By Bill Lancaster

Greenville, SC–The Synod of Living Waters and the Presbyterian Writers’ Guild has announced the first recipient of the Jane Hines/Vic Jameson Scholarship award. The scholarship is named in honor of Jane Hines, longtime editor of Presbyterian Voice and communications director for the Synod. The award is also named in memory of Vic Jameson (1925-2008), who served the PC(USA) as a reporter, editor, columnist, and author for more than 30 years. Hines and Jameson were friends and colleagues, and mentors to generations of Presbyterian writers and communicators.

The $5000 award is given to Mark Eldred, a student at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. Mark is a graduate of Northeastern.

On All Saints Day remember those affected by Hurricane Sandy

“The church is catholic, universal, so are all her actions; all that she does belongs to all.”

These are the words of John Donne, a cleric and poet, written upon listening to the death knells that rang each day announcing how many had died of the plague in seventeenth-century London.

On All Saints Day as we remember all the saints whose witness prompted our faith in Jesus Christ, let us also remember our brothers and sisters who have been impacted by the massive storm that hit the eastern United States and parts of the Caribbean.

Please pray for the millions of people who have been affected by this storm. Stand in the GAP for them.

There are ways you can help:

Give. Provide financial support to aid in recovery efforts. You can give $10 now by texting PDA to 20222 or mail your gift referencing DR000187 to P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA.

Act.  Make “Gift of the Heart” kits - clean up buckets, baby kits, hygiene kits and school kits. More than 18,000 kits have already been sent.

Organize volunteer teams. There will be tremendous need for volunteer teams to help in the clean-up and recovery efforts — that will span multiple states — including many communities still recovering from Hurricanes Irene and Lee.

Pray. Pray for families who lost homes and loved ones. Pray as they face power loss and other challenges brought on by further inclement weather. Pray for those seek to provide physical, emotional and spiritual comfort. Pray the hope of Christ will be evident in our response.