Mission and Justice
June 2017
UCC Emergency Appeal for East Africa Famine
Famine has officially been declared in South Sudan and, for the first time in recent history, there is a very real possibility of four famines – in Somalia, South Sudan, Nigeria, and Yemen – breaking out all at once.
Twenty million people face starvation within the next six months. International aid officials warn that this is one of the biggest humanitarian disasters since World War II. rusted, on-the-ground partnerships enable the church around the world to get food resources directly to the people who need them. UCC Disaster Ministries already has sent $85,000 generated through the 2017 One Great Hour of Sharing Offering funds to the ecumenical ACT Alliance and IMA World Health for famine relief.
They were hoping to raise an additional $50,000 by May 21 – Global Day of Prayer to End Famine. PACC’s Mission and Justice Ministry has sent $1,333.33, which is one twelfth of our annual budget, to the Emergency Appeal. Please be generous with your additional donations on-line at: Emergency Appeal for East Africa Famine <https://transactions.ucc.org/engage/TeamCampaign.seam?teamCampaignId=3736> or by check made payable to PACC or cash in a blue pew envelope with “East Africa Famine” on the memo line.
Policy Advocacy – Massachusetts
It’s another phase of Budget Debate Season at the Mass. State House – The Mass. Senate has just released its budget. Contact Mike Rich or Josh Young if you would like information on how to advance proposals put forth by any of our mission partners.
Local Outreach
We will be collecting non-perishable food items and household goods for the Arlington Food Pantry on Sunday, June 4th. Visit http://www.town.arlington.ma.us/departments/health-human-services/food- pantry/fooddonation for the list of needed and “high need” items.
THANKS to Kate Lindheim for bringing our donated items to the AFP each month. If you are interested in helping, periodically or regularly, talk to Kate, Mike Rich or Jill Lewis.
Living Our ONA Covenant
Join us at Old South UCC, Copley Square, Boston, on Saturday, June 10th, at 11:00 a.m., for the Boston Pride Interfaith Worship. See Jill Lewis, Betty Gitlin-Rich, Mike Rich or http://www.oldsouth.org/events/pride-morning-worship-2 for details.
March with PACC and the other ONA Congregations of the Mass. Conference UCC in the Boston Pride Parade, Saturday, June 10th, at Noon. RSVP to Jill Lewis or Mike Rich to be updated about registration, carpooling, and planning. And see http://www.bostonpride.org/parade/ and http://www.bostonpride.org/festival/.
In the Wider Church
The Council of Deacons has named Mike Rich and Betty Gitlin-Rich as PACC’s delegates to Tri-Conference Annual Meeting, Friday, June 16, to Saturday, June 17, 2017, in Hartford, CT. See http://www.macucc.org/eventdetail/6345699 for the UCC History-Making details.
Invitation to Learn More about Merger
At the June 16 – 17 historic Tri-Conference Annual Meeting, delegates will be asked to endorse a proposal by the Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island Conference Boards of Directors to join together to form a new conference.
Conference leaders want to make sure you are informed about this proposal. That is why you are encouraged to attend one of five online forums that will feature a discussion about the proposal.
Each forum will be hosted by a combination of Conference Ministers and Board representatives. Participants who join online will be able to see and hear the panelists and ask questions via the webinar interface. Participants can also listen in by phone – phone callers will be on mute to minimize background noise but will be invited to email questions during the forums.
Excerpts from the forums, or webinars, will be posted online for later viewing.They will be no longer than 90 minutes each (depending on the level of audience participation) and will be limited to 100 participants each.
See http://www.macucc.org/newsdetail/together-as-one-7542219 for details of the merger proposal and to register for one of the online forums.
Jill Lewis and Mike Rich, Deacons for the Mission and Justice Ministry