Area Congregations Preach on Health Care for All...

Area Congregations Preach on Health Care for All This Labor Day ...
Source: St. Louis Area Jobs with Justice - http://www.stl-jwj.org

Author: asmoucha

Date: 30 August, 2008

Rabbi Randy Fleisher. Community Church of God The Rev. Douglas Parham. Compton Heights Christian Church The Rev. Jacqueline Foster. Epiphany United Church of Christ The Rev. Mary Albert. Holy Trinity Catholic Church Fr. Richard Creason ...

Church shelters Liliana one year

Church shelters Liliana one year

Source: Ventura County Star - Camarillo, CA, USA

Author: Tom Kisken

Date: 23 August, 2008

A year ago today, the illegal immigrant moved into a small home owned by the United Church of Christ in Simi Valley. She came with her then 5-month-old son Pablito for sanctuary against the threat of being deported to Mexico. …

People who once protested at the church call federal authorities and demand Liliana's deportation as well as investigations into the church. Immigration officials avoid saying they won't make an arrest on church property, instead declaring they take action at "appropriate times in appropriate places."

The limbo continues, and no one knows how long it will last, including Liliana. …

Clergy to Obama: "Don't Move to the Center"

Clergy to Obama: "Don't Move to the Center"
Source: Burning Cane

Author: John Delloro

Date: 21 August, 2008

In an open-letter to Senator Obama, over 150 American clergy appealed to the Democratic candidate for President to retain the ethical and spiritual vision that won him the nomination in the first place …

… Imam Zaid Shakir, Zeytuna Institute, California Rev. Graylan S. Hagler, National President, Ministers for Racial, Social and Economic Justice of The United Church of Christ Signatories: Rev. Brian Adams Mt. Rainier Christian Church ...

8 finish 96-mile walk to promote equal rights

8 finish 96-mile walk to promote equal rights

Source: Arizona Republic - Phoenix, AZ, USA

Author: Amanda J. Crawford

Date: 17 August, 2008

Meg Sneed is a cancer survivor. She is also a lesbian.

After spending three days walking to benefit breast-cancer research, she had an idea. What about a walk to raise awareness about marriage inequality?

Last week, Sneed, 25, and seven other gay, lesbian and bisexual young people aged 19 to 28 walked through the metro area to the state Capitol to raise awareness about gay rights and the fall referendum that would add a gay-marriage ban to the state constitution…

Among their stops was the Church of the Beatitudes United Church of Christ in north-central Phoenix.

The Rev. Nancy Elsenheimer is one of the senior pastors at the church, which performs commitment ceremonies for same-sex couples. She called Sneed and the other walkers "courageous" not only for braving the Valley's heat but also for spreading their message through areas not always receptive to gay rights…

Arizona Equality Walkers - Soulforce Right To Marry Update

Arizona Equality Walkers - Soulforce Right To Marry Update

Source: The Observer - Tucson, Arizona

Author:

Date: 15 August, 2008

From Glendale we were headed to the Church of the Beatitudes, a lovely United Church of Christ congregation where we had lunch and the most amazing cherries for desert. We were greeted warmly by Pastor Nancy Elsenheimer and several ...

Makhru Bradley Is Clairvoyant

Makhru Bradley Is Clairvoyant

Source: The Assault on Black Folk’s Sanity

Author: Michael Fisher

Date: 2 August, 2008

They know this is cannon-fodder for the Neo-Con element of the White Supremacy Dynamic, who are already linking Obama’s statement to Rev. Wright's 2007 speech before N'COBRA, “A Call for Justice and Repair;” to Trinity Chuch member Dr. Iva Carruthers’ “The Church and Reparations―An African American Perspective,” which was distributed by her denomination at the 2001 U.N. World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, and to a 2001 resolution presented by Trinity UCC and University Church to the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ:

This resolution calls upon the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ, its Associations, its local churches, and other related agencies, to be educated about the historical evils of the slave trade and its legacy which is a pernicious and self perpetuating distrust and fear that continues to feed the sin of racism and its fruits of inequality and injustice. It further calls upon the Conference to take actions in support of reparations.

Protesters continue fight at church over immigrant

Protesters continue fight at church over immigrant

Source: The Voice

Author: Admin

Date: 29 July, 2008

A group of anti-illegal immigration protesters stood outside a Simi Valley church Sunday morning waving American flags, marking nearly a year of weekly demonstrations there.

The United Church of Christ began sheltering an Oxnard woman named Liliana last August, as part of a national faith-based movement to shelter and offer legal aid to unauthorized immigrants at risk of being deported...

Apparent hate crime against inclusive Knoxville church

Apparent hate crime against inclusive Knoxville church

Source: Quality Loudoun

Author: David

Date: 28 July, 2008

The Rev. Don Prange, pastor of the Open and Affirming St. James United Church of Christ (which just last month hosted the emma’s revolution concert with Equality Loudoun) says that the attack

ought to help us realize that the words of Jesus about ‘taking up our own cross’ in following his leadership are not just rhetoric. Whatever the ultimate story in this situation turns out to be, I would hope that we are all feeling a deep sense of solidarity with our sisters and brothers of this UUA congregation in Knoxville for their own spirit of being ‘open and affirming’.

