A Message from the Executive Committee of the CMM Board |
|
Trauma renewed.
In the wake of the recent hostage situation at Congregation Beth Israel of Colleyville, in suburban Fort Worth, Texas, we feel immense relief that all escaped safely. We know, however, that this trauma will mark them permanently and has sent tremors around the Jewish world and amongst their friends. We share our deep sorrow with our Jewish friends, relatives and colleagues that another hurt has been grievously inflicted. Anti-Semitism has come stalking in America, and we in the wider religious community are appalled and alarmed.
It is sobering to think that the safe outcome was the result of extensive security training by the rabbi and members of Beth Israel, prompted by earlier attacks on temples, that enabled them to escape their attacker before they were freed by outside help. The lessons here concern us all, and we extend the hand of mutual support and protection to the Jewish community.
That sanctuaries are not a sanctuary any more is a great loss to society. The costs to us, and to everyone, goes straight to the degraded values of this country. It should only reinforce us in our mission to ensure fellowship and compassion for all people.
|
|
Leaning into Challenging Conversations:
How to Listen, What to Say, How to Say it
"At My Neighbor's Table" series
Sunday, January 23, 2022, 5 - 6:30pm
Online via Zoom
Zoom link will be available on the event page and reminder emails
Following a short presentation by Liora Norwich, we will discuss and practice basic tips and troubleshooting skills for managing discussion dynamics based on addressing inter-personal conflict.
About the Presenter
Liora is passionate about advancing equity, inclusion, and diversity teaching and community education, and has 15 years of experience in nonprofits in coalition building, community outreach, and teaching workshops. Liora spent a decade in Israel and Palestine, working with local partners and international organizations to advance social justice and civic engagement through integrated community development initiatives. Dr. Norwich has a PhD in Politics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and an MBA in nonprofit Management at the Heller School for Social Policy at Brandeis University. She has been a lecturer at Brandeis University, the Hebrew University, and Concordia University in Montreal.
Sponsors: These groups have come together to support this event – Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries, Needham Baha’i Community, Christ Episcopal Church, Congregational Church of Needham UCC, First Parish in Needham Unitarian Universalist, Temple Beth Shalom, Wellesley Friends Meeting, Equal Justice Needham, Inclusive Westwood, League of Women Voters Needham, Needham Diversity Initiative, Needham Human Rights Committee, Neighbors In Action, Progressive Needham, World of Wellesley
At My Neighbor's Table events are supported by a generous grant from the Needham Cultural Council
|
|
Upcoming Book Launch from Former CMM Board Member |
|
Beacons of Hope by Sandra Dorsainvil
This 12-Day devotional is an attempt to give voice to 15 women lighthouse keepers of the 19th and 20th century. Poignant facts are told about their heroic efforts to keep the lights shining for the multitude of strangers at sea. Yet many women who sustain life go unnoticed for decades. The juxtaposition of scripture references of unnamed women of the Bible invites readers to discern their own faith journeys. This devotional is meant to be part of a beginning conversation about transformation, gender equity, dignity, and servant-leadership roles women have held for many centuries, whether publicly recognized or in the shadows. One has to wonder whose stories have yet to be unearthed. May this book be an inspiration to seek “the more” about God’s beloved.
- “Brave Beacons!” – Rev. Adrienne Berry-Burton, Zion Baptist, Lynn, MA
-
“Rev. Dorsainvil draws together an intersection of women’s history, scripture and insightful questions with a call to justice. Beacons of Hope offers a practice of prayer and promises to point us towards taking action to light the way for others.” – Rev. Cindy Maybeck, Spirit Story Ministry
- “Rev. Sandra Dorsainvil shines a light on two groups who are often hidden from view: people who are behind the lights, in this case women lighthouse keepers, and unnamed women in the Bible. My only problem with the collection is not wanting to wait 12 days to read all of these beautiful stories and reflections!” – Rev. Nancy Willbanks, First Baptist Church of Littleton, MA
|
|
Sandra Dorsainvil is first and foremost, God’s servant. She is a multi-lingual praying sister, mother, and grandmother, and an ordained minister. She also used to serve on CMM's board. She finds joy sitting at round tables where life’s journeys are shared and hearts listen. Her advanced degrees and cross-cultural up-bringing on three continents have taught her the value of giving and receiving generous hospitality. |
|
Upcoming Community Events |
|
Place Your Order for Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com. Here’s what you need to know about your order:
- Limit of one order per residential address
- One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
- Orders will ship free starting in late January
|
|
MA Coalition for the Homeless: Housing and Benefits Committee
Friday, January 28, 2022, 10 - 11:30am
Online via Zoom
Our current agenda includes presentations and discussions on:
- Charlie Harak and a colleague from the National Consumer Law Center will be joining us to share a report they conducted on utility arrears in the era of COVID-19, as well as the movement for utilities as a human right.
