Living Justice Seminar Program

The Living Justice Seminar Program engages young adults (ages 20-30) in exploring new directions and issues of social justice. The event is organized by the Office of Deaconess and Home Missioner, and is open to women and men ages 20-30 living in the United States, and will take place at the Alma Matthews House in New York City June 13-17, 2009. Preference will be given to members of The United Methodist Church. Please contact the Office of Deaconess and Home Missioner at deaconess@gbgm-umc.org or 212-870-3850 for information.

This summer’s Living Justice Seminar Program focus will be Eradicating the Diseases of Poverty: Women, Children and the Struggle for Wholeness. Participants will focus on the health of women and children in the United States and around the world. The seminar will explore issues of maternal and infant health, the effects of Malaria and HIV/AIDS on women and children, and the impact of sustainable agriculture on the health of women and children. Participants will look at the ways women and children work collectively to improve the health and wholeness of their communities.

The Living Justice Seminar Program will include Bible study, worship, conversation, reflection and an introduction to the theme of global health.  It will be held at The Alma Matthews House, a facility of the Women’s Division of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries.  Applicants will be notified if they are accepted by May 10. The application form can be found at (web link to our site with application, reference form and brochure).

Space is limited for the event and the deadline for application is May 1. All costs, including travel within the United States, lodging and meals, will be covered by the event organizer — the Office of Deaconess and Home Missioner of the General Board of Global Ministries, the mission agency of The United Methodist Church.

Deaconess Darlene DiDomineck
Deaconess/Home Missioner in Residence

Office of Deaconess, Home Missioner and Home Missionary
General Board of Global Ministries
United Methodist Church

475 Riverside Dr. Room 320

New York, NY 10115
212-870-3850
ddidomin@gbgm-umc.org

Build for Habitat!

This Spring (2009) we are looking to get a group together to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity projects in East King County.  Help us deconcentrate poverty and promote affordable housing by the work of your own hands!  Check out their site at www.habitatekc.org.  No construction experience needed!

Email beaconcsc@gmail.com and include “Habitat” in the subject line if you want to be in on the Beacon volunteer group.  Check back soon for updates!

Sophia Way

Save the Date

Sunday, April 5, 2009

2-6 PM

Cooking at Adriano House (or elsewhere if preferred/offered)

6:30 P.M. Delivery by Joe (and anyone else who wants to help drop off)

Please email the Beacon CSC Committee for more information: Beaconcsc@gmail.com and include “Sophia Way” in the subject line. 

About the Sophia Way

The mission of The Sophia Way is to help end homelessness in East King County, Washington, by providing supportive services, overnight shelter, and one-bedroom apartments to women as they transition from homelessness to permanent housing and an independent, stable life. Currently, they are the only staffed overnight shelter for single adult women on the Eastside.

To learn more about the work of the Sophia Way, visit their site: http://www.sophiaway.org

Youth & Young Adult Programs with Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the face of the earth, and to make simple, decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat for Humanity’s youth programs are a collection of resources and programs that seek to capture the imagination, energy and hope of young people worldwide, ages 5 to 25, in order to productively and responsibly involve them as leaders in the work of Habitat.

What is Act! Speak! Build! Week?

Act! Speak! Build! Week is Habitat’s international, student-initiated week of advocacy. Act! Speak! Build! Week empowers young people to educate themselves and their communities and move people to social action. Young people, ages 5 to 25, work in partnership with local affiliates to plan and host events focused on ending poverty housing.

To learn more, visit: http://www.habitat.org/youthprograms

Volunteer Opportunity: Shared Breakfast, February 22 @ 7am

Interested in volunteering with us to serve breakfast to Seattle’s transient population? Come help serve breakfast on Sunday, February 22 at 7am with the Shared Breakfast ministry with Seattle First UMC.

Here’s a description of what Shared Breakfast is:

Join us on the second and fourth Sunday of each month as we share food and fellowship with those who are hungry. Breakfast is served from 7:45-8:45 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, which is just a few short blocks from our worship location. Shared Breakfast is a beloved tradition at First Church; past numbers have swelled above 500 people fed! Please join us in this important ministry – we would love to see you there!

WHERE: Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Parish, Fellowship Hall – Please enter the Fellowship Hall via the entrance at 204 Warren Avenue North (Seattle).

WHEN: 7:45-8:45 a.m., the second and fourth Sunday of each month

WHO: Seattle’s hungry, the congregation, volunteers, you!

