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.

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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).

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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.
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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.”

"I DON'T CARE WHAT JESUS SAID..."

This is an updated handout re the Texas border situation. As always, can be re-formatted for half vertical page, back-to-back.

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FROM NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS

DISTRICT UMW

From a Colorado Council of Churches

Study on Immigration

“I don’t care what Jesus said!

I don’t want those people here!”

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Cindy Johnson, immigration counselor for UMW, Inc., and interim executive secretary for  Christian social action, spoke to Rose Watson on Wednesday with this report.

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 (except for the Unit at FUMC Denton). 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 North Center District United Methodist Women to visit and see for ourselves the work they are doing at Good Settlement.

AID FOR UNACCOMPANIED IMMIGRANT CHILDREN

This is another piece that you may revise appropriately (use narrow margins and two columns) and distribute. It will be a back-to-back vertical half-page handout.
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FROM NT CONFERENCE

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

We urge UMW members to continue praying for the thousands of children and women who are at our southern border and those who are being placed in foster care around the state.

Cindy Johnson, UMW immigration counselor, asks that we contact our national senators and representatives and urge them NOT to diminish the current rights of refugees: Don’t change TVPRA ,  (H.R. 898), the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. Even though the House is in recess, you may still contact them via e-mail, phone and Twitter. The e-mail contact is very easy to do on-line for the Senate and House. Enter “U.S. Senate” in your browser and follow the directions, and the same for “U.S. House of Representatives.” However, Rep. Burgess’s system hasn’t worked for me for a few weeks now, but that may be user error! All others may be fine.

You may also call 1-888-427-0530 and ask for the individual you need. (I don’t know about Twitter!)

112 faith leaders, including 45 United Methodists, and advocates were arrested July 31 in front of the White House during the demonstration that demanded more humane immigration and deportation policies from the Administration. United Methodist bishops Minerva Carcaño of the Los Angeles Area, and Jack Meadors, retired, were among those arrested.
The Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, top executive of the United Board of Church and Society, was at the rally. “Our denomination supports open borders,” she said. “We’re also concerned about addressing the root-causes of immigration: violence, poverty, hunger. We see that particularly with the children at the border right now.” Henry-Crowe said that her agency will post resources for United Methodists to use on this issue on its website: umc-gbcs.org.

“Certainly, we can pray and help others understand the issue,” she said. She also urged people to support Justice for Our Neighbors, a church-based legal clinic that is seeking to offer support and assistance to some of the children who have recently crossed in to the United States.

Jesus said, ‘Let the children come.’

The Rev. Eric Folkerth, senior pastor at Northaven UMC in Dallas, and the Rev. Owen Ross, pastor of Christ’s Foundry UM Mission in Dallas, attended the rally and were part of those who were arrested.

“I’ve seen children living in fear of parents being taken away from them,” said Ross, whose mission serves an immigrant population. “I’ve seen families torn apart at a moment’s notice. I’m here today to say that our nation needs to stop terrorizing its immigrant population.

“There is no other contemporary political issue that is so frequently and consistently addressed in the Bible as immigration,” said Ross. “We’re avoiding the subject like a three-year old avoids cracks in a sidewalk. We need to preach that our faith requires us to reach out to the foreigners among us.”

In contacting your federal legislators, also urge them to talk to the signatories of above event who have specific experience and recommendations for reform.

You may also still make financial gifts to FUMC for “UMCOR Border Crisis.” Remember: 100% of contributions to UMCOR go to the project designated.

 And you may continue to send gifts to the three designations below:

                SWTX Conference UMW, 16400 Huebner Road, San Antonio 78248; notation “TX Border Crisis”

                McAllen District UMW, 1909 W. Harrison, Harlingen 78550; notation “Immigrant Relief”

                Holding Institute, 1220 McClelland, Laredo 78040; notation “to be used in Laredo.”

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UMCOR ‘s desperate  need of relief kits of all kinds continues, including school kits and health kits. You may contribute on-line at umcor.org or you may write a check to your church with a note that it is for Advance #901440. ($12 buys a health kit; $35 buys a school kit)

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The website www.TheyareChildren.com offers an opportunity to send a letter to one of these children!

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REFUGEE CRISIS ALONG TEXAS-MEXICO BORDER

I'm sure all of you know about the humanitarian crisis the U.S. and Mexico are facing. But we hear about so many such situations that there's a possibility that we may become somewhat inured to the pain and fear inherent in them.... This time there are thousands of children involved! We cannot become so accustomed to children's pain that we simply watch. We must act. The following information is prepared for a half-sheet, vertical, back to back. It may be a little more problematic to adjust margins, etc., so I urge you to adapt it however you need to, to enable you to use it as a handout Sunday..... Hope to see you at Mission u in a couple of weeks!

