A Pentecost Prayer and Urgent Invitation

The promise of the Holy Spirit comes from Jesus with the gathering of “devout Jews of every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.” The bible records in the book of Acts 2:1 they had come together in one place.

Prayer to Stop the Attacks and Assaults on Jewish People

My prayer this Pentecost Sunday and season is that people of faith come together in one place of sacred solidarity and declare that hatred and violence, as was recently demonstrated with the killing of two Jewish American persons in Washington D.C., as well as the Boulder, Colorado assault against persons in a peaceful march to raise awareness for hostages held in Gaza, is an affront to all we believe and must be denounced.

The book of Proverbs (NIV) 6:16-17 says “There are six things that the Lord hates… haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood. The next verse lists a “heart that devises wicked plans.”

As Christians, we stand against all bigotry and hatred, including the rise of antisemitism. It’s important for Christians to advocate for the safety of Jewish people with an understanding of their history, as well as their present pain and suffering that compels us to resist evil in all of its manifestations.

As United Methodists, we have revised, passed and adopted resolutions that support the work to take a stand against antisemitism in the world today.

As we approach the day of Pentecost and recognize the gift of the Holy Spirit, we lament the tragedies in Washington D.C., Boulder, Colorado, and in the Holy Land. My prayer and hope is we walk with an urgent, new commitment to work for peace.

Another Attack of a Different Kind

A Federal Budget is a Moral document.

Congress is attacking Americans among us who rely on federally funded social programs the most. The current plan for the federal budget proposes to cut social benefits for those in need, in order to fund tax cuts for people with incomes over $500,000 per year.

The proposed budget cut of $800 billion to Medicaid and the Affordable care act, plus a $300 billion cut from The Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP), an important hunger program that helps Americans afford food during difficult times, is a travesty of justice.

According to the American Food Industry Association, forty-two million Americans rely on food assistance. Seventy percent of American voters support the SNAP program as a needed government hunger program for seniors, the disabled, and families with young children.

Yes. We should be alarmed that the proposed federal budget would deny as many as twenty million children in working families from receiving the full $2500 child tax credit because their parents who work in important, but low- paid jobs don’t earn enough.

Yes. The Church should speak out to prevent as many as fourteen million people losing health care. In addition to thousands of families in every state losing the financial support they need to put food on the table!

Actions You Can Take

As United Methodists, we Choose Grace over Greed.

• Contact Your Senator and Congressperson via this Action Alert
  
• Consider organizing in your local community with Churches to keep health care and food support benefits for those who need them most.
• If in the area, join Pentecost Prayer Vigil in Washington D.C., Tuesday, June 10th, to stand against the proposed federal budget that targets the most vulnerable among us. Register Here: https://tinyurl.com/3cxmt5ar

Be encouraged.

Bishop Julius C. Trimble
General Secretary
The General Board of Church and Society