July 2017

IMMIGRATION

Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice's Faith Leader Summer Luncheon
Community Church of Christ
5170 NW Five Oaks Drive
Hillsboro, Oregon 
Tuesday July 18; 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.  


1ST WORLD DAY OF THE POOR

On June 13, the Feast Day of Saint Anthony of Padua, Patron Saint of the Poor, Pope Francis issued a papal message for the 1st World Day of the Poor: “Let us love, not with words but with deeds.” 
The World Day of the Poor will be observed on the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time (in 2017, this will be November 19). Pope Francis wrote that "Whenever we set out to love as Jesus loved, we have to take the Lord as our example; especially when it comes to loving the poor “He chided those who "may think of the poor simply as the beneficiaries of our occasional volunteer work, or of impromptu acts of generosity that appease our conscience." He encouraged us to view poverty broadly: the "faces marked by suffering, marginalization, oppression, violence, torture and imprisonment, war, deprivation of freedom and dignity, ignorance and illiteracy, medical emergencies and shortage of work, trafficking and slavery, exile, extreme poverty and forced migration….[those] exploited by base interests, crushed by the machinations of power and money. … [and] poverty born of social injustice, moral degeneration, the greed of a chosen few, and generalized indifference!"


2017 COLLINS LECTURE (EARTH CARE INSTITUTE)
"WOUNDED EARTH, WOUNDED HUMANITY: GOD'S CALL TO CLIMATE JUSTICE AS A CIVIL RIGHT."
To be held at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 147 NW 19th Ave, Portland on  November 2, 7pm.  We will explore how climate change disproportionately affects the world's most vulnerable people, triggering the loss of livelihoods, insecurity, forced migration and poor health. Polluted air and water, weather disasters and drought bring devastation to all, particularly those living in poverty. Guest lecturers will be The Rev. Canon Sally Bingham, president and founder of Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) and canon for the environment in the Episcopal Diocese of California, and The Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley, civil rights leader, climate change activist and retired pastor of the historic Providence Missionary Baptist Church of Atlanta. 


TOWN HALL ADVOCACY
Concerned about the environment and our lack of participation in the Paris Climate Agreement – attend a town hall this summer and let your local legislator know how you feel. Use the attached guide to prepare for your advocacy. 
UPCOMING TOWN HALLS
Ron Wyden/ Suzanne Bonamici
Washington County town hall 
Jul 6 2017 2:00PM
Conestoga Recreation & Aquatic Center 
9985 SW 125th Ave
Beaverton, OR


ADVOCACY: A PARISH OPPORTUNITY
Pope Francis: "Among our tasks as witnesses to the love of Christ is that of giving a voice to the cry of the poor, so that they are not abandoned to the laws of an economy that seems at times to treat people as mere consumers."
Give a voice and advocate. Involve your ministries and your parish to speak up on issues important to the Church.  Read more


POPE FRANCIS CENTER FOR JUSTICE AND CHARITY
In his 1979 address to the 34th General Assembly of the United Nations, Saint John Paul II enumerated some of the most important human rights that are universally recognized. His long list included: 
    • the right to food, clothing, housing, sufficient health care, rest and leisure
    • the right to property and work, to adequate working conditions and a just wage
     • the right to freedom of movement, to internal and external migration
As the poor and the homeless, the immigrant and the refugee, those suffering from mental and physical disabilities struggle to have these basic human rights, the local Church realized that now is the appropriate time to amplify its voice for the voiceless: the Pope Francis Center for Justice and Charity.
 
The Pope Francis Center for Justice and Charity is not a physical structure. It is a collaboration between Catholic Charities of Oregon, the Archdiocese of Portland, and El Programa Hispano with the goal to collaborate with local non-Catholic partners and Catholic organizations throughout the State, and parishes throughout the Archdiocese.
 The Center will live its Baptismal Call by staying true to compassion, mercy and justice.



