I updated my prior congregation (St John’s Lutheran Church) in Merrick, NY about the damage Atonement Lutheran Church experienced from Hurricane Milton and asked for their prayers. I was a member of this church for over 30 years before moving to Florida and joining Atonement 6 years ago. I just wanted to share the inspiring response I received from my prior Pastor.

I would also ask that we keep Pastor Kirschbaum in your prayers as he leads the merger of three Lutheran churches within a 4-mile radius into one congregation. They selected the name “Holy Trinity Lutheran Church” as their merged name and are now working to select which church property will be retained for their merged congregation.

-- (Atonement council member) Rich Etringer

Dearest Richard and both families... 

          your personal family and your faith family at Atonement...

 

Thank you for helping to update us back in Merrick, Long Island - NY as to how you are all doing after both Helene and Milton rolling through your area... how horrible to think of such extreme devastation to so many areas... yet, how blessed you are to be well and we praise God for that great gift.  We are all quite saddened by the storms damage to the church building at Atonement and how that damage now affects the possible structure integrity of the place you have called your church home... and worse, to see how this will affect the incredible work you do on behalf of those facing food insecurity through your feeding ministry.  So many challenges and dark valleys that you are all walking through... so many of the "unknowns" that cause great fear and anxiety - please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers for whatever the future may hold for Atonement Lutheran Church and how it will (perhaps) maintain a presence and role in the life of your community. Truly, we need to leave it in God's hands. Take heart that Christ is with you all... He who has walked this road of the "impossible" before us - to remind us that even in the darkest of times - God has a plan and God's light and love are stronger even than death itself... as Jesus reminds us - that with us things seem impossible, but not with God... for with God all things are possible. It may seem bleak at this point, for sure... but God will turn things around and cause something new to spring forth as we place our trust, hope and faith in God. 

 

We remain in prayer for you, your family and for your faith family in these dark and lonely days of recovery... looking toward the promise of God's amazing grace. 

 

Blessings to you in Christ,

Pastor Kirschbaum