9-20

1

4360 Jackson Drive Jackson, WI 53037 262-677-2345 www.newhopeucc.com info@newhopeucc.com

The October

VISION Sunday, November 1st, Daylight Saving Time Ends

SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK ONE HOUR!

THE ANNUAL PORK CHOP DINNER HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THIS YEAR.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Pastor’s Message____________ 2

“Loving God First”

“Changes” a poem___________ 2

Activate Your Brain with Music__ 3

Hope Creation Justice_________ 3

Jesus and Nonviolence________ 4

The Third Way

Member News ______________ 5

Missions___________________ 5

Pastoral Reflections __________ 5

Cedar Community Newsletter

Still Speaking_______________ 6

“Does God Exist?”

Liberating Word_____________ 6

“Being a Neighbor”

A Little Boy’s Explanation of God _7

Letter from Rev. Franz Rigert____ 8

WI Conf. Minister

Letter form Glenn Svetnicka_____ 7

UCC Camps Outdoor Ministry

Dear Church Family,

I am so very grateful for all the beautiful cards with thoughtful sentiments and your prayers during this journey with cancer. I appreciate them so much.

I have been feeling much better lately but have Hospice nurses who keep reminding me that I am on limited time. I am aware of that, but it only seems to make every day that my feet hit the floor even more precious!

My prayers are that all of you are staying safe and healthy and that our church services can be back to normal one day soon. I found an interesting quote from Rabindranath Tagore (just don't think that I'm converting to Hinduism)... "Death is not extinguishing the light but put-ting out the lamp because the dawn has come."

Love and blessings to all of you.

I am with you in Him,

Donna Patterson

PRAYER

I asked God for strength that I might achieve, I was made weak, that I might learn to humbly obey.

I asked for health that I might do greater things, I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy, I was given poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men, I was given weakness, that I might feel the

need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life, I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for-but everything I had hoped for.

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am among all men, most richly blessed. This prayer, written by an unknown Confederate soldier, was read by Veterans Administrator Max Cleland on national television. Because of many requests, the American Legion magazine reprinted it in 1978.

9-20

2

Pastor’s Message

We all have grocery or shopping lists. We begin by asking others or ourselves what do we need at the store? Responses come from everywhere: “bath soap, shaving cream, cereal, bread, peanut butter, T-Bone steaks (yeah!) etc. Sometimes we make a bigger and more diverse list including: the grocery store, the gas station, Shopko, Kohls, Pet Stuff, and Hankerson’s Bakery (one of Dori Myer’s cakes!) etc. Then we prioritize our lists. If we’re short money -what do we need the most at the grocery store? (Usually bathroom tissue - right?) - OR if we’re short time, which of the six stores do we really have time for? What about the rest of our day - what comes first on our list? Let me ask a few questions; offer a few thoughts: 1. When you wake up do you thank God for seeing another sunrise?

2. When you “tuck your children in” after their bed-time prayers do you pray privately “Thank you God for their precious lives”? 3. When you make a big sale, get a raise, win at the Casino or Powerball etc. do you give the church 10%? Do you Thank God? 4. When you “cuddle up” to your sweetheart at night do you say “Thank you God”? 5. When you feel true calm, inner peace, and sereni-ty do you say “I love you God”? If you’re experiencing some inner restlessness, have fears, doubts, worries, can’t sleep well, have stomach issues, are short-tempered, self-centered, addicted, or controlling - pills, therapy and church WILL HELP. But the “real cure” begins by LOVING GOD FIRST. I’ve seen people cured hundreds of times by a reversal in their priorities. For the next month - let’s begin and end everyday by speaking from the heart . . . “I love you God more than anyone or anything.” Amen

CHANGES by Sharon Fuqua

Uprooted, frazzled, discouraged? Transitions are difficult at best, And many times those changes Put our attitudes to the test.

We know that life is ever-changing From beginning to the end,

But those changes we encounter Are sometimes blessings that God sends.

