"Immigration and the Outrageous Hospitality of Jesus"

MFSA Alert
From the Methodist Federation for Social Action,
California-Pacific Chapter

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The subject of immigration fills the pages of our newspapers and the airtime of television commentators on a daily basis. Right now, Congress is working again on rewriting our nation's immigration laws. Many in our country are blaming our nation's economic problems on immigrants. Yet, as Christians, we clearly are called by scripture to welcome and care for the strangers among us.

This issue is complex and many Christians are not in agreement on how we should respond, especially here in southern California. But it is a subject that cannot be avoided by people of faith, for it can be a matter of life and death for our brothers and sisters.

The complexities of immigration today can be easier to talk about after you have had the opportunity to be in conversation with intelligent and prophetic people of faith who are working in the field.

That is why MFSA, in partnership with 2 global boards of the UMC and The Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights, presents a day of "United Methodist conversation on the challenge of immigration" - Immigration and the Outrageous Hospitality of Jesus.

The “conversation” begins at 9:00 am, on Saturday, April 21st, at La Plaza United Methodist Church.
See the announcement below for all the vital details.

We have assembled some of the most knowledgeable and experienced national leaders for this gathering,
which is planned for BOTH clergy and lay people.

The purpose of this event is at least 2-fold:

1) EDUCATION: What is actually happening today?
You may be surprised by what you learn.

2) ACTION: What should we as faithful people do about it?
Expert leadership from those in the field.

We are presenting cutting-edge, hands-on workshops that offer direct ways to get involved:

+ a workshop convened by the California Council of Churches to inform us about what our legislators are doing and how to work with them,
+ a workshop about what the Cal-Pac Conference of the UMC is doing currently and what it might do better, convened by Jennifer Gutierrez,
+ a workshop on the current situation for the diverse community of day laborers in our area, with national leader and organizer Pablo Alvarado,

… and more!
There are a wide variety of workshops to fit a variety of people.

So, let us prepare to spread the hope of the resurrection to the millions who are so often seen as unwelcome "strangers" in our midst. Let us find new ways to continue to spread the love of God, by being the heart, hands and feet of Christ this Easter season and beyond!

Use the contact information below, to call or email with your registration now.

THE PROPHETIC CHURCH:
“Immigration and the
Outrageous Hospitality of Jesus”


A UNITED METHODIST CONVERSATION ON THE

CHALLENGE OF IMMIGRATION

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Saturday, April 21
9:00 am - 1:00 pm

La Plaza United Methodist Church
115 Paseo de la Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012

(Paseo de la Plaza is off of N. Main St, between Cesar Chavez Ave.
and Arcadia St, in downtown Los Angeles. Use this link for a yahoo map:
http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?addr=115+Paseo+de+la+Plaza&csz=Los+Angeles%2C+CA&country=us&new=1&name=&qty=

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Featuring:
Jim Winkler
General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society, United Methodist Church

Pablo Alvarado
National Coordinator, National Day Laborers Network

Rev. Luis Garcia
Joint Commission Project on Border Issues, United Methodist Church

Rev. Louis Chase
Co-President, Methodist Federation for Social Action, Cal-Pac Chapter

ALSO:

Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE)

California Council of Churches/IMPACT

The Women's Cooperative - IDEPSCA

MUSIC: Los Jornaleros Del Norte
and Rev. David Farley

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REGISTER with our MFSA registrar, Krista McVey:
(760) 362-1128, mcvey@roadrunner.com

Cost: $5 at the door; Bring $5-10 for parking also.

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Hosted by: Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA),
Cal-Pac Chapter
and The Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights

Sponsored by: The National Hispanic Plan (UMC)
and The General Board of Church & Society