We have grieved the tragic, violent death of George Floyd … we have watched protests … seen destruction take place … and named the racism that is among and within us.
This is how we as FUMC are responding:
• We name the sin of systemic racism and proclaim that discrimination in any form is evil and against the Gospel.
• We declare that ALL people are fully and equally created in the image of God
• As the sign at First UMC boldly proclaims: WE STAND FOR RACIAL JUSTICE & EQUALITY
Next Steps:
• We will make bold proclamations on our website, Facebook and other places that we stand for racial justice and equality
• We will continue to make masks to give to the NAACP to distribute and explore joining the NAACP as a congregation
• We will learn together. There is a book study for the community on the book, “White Fragility.” 50 people are already participating and all of us will have opportunity later in the summer
• We are starting a Social JUSTICE Action Committee:
A committee that is formulated specifically for this time, how we as individuals and as a congregation respond to racism in our society. All are welcome! Specifically invite youth/young adult voices! Jojo Coffin-Langdon will be the staff person to take the lead on this committee. Please email her if you would like to join. Families@FUMCduluth.com
• Be praying for love to guide us … for deep community to form us … for justice and equality to take root
First Familyis again being published as a printed and delivered newsletter! You can also still find it right here on our website. August’s edition will join years of archived newsletters. They are always there and they are searchable. We have also decided to activate all the links within First Family to allow you to simply click to bring you directly to websites and email addresses.
Take look, share the link, bookmark the page, or download to have on your computer if you wish. If you, or someone you know, would like to have First Family delivered, please email info@fumcduluth.com
During August we will continue to worship online on YouTube every Sunday morning at 10am. The service can be watched any time after 10am Sunday morning, but we encourage as many of us as possible to watch together at 10am as a community of faith. Please make worship a summer soul destination.
• August 9—The sermon is called, “If the Church Were Christian.” We will reflect on what it looks like to actually follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
• August 16—The theme is still in the works.
• August 23—The sermon is called, “Is God on Our Side?” We will reflect on the polarization in society and what we as a church can do about it.
• August 30—Pastoral intern Kelby Werner’s last Sunday on staff. We will commission him and thank him. The sermon title is, “Living in God’s Sandbox.” We will reflect on our role as earthkeepers.
Each weekend Pastor Jeanine sends you the link to worship. If ever you don’t get that email, there are other ways you can get to our worship video:
• Go to our church webpage. You will find the link on the homepage in the red and blue “Online Worship” box: https://fumcduluth.com/
• Go to YouTube.com and search for “First United Methodist Church Duluth Minnesota” and it will come up (you can also find past services there). If you “Subscribe” to the channel, you can receive notices and reminders, and it’s easy to find us from your own YouTube account.
Public school districts have been told to reserve money, intended to help low-income children, for private schools.
Public schools have faced three distinct challenges since the coronavirus pandemic began—scrambling to make sure that low-income children don’t go hungry, teaching students remotely who lack internet access and bracing for dramatically smaller budgets.
Congress tried to help in the $2 trillion economic relief package known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES Act, by designating $13.5 billion for public schools. The money was supposed to be distributed to school districts based on the number of low-income students they enroll.
A new directive from the U.S. Department of Education, however, tells districts to share far more of the money than expected with private and religious school students, even though fewer than 5% of those children are poor.
This is how we as FUMC are responding: