Okay, so picture this. The big one finally hits Vancouver. The city is in ruins, people are desperate. The relief trucks roll into town and driving them are ... Tony Soprano and Michael Corleone?

Interestingly, this seems to be the norm in Japan. Apparently the yakuza (Japanese organized crime) are big givers and organizers of aid during disasters, including the current one. Story from Yahoo! news below.

I am on the Sojourner's email list.

I received a list mail on March 17th, which I find powerful on first read.

I thought I would offer it to you, so that you could seek our Sojourner's page and/ or comment on this letter 

Hundreds of thousands of people who survived the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan remain emotionally traumatized by these tragic events.

This catastrophe, like similar events in New Zealand and Haiti, offers us a unique opportunity to reach out to our fellow human beings to offer solace.

We are inviting individuals and congregations to echo the opening words of the United Church's Creed "We are not alone," and to post prayers and messages of comfort and solidarity for our Japanese sisters and brothers living in Japan and in Canada.

Hi Friends,

This was posted on the United Church website today and I thought I would share it here as well. It's a pogniant article by former Moderator Peter Short, updated in response to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.