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World Communion Sunday with Keneth
October 5, 2008
The origins of World Communion Sunday are the subject of some
good-natured debate. One story claims that, in the winter of
1935, a group of clergy in the U.S. called for a worldwide communion
Sunday to focus on peace. The idea caught on and the Federal
Council of Churches in the U.S. promoted it as an ongoing event.
Another story claims that the event began through the efforts
of Rev. Dr. Jesse M. Bader, a Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) leader and promoter of ecumenism, who envisioned all
the churches of the world celebrating communion on the same
day, as if we were all gathered around one big table.
This
year we are privileged to share this special day with Keneth
Kiyija. He will tell his personal story and describe the special
needs of the orphans in Uganda, especially the children in
Masaka who have lost their parents to AIDS. Keneth has begun
a mission to serve these children, educate their families
about clean water and health, and help them have a brighter
future. Many of these children do not go to school because
they cannot afford the fees. Keneth wants to find a way to
dig a well for the village and give the children a basic education.
Come hear his story and ask questions about Uganda and its
people.
To get
into the spirit of the occasion, we will sing African hymns,
play the drums, and take communion together in celebration
of our solidarity with Christians from around the world and
especially in Uganda. Come and gather around the table at
10 a.m. on Sunday, October 5th.
No on Prop 8
On Sunday September 21, the church made its support of marriage
equality visible to patrons of the Fall Arts Festival and anyone
else who happened to be passing our corner. We passed out material,
answered questions, and offered a drink of cold water. We also
received a lot of thank you’s from people who spoke with
us. Signs and banners made us hard to miss. We accomplished
the aims of educating voters and of demonstrating the church’s
support of same-sex marriage. Thank
you to Betsy Bikle, Dora Ford, Jan Gellepis, Bob Harmon, Bob
Larsen, and Claudia Lowder for staffing the table throughout
the afternoon.
MOC
and Mental Health Needs
The Marin Organizing Committee has 8 research action teams working
to find and support solutions to serious community problems.
Rose Taylor and I are members of the mental health team (chaired
by Marjorie Walters of Kol Shofar) which focuses on mental
health care options for people without insurance. Our
team learned that there is a “little jewel of a program”
that provides access to psychiatric care for the uninsured
called MAPS (Marin Alliance for Psychiatric Services). Unfortunately
MAPS does not have permanent funding. Originally funded
by a planning grant from the California Endowment, MAPS needs
a modest $50,000 from the County to continue its work for another
year. Members of the Marin Organizing Committee are working
to convince county supervisors to support MAPS this year, and
in the future.
Here’s why MAPS’ continued existence is so important.
The once broad offerings of Marin’s Community Mental Health
Services (CMHS) have dwindled over the last 25 years. CMHS now
is mandated to deal only with the severely mentally ill.
People with less severe problems such as depression or post-traumatic
stress disorder can turn to 4 non-profit agencies for psychotherapy:
Family Service Agency of Marin, Catholic Charities CYO, Community
Institute for Psychotherapy, and Jewish Family and Children’s
Services. Sometimes, however, a therapist may decide a client
needs medication as well as therapy to facilitate recovery—and
medication requires a psychiatrist’s prescription.
The 4 non-profit agencies jointly created the MAPS program to
provide this needed access to psychiatric services. Today
two psychiatrists work part-time for MAPS, evaluating and diagnosing
clients referred by the agencies. Close communication
between psychiatrist and therapist means that follow-up treatment
is coordinated and maximized.
The MAPS program, supported partially by Medi-Cal and sliding
scale fees, is efficient and economical. Its modest annual
budget of $75,000 provides a great deal of help for ordinary
people. People like Ann, a single mother so depressed
that she found herself endangering her children. Or Jules, who,
as an abandoned teenager, became a substance abuser. Now
an adult, he’s been clean and sober for two years, but
his depressed moods, difficulty with stress, and chronic ADHD
kept him isolated and lonely. A combination of therapy and appropriate
medical treatment obtained through MAPS enabled both Ann and
Jules to make positive changes in their lives. Ann has
more energy and is less irritable with her children and is hopeful
about future career goals. Jules’ overall health has improved;
he’s better able to focus, is succeeding at a new job,
and has reconnected with his long-estranged family.
