Church Women United of Lane County

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Church women united made the papers http://registerguard.com/rg/life/lifestyles/34167242-74/bound-by-caring.html.csp
vine_nov19pdf_email.pdf

The mission that drives us . . .

Church Women United, an ecumenical movement of Christian women impassioned by the Holy Spirit, advocates on behalf of women and children throughout the world. We find unity in diversity, and we work for a world of peace and justice.

Church Women United of Lane County supports the National programs, priorities and goals, and celebrations.

Our monthly forums reflect the concerns of participants and explore issues of concern to local and state governments and to the citizens of Lane County,
Oregon.

Willamette Valley at rest. Photo by Mary Sharon Moore, 2010

A word from our President ...

Anne O'Brien, President

Anne O’Brien

You have probably noticed that our board and a group of advocates for the shelter-less have been spending a lot of our energies on trying to be a positive force in the crisis around people who are not only homeless/houseless, but also shelter-less. These are our neighbors most in need of compassion and help. You see them in tents or under tarps all over town.
Here is some of what Pope Francis has to say about these folks in his latest encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, On Fraternity and Social
Friendship. Though he doesn’t do his best on inclusive language he makes some wonderful compassionate statement about this issue that exists all over the world. Professor Anna Rowlands of the UK sees the core of this encyclical to be “a call for us to stop and find a way to look at the world in a different way...” Pope Francis is asking us to stop looking at the world with the eyes of indifference or cynicism.
He is asking us, she explained, “to stop and to begin to look again.” “His first call to us is simply to pay attention, to be with what is, and what is both the suffering and the difficulty of the world, but also its beauty and its grace,“ The document also calls for social action. We are trying! Many in Eugene are doing wonderful deeds to wipe out some of the suffering. The first step is to pay attention.
Make this the year that you do just a little more to help. You may be in a place where your contribution will be prayer. Thank you for that and for all you are doing.
Blessings in these times.
Anne.
I am praying for the whole world.
We can get through this with good sense and prayer.

JANUARY 2021
Welcome to a new year!
And with it comes the call to action and care. Here in Lane County the winter rains have added another layer to the ongoing crises and we witness the increasing suffering of those who are impacted the most. Without a doubt, our neighbors who have no shelter at all are feeling the worst blows. The rousting of the encampment at Washington/Jefferson/First Ave. on December 2, encapsulates many of the unsolved problems in our community. So after years and years of neglect and refusal to address the ever growing housing crisis, we have over 4,000 people in Lane County who are without the means to cope with this pandemic. The meager assistance that has in the past helped a little – Egan Warming Centers, various community dinners, indoor soup kitchens - are non-functional. The libraries, senior centers, bathrooms etc. are closed. Instead of an adequate safety net that can pull us through a crisis - we have failed. How are we to move forward? What are we called to do? This is the subject of this issue of the Vine. (view Register Guard Dec. 6 report)

JANUARY FORUM Friday, January 8
Our first (Zoom) meeting of 2021 Is a very special one. Our speaker will be Eric Richardson of NAACP in Lane County. He will be talking about Black Lives Matter and will have time for Questions. You do not want to miss this opportunity to hear and see (on Zoom) a leader of the BIPOC: Black, Indigenous, People of Color, community in our area. (9:30-11:15. Join at 9:15 if you'd like some chatting time. )

LOOKING FORWARD TO FEBRUARY
Our speaker is Rabbi Ruhi Sophia Motzkin Rubenstein;
rabbi of Temple Beth Israel in Eugene, speaking about Judaism. You may have read Rabbi Ruhi’s inspiring monthly Opinion pieces in the Register Guard.

See Forums for the programs for the rest of the year.