February 3rd, 2015
Get It Done Tuesdays:
Refresh
Re-focus
Re-calibrate
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
9:00 am – 5:30 pm
304 Bond Street, Brooklyn
Attend a Get it Done Tuesday at St. Lydia’s — a day designed to help you get re-focused, refreshed, and recalibrated to do your best work.
If you’re feeling stuck on something, can’t sort out which steps to take first, or just need to burn through your to-do list, this day will be just right for you.
Schedule
9:00 Space open for work, coffee available
10:00 Silent Meditation and Goal Setting
10:15 Work!
1:00 Shared lunch and Workshopping Work Challenges
2:00 Work!
3:30 Short afternoon walk/stretch break and warm cookies
5:30 Check in and Goal Setting for rest of week
5:45 Stay on and keep working if you like!
$20.00 payable on site
Free for Co-working At St. Lydia’s members
Click Here to Sign Up
February 3rd, 2015
Listen to Emily’s latest sermon, now in podcast form for your listening/downloading pleasure!
Does Jesus sending the disciples out two by two mean that we’re all supposed to be going door to door, selling Jesus like traveling salesmen? Or to be more gender inclusive, traveling salespeople?
This one’s on Matthew 10:1-16, take a listen:
January 22nd, 2015
Squeezebox is a place for our Song Leaders, as well as congregants, to learn the songs we sing at St. Lydia’s.
Here they are, song leaders, the songs for January and February (the season after Epiphany) at St. Lydia’s!
Gathering Song
Candle Lighting Song
Table Acclamation
Prayer Song
Final Hymn
January 6th, 2015
In her book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, Michelle Alexander invokes the metaphor of a birdcage to describe the structural racism that plagues our country. She writes,
“If one thinks about racism by examining only one wire of the cage, or one form of disadvantage, it is difficult to understand how and why the bird is trapped. Only a large number of wires arranged in a specific way, and connected to one another, serve to enclose the bird and ensure it cannot escape.”
The Just Reading Circle at St. Lydia’s is an invitation to delve deeply into particular justice issues. This January, we’ll read about structural racism and how we can be a part of dismantling these systems locally and nationwide. Part of this process is learning about each wire of the birdcage Michelle Alexander refers to and educating ourselves about how those wires, together, create a structure in which Black lives are de-valued. So we’ve selected a variety of books that come at the problem of structural racism from different perspectives.
Discussion Time and Place
We’ll come together to discuss the readings. Please come with a quote that struck you in your selected reading, and why it surprised you or changed your perspective.
Wednesday January 21, 2015
7:00 pm
304 Bond Street near Union
Gowanus, Brooklyn
The Books
You’re invited to read one of these four readings listed below, each of which addressed a different “wire” of the cage of structural racism. We’ll come together to discuss the readings on Wednesday January 21 at 7:00 pm, 304 Bond Street, Brooklyn. Please come with a quote that struck you in your selected reading, and why it surprised you or changed your perspective.
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, Michelle Alexander, a book that lays out the injustices of the prison system in our country
- “The Case for Reparations,” Ta Nehisi Coates, an article (available online) that details discriminatory mortgage practices and their influence on American neighborhoods.
- The Cross and the Lynching Tree, James Cone, a short, theological work exploring the interconnection of these two powerful symbols.
- The Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America, Khalil Gibran Muhammad, a book exploring the criminalization of African Americans in our country.
This is an atheist-friendly event! Which means that, though St. Lydia’s is a church community and theology and religion will come up in the conversation, this event is planned with a non-religious audience in mind so that our dialogue may be as broad as possible.
December 20th, 2014
Come celebrate Christmas!
5:30 pm
304 Bond Street
December 24, 2014
We’ll have a simple service with communion, a walk around the block singing carols, then cider and treats.
Bring a pageant costume if you like, or borrow one of ours.
December 9th, 2014
Read Emily’s latest sermon, echoing the prophet Micah’s call for the dismantling of oppressive systems of power and injustice on her blog, Sit and Eat.
December 4th, 2014
This year we have witnessed the deaths of Eric Garner in Staten Island, of Michael Brown in Ferguson, and of Akai Gurley in East New York. All three were black men. All three were killed by police. We have seen two of the three police officers involved not indicted for their actions.
At St. Lydia’s, we have dedicated ourselves to an ongoing conversation about race and racism in our country, framed by our relationship to our new neighborhood. We’re asking questions about racial injustice, and how we can be a part of dismantling these systems locally and nationwide.