Blind To Toll From Colombia Violence

Blind To Toll From Colombia Violence

Source: Courant.com

Author: DAVIDA FOY CRABTREE, ALLIE PERRY and CHARLIE PILLSBURY

Date: 27 July, 2008

Traveling as members of the United Church of Christ, we were hosted by our longtime mission partner, Ricardo Esquivia, Mennonite lawyer and director of Sembrandopaz, a peace and development initiative of Protestant churches on the north coast of Colombia. Over eight days we traveled to several locales, including Maria La Baja in the province of…

Christ of the Barricade; Christ of the Table

Christ of the Barricade; Christ of the Table
Street Prophets:02-23-2007

For much of our history as the United Church of Christ the Barricade and the Table have existed in tension and conflict.

Christians Should Be Concerned About The Federal Budget

Christians Should Be Concerned About The Federal Budget

Visit news.ucc.org/blog: 02-22-2007

Religious leaders – including United Church of Christ general minister and president John Thomas – have written a letter to each members of Congress “calling for a compassionate and just federal budget in 2008,” according to United Church News.

A circle of support in Montclair

A circle of support in Montclair
The Montclair Times: 02-21-2007

"She said the church, which is a member of the United Church of Christ denomination, “seems to be one of the most accepting” in welcoming gay and lesbian couples.

“'People in our denomination are very interested in social justice and diversity, and see it as an important practice of faith. It was really meaningful to me to know that the clergy is active on the issue of marriage equality,' said Fowler, who also leads the Christian Formation and Youth group at the church."

Peter Sawtell will be Spring Annual Meeting Keynoter

Peter Sawtell will be Spring Annual Meeting Keynoter
The Connecticut Conference United Church of Christ: 02-21-2007

“The Rev. Peter Sawtell, Executive Director of Eco-Justice Ministries, will be the keynote speaker for this spring's Annual Meeting, which will be held at Silver Lake Conference Center in Sharon on May 12. Eco-Justice Ministries helps churches answer the call to care of God's creation, and develop ministries that are faithful, relevant and effective in working toward social justice and environmental responsibility.”

50 houses in 20 years for Habitat for Humanity in Decatur

50 houses in 20 years for Habitat for Humanity in Decatur
Herald & Review: 02-21-2007

"With $15,000 seed money from First Congregational United Church of Christ and $5,000 from Westminster Presbyterian Church and Central Christian (Disciples of Christ) Church, the affiliate was established on Sept. 3, 1987."

Katrina no anomaly: Report shows minorities hurt by environmental injustice

Katrina no anomaly: Report shows minorities hurt by environmental injustice
United Church News: 20-19-2007

" Environmental injustice in minority communities is as much or more prevalent today than 20 years ago, according to a follow-up study to the UCC's landmark report “Toxic Waste and Race” that put the environmental justice movement on the map two decades ago."

Thomas, other ecumenical leaders ask Congress for 'compassionate' federal budget

Thomas, other ecumenical leaders ask Congress for 'compassionate' federal budget
United Church News: 02-19-2007

"Leaders of five Christian denominations, including the UCC, sent a letter on Feb. 15 to all members of the U.S. Congress, calling for a compassionate and just federal budget in 2008."

"I Have Seen the Future of the United States… And it is Mexico"

"I Have Seen the Future of the United States… And it is Mexico"
Peace and Justice Initiative blog: 02-13-2007

“Rev. Mulberry (of Community United Church of Christ) recently traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico as an international observer with Witness for Peace and to personally learn about the roots of the current conflict.”

What’s on the State Legislative Agenda

What’s on the State Legislative Agenda
My Left Nutmeg: 02-14-2007

“CT Conference of the United Church of Christ
Assistance for Low-income Families: increase HUSKY & SAGA provider rates, expand HUSKY eligibility for parents & pregnant women, create a state Earned Income Tax Credit
Food Insecurity: economic incentives for full service supermarkets, affordable transportation to food markets, support for local food production
Compassionate Care for Rape Victims: ensure all rape victims at any hospital be given access to emergency contraception
Anti-Discrimination Legislation: add gender identity or expression to Connecticut’s non-discrimination laws “

New Poverty Effort Undertaken by US Catholics and Other Christians

New Poverty Effort Undertaken by US Catholics and Other Christians
Faith Progressive Blog: 02-14-2007

“Christian Churches Together in the USA (CCT) is a new forum growing out of a deeply felt need to broaden and expand fellowship, unity, and witness among the diverse expressions of Christian faith today. CCT is inclusive of the diversity of Christian families in the United States — Evangelical, Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Pentecostals, historic Protestant, Racial and Ethnic churches.”

“The group includes the following:

AMEN
American Baptist Churches, USA
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese
Armenian Orthodox Church in America
Bread for the World
Call to Renewal/Sojourners
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Christian Reformed Church in NA
Church of God Ministries (Anderson, IN)
Church of God of Prophecy
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Coptic Orthodox Church
Evangelicals for Social Action
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Free Methodist Church
Friends United Meeting
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
International Council of Community Churches
International Pentecostal Holiness Church
Moravian Church*
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches
National Baptist Convention of America
National Baptist Convention, USA
Open Bible Churches
Orthodox Church in America
Reformed Church in America
Syrian Orthodox Church
The Episcopal Church
The Evangelical Covenant Church
The Korean Presbyterian Church in America
The Presbyterian Church USA — provisional until 2010
The Salvation Army
United Church of Christ
United Methodist
US Conference of Catholic Bishops
World Vision”

Amazing Grace Sunday

Amazing Grace Sunday
The Rev. Chuck Currie blog: 02-14-2007

“Parkrose Community United Church of Christ will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade during our 10 am worship service this Sunday (Feb. 18th).”