By Rev. Jim Davis
Peace with Justice Sunday is June 11!
Every United Methodist Church has the opportunity each June to work for justice and peace in their communities and around the world by giving through the Peace with Justice Sunday offering.
You and your congregation are invited to participate in this offering and be involved in a “hands on” approach to seek peace and justice!
Peace with Justice Offerings Make a Difference!
In December, the Conference Board of Church & Society fulfilled a commitment to award $3000 in Peace With Justice Funds to Nueva Ecija, a Home for Girls justice program in the Philippines. The van is needed to provide safe transport for girls seeking legal protection and services. Pastor Hubert Rigor shared these comments and a touching thank you letter from the Home’s director below:
“Through God’s grace, and with your kind assistance in facilitating the PNW Board of Church and Society Peace with Justice grant, together with some folks of Connell UMC, we raised enough fund to purchase the vehicle that the “Home for Girls” need, and was able to buy gifts for the 107 children. The children wrote their Christmas gift wish in advance, and we are able to provide exactly what they wish for.”
Dear Brethren in Christ,
A warm greeting of Peace and Love!
On behalf of the family of the Regional Home for Girls in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines and with a joyful heart, we would like to say our big “Thank You” for the financial help you have extended for the children under our care and protection and for granting their “wishes” this Christmas.
The financial help which we used to purchase a rebuilt minicab vehicle for bringing the sick girls to clinics/hospital, and or for attending to trials of court cases in the nearby Trial Courts will surely go a long way to giving hope and sweet smiles to our children-in care who have been inspired of your kindness, and to hope for a better life after the crisis they have experienced at their own home and in their community.
The children are also truly overjoyed upon receiving their “gifts” which have been their wishes to have since their young age. Words are not enough to express how thankful we are for bringing such wonderful smiles in the faces of the children we are caring for.
Again, thank you so much for the partnership you are now building which is very much valued and appreciated as we also want to serve humanity through this humble work of us with integrity.
May God richly bless you and everyone involved in this outreach work.
Very truly yours,
Emelita Cruz-Bolivar, Center Head
The Conference Board of Church & Society announces award recipients for applicants for the annual Peace with Justice Awards for 2017. A total of $4050 in grants was awarded to the following projects:
- Boundary County Victim Services SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) training
- Ellensburg UMC, Peace for Our Neighbors Clinic
- White Swan Wilbur Memorial UMC, Development of Workshop to focus on the Doctrine of Discovery’s impact on the relationship between the Pacific Northwest United Methodist Church and Northwest Indigenous Tribes
- First UMC Seattle, Shared Breakfast Program
- Goldendale UMC, Soup Kitchen/Community Meal Program
As God calls us to work together as a Conference Board of Church & Society, congregations, and community leaders with a vision for justice, may we celebrate this opportunity to share with others and make a difference in our communities, our nation, and our world!
Rev. Jim Davis serves as vice chairperson for the Pacific Northwest Conference Board of Church and Society.
