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How you can help congregations and survivors of California wildfires

11/30/2018

Dear Friends,

All the world's caring people have been overwhelmed and horrified by the wildfires decimating both Northern and Southern California. Many people are asking how they can help, and our denominational members are pretty overwhelmed with phone calls and offers of assistance. We are trying to give them some relief by reaching out to you with that information.

We have organized a list of denominational resources for our member congregations whose churches have been damaged or destroyed in the two California wildfires. We have added denominations or local churches we know are helping survivors, a huge task since there are over 10,000 homeless individuals and families in Northern California alone.

Online donations are pretty simple; where denomination are collecting for fire relief nationally, you may designate the area you wish to help, even a particular congregation. If you want to help individual families, you may mail gift cards for any store to the denominational offices with a note saying they are for survivors of the fires. The staff will get them into the hands of those doing outreach and assistance to displaced people.

We caution against sending material items. Congregations are overwhelmed and have space limitations. Gift cards let people buy the things they need without the congregational members having to sort, store, and distribute items. They aren't impersonal but welcomed. If you want to send toys for the holidays, please check with any recipient congregation first.

Below is the list of denominational administrative resources to which you may send fire relief donations. It is not exhaustive and complete since we don't know who all is doing outreach and support in surrounding communities, but we do know these are our member denominations in the area plus allies we wish to help as well.

United Methodist Churches

UMC Cal-Nevada Conference
1350 Halyard Dr.
West Sacramento, CA 95891
916-374-1500
Disaster relief – name Paradise UMC or leave it general
Donate here

UMC CA-Pacific Conference
110 Euclid Ave.
Pasadena CA 91102-6006
626-796-7297
Disaster Relief online or by check
Donate here

Episcopalian

Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
Sacramento, CA
Donate to disaster relief here

Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
840 Echo Park Avenue
Los Angeles 90026
213-482-2040
Note - the diocesan web page is under construction. This referral will help get the donation where it is needed. Donate here

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
9260 Alcosta Blvd. Suite C-22
San Ramon CA 94583-4143
925-556-9900
Donate here

Evangelical Lutheran Church of America

Sierra Pacific Synod, ELCA
9985 Folsom Blvd.
Sacramento CA 95827
800-275-3522
Lutheran Social Services – Donate here
(Designations are at the bottom – one is for Paradise Lutheran, but you may write in “wildfire” both online and in the memo line of your check. Checks should be sent to the Concord CA office. The address is given on this web site.)

Southwest CA Synod, ELCA
1300 E. Colorado St.
Glendale, CA 91205
818-507-9591
Donate here

United Church of Christ Congregational

United Church of Christ (Congregational)
Attn. Financial Services
700 Prospect, 6th Floor
Cleveland, OH 44115
Donate here
Under the “Payment” section you may direct your donation to California, Northern or Southern California, Paradise, or any other specific site.

Church of the Brethren

Church of the Brethren
PO Box 219
La Verne CA 91750-0219
909-406-5367
Donate here

Unitarian Universalist

Unitarian Universalist Association
24 Farnsworth Street
Boston MA 02210-1409
617-742-2100
Donate here
Disaster Relief specification in “comments”

African Methodist Episcopal

Bethel AME
821 Linden St.
Chico CA 95928
530-774-2600 (phone and FAX)
We have confirmed that Bethel AME is helping with relief efforts and needs support. However, they have no online access. The phone is usually set on FAX, so that's one way to contact them, but you may send checks or gift cards to them at this address with a note stating your wish to help.

Presbyterian USA

Presbytery of Sacramento – Camp Fire Relief Fund
9983 Folsom Blvd.
Sacramento CA 95827
Donate here

Pacific Presbytery
Wildfire Fund
6323 W. 80th Street
Los Angeles CA 90045
310-670-5076
Donate here

Whatever you can do, whatever you can give will be so appreciated. The loss of homes and the loss of life is beyond comprehension. We thank you in advance for your concern for the people of these stricken areas. Blessings to all who reach out in compassion and love.

We do ask that you keep this list. We fear it will be needed again. We pray it is no time soon and never again so devastating.

Thank you and best wishes for Christmas and a much better New Year.

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Dealing with violence in our congregations - a training

11/28/2018

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Dear Friends,

In the wake of the horrific shooting at Tree of Life synagogue in Pennsylvania, regional districts of the Department of Justice are offering "Active Shooter" trainings to help give congregations some tools to improve members' safety.

The half day seminar will be December 11 from 9:30 am to noon at the Kennedy Learning Center inside the Robert Matsui Federal Courthouse, 501 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.

The deadline for registration is this coming Monday, December 3.

You may bring up to 3 people from your congregation. You may register here.

Registration is NOT complete until you have received a confirmation email.

Please arrive at 9:00 am. Bring photo ID since this is a secure facility, and you will need to pass through a metal detector and show your ID. This will give you time to process through security and be directed to the Kennedy Learning Center room.

While none of us every wishes to be in a violent situation, we are living in perilous times with horrible events unfolding far too often. If we cannot be at ease in our places of worship, we need to take steps to assure our improved safety.

This event is being cosponsored by numerous law enforcement agencies, local, state, and federal and with the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region plus the Interfaith Council of Greater Sacramento.

Please consider attending this important training. And then let us all practice peace so it is never needed.

Thank you.

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Steps We Can Take Toward a More Hopeful Society

11/9/2018

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Dear Friends,

In the recent weeks we have seen an increase in stunning violence against our fellow humans. From the horrors of the Pittsburgh shootings to the threats against asylum seekers to yet another mass murder at a neighborhood nightclub, violence has touched millions of lives.

What can we do?

We offer a few steps you can take, from the fairly easy to more complex, to stop the angry actions and open peace and kindness bringing more sun in a dark and stormy world.

First, from a former Board member, Joan Leslie, something you can do quickly and easily. Following the horrors at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA, her church set up a table during coffee hour where each person could write a note of sympathy and support. The address is Tree of Life Congregation, 5898 Wilkins Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217. If you wish to address the note to the Rabbi, he is Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers. Otherwise general notes to the entire congregation are fine. Be prepared for the unfortunate “next time” this sort of thing happens to a group; it will occur. Stand ready to offer comfort and compassion.

Second, consider reviving our post-911 study guide, Building Bridges of Understanding and beginning a new discussion on religious tolerance. You may find the guide here . Within your own congregation you may have safe discussions about other faiths to learn what’s true – and what is not – about our fellow human beings’ faith perspectives.

Third, consider opening discussions in your community with “the other”, anyone who is not part of your congregation or neighborhood. Perhaps, as Pioneer Congregational UCC did in Sacramento, your minister and a local imam can trade pulpits to share insights into what we have in common, how we differ and why. Community dinners (being mindful of dietary laws for others, Jews and Muslims in particular) bring people together.

Fourth, reach out to groups serving those embattled – immigrants, felons, the poor, Black communities beset by police brutality and gun violence, etc. – to see how you can help. How you can become a voice for their justice by using your resources.

Fifth, hold community forums on issues within your area. Good guidelines can come from the National Issues Forum that helps develop discussions, not debates, by shaping presentations based on multiple options for growth and change, not just two sides on each concern. They have guidebooks on key concerns such as immigration and many other issues. You may find them here.

Whatever you do and however you choose to do it, bring your light and humanity to the endeavor. The only way to cast out darkness is to be the sun. Let the healing rays bring greater peace.

Thank you.

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How you can help congregations and survivors of California wildfires

Dealing with violence in our congregations - a training

Steps We Can Take Toward a More Hopeful Society

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