Crossroads Urban Center - see link in right side column
Crossroads Urban Center needs for this month: February
Food of the Month: Drinks;: small, large, canned, boxed, individual or family juinmce is highly preferred over soda
Thrift Store Items: Towels, bathroom rugs ad shower curtaims; We are also in need of plastic grocery bags-used, in good condition- to put food in. Place in the collection box for food and the will be delivered to the pantry.
Monday Market Sales at Crossroads Community Food Co-op offer a variety of fresh produce, frozen meat, and other locally produced items that are sold at prices 30-50% lower than the grocery store. Every Monday (except major holidays) from 3:30pm-6:30pm. Open to the public at 1726 South 700 West, SLC. Cash, credit, debit cards & Horizon food stamp cards are accepted.
interfaithprayservcolor
InterFaith Prayer Service for Utah Immigrants
Thursday March 3 2011
7:30 pm
The Catherdal of the Madeleine
Salt Lake City
All are welcome as we gather to seek and pray for a more just treatment of immigrants in Utah.
January 24, 2011
COPY:
The Honorable Michael Waddoups, President, Utah State Senate
The Honorable Rebecca Lockhart, Speaker of the House
The Honorable Gary Herbert, Office of the Governor
In our response to God’s love as religious leaders in Utah, we are compelled to welcome newcomers and advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. We have seen the negative consequences of a broken immigration system. Countless families are torn apart and communities are living in a state of fear. We believe that we need to bring undocumented immigrants out of the shadows and provide them with an earned pathway to permanent residency, to protect family unity, and ensure the just and equitable treatment of all people. We call upon the United States Congress and the administration to pass and enact into law fair and humane immigration legislation.
We are frustrated by the lack of movement on comprehensive immigration reform and we recognize significant challenges the state of Utah faces in confronting the broken immigration system. Still, we are deeply concerned about the impact certain proposed enforcement measures would have on families and communities.
Instead of creating heightened immigration enforcement laws, we ask that you join us in addressing the United States Congress and the administration to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform.
Thank you for your public service. Please know that we hold you in prayer as you work to promote the general welfare of all people in Utah.
Rev. Steven A. Klemz
Standing for Welcome - In response to last spring’s forum on immigration, Pastor Steve Klemz is forming a network for those who are interested in increasing their awareness of immigration issues through our faith perspective; and, for those who desire to advocate for reform through action and prayer. If you are interested, please contact Pastor Steve.
ELCA NEWS SERVICE July 13, 2010 ELCA Presiding Bishop Says Time for Immigration Reform is Now Bishop Hanson writes, “It would be tragic if we withdraw as people of faith and our voices fall silent,” wrote Hanson. “We have an opportunity for evangelical witness to our faith in God who is present in the stranger and calls us to extend hospitality.” (Go to www.elca.org and search “Hanson, Immigration” for the full text.)
Faiths and the faithful have varied views of death penalty
Life & death issue » Those on both sides point to scripture to support their stances.
June 10, 2010
Excerpt:
The Rev. Steve Klemz says he sees no good from the death penalty, no redemption for society or the victims of crime.
“I can’t even begin to understand the pain people feel and the need for some kind of retribution, but it just doesn’t happen with the death penalty. If anything, it gets more attention to the person who is being executed,” says Klemz, pastor of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Salt Lake City.
His denomination has taken a position that leans against capital punishment, although it hasn’t yet condemned the practice as have other mainline Protestant denominations.
As Klemz sees it, scripture’s main purpose is to convey what is life-giving and life-diminishing.
“What Jesus said always had to do with life and living life abundantly,” Klemz says. “I don’t see how the death penalty does anything to promote life.”
