In October we once again invite contributions to the United Church of Christ denomination-wide special offering, Neighbors in Need, supporting ministries that address poverty, economic development, human rights, peacemaking, violence, racial and economic justice, environmental concerns, and public policy advocacy in the United States.  We at Amistad have a vested interest in the Neighbors in Need offering as it helps fund the work of the UCC Justice & Witness Ministries, the sponsor of our William Sloane Coffin local church justice award!

October is also the time when we fill up a Balikbayan Box for shipment to Cebu in time for Christmas.  Small toys, children's books, school supplies, dried fruits and candies, children's chewable vitamins, etc. -- what we might call "stocking stuffers".  We'll fill in any empty space with bags of rice and cans of tuna, Vienna sausages and Spam.  We'll ship the box by the end of October.

At the end of September the balance in our Mission Fund stood at $83.68.  More will accumulate during October.  It has been our tradition to send $100 to the Vacaville Veterans' Hall for their Community Thanksgiving Dinner, and to pay the shipping costs for the Christmas Balikbayan Box.  Is that okay with folks to do that again?  (The Neighbors in Need offering will, of course, be above and beyond that.) 

California Church IMPACT, advocacy arm of the California Council of Churches, has published its highly-regarded Ballot Recommendations at http://www.calchurches.org/2-Ballot-Recommendation.htm.   I will print out copies and have them available here.  I myself really rely on the in-depth analysis of ballot propositions by the staff and board of IMPACT; on our behalf they advocate for those who can't afford high-priced lobbyists: low-income mothers, hungry children, the elderly.  Voting matters.

Recycling Reminder:  for some unfathomable reason, apartment dwellers in Vacaville don't get recycling service.  A couple of folks have been bringing their "special offering" of recyclables on Friday evenings to put in our big blue bin.  Others are welcome to do so, at least until the bin starts to overflow!  For a list of acceptable items see http://www.vacavillerecycling.com/vaca_pages/articles.html#toters .  I also keep a jar of used batteries which I take to the Vacaville Household Hazardous Waste center; you are welcome to contribute to that as well!

In closing, please keep B.J. in your prayers as she undergoes rehab and physical therapy after hip replacement surgery.  Address for cards: