UMW 2015 TEXAS LEGISLATIVE EVENT

UMW of Texas

Legislative Event

January 25-27, 2015

A few years ago, Sen. John Whitmire addressed the United Methodist Women at their annual Legis-lative Event. Sen. Whitmire was—and is—Dean of the Texas Senate and chairman of the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice. I’ve thought about Sen. Whitmire’s comments many times, and I recap a part of his speech from memory.

“When I received the invitation to speak to you today, I told my staff to send my regrets because I have to present my budget to the committee today and I don’t have time. But my staff rose up and said, ‘You must go! These are powerful women, and you need them on your side.!”

This is a political witness to the impact that people of faith can bring to bear on “the system” when we work together.

It also speaks to the stature and knowledge of those human resources that Texas Impact provides for our educational event.

We are powerful when we follow Biblical teachings to:

·         Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.

·         Care for the widow, the orphan and the alien among you

·         Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God.

With these teachings in mind, at the Legislative Event we learn about the major issues our legislators will address during the upcoming session. We study these issues; hear experts in the fields explain pro’s and con’s of bills; and, in light of our faith, determine our position on the issues. Then we visit our legislators and share our views and assure them of our prayerful support and attention.

UMW Legislative Event

January 25-27, 2015

Austin Holiday Inn—Midtown

Register online at TexasImpact.org

The event will be packed with expert policy presentations, practical advocacy training, conversations with top Texas lawmakers, and time at the Capitol.
Our new home is at the Austin Holiday Inn Midtown, at the old Highland Mall. Registration is not capped. There's plenty of room for everyone. Even if you can't stay for the whole 3 days, check the schedule.

** Texas Impact staff will schedule legislative visits for all Legislative Event registrants.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN ACTION SHEET

HUMAN TRAFFICKING of CHILDREN ACTION *Contact your congressional representative (Congressional Switchboard: 202-224-3121) and urge them to support H.R. 5076 – Enhancing Services for Runaway and Homeless Victims of Youth Trafficking Act of 2014, to help ensure that law enforcement officers know how to deal with trafficked youth. *Read the Child Victims of Human Trafficking Fact Sheet published by the Office of Refugee Resettlement by following this link: (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/resource/fact-sheet-child-victims-of-human-trafficking) *Visit the website of the National Alliance to End Homelessness to learn about more ways you can connect with others to end homelessness in America (http://www.endhomelessness.org/)

*Learn your state’s human trafficking grade as presented by the Protected Innocence Challenge, a report on the state of child sex trafficking laws in the U.S.  To learn how your state measures up follow this link: http://sharedhope.org/what-we-do/bring-justice/reportcards/.

*Read “Local Church Support for Young People,” #3461, pages 511-512, and “Homelessness in the United States,” #3261, pages 376 – 380: The Book of Resolutions of the United Methodist Church (2012)

HUMAN TRAFFICKING of CHILDREN ACTION *Contact your congressional representative (Congressional Switchboard: 202-224-3121) and urge them to support H.R. 5076 – Enhancing Services for Runaway and Homeless Victims of Youth Trafficking Act of 2014, to help ensure that law enforcement officers know how to deal with trafficked youth. *Read the Child Victims of Human Trafficking Fact Sheet published by the Office of Refugee Resettlement by following this link: (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/resource/fact-sheet-child-victims-of-human-trafficking) *Visit the website of the National Alliance to End Homelessness to learn about more ways you can connect with others to end homelessness in America (http://www.endhomelessness.org/)

*Learn your state’s human trafficking grade as presented by the Protected Innocence Challenge, a report on the state of child sex trafficking laws in the U.S.  To learn how your state measures up follow this link: http://sharedhope.org/what-we-do/bring-justice/reportcards/.

