Larry Provenzano
Bishop of Long Island
and Chair of the Board of St John’s Episcopal Hospital
Far Rockaway, Queens, NY

Canon Glen Miles - the love i've seen as people help each other shows god is present

5/19/2020

Profile
The Rev. Canon Dr. Glenworth D. Miles
St. George's Church, Brooklyn

Senior warden Richard Ohlsen - professional emergency management as ministry

5/19/2020

Profile
Senior Warden Richard Ohlsen
St. Andrew's Church, Yaphank

Mother ajung sojwal - rectory garden to grow community

5/15/2020

Profile
Mother Ajung Sojwal
St. George's Church, Hempstead

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Father duncan Burns - immediate and extensive covid-19 outreach ministry

5/13/2020

Profile
Father Duncan Burns
St. John's Church, Huntington

campbell and Clark - word is spreading about our victory organic garden and farm

5/11/2020

Profile
Stephanie Campbell and Brian Clark
St. Peter's by-the-Sea Church, Bayshore

We have 7 people gardening now and the word is spreading - via our church e-newsletter, Facebook, LI Gardener and other local community sites.

We’ve had adults and middle school students volunteer to clear, prune, spread mulch, fix fences and plant flowers. It has not been a problem; we're following social distance rules.

Many in kind donations have been given, such as mulch, a wheelbarrow and supplying the students with lunches.

We have been very frugal with spending money and have only purchased the most necessary items. The expense of cutting down trees above the barn (for safety reasons) was higher than expected.

Our well and sprinklers need to be fixed as soon as possible. Up coming expenses include plumbing, purchasing a small gas powered tiller and Cedar wood for 6 Raised Garden beds.

We will also have compost delivered, but a truck load of manure is free!!!!

We are thrilled that our Ministry project is progressing this quickly - from a garden to a farm.

Stephanie Campbell
Brian Clark

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