THE  SUNDIAL

Volume XVIII      No. 4                                                                                                             December 2007

 

                                            LOOKING AHEAD TO 2008

 

Celebration.......................................................... Month.................. Location

World Day of Prayer............................................ March................... TBA

E.I.A.   (Education)............................................... April..................... Aldersgate UM Church

May Friendship Day & E.I.A. (Initiative)............. May...................... First Congregational UCC, Fairport

Picnic & E.I.A. (Action)....................................... June...................... Brighton Town Park

Day of Reflection................................................. October................ Greece Baptist Church

                                                                                                                                                                       

                                             Details will be printed each month in The Sundial.

 

 

 

 

                                                      Human Rights Issue

 

Church Women United Darfur Alert     

ATherefore, be it resolved that CWU: Protest the denial of rights of the individual in the U.S.A., South Africa, Vietnam, Czechoslovakia, or the Middle East or elsewhere when discriminatory laws, military might, or political power are used as means to suppress the rights of persons and nations.@ CWU Social Policy Book 1941‑2004, page 132

 

                                         Take Action for United Nations Mission in Darfur, Sudan

 

CALL 1‑800‑GENOCIDE to reach your members of Congress or the White House.CURGE FULL FUNDING FOR THE U.S.=s fair share for the UN MISSION to DARFUR    HR-2764.  For more information, go to:  http://www.1800genocide.com/index.html

 

The United States has urged the international community to take action to end the ongoing genocide in Darfur.  The United Nations has taken up the challenge, and is aiming to deploy the most complex and logistically difficult peacekeeping mission ever.  The UN is working hard to get the resources it needs for this mission and to put peacekeepers on the ground in Darfur; but Congress has yet to approve full funding for the U.S.' fair share of this mission and decisions on this funding will be made this week.

 

SAMPLE LETTERC(Fax the letter! Since time is of the essence!Cyou can obtain fax numbers using the 1‑800 number aboveCcall your rep or senators office!)  Contact the CWU office, 342-2790, for the sample letter.

 

Sincerely, Patricia Burkhardt, Church Women United, Legislative Office, 100 Maryland Ave NE RM 100

Washington DC 20002, 202 544 8747, fax 202 544 9133

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sundial                                                                -2-                                                         December 2007

 

                                                          CWU Short Subjects

 

 

 

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The office will be closed for the Christmas Holiday from Thursday, December 20, 2007,

to Tuesday, January 2, 2008.

 

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Thank You

Mary Discher & Alison Wilder for assembling the November Sundial.

 

 

CWU Wish List

Volunteers to help assemble the Sundial each month

 

 

 

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85th Anniversary Album

The 85th Photo Album is in the office.  Please drop in and see all the great pictures of a fabulous day!

 

Letter of Thanks

We received the following letter from the Community Food Cupboard of Rochester, Inc........AThank you for your gift of $1,000........Your generous support of the Cupboard truly makes a difference in the lives of the people we serve.  Last year The Cupboard distributed an estimated $42,885 worth of nutritious food.  As the numbers of family referrals and senior households (many with children and grandchildren) continue to rise, your gift enables us to provide this much needed help to everyone who asks.  Sincerely, Dolores Tyler, Chair, Board of Directors@

 

 

 

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Many times, we have received knitted 7" x 9" blocks for afghans, made by Mrs. Jean Meeker, of Naples, New York.  Following are excerpts from her obituary printed in the Sunday, October 21, 2007, Messenger Post, written by Julie Sherwood:

......AJean Meeker: >She was the epitome of strength.......Mrs. Meeker died Oct. 4.  She was 84. .....Mrs. Meeker=s son, Robert, said his mother always kept busy knitting sweaters and blankets to give family members and donate to those in need. ....Rev. Karl Warrington said >She was a great sounding board.  She=d always give a tidbit of wisdom.@  Mrs. Meeker served as choir director at what is now Trinity Federated Church in Naples, NY.

 

Warm Up Rochester

This fall, we have received many afghans which will soon be delivered to various organizations.  Many thanks to the knitters from Irondequoit UCC, Lake Avenue Baptist, Greece Baptist, Bethany Presbyterian, Webster Presbyterian Church and Doris Van Vechten, who made a total of 65 afghans.  They will be greatly appreciated.

 

 

Note:  There are no Board of Directors= Meetings in December 2007 or January, 2008.  The next Board meeting will be on Friday, February 15, 2008, at 9:30.  The Executive Committee will meet every month.

 

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CWU Church Visit

Greece United Methodist Church, Women=s Installation Service on Sunday, January 27, 2008, at 10:45.  The speaker will be Gloria Ulterino.

 

 

 

 

       Kids= Korner News

 

NCADD-RA Raises Awareness About Underage Gambling

A Rochester study of youth in grades 6-12, conducted by the National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence-Rochester Area (NCADD-RA) in 2006, showed that 53% of those surveyed gambled in the previous year.  Other studies show the prevalence of gambling on college campuses is also high, about 75%.

