| Black Cross with Red Sky by Georgia O'Keeffe evokes Good Friday |
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| Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
James 3:18 |
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| This beautiful mosaic, tiled by members of St. Bede's, Santa Fe, NM, is an exquisite addition to their newly renovated sanctuary. Lovelier still are the many parishioners who heed their baptismal call to work for justice all over the planet, notably in Palestine and right here in the Diocese of the Rio Grande. EPF is grateful for the financial support and action of the dozens of members who contribute to our social justice ministries. (I should not have been surprised to find such breathtaking art in a church in Santa Fe!) |
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| I have been looking forward to my time in Santa Fe since we started on this Year of Action pilgrimage. It's one of those places built up in my imagination by friends who have visited here before as a sort of mecca for all things art and nature. And since I have come to know Catherine Willmott and Kathy Christison through our EPF Palestine Israel Network, I have been even more eager to get to this part of New Mexico. These ladies are devoted activists for justice in Palestine, and are the dearest and most hospitable of hostesses to Steven, Miranda and me. We got to share a moving healing Eucharist, a Bible study based on the parables in Luke, meals, laundry, grocery shopping, two Palm Sunday processions and Eucharists, and a personal favorite of mine -- two coffee hours! In a very short period of time, St. Bede's came to feel like home, and Kathy and Catherine like attentive big sisters, and our time with them leading into Holy Week was, well, holy. Grace upon grace, in northern New Mexico!
On Tuesday last, I had coffee with Michael Robison also of St. Bede's at Iconik Coffee. Michael is deeply committed to the social justice work of his parish, and shared with me the neatest activist "cheat" I have heard of in a long while. Look at www.5calls.org. Pull up the app, plug in your location, then choose the issues important to you. Once you choose your issues, the app will give you the phone numbers and a tight script for calling your representatives to make your voice heard. Michael pointed out that logs of calls both "pro" and "con" are kept in lawmakers' offices, and that some believe that calling is even more important and impactful than writing or emailing. The app will also send you email alerts each week to prompt you to further action. I am still a fan of letter writing, such as is done each month at Church of the Transfiguration in Dallas, TX, but this app makes taking political action super easy. Thanks, Michael, for the tip of the season!
Meanwhile, back in Alabama, work against the imposition of the death penalty is making national news: https://www.thenation.com/article/project-hope-abolish-death-penalty-alabama/
Steven and I pulled out of Santa Fe on Monday, drove through scenic Los Alamos for a quick visit with Rev. Christopher Adams of Trinity on the Hill, then stopped for the night in Chimayo after catching a glimpse of Santuario de Chimayo. I usually like to try to do some "office work" while Steven drives Miranda, but every minute and a half, he called out, "Would you look at that!", so I gave up and rode shotgun. We popped in on St. James, Taos, NM just this morning, and we found ourselves charmed again! Northern New Mexico truly has the most beautiful and diverse landscapes -- from red rocks, to snow capped mountains, to pine forests, to scrubby deserts, to placid valleys full of antelope, buffalo, rabbits, even golden eagles, to reflective blue lakes (water!), flowers and blooming trees EVERYWHERE. Plus, New Mexicans seem to appreciate their own diversity as a people more than some folks, and that makes me feel very hopeful for our future.
Onward to Colorado! |
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| Come to Columbine for our first Year of Action event of 2019! |
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JOIN US IN COLUMBINE!
Plan to Walk In Love with EPF this month! The weekend after Easter (April 26-28), we will make a pilgrimage to Columbine, Colorado to commemorate the horrible school massacre which happened at Columbine High School twenty years ago, and will rededicate ourselves to eradicating gun violence in America. We will partner with advocates against all forms of gun violence, which includes the daily loss of lives in communities across the country due to domestic violence, urban violence, workplace violence, mass killings, suicide and accidental shootings. Preaching on the Sunday of our commemoration will be Lutheran pastor Don Marxhausen, who was forced out as pastor of his congregation when he dared eulogize, humanize and preside over the funeral of one of the young gunmen. I hope if any of you are able, you will join us in Columbine for what we hope will be a transformative and empowering remembrance.
More details and registration at https://give.classy.org/epfcolumbine.
COLUMBINE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Friday, April 26
1:00-3:00pm
Iliff School of Theology
2323 E. Iliff
Denver, CO
(paid parking available in south lot B)
Chapel presentation with audience dialogue to include seminarians, faculty, and interested public focusing on underlying causes contributing to violence in contemporary culture.