There are a number of ways to be a part of the movement gathering momentum and power in our country. We made a big list of them for you here. I’m inviting our congregation to focus our collective efforts in four, particular ways as we continue to build our long-term response to racial injustice in our neighborhood and country.
If you’re not currently worshipping with St. Lydia’s, don’t let that stop you. Items 1, 2, and 3 are entirely open for your participation.
1. Show Solidarity on Friday, December 12 or Saturday December 13
Faith in New York is planning an action called “Prayer, Praise, and Peace for Protest: A Prophetic Response to Violence,” on the steps of City Hall on Friday, December 12 at 3:30 pm. The event will be led by MPAC (Mobilizing Preachers and Communities, the PICO National Network, the Children’s Defense Fund and other allies.
A large protest is scheduled for December 13 at 2:00. Anyone who would like to may meet at 304 Bond at 1:00 to head to the protest together. We’ll hang a sign in our window to invite any neighbors to meet and march with us. We’ll also decide on a meeting point near the protest site so that we can all gather together before the protest.
We’ll be making a large sign for our window and signs for the protest this Sunday, December 7 at 5:00 pm, 304 Bond Street
2. Buy All Your Christmas Presents from Black Owned Businesses this year
I’ve challenged the congregation to engage in this practice of economic support and empowerment. Take a look here to learn more and participate.
3. Participate in St. Lydia’s Winter Reading Series on Racial Injustice
Over Christmas, you’re invited to read one of these four books or articles:
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, Michelle Alexander
- “The Case for Reparations,” Ta Nehisi Coates
- The Cross and the Lynching Tree, James Cone
- The Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America, Khalil Gibran Muhammad
Our community will then gather in January to discuss the books and articles together, sharing about the readings and our discoveries on Wednesday January 21 at 7:00 pm, 304 Bond Street, Brooklyn.
4. Be a part of the Affordable Housing Campaign led by Faith in New York
Faith in New York, the grassroots faith-based organizing group St. Lydia’s has been connecting with, is planning a big push, in collaboration with Real Affordability for All to address the need for affordable housing for all residents of our city. A lack of affordable housing is one of the systemic ways in which low income people are impeded from thriving in our city, and a history of racist housing practices has meant people of color are disproportionately effected. We need to make sure that everyone in our city has access to safe and decent housing.
Faith in New York will be training us to do one-on-ones around affordable housing in our congregation and in our neighborhood this winter. So stay tuned for more information about how to participate in this long term effort to address this issue.
December 4th, 2014
Economic empowerment is a key to the thriving of any community. However, a legacy of injustice and discrimination in our country has often denied and withheld economic opportunity to people of color, especially African Americans. The choices we make about how and where we spend our money have the opportunity to reinforce these norms, or subvert them. In the Gospel of Luke, Mary sings of how God will bring the powerful down from their thrones and lift up those who are low (Luke 1:52). When we boycott we can bring down the powerful. When we spend we can lift up those who have for too long been kept low by discrimination.
This year at St. Lydia’s, Emily has challenged our congregation to buy all of our Christmas presents from Black owned businesses. Our spending can help support African American business owners, shifting the balance of power in our country. In addition, our guess is that this practice will help raise our level of awareness about who are money goes to, and what we’re supporting when we spend.
The list below is still in progress! If you know of black owned businesses in the New York area, please comment below.
Local Businesses in New York
Clothing and Accessories
Jamila’s, Prospect Heights
Kids
My Brooklyn Baby, Fort Greene
Books
Sister’s Uptown Bookstore, Washington Heights
Hue Man Bookstore (online)
Cosmetics
Lisi Cosmetics, Midtown
Coffee Shops
Urban Vintage, Clinton Hill
Restaurants
The Soul Spot, Downtown Brooklyn
Ruthie’s Restaurant, Clinton Hill
Sylvia’s Soul Food, Harlem
Michele’s Catering and Soul Food Bistro, Harlem
People’s Republic of Brooklyn, Carroll Gardens
Ghenet, Boerum Hill
Bakeries
Make My Cake, Harlem
Annie Mae’s Cheesecakes, Harlem
Bed and Breakfasts
Akwaaba Mansion, Bedstuy
Online Merchants
Handcrafted Gifts
Go Etsy! Huffington Post Black Voices has a great list of Black artists and crafts people selling prints, stationary, skin and hair care products, t-shirts, keepsake boxes, bags, accessories, pillows, jewelry, and knitwear. Or check out Etsy’s list of Black owned shops.