And if we’re open to opportunities That may lie in the path ahead, That can help us face the future

With confidence, not dread. People will come and go through the years,

And stability and joy are not found in things; Only god is ever-present

And the “Rock” that gives us wings. It is He Who can calm our fears

When the unknowns seem never to cease; And if we trust Him in the changes, That’s where we’ll find our peace.

“The sanctity of Christian life is based NOT on love of an abstract low but on love of the living God…”

~Thomas Merton—from Life and Holiness

9-20

3

HOPE Creation Justice

As we celebrated International Peace Sunday this

week, Rev. Jim talked about peace and conflict in

the world today but also the peace and conflict in

our individual lives as well. King and Gandhi

showed how conflict can be dealt with without vio-

lence but the will to do that comes from within

oneself. Rev. Jim reminded us that any change

starts within each of us and then blossoms outward.

As a way of life, nonviolence is a learned philoso-

phy that needs to begin with understanding that

each of us are children of God and should live our

lives with love, respect for ourselves and others

and compassion for those in need. If we are all

children of God, we need to take that love and

share it with others, even those that we are in con-

flict or those we’re in disagreement with.

Nonviolence is a call to action into doing some-

thing to share God’s love. This should affect how

we talk, how we walk with others, how we look at

and react to things and how we plan our lives. It is

the foundation on which we can build our lives to

be watchful for injustice, prepared to be compas-

sionate and strong enough to resist evil, hate and

conflict. Once our foundation of God’s love is

strongly built, all else is possible.

On a larger scale, our UCC, like most churches,

hold the nonviolent alternative to conflict but offer

few details on the why and how that actually

works. Over the next several editions of VISION,

we’ll have some articles about a Christian response

to violence in our larger world. This response is

called the “Third Way” and is based on the teach-

ings of Jesus and is rooted in the previously dis-

cussed personal belief in love. This alternative to

violence is articulated in the book, “Jesus and Non-

violence, the Third Way” by Walter Wink, Profes-

sor of Biblical Interpretation at Auburn Theological

Seminary.

Over the next months, we’ll look at what Jesus

teaches us about active nonviolence from Matthew

and Luke. The interpretation of these teachings will

be by Walter Wink as a Christians response in

bringing International Peace Day into full flower.

Stay tuned. Understanding nonviolence is a process

and not a destination.

Bradlee Fons

Creation Care Team

ACTIVATE YOUR BRAIN WITH MUSIC

“Nothing activates the brain like music,” says Jonathan Burdette, a professor of neuroradiology at Wake Forest Uni-versity School of Medicine.

Put music in your life, and share it with family and friends as it may improve well-being and quality of life.

Dance, sing, or move to music for exercise, STRESS RELIEF, social connections and brain stimulation.

Music can provide a mental boost and help motivate you to move your body.

Listen to familiar music that comforts you and evokes positive memories and associations.

Listen to new music too!

Make music yourself by singing or playing an instrument or by joining with others.

Get your hearing checked as correcting hearing loss is important

for maintaining brain health, preserving cognitive function and

enjoying music.

9-20

4

Many otherwise devout Christians simply dismiss Jesus’ teachings about nonviolence out of hand as impractical idealism. And with good reason. “Turn the other cheek” has come to imply a passive, doormat like quality that has made the Christian way seem cowardly and com-plicit in the face of injustice. “Resist not evil” seems to break the back of all opposition to evil and to counsel submission. “Going the second mile” has become a plat-itude meaning nothing more than “extend yourself” and appears to encourage collaboration with the oppressor. Jesus’ teaching, viewed this way, is impractical, maso-chistic, and even suicidal—an invitation to bullies and spouse-batterers to wipe up the floor with their supine Christian victims.

Jesus never displayed that kind of passivity. Whatever the source of the misunderstanding, such distortions are clearly neither in Jesus nor his teaching, which, in con-text, is one of the most revolutionary political statements ever uttered: You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile (Matt. 5:38-41; see also Luke 6:29).

