Sept. 17 – National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)

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A Moment for Mission

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord pushed the sea back by a strong east wind all night, turning the sea into dry land. The waters were split into two. —Exodus 14:21, CEB

Hispanic Heritage Month is an official celebration of people whose ancestry can be traced back to Spain, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Hispanic Heritage Month “pays tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society[A1] ,” according to HispanicHeritageMonth.gov.

The celebration starts in the middle of the month because the 15th marks the independence days of five Latin America countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and Belize follow shortly after, on Sept. 16, 18 and 21 (Source: TIME).

Rev. Liana Pérez Félix writes: “Those of us who are part of a faith community, where we are identified as people, feel the support and respect for who we are and why we exist. In [T]he United Methodist Church, we have groups such as The National Plan for Hispanic-Latino Ministry, M.A.R.C.H.A. (Methodists Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic Americans), Hispanic Women, Hispanic Clergywomen and others who struggle to defend our cause and advocate for the Hispanic-Latino people. This reinforces our idiosyncrasies and motivates us to go forward in a process of continuous identification as children of God and in defense of who we are and what we can contribute to this nation without assimilating ourselves to the American culture.”

Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month celebrates the contributions of Hispanic-Latino people to this nation. This month is not only so that we may celebrate who we are but also for the whole nation to celebrate with us the fact that we can be part of this nation without abandoning or diminishing our Hispanic-Latino culture.

Children’s Message

Read Exodus 14:21 (CEB): “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord pushed the sea back by a strong east wind all night, turning the sea into dry land. The waters were split into two.”

Briefly tell the children the story of Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. Explain how God performed a miracle by parting the waters, allowing the Israelites to escape slavery and find freedom. It was a moment of independence for the Israelites.

Show the children the pictures or symbols representing different Hispanic cultures and independence. Explain that during Hispanic Heritage Month, people celebrate the independence and accomplishments of Hispanic individuals and communities throughout history.

Show the children each country on a map as you share the dates of independence: September 15th marks the independence of five Latin America countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico celebrates independence on Sept 16, Chile on Sept. 18 and Belize on Sept. 21. Hispanic Heritage Month is an official celebration of people whose ancestry can be traced back to Spain, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. 

Just as God made a way for the Israelites to cross the sea and find freedom, we likewise recognize independence is a precious gift to celebrate.

Offertory Prayer (From Discipleship Ministries)

Generous God, you have given so much to us in love and joy—every good thing in our life reflects your caring. Even in the giving of our offerings, we have tried to give our best but know we could do more. In a world where forgiveness has become a rare commodity, it is often an asset we hold back to maintain power over one another. Help us to hear the teaching of Jesus in the generosity of forgiveness. May we learn to give that to others with wild extravagance! We pray in the name of Christ, who gave all. Amen (Matt 18:21-35).

Newsletter Nugget

National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, began in the United States to highlight the history, culture and contributions of Hispanic Americans—specifically those whose ancestors came from the Caribbean, Central and South America, Mexico and Spain. Communities honor the achievements of Hispanic and Latino Americans with festivals and educational activities.

Hispanic Heritage Week began in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson. President Ronald Reagan later extended it to a 30-day celebration. It was enacted into law in August 1988.

The dates are significant because Sept. 15 is the independence anniversary for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The independence days of Mexico and Chile are Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.

During National Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans in The United Methodist Church and around the world who have inspired others to achieve success.

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