Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action

From National MFSA office:

“This is the sort of fast that pleases me:
Remove the chains of injustice!
Let those who are oppressed go free,
and break every yoke you encounter!
Share your bread with those who are hungry,
and shelter homeless poor people!
Clothe those who are naked,
and don’t hide from the needs of your own flesh and blood!
Do this, and your light will shine like the dawn —
and your healing will break forth like lightning!
Your integrity will go before you,
and the glory of YHWH will be your rearguard.”
Isaiah 58: 6-8 — The Inclusive Bible

Jan L. Richardson in her poem “Blessing the Dust” describes Ash Wednesday in this way: “This is the day we freely say we are scorched. This is the hour we are marked by what has made it through the burning.”

Today is the day we acknowledge our humanity, our mortality and our interconnectedness to the earth. The day we say the fires stoked by the flames of injustice may have marked us but, we are rising from its ashes.

Today is the day we begin the fast preparing us for the long journey that will lead to new life in the resurrection. This Lent we will journey alongside the prophet Isaiah exploring what it means to be people of faith fasting from injustice.

Will you join us in our fast by making a contribution to support our work to seek racial, gender and economic justice for all people? 

Our legacy of fasting from injustice is faithfully long. We’ve been scorched by the powers and principalities of this nation and of this denomination. As Richardson described “we are marked by what has made it through the burning” and as our baptismal covenant proclaims we continue to rise up and “resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever form it presents itself.” In 1908 our founders envisioned “equal rights and complete justice for all.” We continue that struggle today.

Join us as we rise up and resist all that stands in the way of love in the rotundas of our city halls and the floors of our General Conference. Your support is more important than ever as we prepare for a special session of General Conference in 2019 as well as continue to resist evil, injustice and oppression at the local, state and federal level.

Your voice makes sacred change possible each and every day.