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FROM UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

Facebook post by Laura Merrill, District Superintendent, Southwest Texas Conference

Friends, thank you for your concern and prayers regarding the refugee crisis unfolding along the Texas-Mexico border and even increasingly north of the border. We are working hard to put information out into the pipeline, but I know it's a challenge to get the word to everyone. So here's a quick digest of information and places you can look for daily updates. Please share as appropriate with your people.

1. To make monetary donations to the effort along the border, from Laredo to Brownsville, you can send checks to any of the following places:

 SWTX Conference, noted "Texas Border Crisis"
16400 Huebner Road, San Antonio TX 78248-1693

McAllen District, noted "Immigrant Relief"
1909 W. Harrison, Harlingen TX 78550

Holding Institute (to be used in Laredo)**
1220 McClelland, Laredo TX 78040

(**The United Methodist Women National Office sent an emergency grant of $7500 to Holding Institute in Laredo for AC repair and other needs.

(You may make out a check to FUMC UMW and mark it for either of these uses. And of course, you may send a check directly to one or more of these addresses.)

2. In Laredo, look for posts from Revs. Paul E Harris and Andrew Fiser, and check out the Laredo Humanitarian Relief Team FB page. They are doing super work at the UM facility Holding Institute and invite your participation.

3. A list of the needs at Sacred Heart Church in McAllen is updated daily at http://www.foodbankrgv.com.

4. For needs in Brownsville, check the FB page for First United Methodist Church Brownsville, Texas, as that church is fully involved at the welcome center.

The sites above are working with families who have been released by the Border Patrol to appear in courts in other places across the country. The crisis among unaccompanied children is harder to respond to, as it is very difficult to gain access to the facilities where they are being held. Please pray for these children and for those trying to reach and help them.

More to come--apparently families are beginning to be released in San Antonio and perhaps Harlingen as well. Susan Hellums, District Mission Coordinator in the RGV, will be on the job as we assemble a coordinating team.

(Second page begins here)

United Methodist Women believes this situation is a clear and resounding call to action. What will be your part?

If you can possibly do so, please go to Tuesday’s gathering at Le Peep’s prepared to make a gift to one of these funds. Cash will be accepted. Checks made payable to UMW and noted for a specific fund will be deposited into the UMW account and the combined designated total transmitted as noted to San Antonio, Harlingen, or Laredo.

May God guide us and open our hearts

in this opportunity to serve.

“Hear the call;

See the power;

Smell the vision;

Feel the world.

I can feel it, feel the movement:

The women must be gathering!”

--Susan Beehler

“Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,

Show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.

Loving puts us on our knees, serving as though we are slaves,

This is the way we should live with you.”

--Tom Colvin

SIX SPECIAL SUNDAYS OF GIVING OF UMC

I have listed below those six special Sundays of giving that our church has designated. Of course, today was Peace with Justice Sunday, but the listing is timeless and could be distributed at any time--and we can give to the purposes at any time. The piece can be adjusted to produce a half-page (vertical) back-to-back handout. 

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The Six Special Sundays of Giving of

The United Methodist Church

What do you know about the opportunities that we members of the United Methodist Church have to contribute through the Church to purposes beyond our Annual Conference apportionments?

General Conference of the United Methodist Church created six unique Special Sundays to help congregations—

·         work with communities,

·         rebuild shattered lives,

·         strengthen self-sufficiency,

·         encourage partnerships,

·         nurture Native American ministries,

·         model peace and justice,

·         provide scholarships and loans for United Methodist students, and much more.

We can contribute to these funds any time we want, by designating our checks accordingly.

Human Relations Day celebrates the connectional work of United Methodist Churches. It supports the Community Developers Program and United Methodist Voluntary Service (UMVS), both of which are administered by Global Ministries, and the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program administered by the General Board of Church and Society. Human Relations Day is celebrated on the Sunday before the national observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.

One Great Hour of Sharing supports those who hurt and are in greatest need, but the dedication is encouraged year-round..The special offering supports the work of UMCOR.

Native American Ministries Sunday recognizes and supports the contributions of Native Americans to the church and society. The funds collected will allow The United Methodist Church to partner with existing native ministries and create programs on behalf of Native Americans. Money collected also supports seminary scholarships for United Methodist Native Americans.

Peace with Justice Sunday promotes striving for a peaceful and just world.

World Communion Sunday is a time to be in communion with Christians all over the world. Fifty percent of the special offering goes to the World Communion Scholarship program of Global Ministries.

United Methodist Student Day collects gifts for scholarship funds to help build leaders for tomorrow's church.