*Read “Local Church Support for Young People,” #3461, pages 511-512, and “Homelessness in the United States,” #3261, pages 376 – 380: The Book of Resolutions of the United Methodist Church (2012)

This information, too, came from the UMW Action Network and has been edited for space. I omitted one website that is very helpful, but the connection code is so very long that it is really too cumbersome to be useful since the hyperlink (Is that the correct term?!) doesn't apply here. This sheet is meant to accompany the information piece on Human Trafficking, and is designed to be printed in landscape format, three columns. ******************************************************** HUMAN TRAFFICKING of CHILDREN ACTION *Contact your congressional representative (Congressional Switchboard: 202-224-3121) and urge them to support H.R. 5076 – Enhancing Services for Runaway and Homeless Victims of Youth Trafficking Act of 2014, to help ensure that law enforcement officers know how to deal with trafficked youth. *Read the Child Victims of Human Trafficking Fact Sheet published by the Office of Refugee Resettlement by following this link: (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/resource/fact-sheet-child-victims-of-human-trafficking) *Visit the website of the National Alliance to End Homelessness to learn about more ways you can connect with others to end homelessness in America (http://www.endhomelessness.org/)

*Learn your state’s human trafficking grade as presented by the Protected Innocence Challenge, a report on the state of child sex trafficking laws in the U.S.  To learn how your state measures up follow this link: http://sharedhope.org/what-we-do/bring-justice/reportcards/.

*Read “Local Church Support for Young People,” #3461, pages 511-512, and “Homelessness in the United States,” #3261, pages 376 – 380: The Book of Resolutions of the United Methodist Church (2012)

HUMAN TRAFFICKING INFO SHEET

This information is taken from the UMW Action Network. I have edited it somewhat, but there is so much information that people need, that I was unable to keep it on one sheet. Therefore, this sheet is the information per se and will fit in the customary portrait, two column format. I will explain the second sheet on that post.
********************************************************************

HUMAN TRAFFICKING AMONG

           HOMELESS YOUTH

Human traffickers prey on the vulnerable and marginalized in society. The Polaris Project, an organization dedicated to eradicating this form of modern day slavery from the planet, lists child runaways and homeless youth as targets for pimps and traffickers to be exploited in the commercial sex industry or various labor or services industries: “…sex traffickers are skilled at manipulating child victims and maintaining control through a combina tion of deception, lies, feigned affection, threats, and violence.”

It is estimated that 85% of confirmed sex trafficking victims in the world are in the United States, and most of them are runaway children.^[ii] The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) estimates that “there are an estimated 200,000 American children at risk for trafficking into the sex industry alone.” Research studies conducted by Department of Health and Human Services supported the fact that traffickers target children with low self-esteem and social support, and indicated that, “These traits are highly prevalent among young people experiencing homelessness or those in foster care, due to their histories of abuse, neglect, and trauma.”^[v]

The following statistics reveal the connection between homeless youth and human trafficking in America. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) estimates that 1.3 million youth live on the streets in the U.S. due to running away from home, being abandoned, or becoming homeless. On average, these boys and girls are solicited for sex within 72 hours of being on the street. The ACF also estimates that 55% of girls on the street engage in formal prostitution and 20% of girls end up in nationally organized crime networks where they are forced to travel far from their homes and they are isolated from loved ones.^[vi]

The National Alliance estimates that approximately 39,000 children who experience homelessness or leave their homes are sexually assaulted or experience youth trafficking. To further complicate matters, these child victims, can often be treated as criminals because of law enforcement practices:.”^[viii]

Federal law defines human trafficking as the use of force, fraud, or coercion in situations of forced labor for services or any time a child is found in the commercial sex industry. The ACYF letter points to the responsibility of general citizens in identifying potential situations of trafficking: “For example, victims of child trafficking may attend school, participate in other social activities, or have contact with neighbors and community members who may be in positions to help identify situations of child trafficking.”^[ix] The following true story from a U.S. DOJ case provides an illustration of labor trafficking with a young girl:

“In 2006, a wife and husband in Lakewood, Washington, pleaded guilty to charges of forced labor after bringing their 12-year-old niece to the United States on promises that she will attend school in exchange for childcare and housework. The victim was forced to cook, clean, provide childcare, and work at the defendant’s coffee shop twelve to fourteen hours a day. The child was physically abused, threatened with deportation, not paid for her work at the coffee shop, and attended school for only a short time. The child escaped with the help of friends and a community-based organization.”^[x]

