Grace UCC Houston, TX



Nov. 1-11, 2011... ONE UNITED CHURCH on a shared mission for 11 powerful days to feed the hungry and confront food-related injustice. This is MISSION: 1 • In 11 days, the United Church of Christ will collect more than 1 MILLION ITEMS OF HEALTHY FOOD and other household items for local food banks and outreach services. • In 11 days, the United Church of Christ will make an extra-special push to gather online contributions of more than $111,111 DOLLARS for Neighbors in Need, offerings that will be shared for hunger-action purposes with agencies of justice and compassion throughout the United States. • In 11 days, the United Church of Christ will offer more than 11,111 LETTERS to Congress asking our government to reform U.S. foreign assistance in a way that more effectively benefits hungry and poor people worldwide, helping to provide a major final push to Bread for the World's 2011 "Offering of Letters" campaign. DURING THE FIRST 11 DAYS of NOVEMBER, an online tote board at ucc.org will tally our collective count of foodstuffs, donations and letters - information we'll update and celebrate in real time together. And throughout the 11 days, the UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries will organize church-member delegations to meet with Members of Congress to bring attention to our church’s concern about hunger at home and abroad. Most importantly, our UCC motto and Jesus' prayer "that they may all be 1" will become a focused, concerted mission emphasis across the whole United Church of Christ to educate ourselves and one another about food-related policy issues through sermons, seminars and conversations; to advocate on behalf of hungry people at home and around the world; to raise money for hunger-action purposes; and to share bread - and tuna, and peanut butter, and vegetables, and cereal - with our neighbors in need. The world needs the distinct values, vision and voice of the United Church of Christ - Continuing Testament. Extravagant Welcome. Changing Lives. This is MISSION: 1

100,000 for Health Care

Our faith teaches us that health care is a both a human need and a human right. Offering comfort to the broken, sick and injured was foundational to Jesus’ ministry and is central to our serving the least among us. Our nation deserves a health care system that is inclusive, accessible, affordable and accountable.

Just consider:

Over 47 million people (one in six) and over 9 million children are without health coverage and 25 million more are under-insured.

Every year, 18,000 people in the United States die from a lack of health insurance—that’s two people every hour.

More than 60 percent of all bankruptcies are linked to medical expenses. About 1.5 million families lose their homes to foreclosure every year due to unaffordable medical costs.

We want to send 100,000 messages to Congress and deliver a huge book of 100,000 names to the Democratic and Republican leadership in Congress. (We've already stopped by the in-district office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during Rev. Geoffrey Black’s recent trip to visit churches in the San Francisco area.) Together, speaking as people of faith, we have the power to change the conversation and envision a society where each person is afforded health, wholeness and human dignity. Find out more at ucc.org!

Child Sponsorship - With Eyes to See
For the past 13 years our family, through the Global Ministries Sponsorship program, has sponsored a child at the Family Village Farm, in Tamil Nadu, India. Her name is Saranya. Alongside our two sons, Christopher and Daniel, we have considered her part of the family. A photo of her has been posted on our frig for years. We have exchanged letters. We have noted with joy each of her accomplishments in her school. Never did we imagine that we would ever have the opportunity to see her in person.

Would you like to become involved with an easy global mission project? Come, you who are blessed... share comfort and show compassion in life as Christ did around the world. The Global Ministries Child Sponsorship Program is the place to get connected! This global children's ministry works closely with private centers that have long-established links with a UCC or Disciples global partner. Through partners, we work in collaboration with our agencies to provide food, basic health care, clothing and in some cases housing, school fees, uniform, books and training and livelihood opportunities to many poor and destitute children in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Europe. The Child Sponsorship program has been providing assistance for more than 40 years—one child at a time...

Currently, we have 15 centers participating with approximately 900 children in the program. Over the years more than 3,000 poor and low income children have been embraced by sponsors and their gifts. Find out more at ucc.org!

Human Trafficking Across the world and throughout the United States, human beings are forced into labor, exploited in commercial sexual enterprises, and moved across national or state borders against their will, frightened and terrorized into silence. Trafficking in persons is the 3rd largest illegal trade business around the world (drugs and small arms lead the way). Women and children make up 80% of those trafficked.

Join us January 11 as we observe Human Trafficking Awareness Day, a time to pay attention to the realities of what is often referred to as modern day slavery

The 27th General Synod approved a Resolution of Witness, A Call to Awareness and Action to End the Practice of Trafficking in Persons. It calls upon UCC congregations to utilize a time close to January 11 to become aware of these issues and learn how to become advocates for those victimized by such human rights abuses.

During the next 3 months, churches will be encouraged to support ratification of the International Violence Against Women Act as one way to advocate for an end to the trafficking of women and girls. Look for more information soon on the JPANet.

As we enter the New Year we invite you to educate yourself and your congregation about human trafficking so we can begin to do this work together! Click here for more resources.

President Obama Issues Executive Order Banning Torture

Before he had been in office two full days, President Obama issued an executive order banning torture: ending the CIA abuse of detainees, closing U.S. secret prisons, and providing the International Committee of the Red Cross with access to U.S.-held detainees. The full text of the executive order is available on the White House webpage.

Thanks for your work to make this happen!

The executive order also created a special Task Force comprised of high-level Administration officials who will meet over the coming months to review U.S. interrogation policies and recommend changes. Send a message urging them to recommend only those changes that will strengthen, not weaken, rules against torture.

Looking ahead, we will also seek to have Congress incorporate the executive order into laws which will be binding on future administrations.

The work of UCC members and the leadership of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture have been important components of this campaign. May God continue to bless this ministry of justice.