Great Rivers IL Conference of U.M. Church/denomination: news about Fairview Heights Christ UMC : it leaves conference & UM denomination

from Great Rivers website http://igrc.org/ 

May 18, 2021

https://www.igrc.org/newsdetail/fairview-heights-christ-leaves-the-united-methodist-church-15254641

June 1, 2021 -- Governor Whitmer's announcement on 3rd Thursday of May 5/20

 from 95.3 WHMN Talk Radio web news article

On Thursday, Michigan’s governor announced some major steps forward to reopening the state.

Whitmer says the state will lift all outdoor capacity limits and increase indoor capacity to 50% on June 1.

And on July 1 Michigan’s broad mask mandate and all indoor capacity restrictions will be lifted.

Whitmer says fully vaccinated Michiganders no longer need to wear face masks when indoors or outdoors in most cases, and these decisions are based on recently updated guidance from the CDC.

Vaccinated people will still need to wear face coverings if required by a business or place of work when there.

An updated order from the state’s Department of Health is expected on Monday, Maay 24, 2021

Friday -- Virtual Learning Day - Edwardsburg Public Schools (Cass County, MI) - due to heat and lack of A/C

 Edwardsburg, MI Public Schools (K-12)

Friday May 21, 2021

All Edwardsburg Public Schools will switch to virtual learning on Friday, May 21 due to expected high temperatures combined with the continued state mask mandate.

The Public Schools’ Heat Index Preparedness Plan indicates that face-to-face instruction can happen when temperatures do not exceed 85 degrees.

In-person learning will go on as planned on Thursday, as temperatures that day are expected to reach 84 degrees. During Thursday classes, students and adults are allowed to take off their masks temporarily if they are having trouble breathing.

Classes will be virtual on Friday as temperatures are expected to reach above 85 degrees. All after school student activities will resume as scheduled.

The Heat Index Preparedness Plan was created in August 2020 in response to concerns posed by staff and families about high temperatures in the schools combined with the mask mandate. Many of the EPS buildings have areas that are not air conditioned.

Ozone ACTION / Air Quality Alert Day -- issued by Nat. Weather Service -- for Berrien County, Michigan USA - May 21, 2021

 www.weather.com/ For Niles, Michigan USA

Affected Area

Berrien County

Description

...Air Quality Alert for Friday, May 21, 2021... The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has declared Friday, May 21...to be an Action Day for elevated levels of ozone. Pollutants are expected to be in the unhealthy for sensitive groups range. The Action Day is in effect for the following Michigan counties... Berrien and Cass. People and businesses are urged to avoid activities which lead to ozone formation. These activities include...refueling vehicles or topping off when refueling...using gasoline powered lawn equipment...and using charcoal lighter fluid.

Positive activities include...car pooling...biking to work...delaying or combining errands...and using water based paints. It is recommended that active children and adults...and persons with respiratory diseases such as asthma...limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

Full Moon this Merry Month of May will include a Total Lunar Eclipse

 www.almanac.com/

May’s full Flower Moon reaches peak illumination at 7:14 A.M. (EDT) on Wednesday, May 26. It will be very close to or below the horizon at this time, so plan to venture outdoors the night before (Tuesday, May 25) or on Wednesday night to get the best view of the bright full Flower Moon! Find a location with unobstructed views of the horizon, if possible. See what time the Moon will be visible in your area with our Moonrise and Moonset Calculator.

DON’T MISS THE “BLOOD MOON” TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE… VISIBLE IN SOME AREAS!

This month’s full Moon coincides with a total lunar eclipse! A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth stands directly between the Moon and the Sun, which results in Earth casting its shadow on the Moon. During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon is fully obscured by Earth’s shadow, giving the Moon a reddish hue. This phenomenon is where the term “blood moon” comes from. 

This total lunar eclipse occurs in the pre-dawn hours of May 26 and will only be visible for stargazers in western North America, western South America, eastern Asia, and Oceania. In the U.S., those who are located east of the Mississippi will experience a partial lunar eclipse before the Moon sets below the horizon

U.S. to share COVID-19 vaccines (source: USA Today) - May 17, 2021

 The  United States will send at least 80 million doses of coronavirus vaccines to other countries by the end of June 2021, President Joe Biden said Monday May 16.

Twenty million doses are from Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, Biden said. He previously agreed to share up to 60 million doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine, which has not been authorized for emergency use in the U.S by the Food and Drug Administration.

"We're taking another step to help the world," Biden said. "It's the right thing to do. It's the smart thing to do."

The announcements come as the U.S. and other developed nations face increasing criticism for monopolizing vaccines while the developing world struggles. Demand in the U.S. has stalled in recent weeks, and vaccine "hesitancy" is blamed for a steady decline in jabs.

Biden said Jeff Zients, the White House coronavirus coordinator, will lead the global vaccination effort. The U.S. will work with COVAX, a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to coronavirus vaccines.

Eid Celebration at Biden-Harris White House (Sunday May 16, 2021)

from Politico dot-com (May 16 article)

The Council on American-Islamic Relations on Saturday said it will boycott the traditional White House Eid celebration in protest at the Biden administration’s actions amid escalating violence between Israeli and Palestinian forces.

American Muslims for Palestine is also boycotting the White House’s virtual Eid celebration, which is scheduled to take place Sunday. CAIR had previously boycotted multiple traditional White House events under the Trump administration.

In a statement released by the White House on Friday (May 14, 2021), Biden said: “Jill and I are looking forward to the White House’s commemoration of Eid this Sunday. We were heartened to see Eid celebrations around the world, but we know that this year, the situation in the Holy Land is weighing heavily on Muslims everywhere, including our Muslim communities here in the United States.“

“Palestinians—including in Gaza—and Israelis equally deserve to live in dignity, safety and security. No family should have to fear for their safety within their own home or place of worship. We think most about the children in these societies who face trauma from a conflict far beyond their control. My administration will continue to engage Palestinians, Israelis, and other regional partners to work towards a sustainable calm.”