Panelists include:
The Rev. Kym Lucas, bishop-elect of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado
The Rev. Jasper Peters, pastor of Belong Church, United Methodist
The Rev. Dr. Jennifer Leath, Asst. Prof. of Religion and Social Justice
3:00-5:00pm
Viewing of Bowling for Columbine, the 2002 documentary film written and directed by Michael Moore will be shown for any wishing to remain in the Chapel
Saturday, April 27
11am-1pm
St. Timothy Episcopal Church
1401 E. Dry Creek Rd
Centennial, CO
Over 12 organizations involved in national and local efforts to address gun violence prevention will present their mission and opportunities for participation. Catered lunch provided with RSVP to frbobdav
1-3:30pm
St. Timothy Episcopal Church
1401 E. Dry Creek Rd
Centennial, CO
Educational and Policy Workshops on topics ranging from history of gun violence and gun laws in Colorado; organizing the faith community around gun violence prevention; public health implications of gun violence; keeping kids safe from guns; gun violence contributing to suicide and domestic violence; communicating with others on gun violence prevention.
Workshops will repeat twice from 1:15-2:15, 2:30-3:30 for opportunity to hear two topics
4-5:30pm
Columbine Memorial
Clement Park
7306 W. Bowles Ave
Littleton, CO
Enter park from Pierce Ave between Bowles and Coal Mine, driving west to parking lot closest to memorial (within softball field complex). Take walking path approximately ¼ mile to memorial. During vigil narrators will lead participants in remembrance of the students and teacher memorialized through readings and responses. Opportunity for quiet reflection and hearing readings of hope and inspiration will mark the time of vigil.
6:00-8:00pm
Columbine Unitarian Universalist Church
6724 S. Webster
Littleton, CO
(1/2 mile south of Vigil)
A simple meal will be provided by members of the church during which vigil participants will be invited to reflect on the impact of the vigil, the events of the day and group sharing around hope for a more peaceful future. Music and facilitation will be offered for participants.
Sunday, April 28
10- 11:30am
St. Timothy Episcopal Church
1401 E. Dry Creek Rd
Centennial, CO
Morning worship service to include speaker, the Rev. Don Marxhausen, Lutheran pastor who presided over one of the funerals of a Columbine student and his personal story as a result.
4-5:30pm
St. Andrew United Methodist Church
9203 S. University Blvd
Highlands Ranch, CO
A Service of Remembrance and Renewal to offer personal stories from those impacted by gun violence, grounding the faith response to gun violence within the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition, and inspiring participants with hope and renewal through music and worship.
Read Episcopal News Service coverage of our event here:
https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2019/04/09/episcopal-groups-plan-gun-violence-action-weekend-in-colorado-20-years-after-columbine/ |
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| HELP NEEDED!
Here's a fun, creative project for the right artistic volunteer!
EPF would like to have limited edition t-shirts to
celebrate our 80th anniversary and Year of Action.
We'd be so grateful for an artist among us
to create an image that we could use to market our
Year of Action and apply to t-shirts and other SWAG
we could sell to raise funds. Interested?
I'd love to hear from you to discuss your ideas and terms!
epfactnow |
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Our upcoming schedule:
April 18: Grace, Colorado Springs, CO
April 20: St. Andrew's, Denver, CO
April 21: St. John's, Denver CO
April 26-28: Columbine Commemoration and Colorado EPF Chapter visitation
St.Timothy's, Centennial, CO
May 6: Calvary, Memphis, TN (tentative)
May 14: St. Ann's, Nashville, TN
May 16: St. John's, Knoxville, TN
June 19: Juneteenth event with Fellowship of Reconciliation, location TBD
June 27-29: Washington, DC "Love God, Love Neighbor: Advocacy in Action"
July 12-13: Big Provincial Gathering, Province V, Kalamazoo, MI
August 8: St. Andrew's, Birmingham, AL
August 9-10: Commemoration of Jonathan Daniels and Martyrs of Alabama
Visit to Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and
Justice, Montgomery and Hayneville, AL
Sept. 4: Bp. Paul Jones feast day, location TBD
Oct 13-24 Palestine
Nov. 11: EPF 80th Anniversary
Nov. 14-16: Borderland Ministry Summit, St. Stephen’s, Tucson, AZ
Dec. 22: National Day of Reparations (FOR) TBD
Are you near any of our planned stops and want to visit? Just shout! epfactnow
Until next time,
power to the peaceful!
Melanie |
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Steven and I had WAY too much fun at Meow Wolf in Santa Fe!
Trippy, artsy, musical and full of joy! Highly recommend,
especially if you are missing your inner child.
www.meowwolf.com |
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How can we support EPF while Melanie is on the road?
- Give to EPF
- Offers of hospitality always welcome!
- Suggestions of icons of social justice, landmarks or museums she must see.
- Driveway for parking "Miranda", her home on wheels. (Home or church parking lot welcome)
- Offer of laundry facilities.
- Suggestions of coffee shops, eateries, and sports bars she should visit.
- Identify best walks and hikes in your neighborhood.
- Invite her to church!
- Prayers for safe travel.
- Favorite camp sites (with dump station, preferred).
- Visits with your pets -- she is feeling deprived!
- Home baked goodies (only if you are baking, anyway).
- Make time to see her and introduce her around!
- Favorite sites for photo ops.
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| Some clever New Mexican built a labyrinth in the middle of an arroyo. Nice commentary on impermanence, and proof that art is everywhere in New Mexico! |
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