In response, states are taking action through new legislation and coalitions to provide appropriate training for law enforcement and social work officials.  In the state of Texas, the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance was formed to provide collaboration between law enforcement agencies and non-governmental organizations that work to address the needs of victims. “It is one of five Bureau of Justice Associates (BJA) funded task forces throughout Texas and forty-two across the country. The collaboration of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies works with social service organizations to identify and assist the victims of human trafficking and to prosecute the perpetrators of these horrific crimes.”^[xi]

Other states have begun similar initiatives intended to end child prostitution through research, prevention, intervention, and education.^[xii]

To respond at the federal level, H.R. 5076, the Enhancing Services for Runaway and Homeless Victims of Youth Trafficking Act of 2014. requires government officials to give priority to projects related to staff training in the behavioral and emotional effects of trafficking, as well as any agency-wide strategies for working with runaway and homeless youth who have been victimized by trafficking. S. 2646, the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act requires local emergency shelter and family reunification centers to offer trauma-informed services to run away and homeless youth and would extend the maximum stay period for these youth from 21 days to 30 days.^[xvi]

Because this crime is so widespread, it is clear that governments will need to continue to work with and rely on professional trauma-support and counseling services from shelters and other non-government organizations to best meet the needs of victims.

For more information contact: Susie Johnson – WASHINGTON OFFICE OF PUBLIC POLICY 100 Maryland Avenue, NE Suite 100 20002: csadc@unitedmethodistwomen.org

SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRANTS AND EBOLA CRISIS

This is a handout that will be timely for some little while now, I think. 

*****************************************************************

SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRANTS AT OUR

SOUTHERN BORDER

The work of the UMC and UMCOR continues in South Texas. The Church has responded with centers for hospitality and church members and volunteers have helped new arrivals with us tickets, showers, clothing, food and other provisions for travel across the U.S. UMCOR has issued a $100,000 grant—money made available by your contributions—to the Southwest Texas Annual Conference to support that conference’s immigration ministries through June 2015. This funding will include the hiring of a director of UM immigration ministries, who will coordinate the church’s response to the crisis and will advocate for fair and humane treatment of immigrants. To continue your support to these people seeking safety in our country, make your check to U.S. Disaster Response, Advance #901670, and give it to your church to be forwarded.

EBOLA CRISIS. We do remain in a crisis situation with this virus, especially in West Africa. It has a disproportionate impact on women, both as sufferers and caregivers. Much of this crisis could have been prevented if medical personnel, resources and clinics had been in place to respond quickly, but the unjust sharing of resources has led to wanton impoverishment. And many Sub-Saharan African nations must service debts to global financial institutions to the direct detriment of their own citizens.

What can United Methodists do? We can pray!  We must lift up prayers seeking God’s grace for all those affected by the Ebola crisis. Pray for those suffering, their caregivers and loved ones. Pray for health-care workers. Pray for the work of humanitarian, development and health-related organizations. Pray for the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention; pray for the leaders of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone.

The world’s nations must also practice life-saving generosity. Every resource must be made available to care for the ill and prevent the virus’s spread. United Methodists must advocate for significant funding for the fight against Ebola.

UM churches worldwide are called to care for the ill, the dying and those who grieve. We must support health-care workers and promote education about the facts and how to prevent the spread of Ebola.

We must mobilize for advocacy. Both abundant grace and sufficient resources are necessary to mobilize the political will and the resolve to address crises such as Ebola. Ebola knows no boundaries, and neither should our response be constrained by borders. The UMC must continue to join with other people of goodwill and faith to provide resources and be a voice of solidarity and accompaniment. Our prophetic call is to ensure that our eyes look beyond the present to achieve a better future.

Christ reminds us that we are accountable: “Even as ye have done it to the least of these who are members of my family, you have done it to me.” (Matt. 25:40)

NOVEMBER IS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

This is a handout that you can use anytime this month. Again, reformat the document into two columns so you can get two copies from one page of paper.

********************************************************************

NOVEMBER IS

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

The following prayer is from a service of Communion created by Discipleship Ministries, UMC.

We send to you, Creator God, our dreams, visions, and prayers.

For our mission,
Let your Spirit move us to honor and respect one another – from the least to the greatest. May we treat everyone we encounter with dignity and love. May we affirm the image of the Creator within each one of us. May we help restore the image of the Creator on earth. May our words, thoughts, and actions nourish and sustain your creation.

