We, as United Methodists, are called to make an impact in communities where our brothers and sisters in Christ lack the resources or tools to reach their God-given potentials. Our gifts are part of building beloved community through faith-based volunteer programs, community developers and programs that work with at-risk teens. For more than half a century, United Methodists have observed this churchwide special Sunday in recognition of the message Jesus demonstrated during his life: Each of God’s children is equally important. In order to contribute, please send your check to the church made out to the church, and indicate on the memo line Human Relations Sunday Offering. Thank you for your loving gift to help those in need.
We will be honoring Human Relations Sunday on February 7, 2021.
Donate online here, with the message “Human Relations Sunday Offering:” https://www.peterboroughumc.org/inside_worship/online-giving/
Learn more here: https://www.umc.org/en/content/human-relations-day-sunday-ministry-article
When you support Human Relations Day, your gift builds community leadership and resources. In Chicago, churches are in partnership to engage in community-based alternatives to juvenile incarceration. In the Philippines,
organizations strengthen family resiliency to address substance abuse, particularly with those who are living in the Manila North Cemetery. And in West Congo, United Methodist Churches are working with ecumenical partners to provide pastoral support and advocacy for children and youth who are in prison.
Buena Vista United Methodist Church’s slogan is “Building beloved community.”
Among the programs of the Alameda, California, church is a partnership with the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (IM4HI) to engage in joint immigration advocacy. Members have co-sponsored “Know Your Rights” trainings, lobbied for human rights legislation and attended monthly protest vigils on behalf of incarcerated immigrants. Working with IM4Hl and its East Bay affiliate enables the church to network and advocate with other congregations.
The church’s immigration committee in 2016 began its accompaniment ministry and provided temporary housing to the Alva-Garcia family from Guatemala. That allowed the family to establish residency in Alameda and to welcome other family members entering the country seeking asylum.
Lynette Lee, chair of the Buena Vista Community Institute, and Alton Chinn, the immigration committee’s new chair, want to increase participation and indigenous leadership in the ministry and do more to protect and support immigrants.
According to Chinn, “COVID-19 doesn’t change our commitment to this ministry.”
Please write your check to your local church with “HRD” on the memo line and mail to the church or give online with the message “Human Relations Day.”