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Justice and Outreach Council
Monthly Digest
September 2022
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Welcome to the Justice and Outreach Council (JOC)'s monthly newsletter.
A place to find all the happenings of this active ministry at Trinity.
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Visit the JOC Ministry Fair Table on September 25
Please be sure to visit the Ministry Fairs after worship services on the next two Sundays. They will be fun and festive events with music, treats and lively energy. Stop by the JOC table on the 25th to learn more about our justice ministries and how you might want to get involved.
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JOC Sponsors PFLAG at the Pacific Pride Festival and Shares a Table with Congregation B’nai B’rith
Many Trinity volunteers helped co-host a table at the very successful Pacific Pride Festival on August 27. After a two year COVID hiatus, Chase Palm Park was, once again, alive with color and support for our LGBTQ+ friends and family members.
Parishioner Jennifer Bergquist said the environment had ”lots of energy, music, and many children….better than in 2019. It was so interesting and fun to meet the B’nai B’rith people, too. Kids would make a bee-line for our table because we had Tootsie Roll Pops and temporary tattoos.” One person asked what Trinity is all about, and Jennifer responded, “We welcome everyone with open arms!”
Many thanks to Jennifer, Holly Hoffman and Josh, Tina Leslie, Ashley Wright and Anastasia, and Jeffrey Krutzsch for volunteering!
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Planned Parenthood Annual Book Sale
September 15-25, Earl Warren Showgrounds
Be sure to visit the Planned Parenthood Book Sale in this their 44th year. At this important time in the history of reproductive justice, JOC voted to donate $100 to purchase a sponsorship of the Religion and Philosophy table at this year’s sale.
Book donations are accepted year-round at their drop-off location at 5726 Thornwood Dr. in Goleta. For more information, contact info: 805-722-7870 or ppcccbooksale.com
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Santa Barbara Feeding Ministries
Transition House. Kaye Cantu was the leader for the August 27th dinner at Transition House. Her husband Marc helped with the preparation of chicken enchiladas, salad and cookies. Helpers are always needed for this ministry. Please contact Teresa Pietsch at teresapietsch4@gmail.com if you would like to get involved.
Dinner in Alameda Park. Bob Burtness, a volunteer server, reported his experience as very positive. The diners were extremely appreciative, thanking the volunteers often. Bob said that he had known one of the guests over the years, and that it was nice to see him again. As other volunteers have commented, Bob appreciated how well organized the whole endeavor was. He also mentioned the bread and salad was delicious, (since the main course was eaten by the time he served himself!)
In September, we are participating on the third Thursday, the 15th. There are a few volunteer spots available. Check the online sign-up or email Sarah Thomas, sthomas@trinitysb.org. Next month, we are back on the fourth Thursday, October 27.
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Criminal Justice Workgroup Report for August 2022
Sharing this report from our friends at CLUE (Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice). Maureen Earls serves at the co-chair of the Criminal Justice Workgroup.
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Opportunities for Involvement
in our local community, at Trinity, and in the world
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Santa Barbara County Coastal Cleanup Day 2022
Saturday, September 17, 9am - 12pm
Be part of the solution to ocean pollution! From Jalama to Carpinteria. For more information visit exploreecology.org.
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Border Project Update by Laurinda Marshall
Sr. Suzanne sends thanks to the Border Project, on behalf of all the La Cobina residents, for your past and ongoing support.! This summer with our donations, they were able to buy wading pools for the children and larger plastic pools for the parents. Squeals of delight! The shelter has no air conditioning, and Mexicali is quite hot in the summer. Many thanks!
The Border Project received a list of needs from Sr. Suzanne Jabro who is our liaison with La Cobina Posada shelter in Mexicali; a shelter for immigrant families seeking asylum in the US. The needs center around ESL classes for the shelter residents: school supplies, instructors' wages, and the cost of internet access. The residents are eager to learn English! The total cost of these requests is approximately $2,000.
A trip to the shelter is planned for January 2023. It will be a 3 or 4 day trip, and dates are to be firmed up with Sr. Suzanne. The hope is to spend 2 days in Mexicali. While we provide for many physical needs through food and shelter, some Border Project members plan to teach the residents Capacitar: a strategy to cope with trauma.
Action: If you wish to donate in support of our immigrant neighbors, please send donations to SB ACT and specify "Border Project."
