09/04/2026
Faces of Hope in the Midst of Recovery: The United Church of Christ Shows Up: PART 1
(Full article in the comments)
In the aftermath of the July 27 tornado, one of the emotions many of us felt was isolation. Roads were blocked. Familiar landmarks disappeared. Homes were damaged. Entire sections of our neighborhood suddenly felt cut off from the rest of the world. Yet almost immediately, we discovered the opposite was true. Phone calls started coming. Prayers were offered. Resources were identified. Support appeared from church leaders across Wisconsin and throughout the wider United Church of Christ who wanted us to know one thing: We were not alone.
Within hours of the storm, Associate Conference Minister Rev. Jane Anderson reached out to check on our congregation and offer support. In the days that followed, Wisconsin Conference Disaster Response Coordinator Rev. Bridget Hill became an invaluable partner in our recovery efforts. She helped us navigate unfamiliar disaster recovery systems, connected us with resources, advocated for local concerns, and served as a trusted guide during a difficult and uncertain time.
Bridget also connected us with Rev. Katie Howe, Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery in the national setting of the United Church of Christ. Through those relationships, our community's story reached the wider church, including General Minister and President Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson, who shared a public prayer for all those affected by the July 27 tornado.
Knowing that churches and church leaders across the country were praying for our community was a powerful reminder that this burden was not ours to carry alone.
One particularly meaningful moment came on August 16 when we returned to our church building after two weeks of worshiping with our gracious neighbors at St. Paul Lutheran Church. The building and grounds had been forever changed by the storm. It was an emotional day. Joining us that morning were Rev. Katie Howe, Rev. Bridget Hill, and Wisconsin Conference Minister Rev. Franz Rigert. Their presence reminded us that recovery is not simply about repairing buildings. It is also about caring for people.
The United Church of Christ often speaks about covenant. We are independent congregations, yet we are bound together by relationships of mutual care and responsibility. Over the past several weeks, we experienced covenant not as an abstract idea, but as a lived reality. Covenant looked like phone calls, prayers, advocacy, and people showing up.
As we continue sharing stories from our recovery journey, we give thanks for Jane Anderson, Bridget Hill, Katie Howe, Franz Rigert, the Wisconsin Conference, and the wider United Church of Christ.
Thank you for reminding us that no congregation, no community, and no person has to walk through hardship alone. "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it." Genesis 28:16 God is here. God is at work. And sometimes God shows up through people who simply refuse to let one another walk alone.
Amen and alleluia!