Ministry is Patriotic: Support Returning Troops

V.A. Chaplains & Gold Star Mother Speak on Supporting Our Troops & their Families

Learn from V.A. chaplains and veteran's families how churches can support returning vets and loved ones of those who have died. No matter what we think of the war, the soldiers and their families deserve our pastoral care and loving support for healing and wholeness.

There are two opportunities to attend this event:

Thursday, May 22, 12-1:30pm, at the First Presbyterian Church, 49 N. Fourth St. in San Jose;

Tuesday, May 27, 5:30-6:30pm, at the Congregational Community Church, 1112 Bernardo Ave. in Sunnyvale.


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News from Council of Churches Santa Clara County (councilofchurches-scc.org)

Loud and Clear in an Election Year

Learn What Can & Can't You Do, and What Should You Know!
Friday, June 6, 11:30am-2pm

Speaker Holly Minch was the lead editor of the SPIN Project's book with this very title. She will offer 2 hours of her time guiding us through this very important issue, giving examples, exploring various situations, and answering questions. Confidence and clarity will help us all be more faithful in our prophetic witness in the months ahead. Early registration is encouraged!
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Scrapbook - Photos & Notes From Recent Events

Catch-up or reflect on recent Council events by checking out our scrapbook! Photos and notes from recent council events will be posted in this brand new section of the Council website. Recent scrapbook "pages" include incredible phtotos from the Eyes Wide Open Exhibit in Palo Alto and an Earth Day Service at First Unitarian Church of San Jose.

 


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National Affordable Housing Trust Fund: Act Now to Support Affordable Housing!

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.” (Luke 4:18, from the NRSV)


The Economic Justice Group of the Council of Churches has recently voted to join the Affordable Housing Network in its local campaign to enact the ‘National Affordable Housing Trust Fund’ to establish a dedicated funding source for the production, preservation and rehabilitation of 1.5 million affordable homes over a period of 10 years. At least 75% of the funds will be for households that are extremely low income, earning less than 30% of an areas median income. The House of Representatives passed this legislation last October. It was introduced into the Senate as S. 2523 in December. The need is great. Nationwide there are only 6,187,000 homes renting at prices affordable to the 9,022,000 extremely low income renter households – a shortage of 2,835,000 homes. Not a single Congressional district has enough rental housing affordable to extremely low income families.


The problem is not just the lack of housing; it is also the lack of action by the US Senate on the Affordable Housing bill. This bill has been sitting in the Senate waiting to be made a priority. It needs advocates. It needs vocal supporters. As Christians, we are called to be these voices, these advocates.

Rev. Bea Chun, pastor of Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in San Jose, recently wrote about this problem and what we can do to help. We've included Bea's excellent letter for you - just go to "read more" below or to download a copy click here. She has some great ideas - like sending a Mother's Day card to Senators to urge them to support families by working for this bill.


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Interfaith Camp Everytown

Camp Everytown is a youth leadership development program proven to reduce prejudice and conflict over the past 50 years of its existence. This year Silicon Valley Conference for Community & Justice (SVCCJ) wants to offer An Interfaith Camp Everytown for the major faith communities in our region. After a lengthy presentation at the board meeting of the Council of Churches there was great enthusiasm, so much so that a member of the board has generously offered a matching grant of up to $1,000 for scholarships to youth from Council churches to attend An Interfaith Camp Everytown this summer. Let's match the grant and make An Interfaith Camp Everytown a reality! Trick is - we need to do it soon!
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Going Green? Join the CIPL Regional Working Group

The Interfaith Convocation on Climate Action (October 28, 2007) was such a success that the organizers of the event (including the Council of Churches) have decided to continue our interfaith collaboration by forming a California Interfaith Power & Light Regional Working Group. If your congregation has an active group working to “Green” your church or if you are interested in forming one, why not meet with others who have a passion for the environment to exchange ideas and plan joint action and events (Earth Day, perhaps)? To learn about the next meeting of the Peninsula/South Bay Regional Working Group contact Rev. Margo Tenold (revmargo@earthlink.net) or Marianna Grossman Keller (marianna@kellers.org) for further details.

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