Dear Activist,
 
December 1, is #GivingTuesday.  
 
Today, join others around the globe in playing a major role in coming together and make a gift to support the important work of the California Council of Churches.  The spirit of giving is the pulse of who we are and what we do.  Your gift will support our ongoing role of educating ALL communities to pursue justice, equity and fairness in the treatment of all people, in particular those most often get excluded.  Your gift today sums up this quote by Teddy Kennedy: “For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.”
 
Gifts can vary in size, and every dollar will go toward our mission working for equality and justice for all.  After mourning the materialism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, please join in the generosity of #GivingTuesday and give a gift that will help make things better for your sisters and brothers throughout California.
 
Please click here to make your tax-deductible gift today

Please click here to watch a short video by the President of our Board of Directors, the Rev. Dr. Alan Jones.
 
Thank you for your unwavering support.  We still have work to do.
 
With deepest gratitude,

The Rev. Dr Rick Schlosser
Executive Director
 
P.S.  Another way you can support our work is to help us build our activist list.  Please forward this email to others you know who might support the work we do and invite them to join our activist list at http://www.churchimpact.org/take-action.html

Our #GivingTuesday team:  Board President, the Rev. Dr. Alan Jones, Administrative Assistant Robert “Stefan” White, videographer Cameron Lewis, and Director of Development Kendra Lewis.  Not pictured: Director of Public Policy Elizabeth “Libby” Sholes” and Executive Director Rev. Dr. Rick Schlosser.

Dear Friends:

Americans are preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving in commemoration of our nation’s first harsh days for those who came here as refugees.  We cannot ignore the irony that our nation’s people are simultaneously discussing whether we should slam our borders shut to the current group of refugees from Syria.
 
We hope each and every one of you has a wonderful holiday this November. We hope also that you have been wisely following the information on the care our nation and the United Nations take in making sure refugees are people of true need, not violence.
 
We now fear for the safety of the petitioners as well as the existing 750,000 refugees admitted to our shores since 9/11.  The voices of opposition to have begun scapegoating those from the Mid East and those who are Muslim no matter where they have come from.
 
This is entirely contrary to who we are as Americans.  When we have given in to fear, we have been ashamed.  We have no call to do that again.  No concentration camps. No ships sent away. No exclusion acts. No “markers” to distinguish people’s religion.  That is NOT who we are; it is not what we should ever do again.
 
This Thanksgiving, please remember the “lost and tempest tossed” who have found refuge here – our own families – and those desperate for safe haven today.  We will ask you to raise your voices in support of them soon, but for now, have a blessed Thanksgiving with everyone you love including in your celebration both gratitude for what we all have and prayers for everyone still in need.
 
Happy Thanksgiving!