Church Members Pray and Work for Haiti
EAST ORANGE - What started as a morning prayer vigil for Haiti at the Temple of Unified Christians Brick Church turned into a help clearing house Jan. 16.
About 25 people joined TUCBC Senior Minister Jean Maurice, Haitian Pastors Association President Sybil M. Elias and The Haitian League President Dr. Bernier Lauredan in praying for those who have died or are suffering in Jan. 12 earthquake's aftermath. The French Creole and English language hymns carried a message of trusting The Lord with the departed's care and being present among the suffering.
The all-too-common theme of someone locally knowing a relative or friend who has died or missing hit home when Tricia Demosthene came to the pulpit. Demosthene, of West Orange, said that she had lost eight relatives - two aunts and six cousins.
The TUCBC vigilant in the church meeting stage grew to 60 before the two-hour vigil was over. Dr. Lauredan led a string of public speakers updating the latest charitable developments.
"We're planning to fly to Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) in the next few days," said Lauredan. "I'm bringing at least 20 medical kits with us. We need doctors who are able to go with us."
"We received a $20,000 donation from a Jewish relief group," said a second speaker. "What we need are shipping containers for goods bound for Haiti."
Dr. Maurice and tucbc.org said that the church was founded in 1968 and "was at 17 Prospect St., above the locksmith, until 2004." TUCBC bought the former Central Brick Church Presbyterian Church from the Bloomfield-based Presbytery of Newark.
Rev. Monsignor Beaubrun Ardouin, of Irvington's St. Leo's Church, presented the benediction.
Orange Church Holds Service and Becomes Collection Point
ORANGE - The Mt. Olive Church of God has been a Haiti collection point since Jan. 13 and - for about two hours - a site for a multi-minister prayer service Jan. 17.
The church, at 24 Cleveland St., has a giant banner announcing its regional collection point. Its senior pastor had meanwhile invited five colleagues from as many local Haitian-American churches to pray and preach Jan. 17.
Mt. Olive was packed by about 1,000 people despite a cold rainstorm. Many of the parishioners - as well as singers from five churches - wore the dark blue and red of the Haitian flag in solidarity.
The mostly Pentecostal congregation - one minister was from the Universalist church across the street - waved hands to prayers and hymns in English and French. Psalm 46 1-11 was among the Scriptures read.
Mt. Olive's sanctuary was originally built in 1912 by Christian Scientists - they also had a reading room at 18 Cleveland St. - into the 1980s. A Korean-language church congregated there before Mt. Olive arrived.
City of Newark Employees Deduct From Payrolls
NEWARK - Mayor Cory A. Booker announced that city employees are able to take a charitable deduction for Haitian relief now through next month.
"In talking with aid agencies like the Salvation Army and The White House, the greatest need in Haiti is cash," said Booker during a Jan. 15 press conference in the City Hall rotunda. "The cash can be directly spent for food, water and supplies within Haiti or in the nearby Dominican Republic."
Booker, before an audience of about 100, added that the payroll deduction form "has had all of the needed approvals," and would take the proceeds for the next four weeks.
"This relief effort isn't just for the disaster itself," said Booker. "We're going to be in Haiti for some months."
Booker included journalist Jude Deronceray among his invited speakers. Deronceray, who ran for East Orange City Council last year, said that he has lost two family members and have been trying to call others in the home country.
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