| April Fool's Day snow just west of Albuquerque |
|
| How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
Isaiah 52:7 |
|
| Come to Columbine for our first Year of Action event of 2019! |
|
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/ |
|
| Stained glass window at St. Thomas of Canterbury, Albuquerque, NM |
|
| This week we had a holy, productive time all around Albuquerque, New Mexico. Friday I visited the stunning Cathedral of St. John, where interim dean Rev. Dan Webster, who is also a former EPF National Executive Council (NEC) member, treated me to lunch and a tour of the magnificent church building, including their copy of The Saint John's Bible (www.saintjohnsbible.org/heritage). In advance of my visit, Dan had already recruited five Episcopalians from around northern New Mexico with hearts for social justice to begin exploring interest in forming a new chapter of EPF. Thanks for your inspiring action and organizing, Dan!
On Saturday, Bishop of the Diocese of the Rio Grande, Rt. Rev. Michael Hunn, was having his "Budget Road Show" at St. Francis- Rio Rancho. I attended and had the privilege to hear the DRG's priorities for 2019-2020, as discerned by the Bishop, the Diocesan Council, and the members of the Diocese, all in concert together, and was heartened to learn that Borderland Ministry is among the top five issues the Diocese feels called to address. When I was able to speak with Bp. Hunn after the meeting, I offered EPF's partnership in addressing the many issues facing the Diocese along the border, and I look forward to helping to organize the manpower to meet that challenge in the coming months.
Back in Albuquerque, EPF member Anne McCormick, who is deeply attached to our Palestine Israel Network issues, had recruited me to join her in worship at St. Thomas of Canterbury on Sunday. Turns out, Rev. Ted Curtis, interim rector at St. Thomas of Canterbury -- who graciously invited me to present EPF to the congregation during their formation hour on Sunday -- is also a former NEC member, and has lots of personal reasons to feel connected to EPF, among them his former role as EPF's landlord for years in Chicago! Thanks for the welcome and lunch, Ted! St. Thomas is a small, mighty group of peace and justice activists, with hearts as welcoming as any I have met. The space in their lovely sanctuary is purposefully accommodating of children, pets, and strangers like me.
Albuquerque surprised me with her already existing vast connection to the social justice ministries of EPF, and it felt like this Year of Action pilgrimage is serving its purposes of reconnecting us to old friends and supporters and expanding our reach. Our week there was pure gold! |
|
Chapel at the Cathedral of St John, Albuquerque,
to which Interim Dean Rev. Dan Webster,
former EPF NEC member,
can trace his call to the priesthood.
Now Dan empowers disciples of Christ
to act on their call to social justice ministry |
|
| Natural rock baptismal fountain is a lovely feature of St. Francis - Rio Rancho, NM |
|
Our upcoming schedule:
April 14: St. Bede's, Santa Fe, NM
April 21: St. Joseph's, Lakewood, 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, Tucson, AZ
In addition to these planned stops, we will be traveling north from Sante Fe, where we are right now, through Taos and Los Alamos, then up through Colorado Springs on our way to Denver for the Columbine events. Want a visit? Just shout! epfactnow
Until next time,
power to the peaceful!
Melanie |
|
Among the diversions during our time in Albuquerque was
a visit to Richard Rohr's Center for Action and Contemplation |
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
