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Thanks for those who participated in the congregational conversation last Sunday.
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Up-Coming UCHP Events
based on Central Standard Time
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Contemporary Issues: The Light We Carry - Overcoming in Uncertain Times, written by Michelle Obama. The group will meet Thursday March 30th, at 11 am, online. purchase your book from your favorite bookstore and join our conversation. All are welcome, no matter which chapter you are reading. To join on Zoom (link).
Section: Ch. 8 and 9
Meeting ID: 880 4431 3543
Passcode: 012153
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The Planning Team met on March 20. Here are some updates:
1. Right now, there will be properly around six organizations who will be partnering with this joint event. And the partnership is still growing.
2. The promotional material will come out early next week.
3. Will still meet next Monday, March 27, at 7 pm CST, via Zoom.
* What I can do for this event now:
- Keep this community event in your prayers.
- Save the date and participate. Saturday, April 15, 11 am to 2:30 pm.
- Volunteering positions are open now
--- setting up the fellowship hall before the event (arriving at 10:00 am) * 2
--- registration table * 2
--- serving the lunch box and water *2
--- wrapping up and cleanings the fellowship hall after the event (after 2:30 pm) * 3
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The Open and Affirming Team is working with Pray Away Impact Campaign on the community screening on Saturday, April 15 at our church's Fellowship Hall. The first partner meeting was on March 13th. If there is no change, the partner meeting will be held on Mondays.
* More about how this campaign works (click for the meeting introduction video).
* More info about this documentary (click link).
If you would like to know more about this event, please talk to any members in the Open and Affirming Team.
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The Presbytery of Chicago (POC) (PCUSA) called a special Assembly on March 21. There were 109 participants at the Assembly. At the meeting, POC approved the covenant between a New Worshipping Community, Comunidad Dia Nuevo, and POC. This new worshipping community, Dia Nuevo, focuses on immigrants and refugees who speak Spanish in greater Chicagoland. POC also examined a candidate, Elias Cabarcas Arroyo, and approved his ordination as Minister of the Word and Sacraments. Rev. Elias will serve as the Evangelist for the POC and Organizing Pastor of Dia Neuvo. At the meeting, POC also approved the usage of one of POC’s properties for this new worshipping community, located at 6900 Barrington Road, Hanover Park, IL 60113. Dia Nuevo will donate $1.00 per month to POC, starting April to December 2023, $25.00 per month for 2024 and 2025. POC will pay the utilities and insurance for this property for the rest of 2023, and Dia Nuevo will pay for 2024 and 2025. All those action items were passed unanimously. POC Moderator, Rev. Barbara Gorsky, encouraged all congregations to keep this new community in our prayers, share resources and provide support. Rev. Barbara also expressed appreciation for the committee members who made this possible. It’s another new chapter for POC.
* You can also fellow this new worshipping community on Facebook, here is the link. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085640703129
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Affirming Resolution
General Synod (UCC) is asked to reaffirm commitment to transgender, non-binary dignity amid legislative attacks. When the state of Alabama passed a law to criminalize the provision of gender-affirming healthcare to youth in April 2022, punishable as a felony with prison time, it was the first of its kind. The law is one in an unprecedented wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation, with more than 150 bills proposed in the last year that would restrict the rights of transgender people. It’s amid this flurry of U.S. state legislative actions that General Synod of the United Church of Christ is being asked to actively affirm the dignity of transgender and nonbinary people.
* Read the whole Resolution, https://www.ucc.org/synod-is-asked-to-affirm-commitment-to-transgender-nonbinary-dignity-amid-legislative-attacks/
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Transgender youth are under aggressive attack across the country. The House Committee on Education and the Workforce just marked up and passed through committee legislation to prevent trans youth from taking part in school sports activities on teams that match their gender identity. It's telling that while our nation’s schools face threats from funding cuts, gun violence, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic including a teacher shortage, the first markup of the House Committee on Education focused instead on discriminatory and damaging legislation that is profoundly harmful to transgender youth.
To be clear, the intent of this bill is not to protect women’s sports. It is to further sow bigotry and enflame prejudice toward transgender people. LGBTQ+ youth already face increased harassment and bullying. It is appalling that the House Committee on Education would move forward a type of ban widely opposed by child welfare organizations to inflict more harm upon vulnerable youth.
As a community of faithful we see and affirm the agency and rights of transgender youth. We celebrate them and believe that they have the right to live lives protected from cruelty and discrimination. We owe our children space to grow in safety and a secure knowledge at their core that they are all beloved, created beautifully in the image of God.
Please join us and contact your Member of Congress asking them to fully oppose this legislation, and any like it, that would cause harm to our transgender siblings. Ask them to listen to their constituents who speak to the immense damage these bills have on transgender youth. As people of faith, it’s critical we add our voices to the chorus of others saying transgender people are loved wholly and without reservation.
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Why do palm branches usher in Holy Week?
Do you know Palm Sunday also called Passion Sunday? Waving palm branches on the Sunday before Easter ushers in Holy Week. Learn more about the traditions of this significant day in the church calendar. Watch the short video on the United Methodist Communication page (click the link).
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Appeal For The Children Community Fund Campaign
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Appeal For The Children Community Fund Campaign: Below is a mission close to my heart. As a member of the United Church of Hyde Park, I am looking for your advice and support to complete our goal of bringing needed childcare services to our community. Can you please spread the word to your friends and family during these closing weeks of the year. Thank you for your help! See you in the New Year! The United Church of Hyde Park and Little People Learning have been working to bring a daycare facility to the Hyde Park neighborhood over the last 18 months. We are close to our goal to open early in 2023. The funding for the project is almost complete. Please help us finish the job!
* You can download the Google Doc Template of Appeal For The Children Community Fund Campaign, and share with your friends, here is the link (link updated).
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