The traditional interpretation of "do not resist an evildo-er" has been nonresistance to evil—an odd conclusion, given the fact that on every occasion Jesus himself re-sisted evil with every fiber of his being. The fifth-century theologian Augustine agreed that the gospel teaches nonresistance, and therefore declared that a Christian must not attempt self-defense. However, he noted, if someone is attacking my neighbor, then the love commandment requires me to defend my neighbor,

by force of arms if necessary. With that deft stroke, Au-gustine opened the door to the just-war theory, the mili-tary defense of the Roman Empire, and the use of torture and capital punishment. Following his lead, Christians have ever since been justifying wars fought for nothing more than national interest as "just."

The Bible translators working in the hire of King James on what came to be known as the King James Version knew that the king did not want people to conclude that they had any recourse against his or any other sover-eign's tyranny. James had explicitly commissioned a new translation of the Bible because of what he regarded as "seditious . . . dangerous, and traitorous" tendencies in the marginal notes printed in the Geneva Bible, which included endorsement of the right to disobey a tyrant. Therefore, the public had to be made to believe that there are two alternatives, and only two: flight or fight. And Jesus is made to command us, according to these king's men, to resist not. Jesus appears to authorize mo-narchical absolutism. Submission is the will of God. And most modern translators have meekly followed in that path.

Jesus is not telling us to submit to evil, but to refuse to oppose it on its own terms. We are not to let the oppo-nent dictate the methods of our opposition. He is urging us to transcend both passivity and violence by finding a third way, one that is at once assertive and yet nonvio-lent. The correct translation would be the one still pre-served in the earliest renditions of this saying found in the New Testament epistles: "Do not repay evil for evil" (Rom. 12:17; 1 Thes. 5:15; 1 Pet. 3:9). The Schol-ars Version of Matt. 5:39a is superb: "Don't react vio-lently against the one who is evil."

FLIGHT: Submission, Passivity, Withdrawal, Surrender, Inaction, Giving in

FIGHT: Armed revolt, Violent rebellion, Direct retaliation, Revenge, Tooth for Tooth, Violent response

JESUS' THIRD WAY

• Seize the moral initiative • Find a creative alternative to violence • Assert your own humanity and dignity as a person • Meet force with ridicule or humor • Break the cycle of humiliation • Refuse to submit or to accept the inferior position • Expose the injustice of the system • Take control of the power dynamic via moral jujitsu • Shame the oppressor into repentance • Stand your ground • Force others to make decisions for which they are not prepared • Recognize your own power • Be willing to suffer rather than retaliate • Force the oppressor to see you in a new light • Deprive the oppressor of a situation where a show of force is effective • Be willing to undergo the penalty of breaking unjust laws

JESUS AND NONVIOLENCE, THE THIRD WAY by Walter Wink

9-20

5

Member News

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO NEEDS A COMFORTING TOUCH?

The beautiful shawls that are displayed in the sanctuary are available for you to give to friends or family who may be in need of that comforting touch! So we can keep track of where our shawls are going and to replenish the stock, please be sure to fill out the “Sign-Out “ sheet.

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY?

We have “chemo hats” available if you would like to give one to a friend or if you need it yourself! There is no cost! You can find them displayed at the back of the sanctuary.

ANNIVERSARIES: 7-Bill & Debbie Haese, 8– Sarah &Carl Lundberg, 8-Karl & Diane Weinberg, 10-Kevin & Angel Buettner, 11– Ed & Nancy Forrester, 13-Andy & Katie Meier, 14– Matt & Chelli Teetzen, 19-Cheryl & Louis Phetteplace

BIRTHDAYS: 7-Alicia Halfmann, 8-Autumn Meyer, 9-Noah Poupore, 11-Tera Rettmann, 14-Pam Dobber-puhl, 16-John Fairbrother, 18-Mike Schneider, 25–Colton Rein, 26-Landon Teasdale, 31-Gary Kranz, 31-John Lockwood

There are differences of opinion over who should provide what and how we supply need-ed resources, particularly for the most vulnera-ble. At the same time, people and providers and public agencies are improvising strategies for conserving personal protective equipment, deploying testing protocols, creating socializa-tion in the midst of isolation, and maintaining connection while we are apart.

