![\"\"](\"http:\/\/stlydiasliturgy.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/ferguson-black-lives-matter-slide.jpg\" "\\"ferguson-black-lives-matter-slide\\"")
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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. \u00a0All three were black men. \u00a0All three were killed by police. \u00a0We have seen two of the three police officers involved not indicted for their actions.<\/p>\n
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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. \u00a0We’re asking questions about racial injustice, and how we can be a part of dismantling these systems locally and nationwide.<\/p>\n
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There are a number of ways to be a part of the movement gathering momentum and power in our country. \u00a0We made a big list of them for you\u00a0here<\/a>. \u00a0I’m inviting our congregation to focus our collective efforts in four, particular ways<\/strong> as we continue to build our long-term response to racial injustice in our neighborhood and country.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you’re not currently worshipping with St. Lydia’s, don’t let that stop you. \u00a0Items 1, 2, and 3 are entirely open for your participation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Faith in New York<\/a> 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. \u00a0The event will be led by MPAC (Mobilizing Preachers and Communities, the PICO National Network, the Children’s Defense Fund and other allies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A large protest<\/a> is scheduled for December 13 at 2:00. \u00a0Anyone who would like to may meet at 304 Bond at 1:00 to head to the protest together. \u00a0We’ll hang a sign in our window to invite any neighbors to meet and march with us. \u00a0We’ll also decide on a meeting point near the protest site so that we can all gather together before the protest.<\/p>\n 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<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I’ve challenged the congregation to engage in this practice of economic support and empowerment. \u00a0Take a look\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0to learn more and participate.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Over Christmas, you’re invited to read one<\/strong> of these four books or articles:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Our community will then gather in January to discuss the books and articles together, sharing about the readings and our discoveries on\u00a0Wednesday January 21 at 7:00 pm, 304 Bond Street, Brooklyn.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Faith in New York<\/a>, 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<\/a>\u00a0to address the need for affordable housing for all residents of our city. \u00a0A 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. \u00a0We need to make sure that everyone in our city has access to safe and decent housing.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0So stay tuned for more information about how to participate in this long term effort to address this issue.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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. \u00a0All three were black men. \u00a0All three were killed by police. \u00a0We have seen two of the three police officers involved not indicted for their actions. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2878,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stlydiasliturgy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2851"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stlydiasliturgy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stlydiasliturgy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stlydiasliturgy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stlydiasliturgy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2851"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/stlydiasliturgy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2851\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2899,"href":"https:\/\/stlydiasliturgy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2851\/revisions\/2899"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stlydiasliturgy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stlydiasliturgy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2851"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stlydiasliturgy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2851"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stlydiasliturgy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2851"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}1. Show Solidarity on Friday, December 12 or Saturday December 13<\/h3>\n
2. Buy All Your Christmas Presents from Black Owned Businesses this year<\/h3>\n
3. Participate in St. Lydia’s Winter Reading Series on Racial Injustice<\/h3>\n
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4. Be a part of the Affordable Housing Campaign led by\u00a0Faith in New York<\/a><\/h3>\n