Wendy Black, the parish secretary at St. Michael's of the Valley, Ligonier, had hoped to raise $900 to buy prayer books and hymnals for a displaced congregation in the Diocese of Quincy.
Her "$30 for 30" campaign – to buy 30 sets of books at $30 each – yielded $1,475 in donations from St. Michael's parishioners, enough to provide the people of St. George's in Macomb, Illinois, with even more books. They include one large-print set, a two-volume accompaniment for the organist, a large Bible, and several parish resources.
The books were recently blessed by Quincy Bishop John Buchanan and presented to St. George's Treasurer, Tom Fortuna, who Wendy had met at a CREDO conference for members of the rebuilding dioceses.
For two years, the Macomb congregation has been locked out of its church and worshiping without their own prayer books at a Lutheran church. "St. Michael's has strengthened our resolve," Tom wrote.