For the Church,
May she lead and dance with honor. Let all who follow her steps and rhythm know and feel righteousness and strength. May her regalia exemplify purity and perfection.

For the world:
May the nations of the earth gather to listen to the heartbeat of God. May they sit in silence as the Great Peacemaker teaches and shows them how to walk upright. May the war clubs and instruments of destruction be transformed into life giving means of grace. (Isaiah 2)

For the hearts of the people,
Created with your sacred fire burning within us, we confess that we struggle to live out of our great potential. When we do harm to your Creation, your creatures and fellow human beings, forgive us. When we fail to do all the good we can, in all the places we can, forgive us. When we turn away from your love and grace, forgive us.

Leader: Hear now the good news of Jesus Christ,
People: You are forgiven. I am forgiven. We are forgiven.
Leader: Peace be with you.

The Twenty Third Psalm
A Native-American Indian Version

The GREAT FATHER above a SHEPHERD CHIEF is.
I am His and with Him I want not.
He throws out to me a rope
and the name of the rope is love
and He draws me to where the grass is green
and the water is not dangerous,
and I eat and lie down and am satisfied.
Sometimes my heart is very weak and falls down
but He lifts me up again and draws me into a good road.
His name is WONDERFUL.

Sometime, it may be very soon, it may be a long long time,
He will draw me into a valley.
It is dark there, but I'll be afraid not,
for it is between those mountains
that the SHEPHERD CHIEF will meet me
and the hunger that I have in my heart all through life will be satisfied.

Sometimes he makes the love rope into a whip,
but afterwards He gives a staff to lean upon.
He spreads a table before me with all kinds of foods.
He put His hand upon my head and all the "tired" is gone.
My cup he fills till it runs over.
What I tell is true.
I lie not.

These roads that are "away ahead" will stay with me
through this life and after;
and afterwards I will go to live in the Big Teepee
and sit down with the SHEPHERD CHIEF forever.

-- From the West Michigan Conference

2014 ELECTION AND OTHER INFO

VOTER PARTICIPATION IN TEXAS

IS 48^th OF 50!

Although Texas’s voter participation had improved as of the 2012 presidential election, election watchers expect only 40% of its registered voters to actually vote in this coming election. We need to improve a lot more!

So…. Our election is November 4 and I urge all of you to vote yourselves and to encourage family and friends to vote. Regardless of your party affiliation, exercise your right—and duty—to help select men and women to represent you at the State and local levels.

It can be difficult to decide how to vote, but as Christians and United Methodists, we have help there.

First, we have scripture: “Love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind …and your neighbor as yourself.” Those commandments give us initial direction.

Then we have the Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes, which tell us that we are to be peacemakers, be merciful, be pure in heart, etc. Those instructions lead us further in our thought processes about choosing our positions on the social issues.

And then we Methodists have the UMC Social Principles, which state in very simple and direct terms how our church, our faith puts those Biblical instructions into action. (There are copies of the Social Principles in the FUMC Denton library, and probably in most all your church libraries.)

There’s nothing anywhere about political parties…only about issues and our living out our faith according to our understanding of scripture. So it is up to us to choose the candidates who seem to support the positions that manifest the Biblical admonitions.

So continue to pray, read, listen, educate yourself, and then VOTE! Early voting is very easy in Denton County because you can vote at any poll in the County.

OTHER CONCERNS TO REMEMBER

We should not forget the refugees in South Texas, and in connection with that situation we have a message from Carol Barton, UMW Inc., social action….

