Mission and Justice Matters at PACC

Mission and Justice Matters at PACC- April 2018

One Great Hour of Sharing® (OGHS) “More Than We Can Imagine”

You can continue to donate to OGHS, the Lenten Offering of the United Church of Christ, through the end of March and until Easter Sunday. We will forward PACC’s offering to the Mass Conference during the first week of April deposit. At Super Saturday, on March 17, I learned that one of the things OGHS has done through Church World Service is to fund a counselor/teacher at the Inanda Seminary School in South Africa for the last 18 years. It is one of the oldest schools for girls in South Africa. Daniel and Lucy Lindley, a Congregationalist missionary couple from the U.S, founded it in 1853 at Inanda, a settlement just over 20 miles north of Durban. For much more information about OGHS including about Matching Gift programs, donating to a specific natural disaster or refugee emergency, staying updated, and watching videos see www.ucc.org/oghs and www.facebook.com/onegreathourofsharingucc.

 UCC Christmas Fund 2017 offering of $810.00 was sent to the Mass. Conference on 1/31/2018.

Recognizing Hate: Why Symbols Matter

Tuesday, April 10, from 7:00pm – 8:30pm at Arlington Town Hall. All members of the community are invited to join the Arlington Human Rights Commission and ADL New England for this important conversation. In the last year communities across Massachusetts have seen symbols of hate appear on schools, homes and houses of worship. While such acts are deeply troubling, there are ways we can fight back. See Mike Rich (He has reserved 4 tickets) or go to arlingtonadl.eventbrite.com for details and to register (FREE).

Local

The Housing Corporation of Arlington’s Walk for Affordable Housing is on Sunday, April 29, from 11 am -3 pm, starting and ending at the Jason Russell House on the corner of Jason St. and Mass. Ave. This is a 3 mile walk down Mass. Ave and back and raises funds and awareness for affordable housing in Arlington. PACC will be hosting a rest stop table during the walk at the corner of Mass Ave. and Park Avenue.

Arlington Food Pantry

Bring non-perishable food items and household goods to church by Sunday, April 8. Find high-need items here: arlingtonfoodpantry.org/donate-food

NEAT (Neighbors Eating All Together)

The next NEAT dinner at St. John’s Church (74 Pleasant St.) is Saturday, April 28, from 5pm-6pm.  This dinner is a community dinner, open to all and free of charge. If you’d like to volunteer, look for an email to chat, or please speak to Kate Lindheim.  Thanks!

Somerville Homeless Coalition’s Community Supper

Monday, April 23, is our day to provide the meal to serve 25-30 people for the Somerville Homeless Coalition’s community supper. Look for a message to the chat list about a week before the dinner for more details. We need four people to make a main dish (recipe and disposable pan provided), 2 large loaves of bread, 1 quart of half and half, 2 or 3 people to provide fresh fruit and 2 large bottles of juice.

Expanding the Circle: Restorative Justice at a pivotal time

Wednesday, April 11, 6:00 – 9:00pm at Arlington Town Hall. A party and fundraiser celebrating 18 years of Communities for Restorative Justice (C4RJ)-community-police partnerships; with live music, a light supper and silent auction. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey will be guest speaker. As a sponsor PACC gets 2 tickets. See Jill Lewis or Mike Rich. You can also register for your own tickets here: www.eventbrite.com/e/expanding-the-circle-tickets-39729943330?aff=erelexpmlt#tickets

Mystic LGBTQ+ Youth Support Network

See Queer Mystic’s Newsletter, here https://tinyurl.com/yckrgs88

Wider Church

An Evening with Traci Blackmon

April 3, 2018, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm

University School of Theology Community Center, 745 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston

The Rev. Traci Blackmon is the Executive Minister of Justice & Witness Ministries of The United Church of Christ and Senior Pastor of Christ The King United Church of Christ in Florissant, MO. This event is free and open to the public due to generous support from the Lowell Institute. For more Lowell Lectures, please visit www.lowellinstitute.org.

Spring Meeting Metropolitan Boston Association UCC – Ministry with Our Neighbors

April 28, 2018, 8:30 am – 11:30 am

Congregational Church of Needham, 1154 Great Plain Ave., Needham

To do ministry with our neighbors we need to actually meet our neighbors. This program section of the Spring Meeting will provide specific skills for lay groups of your congregation to get into your community, and to listen for what are their strengths and needs. Rev. Joan Murray, founder of Chaplains on the Way- a ministry with those experiencing homelessness in the city of Waltham, and Katie Omberg, Director of Community Engagement for City Mission Boston, will lead us in some key practices for engaging and accompanying our neighbors. Go here to register: macucc-reg.brtapp.com/MBASpringMeeting2018

 Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries 52nd Anniversary Dinner

May 10, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Temple Ohabei Shalom, 1187 Beacon St, Brookline

Keynote Speaker: Rev. Liz Walker. “Her remarks will address the Moral Courage for Public Policy: What does this mean? Why do communities need to be a part of shaping public policy? What areas do they want involvement in? What are some examples in communities already? How do WE participate in society? It will be a night of music, community awards, and a great way to meet people across our different constituencies.” Talk to Jill Lewis or Mike Rich or see www.eventbrite.com/e/cmm-anniversary-fundraising-dinner-2018-with-rev-liz-walker-tickets-42924307760.