See article in its entirety at this link:
http://www.sltrib.com/faith/ci_15263217
What Does Our Church Say About Immigration Reform
As background for participating in the current public discussion on immigration, download and/or read “Toward Compassionate, Just, and Wise Immigration Reform”, the ELCA’s 2009 social policy resolution. ELCA social statements can be found at www.elca.org/socialstatements
Arizona law a sin
Public Forum Letter (pub. Salt Lake Tribune)
“Who is my neighbor?” In my faith tradition, this question shaped Jesus’ parable of good Samaritan. In fact, don’t all of our faith traditions proclaim a God of love and compassion who attends to ur neighbors? The recent passage of the anti-immigration Arizona Senate Bill 1070 makes it illegal to love your neighbor in Arizona. Some Utah lawmakers are promising to bring such a law here. Our state has always distinguished itself as a state founded by immigrants fleeing persecution, a state that values families and hard work. We are also a religious people. Religion finds its way into conversation every day. It is time for people of faith to name this Arizona law for what it is: a social and racial sin.
People of faith need to counter responses that are rooted in hostility, racism, prejudice and simplistic solutions. There are no easy answers, and we all have our differing views about the shape of comprehensive immigration reform. Yet, especially from people of faith, compassion for our neighbor compels us to speak out against such laws that create a climate of fear, racial profiling and hate.
Rev. Steve Klemz Pastor, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
Salt Lake City
05/14/2010 05:31:15 PM MDT
Many thanks to all of those who attended the Interfaith healthcareprayer vigil. There were representatives from 12 faiths in attendance. A true Interfaith gathering. I hope you saw the article in the Deseret News. If you missed it, here is the link with two great pictures of a number of faith community leaders.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705327255/Utah-residents-rally-for-health-care-reform.html?linkTrack=rss-30
My special thanks to the following people who spoke at our event:
Rabbi Tracee Rosen - Jewish
Pastor Steve Klemz - Lutheran
Imam Shuaib Din - Islamic
Rev Ed Bigler - United Methodist
Rev Russ Mertz - United Church of Christ
Sister Miriam Joanne - Catholic
Rev Dr David Henry - Baptist
Rev Marti Zimmerman - United Methodist
Elder Dick Wunder - Presbyterian
THE REALITY OF SB 81 in UTAH
Senate Bill 81, called “Illegal Immigration”, has been touted by its legislators, the minutemen, and citizens that support it, as Utah’s way of dealing with all the “undocumented immigrants” residing in Utah. SB 81 is viewed by many of its supporters, as the solution for their frustration with the federal government’s failure to overhaul a broken system. It purports to make sure that no person without “documents”, receives public benefits, state identification, employment, or housing, and if any infraction is committed, that person is turned over to Immigration officials for deportation. But SB 81, presented as a solution to this country’s immigration crises, is a myth being perpetrated upon us all at great cost. The truth is that only federal comprehensive immigration reform can change the immigration situation in Utah.
In fact, SB 81 is creating a climate of fear, racial profiling and hate in a state that has always uniquely distinguished itself as a state founded by immigrants fleeing persecution; a state which values families, hard work and entrepreneurship. It is important for all residents of Utah to step back from the fear and hate and understand SB 81 is not the solution and must be repealed.
One of the most threatening parts of SB81, for us all, is the cross deputization of local law enforcement as Immigration officers. Our undocumented brothers and sisters live in constant fear of the police despite many of our counties and cities opting out of the program. Their solution is to live in the shadows. It can’t be that different than the fear the Jews had during the pogroms or when the Nazi’s knocked at their door. Everyone’s safety is put in jeopardy when immigrants do not feel safe to come forward with crucial information when crimes are committed against them, their families or the larger community. There are enough immigration agents in Utah without deputizing our law enforcement to do the job they did not sign up for. Likewise, Utah’s criminal law is more than sufficient to handle the crimes that are committed by people with documents or without. We don’t need the hate that this law has spawned when all our faith traditions preach a God of love and compassion. As people of faith let us work together to see that this law is repealed before the damage to this state and to all of us is irreparable.
Barbara Swezeda
Lawyer with the ACLU