“The UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights has just released a new document, ‘Recommendations for Principles and Guidelines for Human Rights at International Borders.’ The document represents an important step forward in recognizing the significance of human rights at borders. It presents us with a tremendous challenge to strengthen adherence to these principles and guidelines by governments around the world. The document is “non-binding” and does not introduce “new” rights, but by clearly spelling out human rights principles in the context of borders and providing numerous recommendations for guidelines for government adherence and implementation, it provides advocates and organizers with a great tool to incorporate into our efforts.”         Rose: I urge you to stay in touch with the progress via website UMW Immigrant/Civil Rights Initiative.

herence to these principles and guidelines by governments around the world. The document is "non-binding" and does not introduce "new" rights, but by clearly spelling out human rights principles in the context of borders and providing numerous recommendations for guidelines for government adherence and implementation, it provides advocates and organizers with a great tool to incorporate into our efforts. Join United Methodist Women and partners at the Church Center for the UN on Thursday Oct 23 for a celebration and strategy session in New York.herence to these principles and guidelines by governments around the world. The document is "non-binding" and does not introduce "new" rights, but by clearly spelling out human rights principles in the context of borders and providing numerous recommendations for guidelines for government adherence and implementation, it provides advocates and organizers with a great tool to incorporate into our efforts. United Methodist Women and partners at the Church Center for the UN will celebrate and strategize on Thursday, Oct 23.

 I would encourage you to stay abreast of this situation at UMW Immigrant/Civil Rights Initiative on-line.

And UMCOR continues its work in the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoons Glenda and Mario. Almost 400 families displaced by the typhoon will receive food packages to meet basic needs. The relief packages, which consist of locally purchased rice, sardines, instant noodles, sugar and meatloaf, will go to those deemed most vulnerable. To enable UMCOR to support the needs of survivors during times of disaster, we can give to Advance #982450, International Disaster Response.

Let us continue to pray for the people of the U.S. Midwest during their time of recovery from the severe storms that ripped through the region recently, as well as for the dedicated missionaries returning to countries ravaged by Ebola as well as for the victims and families.

******************************************

United Methodist churches celebrate U.N. Sunday, Oct. 26, the Sunday closest to the Oct. 24, (1945) founding of the United Nations.

NTC UNITED METHODIST WOMEN CELEBRATION 2014

As those who were there can attest, our meeting Saturday at St. Luke’s Community UMC was indeed a celebration! There were around 150 of us, and the UMW and the Rev. Dr. Michael Bowie, Jr., of St. Luke’s welcomed us in fine Christian fashion—of course. I want to tell you just a bit of what went on.

The Rev. Sarah Squires spoke with great enthusiasm and conviction about the work at Wesley-Rankin. (I hope most of you know about this great National Mission Institution. If not, look it up online—or look into the “Older Posts” on my blog: RoseWatsonUMWSocialActionblogspot.com)  Her theme was this quotation: “We’re ready to ride...but first we have to decide…Do we ride in the direction we’re all facing?...Or is that too easy?” That’s a thought worth contemplating. She pointed out that, to remain relevant and effective, Wesley-Rankin has had to re-think some practices, implement new ones, and continue to serve.

Six focus groups were available; I chose to attend the “Visiting Missionary, Chennai, India.” Ms. Kasthuri Devaraj is—as she told us—80 years old but is still leader of the Opportunity School for mentally challenged children in Chennai. The School tries to teach all of them to become less dependent on others and where possible, it teaches them to become independent citizens. She is a charming, vivacious lady, and she was attended by Grace, a volunteer who travelled to America with Ms. Devaraj and who has her own story. (I’m so sorry that I’ve misplaced the card with Grace’s full name on it.) Although the ladies came to the meeting to tell us about the school and were not actively fund-raising, I was led to leave a contribution.

I encourage you to look up their website and learn more. Then, if you feel led, you may send a contribution to The Board of Global Ministries, 475 Riverside Drive, NY 10115. Gifts processed through GBGM are eligible for tax exemption. You may also send checks directly to the school, and the instructions are at the website.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: MAKE IT STOP

This post is information from the Conference Connection newspaper, September edition. I plan to distribute the flyer this coming Sunday. October is a busy month, observing also Breast Cancer Awareness, World Food Day and United Nations Day. So there will be one focus each Sunday, if we like.
*****************************************

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

BY THE NUMBERS

In Texas…

2,632 Texas women have been killed in family violence since 1990.

223,000 Texans called family violence hotlines in the past year.

79,000 people, mostly women and children, sought services from family violence programs in the last year.

5,598 family-violence members were served each day by Texas programs in 2011.

8,028 unmet requests that Texas Health and Human Services Commission reported for fiscal year 2012.