I am intrigued by the relationship between im-provising and improving. Etymologically, there really isn’t one. It turns out that the word we know as “improve” came about largely because of a spelling error, adding a “v” where a “u” should have been. The original word means “profit” as in turning something to a more

(financially) profitable endeavor. But, profit isn’t only about financial gain. Sometimes it is about benefitting and bettering. It is possible that our improvisations will lead to improvements in how we practice our affairs, how we treat other people, and how we see needs and opportunities around us. As musi-cians, actors, and comedians know, improvisa-tion happens best when we listen to others, when we hear what others are saying and un-derstand what they are doing. I for one am hoping that this time of mass im-provisation yields massive improvements in how we – people, providers, and public entities – listen, who we hear, and what we do.

A PASTORAL REFLECTION FROM CEDAR BRANCHES NEWSLETTER

“In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked

down, we get up again . . . because we know that God raised

the Lord Jesus to life” ~2 Corinthians 4:8, 14 CEV

Missions

9-20

6

BEING A NEIGHBOR by Michael Piazza

Christine Smith, a United Church of Christ colleague who teaches at United Seminary, tells the story of a friend named Kay. Kay was walking the streets of New York City one day with her lunch in hand, when she passed a woman rummaging in the trashcan. After she passed, Kay paused and turned back to ask the woman, "Would you like my lunch?"

The woman looked up and said, "No, thank you, I've al-ready eaten." Kay began to walk on, then turned for a mo-ment to look at the woman once more.

When the rummaging woman saw Kay still there, she asked, "Do you need me to eat your lunch?"

Kay paused, and then said, "Yes."

It is painfully hard for many of us to accept that the Good Samaritan in our lives might be a homeless woman, some-one we feel is in an inferior place or, perhaps, a person who disturbs us or makes us uncomfortable.

Robert Wuthnow, a professor at Princeton, conducted re-search about why some people are generous and compas-sionate, while others are not. He found that many compas-sionate people had something painful happen to them and then someone had acted with compassion toward them. This experience of receiving help transformed their lives.

Jack Casey is a rescue squad worker, who had little rea-

son to be a Good Samaritan. He was raised in a tough al-coholic home. Jack once said, "All my father ever taught me is that I didn't want to grow up to be like him."

Then something happened to Jack when he was a child. He was having surgery and was frightened. A surgical nurse held his hand, reassuring him. "Don't worry Jack; I'll be here, right beside you, no matter what." When Jack awoke hours later, there she was, holding his hand.

Jack Casey, now a paramedic, was sent to the scene of a traffic accident. A man was pinned upside down in his pickup truck, and, as Jack was trying to get him out of the wreckage, gasoline was running down, soaking both of them. Other rescuers were trying to cut the metal, so one spark would have caused both men to go up in flames. The driver was crying, saying how afraid he was to die. Jack remembered what had happened to him long ago, and said, "Look; I'm right here for you, no matter what."

Days later, the rescued truck driver stopped by the fire-house to thank Jack and said, "You know, you were an idiot. The thing could have exploded, and we both might have died!"

Jack said, "I know, but, if I had left you, something inside of me would have died."

It is dangerous and costly to be a neighbor.

Still Speaking Daily Devotional Does God Exist? By Marchaé Grair

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13 A rabbi on the show Transparent wants to start a family, so she is devastated when she experiences a miscar-riage.

As she catches up with a friend from seminary, she starts to break down mid-conversation as she recalls the emo-tional weight of her miscarriage. She tells him she is de-pressed and constantly questioning her belief in God.

Her friend doesn't condemn her for her uncertainty nor does he dismiss her depression about her miscarriage as a lack of religious or personal tenacity.

He doesn't try to explain to her why God should exist for her.