LOOKING TO LIVE THE WORKS OF MERCY

July 4  St. Elizabeth of Portugal: Patroness of Peace
•  Bear patiently with those who do us ill

 July 11  St. Benedict: Patron Saint of Community
•  Bear patiently with those who do us ill
 
 July 14  St. Kateri Tekakwitha: Patroness of Environment
•  Forgive Offenses
   
July 29 St. Martha: Patroness of Cooks
•  Feed the Hungry

 July 30  UN World Day against Trafficking in Persons
•  Comfort the Afflicted
________________________________________
  August 7  St. Cajetan: Patron Saint of Workers and the Unemployed
•  Counsel the Doubtful
 
 August 8  St. Lawrence: Patron Saint of the Poor
•  Feed the Hungry
 
 August 14  St. Maximilian Kolbe: Patron Saint of Political Prisoners
•  Visit the Imprisoned


Town Hall 101

1. Research your Member of Congress. How have they voted in the past on legislation? Are they a person of faith? Who funds your Members? Do these organizations share your values? Being informed will allow you to question a poor voting record, or to reach them in a focused and effective way. 
2. Be informed on the issues. What bills are before the legislators now? 
3. Prepare your questions in advance.
    • Don’t: Ask a yes or no question.
    • Do: Speak from your experience and let them know you are a person of faith.
    • Do: Ask a question about a specific piece of legislation. If you ask about a piece of legislation be prepared to quickly explain what it is; 
    • Do: Ask a question about a political action.  Asking about an action, for example: “What have you done and what will you do to strengthen environmental regulations?” can help you get a specific and unscripted answer from your legislator.
4. Invite others to attend the meeting with you! Large groups make a statement.

HEALTH CARE ADVOCACY RALLY

What: “It’s Not Over” health care Rally       
When: Thursday, July 6th, 2017 from 10:30AM-11:30AM
Where: Eastside federal complex- 911 NE 11th Ave., Portland OR 97232 
Who: Senator Wyden, Senator Merkley, and Congresswoman Bonamici, and Portland social justice groups
Why: We want to send a strong message to Senators in DC, they are trying to make massive changes to the ACA by passing a bill that would take health care away from millions of people all to give the very wealthy a tax break. Many people affected are the most vulnerable in our country: elders, children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.
Meet at Beaverton Creek MAX station at 9:30 to join the HT Social Justice group

100 BY '50 (100% renewable energy by 2050) Introduced in the Senate by Jeff Merkley

America is home to innovative entrepreneurs and industries that have tackled many challenges in our nation’s history. We have already seen American businesses rise to the challenge of climate change, from innovators of electric cars to state-of-the-art solar manufacturing. We are seeing proven technologies in the market that can transition our country to 100 percent clean and renewable energy by 2050 while creating millions of jobs in the process. Now all we need is the political will to get there.
The 100 by '50 Act lays out a set of policies that will not only make a transition to 100 percent clean and renewable energy possible, but ensure a just transition for workers, and low-income and disadvantaged communities.
The 100 by '50 Act is landmark legislation to combat climate change and prevent some of its most serious consequences.  Click here to download a short summary of the bill.

METRO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RECYCLING - SUMMER SCHEDULE

Saturday, July 8
Intel, Aloha campus
3585 SW 198th Ave.
Beaverton, OR 97078
 
Saturday, July 15
Hillsboro High School
3285 SE Rood Bridge Road
Hillsboro, OR 97123
 
Saturday, August 5
Southwest Bible Church
14605 SW Weir Road
Beaverton, OR 97007
 
Saturday, August 19
Deer Creek Elementary School
16155 SW 131st Ave.
Tigard, OR 97224

Saturday, September 9
Century High School
2000 SE Century Blvd.
Hillsboro, OR 97123
 
Saturday, September 23
Southwest Church of Christ
9725 SW Durham Road
Tigard, OR 97224
 
Saturday, September 30
Forest Grove High School
1401 Nichols Lane
Forest Grove, OR 97116
 
Saturday, October 14
Intel, Ronler Acres campus
2501 NW 229th Ave.
Hillsboro, OR 97124
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Saturday, November 11
Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue
3608 SW 209th Ave.
Aloha, OR 97078

  
What to bring:
paints and stains
pesticides and poisons
cleaners and disinfectants
thinners and solvents
sharps (medical syringes)
batteries
aerosols
automotive products
thermometers
pool and spa chemicals
hobby chemicals