Problem gambling is often referred to as the >hidden addiction= because there are no outward, physical signs of a problem.  Some of the risks associated with problem gambling include financial difficulties, attempted suicide, substance abuse, depression and anxiety.

As a part of this public awareness effort, representatives from De Paul=s NCADD-RA will conduct outreach in schools and youth organizations throughout Rochester.

For more information or to schedule someone to speak about the risks of underage gambling call National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence-Rochester Area, at (585) 426-8000 or visit www.nydas.org.

 

 

Neighborhood Santa Party

with gifts, at Cameron Community Ministries, 48 Cameron Street, Friday, December 14, 2007.  Every year Cameron Community Ministries gives out wrapped toys donated by the Kiwanis Club, area churches, work groups and individuals.

For more information, please call 253-2697.

 

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                            COMMUNITY EVENTS

 

Do You Know What Actually Happened on 9/11?

Film Showing: ALoose Change Final Cut@ at 7 pm, Tuesday, December 18, 2007, at the Cinema Theatre, Goodman and Clinton Avenue, Rochester, NY

Jason Burmas, of Louder Than Words Productions, will be present to explain how this film was made and how Dick Cheney tried to stop its release.

Wheel chair accessible.  Tickets $8.00.  Parking at Wilson Farms on Clinton Avenue

Sponsored by: Rochester 9/11 Truth and Patriots of Western NY    Contact: Jean Barlow, 119 Brook St., Hilton, NY 14468 Tele: 585-392-5432, e-mail: salmonvalley@att.net

 

 

Save the Date

GRCC Annual Meeting Monday, January 28 11-3 @ Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, 141 Adams Street

 

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Free Spaghetti Dinner

Tuesday, January 1, 2008, New Year=s Day, at Covenant United Methodist Church, 1124 Culver Road.  Serving time is 2-5 pm.  All are welcome.  No reservations are needed.

 

SOA Film Festival

WHAT:      Documentaries about the infamous School of the Americas (SOA) in Ft. Benning, GA, with commentary from John Honeck, who will talk about ongoing efforts to close down the SOA.

WHO:        Sponsored by the Rochester Committee on Latin America (ROCLA)

WHEN:      Wednesday, January 2, 7 PM

WHERE:    Downtown Presbyterian Church; 121 N. Fitzhugh St. (wheelchair‑accessible, looped for people with hearing loss)

WHY:        (from the SOA website): The School of the Americas (SOA), in 2001 renamed the "Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation," is a combat training school for Latin American soldiers, located at Fort Benning, Georgia.

QUESTIONS: Peter or Gail Mott at 381-5606

 

Over its 59 years, the SOA has trained over 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics.  These graduates have consistently used their skills to wage a  war against their own people. Among those targeted by SOA graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders,  and others who work for the rights of the poor.  Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, "disappeared," massacred, and forced into refugee by those trained at the School of Assassins.

 

VIDEOS ,AJourney to Awareness ‑ Crossing the Line@ B In 2006 a group of Richmond High School students produced the documentary "Journey for Justice ‑ Crossing the Line" about the School of the Americas and their trip to the November Vigil to close it down. DVD (30 min.)  ,AConvictions Prisoners of Conscience@ B Prisoners of Conscience focuses on some of the 200 SOA protesters who collectively have received 80 years of prison time for their non‑violent civil disobedience.  (20 min.) ,AGuns and Greed@ B Makes the connection between sweatshops, the globalization of greed and SOA  violence in Latin America.  Includes footage from Latin America and the November vigil. (20 min.) ,AThe New Patriots@ B U.S. Military Veterans speak out about terrorism, patriotism and their opposition to the SOA/WHISC. 2002 Production (18 minutes). ,ASchool of the Americas: An Insider Speaks Out@ B Former SOA instructor Major Joseph Blair reveals inside information. As an Army Veteran for 20 years, with 2 tours in Vietnam, he speaks as a credible voice for the closing of the SOA. (16 min.)

 

 

                                             Merry Christmas

                                      and

                            Happy New Year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sundial                                                                -5-                                                         December 2007

 

From The President

This year the Annual Tea, hosted by Rev. Sue Forsyth, was held earlier than usual in

hopes of avoiding other celebrations during this busy season.  As always, Sue was a gracious hostess to CWU.  The fellowship was wonderful, as well as all the cookies, fruit cake, and teas. As we fellow-shipped and sang carols, it was evident that the spirit of the Christmas season was being ushered in.  Thank you, Sue.

In the spirit of celebrating and sharing gifts we receive, let us remember that every gift of the season should come wrapped in the love of Jesus, the gift no one else could give. It is my prayer that the miracles and blessings of the season will fill your hearts with loving kindness and happiness throughout the coming year.

                                                          Audrey Davidson, President