Weekly eNews: Week of Sunday, Oct. 3
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Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month
Each Sunday of Hispanic Heritage Month we've recognized Hispanic faith leaders, including Rev. Dr. Loida I. Martell and Bishop Óscar Romero. Here Pastor Liza shares about Dr. David Parajón, a missionary supported by RFC:
"Dr. David Parajón and his wife Laura run a ministry in Nicaragua called AMOS. Laura has been to visit our church years ago and my mom, Brian Hunt and I went to visit them in Nicaragua in January of 2014. It was a special trip for me because it was my mom’s last trip before she was diagnosed with ALS. She was limping while we were there.
Amos was founded by Dr. David Parajón's father, Dr. Gustavo Parajón, in 1967. He was both a physician and American Baptist pastor. He saw the overwhelming need for better public health in his country and said that, 'In Nicaragua, a doctor shouldn’t just be a doctor; a doctor must also be a teacher.' This vision for empowerment gave birth to AMOS, which is a health initiative that is devoted to local leadership development. The heart of Dr. Parajón’s work focused on communities themselves, teaching local people to provide basic primary health care services, thereby dramatically reducing unnecessary illness and death. This focus on strengthening communities through education and preventive care lives on in AMOS today.
What I really appreciate about AMOS is that their programs focus on community-based primary health care, which means health care for the community, and by the community. Their model fosters community empowerment to treat illnesses, prevent death and disease, and strengthen local leadership and collaboration. Through their programs, 670 community health workers currently serve approximately 74,600 people in 25 communities of Nicaragua. So it’s really sustainable and is also totally in line with the golden rule of community organizing – never do for others what they can do for themselves."
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Get to Know GHIAA
Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance (GHIAA), of which Riverfront is a member, is having an assembly via Zoom on Sunday, Oct. 24 from 2-4pm. It's an opportunity to celebrate the successes of last year (welfare lien repeal & declaring racism a public health crisis), and a look to the year ahead. Participants will also have the opportunity to attend a breakout sessions, including a GHIAA orientation, an anti-racism training, and a how-to workshop on past winning campaigns. Click here to register.
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Dive Youth Group is BACK!
This fall, we are partnering with two other churches - Immanuel Congregational Church (ICC) & Faith Congregational Church - to get our Dive youth group back up and running! Dive is for all students in grades 6-12. Contact Jessie for more information.
UPCOMING YOUTH EVENTS
- October 3rd - Youth Group
- October 17th - Youth Group
- November 5th & 6th - Lock-in Retreat
- November 21st - Youth Group
- December 5th - Service Project
- December 19th - Christmas Party
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You are welcome here.
We are an open and affirming church, inclusive of all identities –
-- we affirm and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community
-- we are an egalitarian church, affirming and celebrating the gifts of all genders
-- we are an anti-racist church, committed to undoing racism in all its forms
We use the Bible to uplift and liberate.
We use the gift of storytelling to share lived experiences, and to help members see that God is real, and at work all around us.
We fulfill our purpose by joining God in Her work – whoever we are, and wherever we are.
And we believe in loving fiercely, serving to help transform lives, and living life to the full.
All in all - we live, love and serve -- while using our gifts to make earth more like heaven.
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