45% of family violence programs report insufficient funding.

27% of young Texans have been victims of physical dating violence. Adding emotional and verbal abuse, the percentage rises to almost 50%.

In the U.S…

1.3 million are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year.

$5.8 billion is the cost of intimate-partner violence each year.

$4.1 billion is spent for direct medical and mental health services for family-violence victims.

Twice as likely are the chances that boys who witness domestic violence will abuse their own partners and children as adults.

(Sources: Texas Council on Family Violence; 2011 National Census on Domestic Violence Services; National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)

To help equip faith leaders and advocates with the tools and knowledge to address the issues of abuse, you may donate to FaithTrust Institute Advance #951160.

Message from the Bishop

“Let’s unite in the effort to end abuse. Domestic violence is something the Church cannot ignore. It affects our families. It affects our children. It prevents us from living into the fullness of the loving and grace-filled community Christ calls us to be. This October, we encourage you to promote awareness within your congregations and communities. Let’s join the movement to make North Texas a safe place for women, children, and families. For a downloadable list of resources, go to northtexasumc.org/pdfs/Domestic-Violence-Resources-2014.pdf.

“Sunday is the most violent day of the week, experts say. Domestic violence is a reality in all of our communities, and we as the Church must admit that and work to end it. I am asking all North Texas United Methodists, lay and clergy, young people and adults, to come together to say no to domestic violence. Here are a few examples of how to begin our work together.

*Pastors will not tell domestic violence victims to go home and be better wives. They will listen to them and offer to help.

*Laity will not ask “Why does she stay?” They will ask him, “Why are you hurting her?”

*Youth will know that dating-violence is unacceptable.

*And even the abusers in our midst will know that their behavior must stop and that counseling and other forms of help are available.

We are a compassionate, empathetic annual conference. We know that there is a problem and we care about others. The Bible teaches that we are to have loving relationships built on the love of Christ as found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.”

For escape plans, signs of abuse and the effects of abuse on children, go to northtexasumc.org/domestic-violence.html.

--from North Texas Conference Connection--

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEEDS...OCTOBER OBSERVANCES

Good afternoon from Krum, Texas.  It's a lovely day in North Texas and everywhere that we choose to see in that way..... This is the usual type of handout. I hope you can use it----and I look forward to seeing you at the Conference Celebration two weeks from today!

**********************************************************************

FROM THE NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT & NORTH TEXAS CONFERENCE

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

October 11 is our annual conference gathering and celebration at St. Luke Community UMC at 4710 E. R.L. Thornton Parkway in Dallas. The theme for the day is “Colors of Christ—Learning, Loving and Living God’s Word.” Keynote speaker will be the Rev. Sarah Squires, executive director of Wesley-Rankin Community Center. We hope to pack 1000 birthing kits for UMCOR! Join us! If you need transportation, contact your Unit president.

October 11—8:30 am to 3 pm

********************** The agencies serving in South Texas for the refugees seeking safety continue to need our prayers and support.  Donations may still be sent to the following: SWTX Conference UMW, noted "Texas Border Crisis,” 16400 Huebner Road, San Antonio TX 78248 McAllen District UMW, noted "Immigrant Relief," 1909 W. Harrison, Harlingen TX 78550 Holding Institute UMW, noted “to be used in Laredo,” 1220 McClelland, Laredo TX 78040 Good Neighbor Settlement House, to the House at 1254 Tyler Street, Brownsville, 78520. *********************** The Ebola crisis continues and worsens. United Methodist Communications is in the forefront of the mass communication effort that is essential.

“In the Ebola crisis, communication precedes prevention and treatment,” said the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications. “The contagion cannot be contained without clear communication about the reality of the Ebola virus, sanitation, isolation of sick people, and proper handling of the deceased. This has to be communicated effectively and widely. In these circumstances, a clear message saves lives.”
Additionally, United Methodist Communications is sending text messages to church leaders in Liberia to keep them informed and encouraged in this time of crisis. African communicators are being equipped and trained to take over this communication in the near future.
The majority of the telecommunications market in Liberia is wireless, with 69% relying on mobile phones. That number is 67% in Sierra Leone, making text messages a crucial way to distribute prayers for encouragement and life-saving messages.
The first text message was sent August 19 on behalf of Bishop John Innis  of Liberia to his district superintendents:  Ebola is real. It kills with little warning. Please adhere to health messages to safeguard your family. Let us be in prayer. God is with us.
“Prayers of Encouragement,” an Upper Room publication, will be made available to World Reader users in a variety of formats, including tablets, smartphones and biNu, billed as “Your Smartphone in the Cloud.” This is technology that United Methodist Communications has tested and used previously and is well-received in developing nations. Additionally, the agency will send words of encouragement from this booklet via text.

