THE DOVE. From the Pastor THIS MONTH. Council Meeting July 7. Child Care Meeting July 17, 7:00 pm. Dear Christ Ascension,

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1 THE DOVE From the Pastor In the summer of 2019, the ELCA will meet in Churchwide Assembly to discuss, deliberate, and vote on our 13 th Social Statement. This one on Women and Justice. In anticipation of this important work, I am beginning a series of newsletter articles on the Social Statements of the ELCA (of which there are conveniently 12). This month, let us reflect on A Social Statement on: Human Rights and Immigration. If you would like more information, you can find all of the Social Statements of the ELCA at elca.org/socialstatements Dear Christ Ascension, While the ELCA currently has only twelve social statements statements that are researched, debated, and approved by a vote of the churchwide assembly there are many more social messages that have been composed by the council of bishops and adopted by the Church Council of the ELCA. This month, we will look at two of these social messages: Human Rights, adopted in 2017, and Immigration, adopted in Though written nearly twenty years apart, both documents address related topics: the Church s call to respond when People are treated as suspicious or are brutalized simply because of their gender, race, ethnicity or religious beliefs. In preparing to write this article, reading both the 1998 and 2017 documents, I have been simultaneously disheartened by the ways the world has not changed in twenty years and yet uplifted by the Church s continued commitment to serve the vulnerable and oppressed. The message on immigration begins by lifting up the ways we are deeply and historically connected to immigrants and immigration: We recognize and rejoice that our church along with our country continues to change with the steady arrival of newcomers in the United States We celebrate the liturgy in 33 languages As members of a church with immigrants and with roots in immigrant churches in a nation of immigrants, we are familiar with old and new stories about newcomers. THIS MONTH. Council Meeting July 7 Child Care Meeting July 17, Book Group July 16, Movie Night July 23, Feasting on the Word Wednesdays The ELCA, its predecessor bodies, and other Lutheran denominations have a vibrant history of hospitality for refugees. Following World War II, when one out of every six Lutherans in the world was a refugee or displaced person, Lutherans, with the participation of 6,000 congregations, resettled some 57,000 refugees in the United States. In the decade after the fall of Saigon in 1975, Lutheran congregations sponsored over 50,000 refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. During the 1980s various congregations provided sanctuary for persons whose lives were endangered by wars in Central America Refugees are persons who have been forced to leave their country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution. Through Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, in partnership

2 From the Pastor cont. with the federal government, Lutherans help to resettle more than 10,000 refugees yearly (75,000 are allowed to enter the United States, 1998). But the issue of refugees, asylum seekers, and immigration is not only one that appears after major world events. The message on immigration references thousands of persons, including children and women, are in detention ; they are often isolated from pastoral and legal services and subject to abuse and neglect. It also lifts up the specific needs of unaccompanied minors and reiterates a commitment to advocacy which continues to insist that family reunification should be the primary objective of immigration laws. Specifically relating to the border with Mexico, it notes: Whatever the policy, border enforcement should always respect the human dignity of persons attempting to cross the border. And yet, twenty years later, our country continues to struggle with these issues. Children are taken from their parents, those in detention are not guarantees respect, and our politicians focus more on politics than on human rights. Which brings me to looking at the 2017 message on human rights. This message begins by calling the Church to remember God s gifts of grace and appearance in the most unlikely of places: The ELCA teaches that this gracious God grants humankind the gifts of agency, reason, and spirit, directing it to help order and shape creation so that all may continue to flourish As Christ on the cross did not lose his dignity, but in fact revealed himself fully in vulnerability, every human who is being mistreated retains the image of God that confers dignity. A society should not deny a person s dignity for any reason. This is true even if that person has acted maliciously and treated others inhumanely. God s gift of dignity is immutable, indivisible and inseparable from our being. As people of God, we are called to speak up for those who have been silenced, to create spaces where the oppressed can be heard in safety, and to do whatever we can to bring about justice and peace for all. As named in the social statement Church in Society: A Lutheran Perspective, we as Christians are called, individually and corporately, to bear the responsibility of working for human rights, justice and peace. This includes standing up to those in power when they do not care for the human rights of all. When the laws of a society do not order society for the good of all or promote justice, the members of this church are compelled in their faith to address those shortcomings. This call is one that we are freed to respond to by the death and resurrection of Christ. Referring to Martin Luther s Freedom of a Christian, the statement reads: Christians, having been freed from the anxiety that their salvation depends on obeying every law perfectly, find power to fulfill their responsibilities in the world through seeking justice for the neighbor [including through] prayer for governments and efforts to hold them accountable, as well as supporting international cooperation and paying careful attention to the actions of the U.S. government. What can we do in our local context to address the needs of immigrants, refugees, and any who suffer from loss of human rights? I recognize that much of this article has been large quotes from these two social messages. One reason for this is the importance of hearing from these statements as they have been written. Another reason, perhaps more impactful, is the fact that these are difficult issues, both in their complexity and in their emotional impact. It is heart-breaking to hear the stories and facts of how immigrants are being treated at our borders and how those