Persons interested in crossing the border in January 2023 please contact Laurinda Marshall at laurindax@yahoo.com.
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September is Hunger Action Month at The Foodbank
After eight long years and a staggering increase in demand, the Foodbank has found a new south county home that will position them to better respond to food insecurity and be prepared to help the community in times of disaster.
Learn more about their Sharehouse project and consider making a donation.
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Support Showers of Blessing
Showers of Blessing Santa Barbara provides free hot showers, fosters compassionate hygienic care, and offers access to critical services for people experiencing homelessness.
Wade Volk, site coordinator had this to say: "Our three Santa Barbara sites draw 30-40 guests each week. It takes an abundance of supplies and ample staff to accommodate them. There is always a need for washcloths and financial support is most welcomed to ensure our services to the community. We heartily appreciate the support of Trinity and its endeared congregants.”
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Drivers Needed with Drivers Listos
This interfaith initiative, born at Trinity in 2018, provides safe rides for immigrants at risk who are afraid to drive due to ICE enforcement, or they lack transportation or funds for transportation. With 40,000 undocumented immigrants in our county, the need is great. Volunteer drivers are trained and provide direct, tangible assistance to our immigrant neighbors.
Spanish is not required. Want to help? Fill out the intake form. Contact Molly Kellogg, molly@foodhuntermark.com or 805-886-4655 for more information.
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PFLAG Connects: Virtual Support Meetings
PFLAG meets online every month, on the second Monday. Meetings are run by trusted PFLAG Santa Barbara leaders, exploring topics relevant to the LGBTQ+ community, followed by sharing and support. Visit the website for registration information.
Next Meeting: October 10 at 7pm
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Every month we publish a story of justice, ministry and volunteerism from a Trinity parishioner. This month we feature Douglas Clegg, a 20 year member of Trinity. Please enjoy reading his inspiring story of lifelong consciousness, and action for improving life on this planet.
My mother often said to me, “One doesn’t light a lamp and then place it under a bushel.” From the very first, she taught me to think of others. And of the joy in giving and sharing. On many occasions I would accompany my mother to visit people in what we then called rest homes, mostly lonely people that she didn’t know. And she was always there for a friend in need.
How has the modern culture made us be so seemingly uncaring and disconnected from each other? How can we make this world a better place?
Continue reading.
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Celebrate and Support Justice | |
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Look for the blue celebration envelopes in the pews!
CELEBRATE!...a birthday, an anniversary, a special event of any sort for which you are thankful.
Turn your “celebration” into a donation to the Justice and Outreach Council. We will use these funds to provide comfort and safety to those in need—food, education for children, assistance to immigrants—any of our neighbors needing support . . . so they can celebrate. Together, these gifts make possible our community of welcome, reconciliation and service.
For the month of July, JOC warmly thanks Irene Marsi for her generous contributions for justice locally and globally.
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The Justice and Outreach Council (JOC) continues its important work in our community and beyond. Funding for the JOC comes from your pledges and Celebration offerings. The JOC’s funding is part of our annual operating budget where five percent (5%) of all pledges received during the year is put in the JOC account. As pledge income has remained steady this year, these funds continue to be set aside for justice work.
There are two ways you can continue to celebrate and support our justice work in addition to your pledges both now and in the future. You can send in a check made out to Trinity and simply note “Justice” in the memo line and provide the names of the persons or occasion you want to celebrate. You can also donate via Trinity’s PayPal account, select "Justice Fund" and under “special instructions” provide the names of the persons or occasion you want to celebrate.
Thank you for supporting our justice work through your pledges, donations, prayers, and most of all, the work you do in your lives to make this a more loving, peaceful, and just world.
Kathryn Dean, JOC
Michael Dean, Treasurer
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Land Acknowledgement
The JOC committee devised this Land Acknowledgment statement to be read before meetings at Trinity.
We honor and acknowledge the Chumash people, the traditional custodians of this land, and pay our respects to the Chumash elders, past, present, and future, who call this land on which we sit their home. We appreciate their wisdom, their culture, and their presence among us today as the host people of this land. We lament the injustices done to the original inhabitants and the injustices done to this land in the centuries since. We seek the courage and wisdom to heal the wounds of the past and build a better future together, in deep solidarity.
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