- Nadine Cohen and Todd Kaplan from Greater Boston Legal Services will be sharing some litigation they are working on surrounding tenant screening processes involving credit checks.
- Kelly Turley from the Coalition will update us on legislative updates around the Mass ID access bill, ongoing advocacy surrounding changes to the ERAP and RAFT programs, our Legislative Action Day, and other legislative priorities.
|
|
The World Interfaith Harmony Week
Annual UN Observance Week: Feb. 1-7
Events must be held between 29 January - 3 March 2022 in order to qualify for prizes. Reports must be submitted by 6 March 2022. Only 2 Weeks Until World Interfaith Harmony Week! Sign up and register your events today!
|
|
3rd Interfaith Leadership Forum: "From Uncertainty to Engagement: Interfaith Resistance to Christian Nationalism and White Supremacy"
Thursday, February 24, 2022, 6:45 - 9:20pm
Online via Zoom
Rumi Forum, Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington, and Washington Theological Consortium present the 3rd Interfaith Leadership Forum on February 24, 2022. Religious nationalism is on the rise worldwide. In the U.S., it has primarily taken the form of White Christian Nationalism: the affiliation of being White and Christian with belonging and mattering in this country. Our program will explore the nature of global nationalism and its specific manifestation in the U.S. We will hear from an expert who has been studying this trend for over thirty years, followed by a panel of diverse faith leaders who will share their views on building interfaith solidarity to resist the White Supremacist Christian ideology threatening our nation. This program is a forum for people of faith to learn, become activated, and feel equipped to respond together effectively.
Keynote Speaker:
Mark Juergensmeyer is the Founding Director of the Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies at UC Santa Barbara.
Panelists:
-
Rabbi Jack Moline is the President of Interfaith Alliance
-
Charles Watson is the Director of Education at Baptist Joint Committee
-
Maggie Siddiqi is the Senior Director of Religion and Faith at the Center for American Progress
-
Simran Singh is the Vice Chairman of the International Religious Freedom Secretariat
|
|
A Bed for Every Child: Pajama Run Virtual Charity 5k
Saturday, March 12, 2022
What if you could change a child's life in a single afternoon? What if you could strengthen your spirit and transform your community simply by showing up and going the distance? At A Bed for Every Child, we believe all children deserve a safe place to sleep, to rest, to dream. That's why A Bed for Every Child launched the Pajama Run, engaging businesses, schools, and local communities through a unique pay-it-forward model to provide beds for children across Massachusetts. Together. we can create stronger communities and provide limitless possibilities for children to dream! Become a Pajama Run participant today and join A Bed for Every Child on Saturday, March 12th, in creating a brighter future for children one step at a time!
|
|
"Accessing the Divine: Disability, Embodiment, and Claiming Joyous Futures" Conference
Friday, March 25, 2022, 9:30am - 4pm
Boston University and on Zoom
Ableist perceptions of disability, embedded in religious structures, construe disability as suffering, tragedy, and/or something to be avoided at all costs. In contrast, we affirm that the body—including the disabled body—“is the preeminent arena for God’s revelation in the world, the medium through which [the Divine] is most clearly expressed” (Luke Timothy Johnson). Accessing the Divine: Disability, Embodiment, and Claiming Joyous Futures on March 25, 2022 (9:30 am - 4 pm @ Boston University [in-person & on Zoom]; Keynote at 11:30 am), invites participants to reimagine what it means to be human through the lens of disabled embodiment. We welcome submissions addressing topics related to embodiment, limitation, disability, and/or the proclamation of joyful futures. We encourage submissions from graduate students, faculty, religious leaders, activists, and academics in a variety of fields, such as disability theology, practical theology, liberation theology, systematic theology, comparative theology, religious studies, disability studies, area studies, sociology, ethics, psychology, and related subject matters. For more info, please email: disabilityconference22@gmail.com
Keynote by renowned disability scholar, Dr. Sharon Betcher
Dr. Sharon Betcher is an independent scholar, writer, and disability advocate. She specializes in disability theology, urbanism, ecology, and progressive Christian theologies. She is the author of Spirit and the Politics of Disablement and Spirit and the Obligation of Social Flesh.
|
|
“The Great Waters of the Kingdom of Matter”: Faith, Religion, Science, and Reality Conference
Saturday, March 26, 2022
Sponsored by
Lumen et Vita
The Graduate Journal of Theology
School of Theology & Ministry
Boston College
Remote and virtual attendance and presenting are possible.
The three best papers (as determined by a panel of judges) will each be awarded $400. Prizes are generously funded by the Science for Seminaries initiative of the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion. Boston College’s School of Theology & Ministry received this grant under the leadership of Professor Jessica Black and Professor Dominic Doyle.
This conference has also been generously supported by a grant from the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium, of which Boston College School of Theology & Ministry is a member.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
