Social Justice
gracestlukes.org/social-justice Sacred Ground, A Film-Based Dialogue Series on Race and Faith
MICAH One day a man was walking along the beach, when he noticed a boy hurriedly picking up and gently throwing things into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, “Young man, what are you doing?” The boy replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.” The man laughed to himself and said, “Don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make any difference!” After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference to that one.”
The GSL Social Justice ministry continues to seek to inspire our community to more fully live into our Baptismal Covenant “to strive for justice and peace among all people.” The next phase of our work begins in September, when we will offer the Sacred Ground series developed by the national Church. Sacred Ground includes a robust curriculum of films and readings on race and faith. Small groups, called dialogue circles, will consider the history of race and racism in America, and are invited to bring their own stories and experiences to the conversation. Sacred Ground is part of The Episcopal Church’s Becoming Beloved Community initiative committed to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice. Grounded in our call to faith, hope, and love, Sacred Ground is specifically designed to help educate white people through conversation as we peel back each layer and consider the origins and causes of present-day divisions and challenges. The little boy is the perfect example of compassion and charity to those that are in dire need of help. That is noble This work is not easy, but it is holy. Prayerfully consider joining one of our and needed. GSL has a robust outreach ministry supporting Sacred Ground dialogue circles. Each circle will be limited to a maximum of people in need through our food pantry, More Than A Meal, twelve people, and we will be asking for a deep commitment from participants grants plus many other efforts. as we journey together towards Sacred Ground. The materials in the series are intended to be engaged over the course of ten sessions, with at least one week What if there were something to be done so that most or all between each session. We are planning for one group to meet Wednesday of the starfish could be saved? That is exactly what Memphis evenings beginning September 15. A second dialogue circle will meet on Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope (MICAH) is working to do for our Memphis community. Joining MICAH Thursday mornings beginning September 16. gives us at GSL an opportunity to expand our ministry and If you are ready to delve deeper in considering the intersection of race and faith, we join with 60 community and faith-based organizations to invite you to reach out to one of us to learn more: Nicki Soule, Jennie Vandeveer, work to affect change that will create equity and opportunity Paula Barnes, or the Rev. Laura F. Gettys in Realm (gracestlukes.org/realm). In for those that aren’t able to overcome the barriers and deficits addition, many helpful resources (ranging from excerpts of the films used to that systemic inequity has created here in Memphis. guides for how to prepare to participate) can be found on the national Church website here: Sacred Ground – The Episcopal Church (www.episcopalchurch.org/ As a newer member to MICAH we are in the “start up” sacred-ground). All materials for Sacred Ground will be provided by the church, phase. Our GSL MICAH Core Group is attending the including the two core books, Waking Up White by Debby Irving, and Jesus and Monthly Issues Night to learn more about MICAH’s three pillars: Economic Equity, Education Equity, and Race and the Disinherited by Dr. Howard Thurman. Class Equity in the Justice System and the initiatives that are being taken in these areas. We also are participating in “One The deadline to sign up is September 1. Due to the importance of establishing on Ones” to learn about each other and what our interests trust and forming community within the dialogue circles, we ask participants and passions are for this ministry. We would like to expand to make a commitment to attend all ten sessions. Those who know they may to include more of our GSL community and invite you to miss more than one session are respectfully asked to wait to participate until a join us as we learn where we want to plug in as a community. future date, when they can more fully commit. The Wednesday evening group will meet from 6:30– 8:30 p.m. on the following dates: September 15 and 29, October 6 and 20, November 3 and 17, and December 1 and 15, 2021, and January 5 and 19, 2022. Register to be part of the Wednesday evening dialogue circle here: tinyurl.com/SacredGroundWednesday. The Thursday morning group will meet from 10 a.m.–noon on the following dates: September 16 and 30, October 7 and 21, November 4 and 18, and December 2 and 16, 2021, and January 6 and 20, 2022. Register to be part of the Thursday morning dialogue circle here: tinyurl.com/SacredGroundThursday.
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To learn more about MICAH, visit gracestlukes.org/socialjustice. Additional information can be found on the MICAH website at micahmemphis.org. Please join us at the 3rd Annual MICAH Public Meeting Getting Into Good Trouble -Holding decision makers accountable for a more just and equitable Memphis on October 25 at 4 p.m. Stay tuned for more details. For more information about our Micah Core Group, contact Barb Frazer, Becky Mercer, Paula Barnes, or the Rev. Laura Gettys, our priest liaison, via Realm (gracestlukes.org/realm).