3 From the Pastor cont. who look or sound different are being treated all over our country. Race and language should not be cause for suspicion or questioning by immigration officials. And yet, we are hearing again and again of these incidents. The ELCA has made these statements. As a congregation of the ELCA, we are called to support them, and to find the ways in which we can support Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service and other ministries that work for the dignity of all. So, let s have a conversation about how we can support LIRS and others in their work in this day. Do you know of any local needs? Any larger organizations we can work with? Let us join with the ELCA in making a stand for the rights and dignity of all people. Blessings this July, Pastor Jay ELCA Youth Gathering Info.

4 We are Partnering with: Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network & Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting To support local families as they move toward permanent housing Sign up to provide and serve a dinner to families in need OR Volunteer to be an overnight host Please sign up & join us The Week of July 15th Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting 20 E. Mermaid Lane, Philadelphia Contact: Sandy Valentine to volunteer sandykvalentine@gmail.com

5 Book Group Join us on Monday, June 18 at 7:00 pm in Kimes Hall to discuss The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal. Everyone is welcome. An extraordinarily moving memoir and detective story. Ways to Give to Christ Ascension! 1. Sign up for automatic debit program, Simply Giving. Contact church office for Enrollment Form. 2. Contribute online via the DONATE tab on our website: christascension.org/ donate/ 3. Download the July Celebrations Baptisms Nathan Hauptmann July 1 Elaine Gerhart July 24 Birthdays July 6 Liliana Cammarata July 12 Sara Pinney July 22 Paula Rivera July 24 Tricia Hauptmann July 29 Desmond Baselice

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8 July 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Independence Day :30-12 noon Council Meeting Feasting on the Word :30-11:30 am Book Group 17 Child Care Meeting 18 Feasting on the Word :30-11:30 am Feasting on the Word :30-11:30 am Movie Night

9 Call for Building Improvement Fund Please consider donating to our Building Improvement Fund. This fund provides for upkeep and repairs for our three buildings. Current project is parsonage interior painting, bathroom renovations, and cleaning. Mark your donation Improvement Fund. Thank you! Memorial Mission Fund Gifts can be given to the Memorial Mission Fund anytime in memory of our beloved dead. Church council will have discretionary oversight of this account and use funds only for purposes that directly advance our mission, ministries and public witness. Thank you for supporting the congregation s mission in this way. Contact Us Give us a call or send us an for more information Christ Ascension 8300 Germantown Ave Philadelphia, PA (215) office@christascension.org Visit us on the web at and on Facebook: facebook.com/calcphilly The Dove: Sharing the Good News at CALC Christ Ascension Lutheran Church 8300 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, PA PLACE STAMP HERE A Reconciling in Christ congregation of the ELCA Christ Ascension A Church United in Faith, Hope and Love Schedule Summer through Labor Day Please submit your news directly to office@christascension.org. Deadline is the 20th of each month.