On Sunday, April 6th, Reverend Israel Alvaran preached at First Congregational UCC. Rev. Alvaran is a minister of The United Methodist Church (UMC) from the Philippines. He was granted asylum status by the United States last year due to the political killings and abductions of clergy and other leaders from the progressive community and the labor movement in his homeland. In his sermon, Alvaran urged our church to become a part of the New Sanctuary Movement, a movement of faith communities seeking to stand in solidarity with immigrants by advocating for immigration law reform as well as providing spiritual, material, and legal support to immigrant families. For more information about the New Sanctuary Movement, see www.newsanctuarymovement.org.