Recognizing the
value of MAPS, the Marin Organizing Committee is pushing for
permanent funding for the program. Through our research, we
learned that Marin Community Mental Health Services received
a recent windfall of unanticipated funds from the Mental Health
Services Act (originally Prop. 63, “the millionaire’s
tax”). CMHS plans to put $450,000 of this unexpected
money into a reserve fund. MOC is urging county supervisors,
in a series of individual briefings, to use $50,000 of this
to keep the MAPS program going another year. Ultimately grassroots
support from may be needed to influence the supervisors’
decision. We hope we can call on members of this church
to help.
You
can hear more about this and other issues of concern at a
meeting on Sunday, October 19 during the coffee hour after
the worship service.
Support NIN Oct. 5
Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of
the United Church of Christ (UCC) that supports ministries
of justice and compassion throughout the United States.
One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian
Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC's
Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to support a variety of
justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects.
The Community Church will receive NIN offerings on October 5,
World Communion Sunday. Checks may be made out to the “Community
Church” and earmarked “NIN.” Donation envelopes
will be included in Sunday’s Worship Bulletin for your
convenience, or you may mail your check to the church office.
1.
How are NIN funds shared with others?
Two-thirds of NIN supports program initiatives and
direct grants offered by the UCC's JWM. Small but essential
grants are made throughout the year to congregations and organizations
engaged in community organizing, public policy advocacy, and
direct service. Although grants are made to address a wide
range of justice priorities, a significant portion of these
grants are made to address issues of hunger and poverty.
One-third
of NIN supports the work of the UCC's CAIM which is the voice
for American Indians in the United Church of Christ. CAIM
supports the work of local churches and their pastors; encourages
youth and young adults; supports persons preparing for Christian
ministry; empowers American Indians who are members of non-Indian
congregations; and advocates for justice on issues affecting
American Indian life.
2.
How are Neighbors in Need grants allocated?
Justice and Witness Ministries uses its portion
of NIN for program initiatives and grant-making, so funds
support grassroots advocacy and outreach efforts directly.
Grant applications are reviewed regularly by ministry teams
and decisions are made in keeping with funding guidelines
and the availability of funds. Most grants are small and non-repeating.
Careful attention is given to make sure that every NIN grant
recipient reflects the UCC's vision of being a church of Jesus
Christ that is multi-racial, multi-cultural, open and affirming,
and accessible to all.
3.
What American Indian tribes or nations are supported by Neighbors
in Need?
Historically, the forebears of the UCC established
churches with the Lakota, Dakota, Nakota, Mandan, Hidatsa,
Arickara, and Ho-Cak in North and South Dakota, Wisconsin,
and Northern Nebraska. Today, there are 19 UCC congregations
on reservations and one urban inter-tribal congregation in
Minneapolis. In addition, there are more than 1,000 individuals
from dozens of other tribes and nations scattered in nearly
every conference in the UCC. Your contributions to NIN directly
impact the UCC's ability to support American Indian ministries
and congregations.
Help
Needed with MOC Commitment
Early in the year, the church board accepted an offer to match
an individual pledge to pay half of the church's $1,000 commitment
to the Marin Organizing Committee (MOC) for calendar year 2008.
The $500 individual pledge has been paid to MOC. The board is
asking church members to join it in raising the remaining $500.
Given the generous way in which members have responded to recent,
larger requests for help, raising $500 should not be difficult.
We would like to pay the $500 by the end of October, so gifts
are needed now.
On May 8th, more than 600 people from Marin congregations packed
the auditorium at San Raphael Catholic Church to show elected
officials that MOC is for real and intends to have an impact
on issues that affect Marin residents, especially those at the
bottom of the social and economic ladder. MOC's success owes
much to lead organizer, Sister Judy Donovan, and the skilled
organizers who are assisting her. Like other professionals,
they have to be paid for their skills. Funds also have to be
paid to train local church leaders.
At the May 8th meeting, one of the members of the board of supervisors
exclaimed that he had never seen churches so united and energized
for effective important community problems. Along with other
supervisors, he welcomed their involvement The MOC effort has
only begun. It needs to grow. With your help, it will. Please
consider writing a check to the church now. Earmark it "MOC".
Thanks! - The Church Board
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