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Issue 1, 2024
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Health
NEW CLUES TO HELP DIAGNOSE ALZHEIMER'S
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How Alzheimer’s disease forms remains a medical mystery… However, a recent study is inching scientists closer to understanding the sequence of biological changes that can lead to the disease… The 20- year “China Cognition and Aging Study,” published in The New England Journal of Medicine, allowed scientists to find patterns of an Alzheimer’s-linked protein in the spinal fluid of subjects who would go on to be diagnosed with the disease 18 years later… The scientific community is optimistic this finding will ultimately let them find a window of time to take preventative measures or treat Alzheimer’s more effectively.
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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS TO PASTORS
Everence® is working with the Lilly Endowment Inc.’s National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders… Since 2016 we have received grants to establish a Pastoral Financial Wellness Program, through which we assist with financial assistance grants, financial education events and financial planning subsidies… We understand pastors often face unique and challenging financial circumstances, which can put pressure on their personal and ministerial health… To learn more about the Everence Pastoral Financial Wellness Program, visit everence.com/pastoral-financial-wellness.
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Mental Wellness
IT'S OK TO SAY NO SOMETIMES
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The next time you don’t feel like accepting an invitation to a movie or a lunch from your friend, just say no!... People often overestimate the negative ramifications that arise after declining, according to a study published by the American Psychological Association… Drawing from other studies, the researchers suggest inviters are capable of understanding what goes through the mind of invitees that leads them to decline… The researchers felt the timing was important for this study, as it has been reported recently that people, now more than ever, feel burned out and that their time is stretched too thin.
Source: Saying no: The negative ramifications from invitation declines are less severe than we think (American Psychological Association)
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Religion
RELIGIOUS GENEROSITY CONTINUES AMID INFLATION
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Religious Americans continue to give to both their houses of worship and other causes with money and in-kind donations despite rising costs for daily living… According to a report from Givelify and Indiana University’s Lake Institute on Faith and Giving, most religious donors gave the same amount of money – or more – to their congregations in 2023 as in 2022… The report’s findings are based on responses from 2,000 religious Americans and 980 faith leaders… Most of the respondents were Christians.
Source: Religious donor keep giving to houses of worship and beyond amid inflation (Religion News Service)
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MYNEIGHBOR GIVES TO LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITIES
Everence donated more than $536,000 earlier this year to 585 charitable organizations and congregations through the MyNeighbor Program… Giving through the MyNeighbor program is simple: Each time a cardholder uses their MyNeighbor card to buy groceries, pay bills or make other purchases, Everence will donate 1.50% of the purchase total to the charity of the cardholder’s choice… In January, Everence writes and sends checks to the selected charities… Since its inception in April 2017, the MyNeighbor program has generated more than $2.7 million for congregations, schools and other nonprofit organizations… To learn more about the MyNeighbor program, visit everence.com/myneighbor.
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Finances
EXCESSIVE CREDIT CARD LATE FEES NOW BANNED
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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized a rule in March to cut excessive credit card late fees… The rule will bring down the typical fee of $32 down to $8… Critics say this new rule will push banks to find another way to make up for the lost revenue… However, their rule brings immediate relief to some, as the high fees were costing American families more than $14 billion a year, according to the CFPB… The bureau also reported that consumers paid a record-high $130 billion in credit card interest and fees in 2022, and the average cardholder carries a balance of over $5,000.
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Religion
CROSS-DENOMINATIONAL FRIENDSHIPS
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About four-in-ten U.S. adults say that all or most of their friends have the same religion they do… But about six-in-ten say they have at least some friends whose religions differ from their own, according to the Pew Research Center… While it’s common for Americans to befriend people from different faiths, most do not discuss religion with others very frequently, according to a separate survey done earlier in 2023… In the earlier 2023 survey, 62% of U.S. adults said that when someone disagrees with them about religion, it’s best to try to understand the person’s belief and agree to disagree.
Source: A majority of Americans have friends of a different religion (Pew Research Center)
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Environment
SEA OTTERS RESCUE THEIR HABITAT
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The California sea otter, once hunted to near-extinction, has made a remarkable comeback in the last century… Now, scientists are learning that the species has been helping restore their coastal marsh habitat from erosion… A story published in the scientific journal Nature described the otters as safeguarding creek beds by eating burrowing crabs, which weaken the soft, silty earth with their digging… The scientists compared the efforts to protect sea otters with those of protecting gray wolves, and how both efforts are now paying off by restoring habitats in the country that had been affected in the past by heavy hunting.
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Connect with us
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Toolkit is a quarterly newsletter on faith, finances and community topics, to help people think creatively about their God-given gifts.
Everence helps individuals, organizations and congregations integrate finances with faith through a national team of financial professionals. Everence offers banking, insurance and financial services with community benefits and stewardship education.
Securities offered through Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Investments and other products are not NCUA or otherwise federally insured, may involve loss of principal and have no credit union guarantee. Products and services offered through Everence Trust Company and other Everence entities are independent of and are not guaranteed or endorsed by Concourse Financial Group Securities, or its affiliates.
Products and services offered through Everence Trust Company and other Everence entities are independent of and are not guaranteed or endorsed by ProEquities, Inc., or its affiliates. Some Everence products and services may not be available in your state.
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