More Light Presbyterians reminds us:
December 1, 2005, World AIDS Day: A Day of
Remembrance, Prayer and Action for More Light Presbyterians
[11-25-05]
December 1 is World AIDS Day. It is the 18th annual
observance having begun in 1988 as a worldwide event established to increase
awareness and education regarding HIV and AIDS. For people of faith and
those of us within More Light Presbyterians, this is a Day of Remembrance,
Prayer and Action.
The worldwide theme is "Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise" with
the 2005 theme in the United States, "Action Makes a Difference," focusing
upon the importance of prevention, testing, treatment, and care programs for
persons at risk for or living with HIV/AIDS.
What is the face of HIV/AIDS in our country?
It is thought that more than one
million people are living with HIV in the USA and that more than
half a million have died after
developing AIDS. Since the beginning of the epidemic, an estimated
529,113 people with AIDS have died in
the USA. At the end of 2004, the CDC estimates that
415,193 people were living with AIDS in the USA.
What is the global face of HIV/AIDS?
More than 25 million
people have died of AIDS since 1981. Africa has 12
million AIDS orphans. By December 2005 women accounted for
46% of all adults living with HIV
worldwide, and for 57% in sub-Saharan
Africa. Young people (15-24 years old) account for
half of all new HIV infections worldwide - more than
6,000 become infected with HIV every
day. Of the 6.5 million people in
developing and transitional countries who need life-saving AIDS drugs, only
1 million are receiving them.
Source of data:
www.avert.org
What can you, your church, youth group, campus ministry or
seminary community do on December 1?
1. Make this a Day of Remembrance, Prayer and Action.
Remember those persons you have known and loved who have died with HIV/AIDS.
Pray for those persons you know who are living with HIV or AIDS that they
may receive good medical care, that they may not be stigmatized because of
this illness, that they will know the loving embrace of God, family, friends
and church. Pray for all persons affected by HIV/AIDS in your family,
church, our nation and the world.
2. Look for a World AIDS Day Service near you -
www.worldaidsday.org/events_all.asp
3. Create a World AIDS Day service on your own - gather a
group of friends in your home or at church and take some time to remember,
reflect, light some candles and pray together. Liturgical resources can be
found at
www.ncccusa.org/pdfs/StopAIDS.pdf
4. Contact PAN - the Presbyterian AIDS Network - to see
what actions and ministries you be part of now and in the new year.
www.panonline.org PAN is part
of PHEWA -www.pcusa.org/phewa
5. Explore what the PCUSA is doing through our National
Health Ministries at
www.pcusa.org/health/usa/resources/aids.htm and The Washington Office,
PCUSA at
www.pcusa.org/washington/issuenet/hc-041020.htm
[Your WebWeaver adds:
Presbyterian International Health Ministries is doing important
AIDS-related work in Africa.]
Remember this is about people, all children of God created
in the image of God and unconditionally loved by God. The numbers and
statistics remind us of the importance and urgency of the HIV/AIDS pandemic
--- and this is about human beings, our sisters and brothers, our children,
mothers, fathers and friends.
Please join More Light Presbyterians in participating in
World AIDS Day on December 1 and make this A Day of Remembrance, Prayer and
Action.
with hope and grace,
Michael
Michael J. Adee, M.Div., Ph.D., National Field Organizer,
More Light Presbyterians, 369 Montezuma Avenue # 447, Santa Fe, NM 87501,
(505) 820-7082,
michaeladee@aol.com,
www.mlp.org
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HIV/AIDS:
www.knowhivaids.org/facts_basics.html
www.unaids.org
www.worldaidscampaign.info
