Death penalty information available from DHM

Included in the previous issue of the Home Mission Advocate was a request for congregations to send copies of their resources concerning the death penalty to Disciples Home Missions.

So far, two resources concerning capital punishment are now available:

1. The first resource is The Death Penalty Information Center in Washington,D. C. This agency sends weekly updates on the death penalty via e-mail. To subscribe, send an e-mail message to update@deathpenaltyinfo.org from the address where you wish to receive this update, with the Subject Heading "Subscribe".  There is no charge. This agency also sends printed information by mail, most recently a study entitled "Blind Justice" (juries deciding life and death with only half of the truth).  The Center can be reached at 1101 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 701, Washington, D. C. 20005 or (202) 289-2275.
2. The second resource we recommend is a print-out of death penalty information prepared by the Indiana Public Defender Council dated 10/28/05.  While this focuses on Indiana, it includes many facts relevant nation-wide. This piece is helpful to persons who are just beginning to research capital punishment. To have a copy mailed to you, contact Lois Robinson at (888) 346-2631, or Disciples Peace Fellowship, P. O. Box 1986, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206-1986.

Good Friday service available from CWS

The Church World Service Immigration and Refugee Program has produced a Good Friday worship service called "Stations of the Cross: The Passion of Jesus and the Pain of Asylum Seekers." It is available at the CWS Web site. This service relates the passion of Jesus with the experience of asylum seekers in the United States as follows:

1. Jesus is condemned to death—asylum seekers are condemned to detention;
2. Jesus carries his cross—asylum seekers are weighed down by a life of persecution and injustice;
3. Jesus falls under the weight of the cross—asylum seekers bear the weight of memories of relatives who were killed;
4. Jesus meets his mother—asylum seekers are kept from their families and friends;
5. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry his cross—asylum seekers are fortunate if they find pro bono attorneys to help;
6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus—asylum seekers' pain is our pain;
7. Jesus falls for the second time—asylum seekers sink further into despair as injustices continue;
8. Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem—child asylum seekers, separated from their parents, cry;
9. Jesus falls for the third time—asylum seekers granted asylum often remain behind bars as their cases are appealed;
10. Jesus is stripped of his garments—women asylum seekers who have been persecuted and raped are stripped searched;
11. Jesus is nailed to the cross—asylum seekers experience hatred and prejudice;
12. Jesus dies on the cross—asylum seekers, out of their despair, attempt suicide.

Mother's and Father's Day gifts

Give your mom a Mother's Day gift she will cherish and your dad a Father's Day gift he will value. This year, show your parents that they taught you well the lesson of caring for the well-being of all God's children. Give an alternative gift that will help refugees and immigrants around the world. These gifts can be found in the DHM Refugee and Immigration Ministries' Alternative Giving Catalog available on the web at www.discipleshomemissions.org/rim/. Click on "Alternative Giving." Also available on the Internet are gift cards you can give to show the contribution you made in honor of your mother or father.

These gifts are also available for birthdays of family and friends!

Children Worship & Wonder trainings in translation

Young Sook Kim of Disciples Seminary foundation in Claremont, Calif., has completed requirements for becoming a Children Worship & Wonder Story Teller Trainer. She is currently developing a Korean version of the program.

Two Spanish-speaking story teller trainers have been part of the Children Worship & Wonder training team for about a year. Aida Valladarez lives in California. She has translated the training materials and stories into Spanish and is available to do training for Spanish speaking congregations. Aida will be one of the presenters at the March 24 to 25, 2006 Children Welcome NOW! Conference. She will offer a Spanish language discovery group in Children Worship & Wonder. Cindy James, a student at Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, Ky., also is available to do training for Spanish speaking congregations.

If your congregation is interested in receiving information about the Korean version of Children Worship & Wonder, please contact Young Sook Kim or Kaye Edwards (434) 832-1119.

If your congregation is interested in receiving information on the Spanish version of Children Worship & Wonder please contact Anita Valladarez or Kaye Edwards (434) 832-1119.

Translations provided by the Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries and the Office for North American Pacific/Asian Disciples.

Niños en Adoración y Asombro está ahora en español y coreano

Young Sook Kim de la Fundación Discipulos Seminaria (Disciples Seminary Foundation), en Claremont, Calif., ha completado los requisitos para convertirse en una adiestradora para narradoras de historias del programa Niños en Adoración y Asombro. Al presente ella está desarrollando una versión coreana del programa.

Dos adiestradores para narradores de historias en español han sido parte del programa de adiestramiento durante un año. Aida Valladares vive en California. Ella ha traducido al español los materiales de adiestramiento y las historias y narraciones. Ella está disponible para adiestrar a congregaciones que hablan español. Aida será una de las presentadoras en la Conferencia Niños sean bienvenidos hoy (Children Welcome NOW!) que se llevará a cabo durante marzo 24 y 25 del 2006. Aida ofrecerá en español un grupo de descubrimiento para Niños en Adoración y Asombro (Children‘s Worship and Wonder). Cindy James, estudiante en el Lexington Theological Seminary en Lexington, Ky., está disponible también para dar adiestramiento a congregaciones hispano-parlantes.

Si una congregación está interesada en recibir información acerca de la versión coreana de Niños en Adoración y Asombro, puede hacer contacto con Young Sook Kim, o con Kaye Edwards (434) 832-1119.

Si su congregación está interesada en recibir información acerca de la versión en español de Niños en Adoración y Asombro, haga contacto con Aida Valladarez o con Kaye Edwards (434) 832-1119.

Korean

Young

KIDS to KIDS Special Project Tsunami Relief: Welcome Tents for Kids

All ages of God's children responded to last years special project, KIDS to KIDS Special Project Tsunami Relief: Welcome Tents for Kids, contributing $22,338.06 to set-up tents and supply milk to children affected by the 2004 tsunami.

Disciples are thankful that this particular project is no longer needed and has been removed from the DHM Web site. However, much rebuilding remains to be done and everyone is encouraged to continue supporting the work of Week of Compassion and Church World Service.

Thank you to every individual and every congregation who provided safe places for children through Welcome Tents for Kids. Will you consider contributing to other KIDS to KIDS Mission Projects? These projects are totally kid friendly and provide great opportunities for stewardship education. Your love and compassion does make a difference!

Kids to Kids information is available on the DHM Web site.

KIDS to KIDS Special Project Tsunami Relief: Welcome Tents for Kids

All ages of God's children responded to last years special project, KIDS to KIDS Special Project Tsunami Relief: Welcome Tents for Kids, contributing $22,338.06 to set-up tents and supply milk to children affected by the 2004 tsunami.