No One Should Be Forced

No One Should Be Forced:
An Interfaith Dialogue on Modern Slavery

Herzl-Ner Tamid, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church and Seattle Against Slavery invite you to help us expand a growing movement for freedom and human rights around the world.

The evening is timed to coincide with the holidays of Passover and Easter, holidays which embody a universal message of freedom, rebirth and renewal. It will feature Urmi Basu, director of New Light (an organization that rescues children from trafficking) in a live feed from Kolkata, India; and Sheila Houston, a minister who reaches out to young people who are trafficked in Washington state.

I Am My Brother's Keeper: Confronting Islamaphobia

May 6th and 7th, 2011

St. Mark's Cathedral
1245 10th Avenue East
Seattle, WA

An interfaith conference of Jews, Christians and Muslims presents an opportunity for your organization to show its support for respect and understanding for Americans of all faiths.

This event will include outstanding speakers, workshops, and an interfaith prayer service, led by Episcopal Bishop Greg Rickel, Iman Fazal Hassen of the Eastside Islamic Center, and Rabbi Jim Mirel, of Temple B'nai Torah.

Good News About Asa Mercer Middle School

As the morning paper continues to carry disturbing news about the Seattle School District administration, it is great to see Mercer Middle School continuing to thrive under its hardworking and dedicated staff.

I hope you all have a chance (even if you are not currently tutoring) to appreciate the colorful bulletin board in the main hall that tells of two recent rewarding events. One is the attendance of a number of students at a reading by Sherman Alexie at the University Village Borders bookstore. There are many photographs of students meeting the author and receiving his autograph as they talked with him and asked many good questions. The other half of the bulletin board shows an oversize check for more than $7,300 from the state to the school in recognition of their STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curriculum. Mr. Ettinger, science and math teacher extraordinaire accepted the check on Mercer's behalf at a press conference.

We rejoice with students and staff alike as their hard work is noticed and rewarded!

Coming up: Spring Break April 18 - 22.

Linda Fetters, Asa Mercer Tutor Coordinator

A Way to Contribute to Japan

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) staff are working to respond to the massive earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck Japan March 10, killing unknown numbers of people and sending tsunami waves across the Pacific. Denominational leaders have issued a call to prayer. The Rev. Gradye Parsons, stated clerk; Elder Cynthia Bolbach, moderator of the 219th General Assembly; and Elder Linda Valentine, executive director of the General Assembly Mission Council are urging Presbyterians to pray for all those affected by the disaster — victims and their families, aid workers, faith communities and leaders. “The magnitude of this kind of tragedy is difficult to grasp. Yet, our faith leads us to affirm that in even greater measure is the presence of God in the midst of the devastation,” states the call. The 8.9-magnitude earthquake is the world’s fifth largest since 1900 and the biggest to hit Japan in 140 years.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has set up a direct response account for donations. Individuals can give through their congregation, by calling PresbyTel at (800) 872-3283, on the secure PC(USA) website (https://gamc.pcusa.org/give/make-a-gift/DR000117/), or by sending a check to:

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

Gifts should be designated for account DR000117 — Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

Volunteer Opportunity with Youthcare

Volunteer Opportunity: Youthcare, a downtown organization that reaches out to teens on the street, needs help sending out thank you's after their fundraising luncheon on March 22 at the Westin in downtown Seattle from 2:30 until about 5 PM. They need a group of 8-10 people. Would you like to get some friends together to help or would you be willing to join a group to do this. Contact Glo Ceteznik, gloc@mipc.org for more details or to sign up.

Need Somewhere to Donate Your Furniture?

Share House provides furniture for people moving from homelessness to permanent housing. Share House is a program of the Church Council of Greater Seattle located at 5706 Second Ave South. If you go to their website, www.thesharehouse.org you will find a list of furniture they accept. Their phone number is 206-767-5280.

Each year the formerly homeless about move into 2,000 newly established homes.

Interfaith Gifts of the Heart at MIPC

Just finished our Gifts of the Heart Campaign at MIPC. We will donate $13,000 to the New Light Center in Kolkata, India in partnership with Herzl ner Tamid Synagogue on Mercer Island. Jews and Christians coming together to support Hindus and Muslims. Amen to that!