To support this outreach, give to Advance #982450, Disaster Response, International.

************************

Recent months have seen torrential rain and widespread flooding throughout the countries of South Asia. UMCOR, also through gifts to Advance #982450, is responding with emergency assistance through its partners on the ground in Bangladesh, Pakistan and India-controlled Kashmir.

************************

Back in the U.S. wildfires rage in central and northern California, consuming or threatening homes and other vital structures. UMCOR is in communication with the California-Pacific Annual Conference to assess needs. To help UMCOR’s U.S. Disaster Response, donate to Advance #901670.

*************************

October Observances

     Domestic Violence Awareness Month

     Breast Cancer Awareness Month

     World Food Day, October 16

     National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths,

                October 18-19

     United Nations Day, October 24

**********************

OCTOBER OBSERVANCES

October is a busy month for special observances.

On the medical front, we will focus on Breast Cancer Awareness.

It is remarkably timely that we will highlight Domestic Violence, an ongoing scourge in this country.

World Food Day will bring our attention to the millions of children who are always hungry. (Materials are available from Church World Service.)

And United Nations Day will ask us to celebrate this largest union of the world's nations.

Be thinking of materials you can distribute.

IMMIGRATION AND THE GOOD NEIGHBOR SETTLEMENT HOUSE

This piece continues material about immigration. It also includes a specific request for the Good Neighbor Settlement House in Brownsville, Texas.

As usual, the text can be reformatted for a half, vertical page, back to back. For my documents, I use Calibri font, size 12.

**********************************************************************

Immigration Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also. —1 John 4:20-21

 Of the people living in the United States today, 35.7 million were born elsewhere. Twelve million live without documents. Of the total, 1.6 million are children, half of whom live below the poverty line. This movement of people can be seen in every continent of the world. Global migration was estimated at 191 million in 2006. Global migration has increased dramatically in recent years due to economic policies like free trade that have eliminated jobs and pushed farmers from their land in poor nations of Africa, Asia and Latin America and pulled them into the more prosperous nations of North America, Europe and Asia. Competition for resources and displacement due to climate change in poor nations has also contributed to these patterns. In the United States, communities are being transformed. Many U.S. citizens express fears related to race, jobs and security, which has led to an anti-immigrant backlash and migrants—especially women migrants and their children—being endangered by the rash of state anti-immigrant legislation. The use of local police for immigration enforcement, growing criminalization of immigrants who have committed no crime and rising detentions and deportations have all contributed to family separation.

Our Vision We affirm a world in which God’s vision of beloved community, a world in which nationalities and borders do not divide us as the people who God loves. We affirm the human rights of every person regardless of status and affirm that these rights do not stop at borders.

 United Methodist Church Policy “To refuse to welcome migrants to this country—and to stand by in silence while families are separated, individual freedoms are ignored, and the migrant community in the United States is demonized by members of Congress and the media—is complicity to sin” (Resolution 3281, “Welcoming the Migrant to the U.S.,” The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church 2012). “Ways must be found to share more equitably the resources of the world” (¶163E United Methodist Social Principles). “The current global economic system reflects an expectation that many people will live in poverty, or have their nations torn by conflict, so that others may live in abundance. That many people will resist poverty and war through migration is an ancient and modern fact of human existence … The United Methodist Church commits to engage in strong, coordinated advocacy on migration issues and on behalf of actions that overcome poverty, war and other causes leading to the displacement and marginalization of people” (Resolution 6028, “Global Migration and the Quest for Justice,” The Book of Resolutions).

