House-to-House
Family of Hope House Church May 2018
With Prayer, Patience and Perseverance
Faith in Action, a coalition of 25 local congregations of which we are a member, has adopted the following vision and goal statements for 2018:
* We have a dream of having our local jail become a model "greenhouse" for the rehabilitation and treatment of individuals awaiting their trial or completing their sentences. We believe jail budgets and programs should reflect such priorities and that families of inmates not be burdened with costs associated with the care of their loved ones.
* We have a dream of reducing incarceration in our community by utilizing evidence-based alternative sanctions for low-risk offenders. We believe costly extended jail stays actually increase recidivism and reduce public safety as inmates lose positive connections to jobs and family while being exposed to a criminal environment that encourages anti-social behavior.
* We have a dream of seeing our criminal justice system trend toward restorative rather than punitive responses to offenders. We believe the needs of victims should be a first priority, and that those causing others harm should be directly involved in repairing those harms and making appropriate restitution.
Therefore, we are committed to work with relevant policy makers and stakeholders to achieve the following in 2018:
1. Greater justice for all members of inmate families
Eliminate the financial burden of the $1 per day ‘keep fee’ currently paid by family members of inmates at our local jail and the $3 charged for local inmates transferred to Middle River Regional Jail.
2. Greater justice for all taxpaying citizens of our community
Engage in a careful and open selection process for the hiring of a well qualified Community Justice Planner to help reduce incarceration.
3. Greater justice for all victims of crime and wrongdoing
Establish protocols for all juvenile justice cases to be screened for a restorative justice process, and promote restorative justice for all appropriate cases.
Notes, Prayers and Praises
- OUR SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS FOR KENT PALMER, whose mother, Louisa Palmer, at 81, died after a long bout with Parkinson’s Disease. Kent will be attending her memorial service set for May 12 in California.
- OUR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP COVENANT SERVICE is on Pentecost Sunday, May 20, in which we agree to the following: “I support the goals, vision and faith of Family of Hope, will attend weekly services as regularly as I am able, and will use my gifts and offer my encouragement to this church family to the best of my ability. I invite other members to support me--and to confront me as needed--in being faithful to this commitment.”
- MARGIE VLASITS will be resuming chemotherapy treatment for myeloma after they return from a trip west this month.
- LOIS’s new email address is <mloisriverawenger@gmail.com>.
- MAY BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Margie Vlastis 5/1, Alma Jean Yoder 5/15 and Karen Soich 5/20!
May Lectionary Texts
6 Acts 10:44-48 Psalm 98 1 John 5:1-6 John 15:9-17
13 Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 Psalm 1 1 John 5:9-13 John 17:6-19
20 Ezekiel 37:1-14 Psalm 104:24-34, 35b Acts 2:1-21 John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
27 Isaiah 6:1-8 Psalm 29 Romans 8:12-17 John 3:1-17
May services, worship at 4, meal at 6 pm
6 Location: Park Place, second floor meeting room 564-3716
Worship and sharing: Harvey Yoder
Bible Study: Paul Swarr light salad/fresh fruit meal
13 Location: FLRC, 273 Newman Ave. (ground floor) 432-0531
Worship and Sharing: Elly Nelson
Bible Study: Dick Dumas Finger Food Meal
20 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr, 22802 564-1524
Worship and Sharing: Susan Campbell
Bible Study: Harvey Yoder Carry-in Meal
27 Location: Guy Vlasits 1260 Parkway Drive 269-6706
Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer
Bible Study: Lewis Overholt Carry-in Meal
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