On Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, Holy Cross Lutheran Church will host a forum on Creating Hate-Free Zones in our community. The event, which is open to the public, will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the church located at 6193 Spring Hill Drive. What a hate-free zone is or looks like is open for discussion and will be the focus of the forum, which kicks off a monthly “Community Topics Series” that is intended to provide help and guidance with issues related to daily living.
Interim Pastor of the church, Thomas Weitzel states, “We’ve been talking about this topic in our congregation, especially since the events that occurred in our nation just prior to the mid-term elections in November [pipe bombs showing up in the mail and the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh]. The problem is how to address the rise of disrespect and hate in our society.”
Morris Porton from the Chamber of Commerce, County Commissioner John Mitten and Hernando Sun publishers Julie and Rocco Maglio, with Reverend Weitzel moderating, will make up the panel to lead the discussion on this issue. Attendees are invited to give their input, as well.
“We have to do something to address the rising hate in our society and how to curb it. There are a lot of answers to this. We have to begin this conversation and it’s bigger than just the church. It’s a community issue. You don’t have to go to southeast Florida to see a van with stickers all over it that are hate stickers. It’s right in our own area. It’s certainly not going to get any better unless we do something about it. This is a way to make it start,” Reverend Weitzel concludes.
These monthly Community Topics Series will take place each fourth Thursday of the month. February’s topic will be “Personal Money Management,” which will be led by Gloria Lewis, former executive director for Big Brothers-Big Sisters National, and a team of money management advisers. Future topics that are planned include ideas for single parenting, how to spot a scammer and supporting our youth.
For more information call 352-683-9016.
