In a world where certain words are being removed from government sites, I intend to use them often and with intentionality. I recently had the following words explained to me as if life is a library. Okay, now apply this library lesson to life and to our society. I hope you can insert the above… Continue reading Using banned words often and with intentionality.
Tag: social justice
Why is IHELP closing?
For the past five plus years we have partnered with Lutheran Social Services (LSS) to provide the homeless population a safe place to sleep. Over 100 volunteers have supported the program. Five-plus years equals over 250 nights of hosting with 330 guests. The people in the program have come through our doors searching for hope,… Continue reading Why is IHELP closing?
Be outraged, church.
Optimism is hard to come by these days. But cynicism and pessimism won’t help us now. Together, we can make the world a better place. Actually, we can do more than our wildest dreams. That’s not a merely faith statement; it’s a fact verified by human history. Here are excerpts from the sermon last week: The… Continue reading Be outraged, church.
Our new theme for 2025 is…
“Imagine! Doing Justice, Loving Kindness, and Walking humbly with God!” Based on Micah 6:8, that theme will be woven into all of our activities and help us reframe the narrative of Christianity. In 2025 this church will be a citadel against the storms of bigotry and hatred. We will embody the words of Bishop Marianne… Continue reading Our new theme for 2025 is…
Where to begin in becoming a peacemaker?
I have no magic wand to wave to bring Peace in and throughout our lives. But I promise as we walk in community together, as we seek answers to questions on our common journeys, that peace is possible. In the face of a war-torn and violent world that we see reflected for us on the… Continue reading Where to begin in becoming a peacemaker?
What would you take?
What do you take with you when you may never come back? When a hurricane approached one community, the evacuation order came. The locals had just a few hours to decide what to take with them as they fled for their lives. A couple of reporters from The Washington Post caught up with some of the evacuees… Continue reading What would you take?
Shower Trailer Update
Brief HistoryFeet-N-More Shower Trailer was first used on February 23rd, 2021 at the Salvation Army in Surprise where we gave just nine showers. The trailer had been purchased in 2020 with funds from a bequest designated for Social Justice Ministries. The City of Surprise was supportive of the shower trailer from the beginning and contracted… Continue reading Shower Trailer Update
Top 10 things to focus upon as we move onward, forward, into the future.
Fresh off our Transgender Day of Remembrance and post-election, here’s my top 10 things to focus upon as we move onward, forward, into the future. 10. Pray for wisdom for world, national, state, and local leadership. 9. Choose your words intentionally and use them to find places of unity and opportunities of peace. 8. Volunteer… Continue reading Top 10 things to focus upon as we move onward, forward, into the future.
First sign of civilization
Years ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student expected Meade to talk about fishhooks, clay pots, or grinding stones. But no. Meade said that ancient culture’s first sign of civilization was a femur (thigh bone) that had been… Continue reading First sign of civilization
2024 Transgender Day of Remembrance
Transgender Day of Remembrance The LGBTQ+ Ministry Team as part of The Church of the Palms of Sun City, AZ commits to an annual Transgender Day of Remembrance to memorialize the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence, hatred or prejudice during the last calendar year. Although not every person represented… Continue reading 2024 Transgender Day of Remembrance