Pardon My Fro, for t-shirts and prints
Beads Byaree, for beaded jewelry
Candles from Simply Scents Candle Co or Wax Candle Company
All sorts of stuff from PowWow
Unique items from Sir and Madame
Jamilla Okubo’s work, sold with Society 6
Leather items from Urban Herilooms
Stationary from Primrose Press
Clothes And Jewelry
Minoritees has some incredible t-shirts!
Skirts and accessories from Sofistafunk
Jewelery from Candid or Lingua Nigra
Knitwear from LadieLoops
Kids
ABC Me Flashcards
Amazing dolls and quits from Idk Kids
Skin Care, Hair Care, Nail Polish
Soaps from Smell Good Spa, Nyah, or Beelux
Hair care form Ruth and Mae’s, Koils by Nature, or My Honey Child
Cosmetics from Fashion Fair, Iman, Magnolia Makeup, or Mischo
Skincare from Vera Moore, Belle Butters, Skin Deep or Emily Jayne
Nail Polish from Polish & Co
Skincare for men at La Bella
And check out this list of black owned spas around the country (gift certificates!)
Food
Cake pops from Sugar Puddin Cafe
Gourmet Lollypops from Luxe Lollipops
Garrett Popcorn! Yum!
Specialty Tea from Gullah Girl Tea
Wine from Heritage Link Brands or Rideau Vineyards
The Root has even more ideas here, as does mycoloures.com. Autostraddle offers these Queer Black Owned Businesses and Organizations for us to support. And thank you to Soulreflectionz for the image and many of the shops listed above, as well as Afrobella.com for her incredible list!
November 25th, 2014
Monday night news broke that the Missouri Grand Jury appointed to officer Darren Wilson’s case has decided not to indict Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown. Protesters in Ferguson and across the country have taken to the streets to respond to this decision, demanding that Officer Wilson be brought to trial.
How do we build justice in a nation where an unarmed, black teenager is deemed dangerous for simply walking down the street?
How do we change the system?
How can you be a part of creating change?
Here are some ways to support the work taking place in Ferguson and address systemic racism on a local level. At St. Lydia’s, we’ll continue to work locally with groups like Faith In New York to respond to racial injustice over the long term.
- *Be informed. Read Darren Wilson’s testimony and documents relating to the case.
- *Stay up to date at Ferguson Action and participate in local protests listed on Ferguson Response, including tonight’s protest at Union Square at 7:00 pm. Comment on Emily’s Facebook page if you’d like to meet up with her and other Lydians.
- *Sign PICO’s petition for the immediate de-escalation and de-militarization of law enforcement in Ferguson.
- *Read the Don’t Shoot Coalition’s press release in response to the Grand Jury Decision.
- *Attend this December 9 event hosted by Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou, who’s been on the ground in Ferguson for months.
- *Join the #HandsUpDontSpend movement and Faith in New York and refrain from spending this Friday and Monday. We can make our voices heard through economic impact.
- *Diversify your media. Read news sources and opinion pieces by people of color, written for news outlets run by people of color. Start out with Urban Cusp, Colorlines, This Week In Blackness, and The Root.
- *If you are white, begin and continue to uncover the privileges that are extended to you, but not people of color. Explore resources on white privilege. There is an extensive book list here.
- *Give. Giving money is a real, tangible way to support the work that others are going. You can give to to HandsUpUnited, Operation Help or Hush, or the Ferguson Defense Fund
- *Follow all these organizations on social media. Post and tweet with the hashtags #ferguson #michaelbrown and #shutitdown
- *Get to know your neighbors. Stop to talk to someone on the street. Attend a church you’ve never been to. Build relationships across boundaries of difference.
- *And Pray. Pray without ceasing.
November 6th, 2014
During the season of Advent, we will be creating our own theologies inspired by the biblical verses and themes of St. Lydia’s Justice Series. Come learn to develop your individual and collective theological voices to inform and create opportunities for justice and social transformation.
If you’ve ever thought about God, then Theology Circle is a good place to explore those thoughts in community. Come find and share your voice.
Wednesday November 12
Wendesday, November 19
Wednesday, December 3
All meetings from are 7:00-9:00 pm at 304 Bond Street in Brooklyn.
Learn more on the Theology Circle Facebook page.