We have been able to continue this important ministry after our move thanks to a partnership with Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Parish. Find out more here: http://www.firstchurchseattle.org/shared-breakfast.html

YOUTH: If you’re interested in serving, we’ll be having a sleep-over, then will proceed to the Shared Breakfast together. Email Sophie: beaconcsc@gmail.com

Be Counted! Voter Registration Drive

You are invited to stop by Beacon UMC on September 14 and 21, from 12:30-1:30. We will have volunteers on hand to help you register to vote for the first time, change your address, or sign up for an absentee ballot.

You may find us here:

Beacon United Methodist Church

7301 Beacon Avenue South

Seattle, WA 98108

For more information, contact:

e: beaconcsc@gmail.com

c: 206.288.3511

UMCOR’s 100-Ton Coffee Challenge is here!

Join other United Methodists across the nation in UMCOR’s 100-Ton Coffee Challenge. See the article below in the Beacon Connection about UMCOR’s partnership with Equal Exhange.

Coffee, anyone?

Sophia K. R. Agtarap

On Sunday, June 15, Beacon UMC’s Church and Society Committee will join the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and hundreds of congregations nationwide in the 100-ton Coffee Challenge. Why 100 tons of coffee? In 2007, United Methodists collectively purchased 68 tons (136,000 pounds) of fairly-traded products through the UMCOR Coffee Project. 100 tons of coffee provides us with a new challenge!

In partnership with Equal Exchange’s Interfaith program, we will have the opportunity to enjoy delicious coffee, tea, and chocolates while helping small-scale farmers in coffee producing nations build better futures for their families and their communities.

Founded in 1986, Equal Exchange is the oldest for-profit fair trade company in the United States. By offering organic, gourmet coffee, tea and chocolate produced in democratically run farmer co-ops in Latin American, Africa and Asia, they carry out their mission of building long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, while fostering mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers. With every purchase of coffee, tea or chocolate, a donation will be made to UMCOR programs that support community-based cooperatives in coffee-growing regions.

Look for fair trade coffee, tea and chocolates at Beacon UMC beginning June 15. By supporting fair trade, we are giving farmers the opportunity to earn a stable and fair price for their crops, and at the same time receiving a fair price as consumers.

Let us use our purchasing power to send the signal that we want an economy that is just and sustainable. Raise your coffee cups with thousands of United Methodists across the world, and support fair trade.

For more information on this and other Church and Society initiatives, contact:
Sophie Agtarap | sophieagtarap@gmail.com | 206.288.3511

Lake Junaluska Conference: January 31-February 2, 2008

Lake Junaluska Peace Conference

January 31 – February 2, 2008
The Lake Junaluska Peace Conference, Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, will provide an opportunity for dialog on finding the Church’s voice in a violent world. The conference will be at Lake Junaluska, N.C. The goal of the conference, “Finding the Church’s Voice,” is to encourage participants to be advocates for peace and justice, and to be the reconcilers that Christ wants us to be in our communities.

Featured speakers include Dr. Peter Storey, former Methodist Bishop in South Africa; Dr. Jan Love, dean of Candler School of Theology; Bishop Ken Carder, former bishop and current professor at Duke Divinity School; and Jim Winkler, general secretary, United Methodist Board of Church & Society.

Read full describtion here.

Register for the event now.

Human Relations Day: January 20, 2008

To order Human Relations Sunday worship resources and and envelopes go to www.umcgiving.org

A confession: I admit it. During the many years I served in local congregations:

• I didn’t always make the Special Sundays a priority.
• When I did, I often glossed over the announcement about the extra offering envelope as quickly as possible, hoping people wouldn’t get frustrated with me.
• I didn’t do much research to know about the purpose of these offerings so didn’t take time to educate the congregation about the good work they made possible.
• I never appreciated all the ministries the Special Sundays bring to life.

I’ve changed.

I have seen the excitement of those in our conference who benefit because of the Special Sunday offerings. Today, I try to give boldly by personally committing at least $50 to each Special Sunday offering.

In January—on the Sunday before the birthday observance of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.—United Methodist congregations observe Human Relations Day. The special offering supports Community Developers, United Methodist Voluntary Service and Youth Offender Rehabilitation programs.

Please don’t apologize to the congregation because it is “another Special Sunday.” Instead, learn about the day, celebrate all that can happen with our generous giving and thank the congregation for sharing.

United Methodists do give of themselves; sometimes all that’s necessary is to ask boldly. Let’s not be afraid to ask. Make it a day for all God’s children. Thank you!
–The Rev. Jane Follmer Zekoff, former director of connectional ministries, Wisconsin Conference

Welcome

Welcome to the Beacon UMC Church & Society Page, where you will find information about the UMC’s Legislative Priorities and regular action alerts from the Board.