John 10:10 Challenge" Calls People of Faith to Work for Health-Care Reform
New website provides resources to empower advocates in community and with Congress
United Methodists are invited to participate in the "John 10:10 Challenge" to raise the faith community's voice in support of comprehensive U.S. health-care reform. The challenge, issued by the General Board of Church & Society (GBCS), is based on Jesus' declaration that he came so all "may have life, and have it abundantly." A new website, www.1010challenge.org, contains resources to enable persons to be informed, engaged and empowered to begin advocacy for U.S. health-care reform.
The United Methodist Church states in its Social Principles (¶162.V) that it believes health care is "a basic human right." Last year, the denomination's highest policy-making body, the General Conference, adopted a resolution that supports a single-payer system. That resolution, #3201 in the 2008 Book of Resolutions, urges United Methodists to exert influence through all structures and means "to connectionally advocate and fervently lobby the federal government for the adoption and implementation of a totally nonprofit health-insurance system, a single-payer system administered by the federal government."
More than 47 million people are without health care in this country, and 14,000 people are losing their coverage daily, according to both health-care industry and congressional estimates. While the U.S. Congress deliberates on health-care reform, the 10:10 Challenge will enable the faith community to learn about details under consideration, start dialogues around reform, and to act on behalf of the United Methodist witness that health care is a basic human right.
The 10:10 Challenge website offers a "justice-filled prescription for health care." People who visit the site are asked to make a commitment to take action in the next 10 weeks to help convince Congress that reform is necessary. The website offers 10 actions that persons who accept the challenge can choose to take during these 10 intensive weeks of congressional advocacy. Actions are suitable for individuals or groups, such as United Methodist Women or Men, youth fellowships or Sunday school classes. The website encourages persons to start a team challenge and invite others to join to commit to being a part of health-care reform.
Actions include:
The website is predicated on United Methodist principles that health care should be inclusive, available, accessible and accountable for all. The site states: "As people of faith, we envision a society where each person is afforded health, wholeness and human dignity."
A one-page 10:10 Challenge overview is available for download. For more information about the 10:10 Challenge or United Methodist positions on comprehensive health-care reform, contact the Rev. Cynthia Abrams, director of GBCS's work area on Alcohol, Other Addictions and Health Care, (202) 488-5636 or email to cabrams@umc-gbcs.org.
(Source: The UMConnector, Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference)
Beginning Sunday, September 14, we will be offering classes from the Christian-based Financial Peace University program. The classes will meet from 4 - 6 p.m. through the fall and into the winter. This series is part of the Dave Ramsey financial series. The cost is $99 per family unit; our Men's Group has agreed to pay 1/2 of the cost for young couples/singles from our church. Please contact Jeff Johnson regarding more information on the class and/or the reduction in price (244-2976).
Kaylie Jazmine Davis received the sacrament of Holy Baptism on July 26, 2009. Kaylie is the daughter of Sam and Megan Davis and the granddaughter of Don and Bonnie Holm.
Thank you to ALL who installed the much need air conditioner in the Food Bank on a hot Sunday afternoon! Thank you, thank you!
A big thank you to all who have been working on the flower beds around the church. We still need some help..can you contribute one hour a week to this project? Please call Vi Nagley at 326-2546.
Our Block Party on August 4th was a huge success! Those who made it a big splash were Pastor Carl and Linda Martin, Cynthia, Kim, and Kathy Cree, Betty Moos, Pamela Ridgway, Karen Peacock, Retta Nickell, Mary Bynum and a special big thank you to Karen Gertlar. We also appreciate River Ridge Hardware for donating games and a jumping castle.
-Betsy Hartman
Our sympathy is with the family of Vern Broadwell who passed away on July 23rd.
Our sympathy is also with the family of Dorothy Colo'n who passed away on July 31st. Her memorial service will be Thursday, August 6, at 3:00 p.m. at the church. (The Spokesman-Review printed the time incorrectly)
WOW! You really stepped up to the challenge of bringing 10 pounds of food per person by August 1st! As of this mailing, 957 pounds of food have been collected for the Food Challenge! A special thanks to Pat Leapley for her extra work on this project and to Karen Peacock for her extra help and for recruiting the United Methodist Women to help out.
The church has an upright piano available to anyone who is willing to take it away. Please see Pastor Carl for more information.
The date of the Bazaar this year is November 7th, which is almost 4 months away. Preparations are beginning with workshops on Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. until about noon. These workshops will continue at this time each week until November.
We have several projects lined up to work on and welcome any new ideas! Our crew is fun to work with and invite additional members who enjoy craft work and the fellowship of the ladies.
Our featured missionary this month serves stateside: Dr. Judy Matheny is a missionary with the Board of Global Ministries and a deaconess and Church and Community Worker assigned to the United Methodist Ministries in West Virginia in the rural Appalachia area. She works with the low income families struggling for the basic necessities of life, like food, water, shelter, electricity, heat.
Prior to this assignment she served in eastern Kentucky...and Hinton Rural Life Center in Hayesville, North Carolina, where she was editor of one of the center's publications, the Hinton Herald.
