I would like to recommend a 4-part congregational study guide that has been prepared for the North Carolina Council of Churches by Partners in Health and Wholeness. With the recent natural disasters in North Carolina, as well as around the world, we should consider those who are less fortunate. Their circumstances may impact their mental health. Then we have the tension and anxiety just before election day.
The 37-page guide is entitled Abundant Life in Mind, Body, and Spirit and is available to download from the Council’s website. Each session includes a reflection on scripture, discussion, a frame of reference for the group process, and case studies. The course provides resources of where to direct our congregations for more long-term help.
The assumption of HEALTH: physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Immigration Reform
The Hot Potato Nobody Wants to Touch
Immigration returned to the news cycle with Former President Trump attacking the Haitian Immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. His claims were proven false, but it still stirred up more threats of violence.
The Border Security Bill, S 4361, would have restricted migrants claiming asylum, clarified the White House’s parole authority, ended asylum seekers remaining in the U.S. while they waited for hearings, and given the President authority to close the southern border, when the number of migrants got too high. It failed in the Senate in May and never made it to the House. Meanwhile, Biden issued new asylum restrictions that also reduced illegal border crossings. In recent years, most of those crossing the southern border have come from Central America, Africa, and Asia rather than from Mexico. In fact, we have a net migration to Mexico.
Empty Swimming Pool
Summer Is Almost Over
From the three weeks of drought in June to August when we got 5 - 8 inches of rain, the weather has been in the news. Summer thunderstorms are the norm, but even the tail end of hurricanes can carry a wallop. Hurricanes contribute a significant amount to the annual rainfall total in North Carolina.
It didn't rain last night. It must have been the wind.So that’s it for the weather. Politics also contributed to the heat with both national campaigns visiting North Carolina multiple times. That would seem to indicate that the campaigns feel that North Carolina is in play. I wish I could have similar report for in-state races. The local candidates seem to be ignored by the media.