The Third Sunday After Pentecost

O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

-- BCP, page 229

 Texts

1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15); Psalm 138;
2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35

Faith in Action is a Harrisonburg City/Rockingham County multi-faith and multicultural organization that Emmanuel helped to launch. Karen Ford and I are currently our congregational representatives and I serve as Vice President.

What follows is excerpted from Faith in Action documents.

After great deliberation and with the support of its 26 congregations, Faith in Action has committed to work with the relevant policy makers and stakeholders in 2018 to achieve the following in our campaign for local criminal justice reform:

Eliminate the financial burden of the $1-a-day fee currently paid by families of inmates at our local jail and the $3 charge for local inmates transferred to the Middle River Regional Jail (as permitted, but not mandated, by VA Code Section 53.1-131.3).   Engage in a careful and open selection process for the hiring of a well-qualified Community Justice Planner. This person would evaluate all criminal justice programs and practices, make strategic recommendations for the best allocation of resources, and coordinate the legally mandated biennial update to the Community Criminal Justice Board's Community Corrections Plan.   Establish protocols for all juvenile justice cases to be screened for a restorative justice process. We will support transparent and community-based steps in implementing restorative justice alternatives for adults and juveniles alike.

Faith in Action sees these three issues as vital movement toward making the criminal justice system a model for rehabilitation, reducing incarceration and recidivism within the community, and making room for more restorative rather than punitive justice practices.

Here are some of the reasons for these three asks:

Click here to read further.

Under the Mercy,

Fr. Daniel+