PHILADELPHIA — Second Presbyterian Church in Chicago is among 10 churches around the country to receive a total of $1.9 million in repair and restoration funds designed to safeguard their physical legacies and strengthen the value they contribute to their communities. The grants were announced in a news release Thursday by the National Fund for Sacred Places. “All 10 are extraordinary places, with important architecture and consequential outreach,” said Bob Jaeger, President of Partners for Sacred Places. “Each project has been chosen because we believe they are poised for success and their projects will have a lasting impact on how these places serve their communities into the future. We look forward to working with each of them to preserve their buildings and make the most of them as assets for ministry and service.” Now in its fourth year, the National Fund for Sacred Places is operated by Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic … [Read more...]

(PNS) The Presbyterian Committee on Mission Responsibility through Investing  is joining with New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer and a coalition of 25 major investors in calling on General Motors to join its peers in a compromise agreement with California and other states for clean vehicle standards. The letter comes in the wake of President Donald J. Trump’s proposal last year to roll back clean vehicle standards. The Obama-era regulations included goals such as average fuel economy of 50 miles-per-gallon or better in passenger vehicles by 2025. California has stated its intention under the 1970 Clean Air Act to maintain its own standards, and other states are following suit. The Trump administration is challenging California’s authority to enforce its own standards. Automakers have largely agreed to a compromise with California, setting standards that are not as strict as the Golden State and Obama-era goals, but are tougher than the Trump administration … [Read more...]

(PNS) Hunger Action is much more than one program or committee in the ministry of First Presbyterian Church in Alton, Illinois.  During worship, sermons regularly address hunger issues, as do hymns, litanies and, of course, minutes for mission. The church has hosted speakers from countries such as Peru, who have familiarized the congregation with hunger issues around the world, as well as at home.  Fair Trade products are sold at the church and there is active recycling and composting, including compostable carry-out dishes for mission meals. Twice a week, First Presbyterian Alton offers hot lunches for people staying at the Salvation Army across the street, and regular Saturday Cafes offer food for the church’s neighbors and volunteer opportunities for church members and people in the community.  Members participate in advocacy for people who are experiencing homelessness and are economically disadvantaged, and they give regularly to the Presbyterian Hunger … [Read more...]

(OGA) “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. (Luke 19:5–6) Zacchaeus gets a bad rap in the biblical character personality review. He’s a tax collector. Actually, he is a ruler among the tax collectors as the passage offers. Which essentially translates into “despised bureaucrat” who not only takes the peoples’ money but bosses the other people who also take the peoples’ money. Zacchaeus is not a popular, beloved, sought-after neighbor or citizen in Jericho. So, it’s quite the biblical surprise when, without a moment of hesitation, Zacchaeus pops down out of the tree and welcomes Jesus into his home. At the 2019 Presbyterian Youth Triennium, Christian speaker, writer, and theologian, Sandra Van Opstal, offered another perspective on Zacchaeus. Van Opstal offers that Zacchaeus is so much more than a “wee little man.” He was a man who responded to Jesus’ need for a roof and a meal with no hesitation. He … [Read more...]

LOUISVILLE (PNS) — Do you find yourself wishing political leaders would speak more respectfully to one another as they share their perspectives on important issues? The National Institute for Civil Discourse is coordinating a yearlong effort — leading up to the 2020 national election — to pray for the healing of divisions in the United States and to promote use of the Golden Rule in politics. On Sunday, Nov. 3, exactly one year before the national election, Christians from across the theological and political spectrum will emphasize Christian teachings about human dignity and, in particular, Jesus’ command to “treat others as we would like to be treated,” which also applies to political discussions. The idea for “Golden Rule 2020: A Call for Dignity and Respect in Politics” grew from a meeting last May, hosted by the National Institute for Civil Discourse at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. At this gathering, the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, director of the … [Read more...]

(PNS) Traditionally, on the second Monday of October the United States celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492. However, on Monday many communities across the nation celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day rather than Columbus Day. Indigenous Peoples Day is part of a growing movement to end the celebration of the Italian explorer and rather honor and recognize Indigenous people, the original occupants of the Americas. Many scholars believe it was Viking Leif Erickson who first came to what would be become known as the New World from overseas. They believe Columbus wasn’t the first European to discover what we know as the Americas and that he first landed on the island of Guanahani in the Bahamas.  And, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, Columbus never set foot in North America, but in present day Venezuela on his fourth journey. While Columbus didn’t technically discover America, he was instrumental in the … [Read more...]