Instead, he talks about where he sees love, justice, truth, and beauty in the world. Whenever he sees these four concepts come to life, it expands his capacity to love. And that capacity to love is what he understands God to be.

He focuses on the good in the world, relates that good to his God, and lets her draw her own conclusions.

I can relate to the rabbi's friend.

I've never been very concerned with trying to prove God exists, especially when those suffering hard times around me want to question God.

I don't think a painful moment is the time to convince peo-ple God is real—or worse, to explain why God exists and lets horrible things happen to them.

When people hurt, it's time to exemplify the Divine by showing how powerful Divine love can be.

Sometimes, our intercession doesn't need a complicated religious label or explanation. It doesn't even need to be presented as faith.

It just needs to be a hug, a listening ear, or a reminder that there is good in the world.

We don't always need to remind people God exists. We just need to remind them that love does. Prayer: God, let my love do the talking. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Marchaé Grair is the Digital Content Manager at the United Church of Christ and editor of the UCC blog,

New Sacred.

9-20

7

Do not be anxious about anything,

but in every situation,

by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.

~Philippians 4:6

A LITTLE BOY'S EXPLANATION OF GOD! This was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dut-ton, who lives in Chula Vista, CA. He wrote it for his third grade homework assignment, to “explain God.” I wonder if any of us could have done as well? EXPLANATION OF GOD: 'One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.' 'God's second most important job is listening to pray-ers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV be-cause of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off.'

'God sees everything and hears everything and is eve-rywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you should-n't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.' 'Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista . At least there aren't any who come to our church.' 'Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him. But he was good and

kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K.' 'His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important.' 'You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.' 'You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God! Don't skip church to do something you think will be

more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.' 'If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.' 'But...you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases. And...that's why I believe in God.'

9-20

8

Grace, mercy and peace to you in the Spirit of Christ! Dear friends, I greet you with gratitude, having experienced a time of spiritual renewal during a two-month summer sab-batical. I read a number of books, with particular inter-est in American history and politics, seeking a fuller understanding of our long struggle for racial justice and the acute social and cultural tensions of our day. Here are some of the books I found most compelling:

“Christ in Crisis” by Jim Wallis “The Soul of America” by Jon Meacham “Climate Church, Climate World” by Jim Antal “These Truths” by Jill Lepore “The Universal Christ” by Richard Rohr “How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where

You’re Going” by Susan Beaumont I did spend a few weeks mountain hiking in Colorado and enjoyed a couple fishing trips up north! But most-ly I treasured the little things – a new retriever pup named Theodore, biking country roads, home pro-jects, and simply savoring conversations with Trinn and our three twenty somethings. So, thank you for this gift of time. Special thanks to trusted staff col-leagues who covered portions of my work portfolio. I feel reinvigorated and ready for the journey ahead! That said . . . never in my fifty-four years do I remem-ber living in such sobering times. With no pandemic end in sight and an array of stressful and worrisome troubles accompanying our social isolation, these days bring uncertainty, anxiety and distress. All of us have been affected in our mental and emotional health at one level or another. So, the biblical man-date is more important than ever – love one another! And don’t forget to be kind to yourself. The American landscape is indeed hurting. Storms swamp the south. Fires ravage the west. A climate screams in peril. Political divisiveness renders law makers inept. Neighbors despise one another over yard signs. Safety measures for congregations pre-paring to gather in person so easily misconstrued as political leanings. Summer long peaceful protests bru-tally disrupted by riots and looting, forcing too many of us into a false dichotomy – one can support “black lives matter” and the long quest for racial justice and also denounce the violence and vandalism that has caused such destruction to local businesses. On top of all that, we draw near a presidential election

