SOUTH HADLEY— To recognize poor and vulnerable community members in the season of giving, Center Church will host a 30-minute Vigil for Economic Justice Saturday at 10 a.m. The event was organized in response to the new tax bill that some criticize unfairly favors the rich.
“We want to bring up the community,” said the Rev. Lori Souder. “We want to raise awareness to these important topics we all need to be addressing.”
Organized by congregation members Stephanie Strand and Bob Judge, the event aims to bring attention to the harmful repercussions of the new tax bill, the erosion of social programs in the U.S. and the vulnerable populations affected by these changes. Souder is particularly concerned with the future of Medicaid, Social Security, and welfare.
“We are not playing partisan here, we are just speaking out for what is just,” said Souder.
In the past, Center Church has held vigils for immigrant rights and an end to war attended by members of the Democratic Club of South Hadley and Mount Holyoke College students. Most recently, In October and November, the church held vigils for gun safety attended by about 20 people each. Each year, the church chooses one social issue to focus their attention on and organize around, with this year’s theme being “new Americans” and refugees.
“In this Christmas season, as Congress prepares to enact enormous tax cuts for the wealthy while gutting social programs, let us pause to stand up for the poor and vulnerable, as Jesus calls us to do,” the church wrote in a Dec. 4 Facebook post.
Center Church is located at 1 Church St. in South Hadley, opposite the Village Commons. All are welcome to attend the vigil, signs will be provided, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own as well.
Sarah Robertson can be reached at srobertson@gazettenet.com