From Annie Lambert

 

Lord,

As these next couple of weeks close the calendar year out…help us pause and be still. Help us reflect on Your faithfulness throughout the year, the times of Your unfailing love when we cried, the times You gave strength when we were unable to stand, the times of joy and hope.

During this last month of 2022, I pray You would heal the pieces of our hearts that need restoration from painful circumstances of the past.

What a blessing that we can come to You, the One who spoke the stars alive, the One whose throne endures forever.

Please hold us all close in the safety of your loving arms.

In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.

It has been my experience that walking with God does not mean that I never weep. It means that I never weep alone.

Because there is a presence with me, and I can't explain it to you. But if you have ever felt that presence that cannot be named, in moments that you've felt afraid or alone…that is God wiping your tears away, covering you with a grace that only He can give.

God is still with us and He always will be. God is bigger than any sadness or any fear that we may be feeling.

There is power in the name of Jesus.

Call on Him.

A Hopeful Message: 2022 Pentecost Offering Video (Creole Subtitles)

 

The Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston on faith, strength, and the sacred---From the Native American/Indigenous Ministries of the Episcopal Church

This could be the story of this blog...

"The more uncertain the world becomes, the tighter my grip on the faith that sustains me. I am not necessarily brave by nature. I am not even strong. But I have a deep confidence based on experience. I know where I need to be when the storm clouds gather. In the Spirit is my life grounded. In the heart of the sacred I will take my stand. The storms may rise and howl, but I will not turn from them, for I have the power of mercy above me, and the source of every hope by my side. I give my trust to the unseen that I may behold more clearly the coming of peace, the presence of peace, in the lives of all who love."

The Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston

Greenleaf Worship Celebration--Every Christian should watch this and carry it back to our churches.

 

From Farm Worker Ministry Northwest: TULIP FARM WORKER UPDATE Cautious Hope: Washington Bulb respects their workers and bargains in good faith

Please see National Farm Worker Ministry for more details.

Good news from our partner, Community to Community:

March 26th, 2022

On Thursday March 24th, an overwhelming majority of tulip harvesters at RoozenGaarde Tulips voted to join Familias Unidas por la Justicia farm worker labor union and asked them to represent them in the first negotiations meeting Friday, March 25.

After three days of strikes, the majority of the farm workers at Roozengaarde have agreed to pause their strike in good faith to meet with management at the company’s main headquarters. The workers also voted to unionize with Familias Unidas por la Justicia (Families United for Justice) with 93 workers voting to join the union. WA State Representative Debra Lekanoff conducted a count of the signed union membership cards as a neutral party.

Please call Washington Bulb/RoozenGarde and thank them for respecting their workers and bargaining in good faith.
(360) 424-5533

“We are optimistic that we can reach an agreement that will give us a voice to create just working conditions and address the demands we presented to management through good faith negotiations,” said Alfredo Juarez, a RoozenGaarde worker and strike leader.

The workers initially walked out on Tuesday, March 22 after an angry exchange with a supervisor about an irregularity in their pay. They called the union Familias Unidas por la Justicia  to demand changes on a host of other grievances including low pay, unfair firings and treatment, lack of adequate PPE for working with harsh chemicals, lack of breaks and more.

Some of the workers have been planting bulbs, cutting the stemmed blossoms and harvesting the bulbs for over 10 years at Washington Bulb to help make the Tulip Festival successful. They shared stories of working long hours in the deep mud in cold and wet winter conditions to make the beautiful spring tulip bloom possible. “We want to be treated with respect for our work and recognized as human beings with families that should be earning a wage where we can live with dignity,” said Juarez. “The Tulip Festival should not be just about the flowers,” he added.

With the famous Skagit Tulip Festival less than a week away the workers are hopeful that they can reach a fair agreement with management and the public can have confidence that the workers who create the beautiful tulip vistas they come to enjoy have just working conditions and fair wages.

On Friday, March 25 the elected Committee and their Union Representatives, Ramon Torres and Edgar Franks met with Washington Bulb management and began discussions on the list of demands.

The Committee reported that there was good progress made because of the good faith Washington Bulb Management brought to the table.  Discussions will continue Monday, March 28 and the strike remains suspended.
 
Familias Unidas por la Justicia and the elected committee at Washington Bulb’s Roozengaarde would like to thank all the community support received from supporters state wide and even from other states. “This is a good beginning,” Said Ramon Torres, President of Familias Unidas por la Justicia, “We will keep our supporters updated on our Facebook page.”

Ministry & Mental Health

Imagine with Me: Joceyln Spence from the National Benevolent Association talks about Mental Health & Ministry