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MAY 2012 MEMO
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Spring 2012 SQB
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Methodist Federation for Social Action
Dear Friends,
As we honor our mothers this month, may we remember the purpose of the original Mother’s Day proclamation, written by Julia Ward Howe in 1870, which was to prompt women to work toward resolving conflict peacefully. She called it the “Festival of Peace” (read it here)
Happy Mothers’ Day!
Eloise Cranke
MFSA Iowa Coordinator
Please read the May Memo for important news, including our statewide gathering and events around Iowa.
Thursday, May 24 - 5 to 7 PM
Walnut Hills UMC
12321 Hickman Road
Urbandale, IA 50323
(read the letter below left)
MFSA Annual Banquet - Sun., June 3
with Dr. Jennifer Harvey
Tickets $22 before June 1
Order Form Here
OR: Use PayPal Donate link below; designate Banquet Tickets
Do No Harm Invitation (May 24 at Walnut Hills UMC)
“I am the church, you are the church, we are the church together…”
“This General Conference feels like a watershed moment.” Many lifelong United Methodists are questioning, “How can I stay in a church that continues to call people I love 'incompatible with Christian teaching?'” “Aren’t exclusion and discrimination incompatible with Christian teaching?” “Can I keep giving my prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness to a church that refuses to welcome God’s LGBTQ children?” “How can I live out my vow to be in pastoral ministry with all people, if I cannot perform marriages for all loving, committed couples?” “If I don’t stay and work for change, who will?” “What can I do to make a difference, and be part of a faithful witness for justice, love, and a church where ALL of God’s children are welcomed and affirmed?”
On Thursday, May 24, from 5-7pm at Walnut Hills UMC in Des Moines, gather with other United Methodist clergy and laity who stand for justice, inclusion, and a United Methodist Church where LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer) folk are welcomed into all levels of ministry in the church. We will share in conversation and worship, explore processes other annual conferences have utilized, and look toward what faith-filled action might be shared at Annual Conference.
Together: We will mourn. We will lament. We will affirm our faith. We will bear witness to injustice. We will recognize pain, and anger. We will pray. We will comfort. We will covenant. We will remember we are not alone. We will embolden. We will strategize. We will organize. We will discern. We will gather. Because we are the church, together.
All are welcome.
June 6, 2011 March for Peace
2012 March for Peach & Social Justice
Monday, June 4 - Noon
MFSA, UMW,
the Board of Church and Society and the
Board of Global Ministries
co-sponsor the
"March for Peace and Social Justice"
We walk from
HyVee Hall to Nollen Plaza, where a brief prayer service will be held.
Food will be available for purchase at Nollen Plaza. Please join us!
Click here to print a flyer to post.
Immigration Resources
Don't rubber-stamp nominee for judgeship - March 6, 2012 Editorial on nomination of Stephanie Rose to Federal Judge post
'Just following orders' excuse unacceptable from judicial nominee
Jim Purdue's Monday Musings with Weekly Lectionary Texts at the Desert Southwest Conference
Movie website: Trailer to Nowhere
Ten Myths About Immigration & More on the Immigration Page