Dear Friends in Christ,
Gun violence has increased 135% in Aurora in 2021. Have you wondered how the congregation that you serve can take faith-based action in response to this pervasive violence?
Join Mountain View United Church, Aurora and 6th Avenue United Church of Christ, Denver as we create an ecumenical coalition to host a RAWtools Gun BuyBack on Sunday, January 16, 2022 to get guns off the streets. RAWtools literally “turns guns into plowshares” by cutting the surrendered guns into pieces that are later foged into garden tools and jewelry.
We need to raise $10,000 to host a RAWtools Gun BuyBack. This money is used to pay individuals for each gun surrendered. The buybacks are: $100 for long guns like hunting rifles; $200 for handguns; $300 for assault rifles. We believe we can do this with the help of an ecumenical coalition of Christians who are tired of the scourge of gun violence in our neighborhoods. Here is the breakdown for fundraising per congregation:
10 congregaitons - $1,000; 15 congregations - $666; 20 congregations 500; 25 congregations - $400
On January 16, 2022, the Sunday of MLK Day weekend, we will honor the nonviolent legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a worship service at 6th Ave. UCC (10:00-11:00) where volunteers will be blessed and commissioned for the Gun BuyBack that will be hosted at Mountain View United Church (1:00-3:00). During the worship service surrendered guns will be sawed into pieces to be made into garden tools and other resistance art.
Our partner “RAWtools’ mission to “disarm hearts, forge peace, cultivate justice” is driven by our ability to make a choice about the tools we use to navigate conflict. As we lose more than 109 people a day to gun violence in the United States, it’s becoming more and more clear that guns have no place in conflict resolution. Many folks donate their guns to RAWtools because they do not need them anymore”(from RAWtools website.)
We ask that congregations take a special offering during Advent, on Christmas Eve, or on Epiphany Sunday in the spirit to turn “guns into plowshares” as a gift to the Prince of Peace. Let us be messengers of justice and goodwill just like the wisemen who visited the Christ child and returned a different way as a defiant act of justice confronting Herod and his reign of terror. Gun violence in the U.S.A. is a reign of terror in our schools and neighborhoods. Let us join our hearts and fianncial gifts to confront and transform tools of terror to tools of life this Advent, Christmas and Epiphany.
Online giving option: Go to mtviewunited.org click on the Donation link. Once in tithe.ly click on “Mission All.” Once you have filled out the amount donated write “buyback” in the memo.
We are confident that as an ecumencial coalition of congregations we are able to raise $10,000 to jointly sponsor the January 16th RAWtools Gun BuyBack! Your commitment date is Janauray 6th – Epiphany! Will you step up and courageously support this effort? Please contact Rev. Tracy Hughes or Rev. Chris Gilmore if you have any questions.
Peace and Blessings,
Rev. Dr. Tracy L. Hughes and Rev. Chris Gilmore
Lead Minister Lead Minister
Mountain View United Church 6th Avenue United Church of Christ
10700 E. Evans Avenue 3250 E. 6th Avenue
Aurora, CO 80012 Denver, CO 80206
revtracy@mtviewunited.org chris@sixthavenueucc.org