Alka's Angle

The Bishops of the United Methodist Church had their spiring meeting in Chicago recently where they, in collaboration with the Connectional Table, developed and released the denomination’s new “Vision Statement.” It is the result of a multi-year process of discernment to capture these kernels of truth rooted in scripture and lead the United Methodist Church forward into a hope-filled future. United Methodists are called to “embody this vision as we

Continuing on the theme of ‘Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month,’ did you know that Asians are often referred to as the ‘Model Minority’? Sounds amazing, right?

May is observed as Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month because in the 1970’s, Jeannie Jew, a former Capitol Hill staffer, approached the office of Representative Frank Horton with the idea that the contribution of Asians in the history of the United States of America should be officially recognized and celebrated. That effort first lead to the designation of the week of May 4 as Asian Pacific American Heritage Week and eventually designating the entire month of May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. May was so chosen because:

It is Friday! Good Friday, as we know it, in the Christian calendar. We call it good because it commemorates the day Jesus was crucified, and view it as a crucial act ‘necessary’ for the salvation of humanity. Whether this is your theological grounding or not, this day does not mark the end- because we have EASTER! We are Easter people! We know the rest of the story! We remember the pain and the agony that Jesus suffered through, but we know Sunday is coming!

It is cold! And for that reason I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the reality that this Sunday is Palm Sunday, already! Already!