*************************************

Cindy Johnson, immigration counselor for UMW, Inc., and interim executive secretary for Christian social action, recently gave us this report about the refugees seeking safety in South Texas.

The involved bishops from both Texas and Mexico and a bishop from Honduras have recently visited in Brownsville. They agree that a top priority is to protect the immigrants—particularly youthful ones—from human predators. So they need advocates for children, to help keep them safe.

Personal needs for the immigrants include sports bras (since these garments come in small/medium/ large) and underwear.

The greatest need in Brownsville at the moment is financial support for the Good Neighbor Settlement House, which is a national mission institution of UMW. Gifts can be made through your UMW Unit. Or you may send a check made payable to Good Neighbor Settlement House, to the House at 1254 Tyler Street, Brownsville, 78520.

Cindy issued an enthusiastic invitation to United Methodist Women to visit and see for ourselves the work that is being done at Good Settlement.

WORLD WEEK FOR PEACE IN PALESTINE ISRAEL

As is now the custom, September 21 is the International Day of Peace. The theme this year is "The Right of Peoples to Peace."

The following week will be observed across many faiths as the World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel. This theme is directly from the Bible:  "Let my people go."

The blog this week is a handout that can be used immediately and for the weeks until the observances. Copy the text, format it for two columns on a vertical 8-1/2x11 page, and print back-to-back.
************************************************************************

WORLD WEEK FOR PEACE

IN PALESTINE ISRAEL

All around us, our world is crying out for justice, freedom—peace. Here, in North America, in Central America, in South America, as in Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Mozambique, the Philippines and in Palestine Israel.

In the current issue of New World Outlook, UMC journalists give us graphic illustrations of the pain and suffering we cause when we treat the stranger among us as “the other.”

Nowhere is the contradiction of human rights versus human behavior more evident than in Palestine Israel. The Old Testament of our Bible is full from beginning to end of the human tragedy caused by injustice, slavery, and fear. And yet, even today, in that same country described from Genesis to Malachi, for more than 40 years, Palestinians have been virtually imprisoned and grossly mistreated; their property has been confiscated; their homes destroyed and families separated by the very people who received God’s mercy over and over…as do we.

September 21 is International Day of Peace, for which the theme is “The Right of Peoples to Peace.” Following that observance, United Methodists and people of all faiths are asked to “join together for a week of advocacy and action in support of an end to the illegal occupation of Palestine and a just peace for all in Palestine and Israel.” This theme is Biblical: “Let my people go.”

Did you know---

--Israel is the largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid. Between 2009 and 2018, Israel is scheduled to receive $30 billion in military aid?

--129 Israeli children were killed by Palestinians between October 2000 and May 2012?

--1,334 Palestinian children were killed by Israeli security forces during that same time?

--According to international law, it is illegal for a country to acquire territory through force? Occupation is a temporary status: Annexation, confiscation of resources population transfer, and

destruction of personal property are all illegal under the Geneva Conventions.

--the path of the Wall does not follow the established Green Line border between Israel and the West Bank. It juts up to 13 miles into Palestinian territory, demolishing ancient olive groves, destroying the livelihood of Palestinian farmers, and completely isolating some villages from the rest of the West Bank.

The worldwide web is full of references and documents about the situation, from the creation of the State of Israel 66 years ago. Forty-seven of those years, the Israeli government—after having received a place to call their own—have occupied the area to be held by Palestinians.

Search the web for yourself. Places to start include…

·         Children of the Nakba https://resources.mcc.org/content/children-nakba-dvd

·         Defining the Barrier—A Washington Post Multimedia section on the Wall www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/world/interatives/israel/israelFence.html

·         One Family Fund: Video Gallery http://www.onefamilytogether.org/

(Click on “Galleries”  “Video Gallery”)

·         Testimonies from B’Tselem, The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories  www.btselem.org/English/Testimonies/

·         UNICEF: Voices of Children in the Occupied Territories www.unicef.org/oPt/voices_children.html  (photoessays and Frontline diaries)

Will you join in this observance and pray with people of all faiths all over the world “for a just peace settlement and reconciliation, a peace in which there will be no more political prisoners behind bars and where harmony will prevail in the hearts of all the peoples of this region.”