A church and community worker since 1970 when she first went to Hinton Center as an intern, she later spent five years at the Upper Sand Mountain Parish in North Alabama and then three years on special assignment and study leave before returning to Hinton in 1979. Judy is available for Covenant Relationship Support in the Pacific Northwest Conference.
(From Ann Fritz, Inland District Mission Secretary)
There will be a meeting on Sunday, August 16th, immediately following the morning service for the money counters, treasurers, and financial secretary in the room across from the office. The counters for that Sunday will meet to count money on Monday the 17th.
You served breakfast on the beach,
broke bread with thousands at a hillside picnic.
Celebrated
at the marriage in Cana.
Exciting events
all of these.
But this morning
it's only me
on an ordinary Monday
requesting the honor of your presence
at my kitchen table
for coffee and conversation.
Comfort comes in knowing
You require neither
feasts nor crowds,
only an invitation.
(Joan Rae Mills, Greenwood, Delaware March, 1992 Presbyterian Survey)
This group meets on Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. at Karen Peacock's home, 5604 N. Elm Street. All are invited!
Summer Fun:
Super
Sunday
Cinema
Spectacular
The children have movies and snacks during the 10:00 a.m. worship time in the summer.
Be sure to bring your friends!
Vacation Bible School Cleanup: There are still supplies from VBS left in the fellowship hall. Please return them to the storage areas or take them home if they belong to you.
Thank you, Bobbi
WOW NOW - During August, WOW NOW will follow Pastor Carl's sermon topics. Last week we studied the story of Ruth and Naomi. This week we'll be talking about Samson's hair!
Aug 09 - Samson's Hairbrush
Aug 16 - Jonah Learns from God
Aug 23 - Esther! Bless Her !
Christian Ed is planning for fall - Please contact Bobbi if you are interested in teaching or helping. There will be a meeting in August for those interested in helping our children learn more about God - date to be announced.
Needed for Christian Education:
School supplies are always needed at elementary schools, but especially at the beginning of the school year when kids come back to school. We have offered to help with this need at Audubon and Finch schools. To this end we have placed boxes in the parlor labeled with the following school supply needs:
We may learn of more needs and will keep you posted
Let's all pitch in this summer to help stock these boxes so that we can deliver the supplies to the schools around the end of August, the time when they will be most needed. Your participation will be appreciated!
Thank you!
The Task Force reports that as of July 15, $183,910 has been received for the construction of the new boys' orphanage building in Lubumbashi, Congo. The goal is within reach. A message was sent to our partners in the Congo about the generosity of the PNW and that they should make plans for construction.
The two gifts from the Foundation totaled $40,907. There were pledges of $52,000 toward Tom Wilson's challenge of which $9,500 has been received. June receipts, including both the generous offering at Annual Conference and additional gifts, totaled $14,950.
Should more funds be received than the initial goal, the additonal funds will be used to address inflation and for equipment for the new building such as new bunk beds and kitchen supplies.
Living Right
"I must be living right!" You've probably spoken those words in the midst of a very good day. What does it mean to "live right"? Peter lays it out for us: "As servants of God, live as free people...Honor everyone".
(I Peter 2: 16-17).
Those (who will be) involved in Stephen Ministry, our congregation's one-to-one caregiving ministry, (will) do just that. They (will) serve God and respect others by providing Christian care. Is this a way you want to serve the Lord? A training class is starting soon. For more information you may contact the church office, Barbara White (467-1850), Karyl Masters (325-2033) or anyone wearing a blue name tag. There will be an informational meeting, August 30th, after church.
Care Quote: (from Stephen Ministry)
Jesus cared deeply for people whose hearts were broken by sorrow. When you cry, Jesus cries. Your tears are his tears. Your pain, his pain. This is a total mystery to me, but I believe it: God doesn't take away our pain, but shares it. That's the way God's love works. That's why every person who truly, deeply shares the pain of your grief with you is doing God's work.
-Kenneth C. Haugk, in A Time To Grieve, Vol 1 of Journeying Through Grief
All are invited to join in the fun at the MIDIS Group on Saturday, August 8th, at 6:00 p.m. The "Hillyard Belles" will be our guests for the evening.They will greatly entertain us in singing and dancing and playing for us!
Remember to bring a dish to share, your own table service and a friend to the church that evening!
A gentle reminder that the Lamplighters for the next weeks are:
August 09 Connie Hickman & Linda Shurtleff
August 16 Jan Ferguson & Betty Moos
The following people are scheduled to have this sweeping duty in the coming weeks:
August 09 George Hartman
August 16 Lou Dobberstein
Below are the ushers for worship in the upcoming weeks:
August 09 George Hartman
August 16 Sunny Day Thompson
Below are the people who will be serving communion in the next few weeks:
August 9
August 16 Bob and Mary Anne Kem
6:30 - 8:30 p.m. August 6 and August 20
The "Concert in the Park" series continues on August 6 and 20. Want to help pass out water bottles with the church's info on them before the concert? Call the church office to volunteer (325-4541).
It's about time for our annual trek to one of the most beautiful and fun golf courses in the area. This is for guys and gals of all levels. We have tee times starting at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, September 11. If you want to play please let us know no later than Monday, September 7th.
A. Sign up on the paper posted in the parlor
B. Notify Don Wilson (325-0936) or Lou Dobberstein (326-1736).