that will undoubtedly have historic consequences in terms of the collective character of our nation, the on going preservation of our democracy, and – at the highest level – the presence or absence of the sacred values Jesus taught: decency, honesty, humility, gen-erosity and love for all. Yet, together we continue this journey, seeking some unifying salve, some measure of kindness, some glimpse of hope, some steadfast reminder that God’s Spirit yet yearns to fashion us into a beloved commu-nity. I believe – in this moment – our faith is vitally im-portant precisely because the road ahead is unknown and likely to present sharp curves, unexpected bumps and dangerous intersections. I noted earlier this week that Sunday’s Common Lec-tionary reading from Exodus is the story of the Israel-ites wandering through the wilderness. A fearful jour-ney with an uncertain future – that sure resonates! Amidst all the grumbling about their forsaken plight, and their quick desire to turn back to a familiar op-pression rather than trust in further liberation, God graces them with quails in the evening and manna in the morning. Blessings in the midst of doubt. Bread for an uncertain journey. The sustenance of spiritual companionship. I wonder – along this weary road – in what ways has God’s surprising grace nour-ished you? Finally, friends, I simply want to lift up all of our pas-tors, lay leaders and congregations in grateful pray-er. Thank you for the ways you continue to connect and nurture community life despite the many chal-lenges. We will endure this long chapter, and we will come through on the other side with both a restoration of many things beloved to us and a transformation into some new expressions of the United Church of Christ. In the coming weeks, I invite you to look for the launching of two Conference initiatives:

Kairos Call to Action – a rollout of the 10 critical-ly important ways your church and household can address the climate crisis . . . and

Tending the Soul – a communication piece high-lighting the various Conference programs that support strong and healthy congregational life.

In God’s sure grace, Franz

9-20

9

Cartoons can be so educational and informa-tive. I learned opera from Bugs Bunny, the future with the Jetsons, and about the finer points of religion from Veggie Tales. Earlier this month, Phil Vischer — creator of Veggie Tales and voice of Bob the Tomato — posted a video called “Race in America.” https://youtu.be/AGUwcs9qJXY It’s a snapshot of the eye-opening learnings found in the movie “13th.” Specifically, Vischer explores some of the origins of the racial tensions in America and offers one word to help us … “CARE!”

A sermon recently reminded me that “to care is to love.” Both are words of action. In Matthew 22, Jesus commands “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest com-mandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." All the Law and the Proph-ets hang on these two commandments. Yet, if I tell you I love you, and only take care of “me and mine,” my actions are inconsistent with those words, you feel lost. If I tell you that I care, but do no caring acts, my words are empty. Feeling empty and lost, leaving our neighbors feeling empty and lost … this is not what the words of Jesus instruct us to do. What then is one supposed to do??? Jump in … learn, grow, lead … be love in action. That’s why UCCI has been doing an “All Team Tuesday” for months now. Our entire team gets together on Zoom every Tuesday to discuss current events, book study, and talk with each other. We started with "Everything you wanted to know about Indians but were afraid to ask" by Anton Treuer and have moved to "How to be an Antiracist" by Ib-ram X. Kendi. We are learning and growing so much as a team and as individuals. This “old

white guy” is ridiculously underqualified and humbly uncomfortable leading the discussion but lead I must. I am being vulnerable … uncomfort-able … putting myself out there … making mis-takes while trying … and I give you permission to do the same! So, I challenge you my friends, to do something. Don’t just shake your head and sit on the side-lines. This is a call to action, love in action. If the racial divide concerns you, watch the videos ref-erenced above and then reach out a hand and an open mind to listen. If voter suppression both-ers you, help someone register to vote (myvote.wi.gov/en-us/). If you are sick of inflam-matory social media posts from all sides, fact check before you share. Familiarize yourself with www.snopes.com and point others in that direc-tion. Lovingly share what you are learning with a friend or family member, even if it is a tough con-versation. Call your representatives, let them know that you are paying attention (www.govtrack.us). Put yourself, not just your opinions, out there. We all have influence over someone, we need to make it a positive, not a privileged one.

Keep doing what you are doing, and you will get what you’ve got. That’s NOT working. Doing nothing means we agree. Elie Wiesel said it well, “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. The oppo-site of love is not hate, it’s indifference.” We must CARE, we must LEAD, we must LOVE!

Peace, Glenn Svetnicka – Executive Director UCCI glenn@ucci.org