On behalf of the congregations of Lazarus United Church of Christ and Lazarus Lutheran, I want to offer our sincerest thanks to the Maryland community for their support for the people of Lineboro as we mourn the loss of our beloved church building ("Cause of Lineboro church fire cannot be determined," Dec. 5).
Their generosity speaks to the character and strength of the people of Carroll County, and we are thankful to be part of this excellent community. We especially want to thank the brave men and women of the Lineboro Volunteer Fire Department and other area fire departments who conducted themselves with the utmost skill and professionalism. We can't thank them enough. They are, indeed, Carroll's finest.
There are several ways people may help. First, we crave your prayers as we mourn. Secondly, you make an online financial contribution at http://www.lazaruschurch.org. You can also mail contributions to Lazarus Church, 5101 S. Church St., Lineboro, MD 21102. All funds will go to support the rebuilding efforts of both congregations. We also invite you to support the many grass roots efforts all around our county as well. Finally, we will soon need crews for cleanup, and we'll let you know as soon as we can get started. Please feel free to call us at 717-309-7680 for more information.
Thank you again for so much faith, hope, and love in the midst of these difficult days. We wish all of Carroll County a blessed Advent and a holy Christmas!
Sam Chamelin, Lineboro
The writer is pastor of Lazarus United Church of Christ.
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