The Michigan Area prepares to celebrate Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, September 15-October 15.
SONYA LUNA
Director of Hispanic/Latino Ministries, Michigan Area
The Michigan Area Conference Committee on Hispanic/Latino Ministries invites congregations in Michigan to take part in celebrating the Hispanic/Latino Month.
Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month is celebrated yearly, September 15 to October 15. The observance begins in the middle rather than the start of September to coincide with national independence days in several Latin American countries. Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica celebrate their independence on September 15; Mexico on Sept. 16, Chile on Sept. 18 and Belize on Sept 21.
The Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate the Hispanic/Latino culture but also the contributions that Hispanics/Latinos have made to the United States through the years. The U.S. Hispanic population now stands at 57 million, making Hispanics the nation’s second-fastest-growing racial or ethnic group after Asians. Today Hispanics make up 18% of the U.S. population, up from 5% in 1970. Click here for more helpful analysis from the Pew Research Center.
Further, the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministries is celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2017. The Committee in Michigan wants to take this opportunity to celebrate the Hispanic/Latino leadership and ministries here in Michigan.
The Hispanic population is growing in Michigan. Currently there are 477,000 in the state, about 5% of the total population.
The committee suggests that local churches plan a worship service celebrating the Hispanic/Latino Heritage month sometime between September 15 and October 15. That United Methodist Church has provided resources. Click here for those resources. Suggestions are offered in both English and Spanish to be easily assessable.
Some of the worship components are from the Spanish Language Hymnal, Mil Voces, and the Spanish/English Language Worship Book, Fiesta Cristiana. Those are available from Cokesbury. Alternative hymns to sing from The United Methodist Hymnal are: “0 For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” (Hymn 57); “All the Earth is Waiting” (Hymn 201); “Walk on O People of God” (Hymn 305); and “Let’s Sing Unto the Lord” (Hymn 149).
Congregations planning to take part in Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month are asked to email Sonya Luna, Director of Hispanic/Latino Ministries at sluna@detroitconference. She is collecting and re-telling these stories about churches’ decisions to participate.
Last Updated on August 2, 2017