Justice and Outreach Council
Monthly Digest
May 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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Land Acknowledgement
The JOC committee devised this Land Acknowledgment statement to be read before meetings at Trinity and during services.
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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Openings on the Justice and Outreach Council
JOC is a dynamic committee, currently made up of only eight members. With so many social justice issues to consider, they need your help. If your hearts are yearning to help make this a more loving, peaceful, and just world, please join them!
JOC's Summer Speaker Series: Justice and Engagement
On four consecutive Sundays, June 19 and 26, July 3 and 10, Trinity will be inviting guest preachers and speakers/participants for a program after the service. Each Sunday will focus on the work associated with one of our four major grant recipients, ILDC (Immigrant Legal Defense Center), CEC (Community Environmental Council), Foodbank of SB County, and CAUSE (Central Coastal Alliance for a Sustainable Economy). Rabbi Arthur Gross Schaefer will preach on June 19, Rev. Scott Claassen on June 26, Pastor Thomas Voelp on July 3, and Pastor David Moore on July 10. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to this important series.
JOC Sponsors Environmental Defense Center Event
Sunday, June 5, 2-6pm
Rancho La Patera and Stowe House, Goleta
JOC voted to purchase an "Anacapa Sponsorship" to the annual EDC Blue and Green Event ($300), a coastal celebration. Trinity Episcopal Church will be listed as a sponsor for the fundraising event and will be provided with 2 tickets. Sarah and Mitchell Thomas will attend and represent Trinity.
Bucks for Boots: Fundraiser for Willbridge
Trinity parishioners contributed $500 to this effort, so enthusiastically led by Mac McNeel in Holy Week. JOC voted to match these funds with another $500. This will provide many pairs of boots/shoes for the houseless in our community.
Ukrainian Refugee Assistance
JOC voted to donate $500 to Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) for Ukrainian relief and our parishioners donated another $750 for a total of $1,250. Thank you to those who donated and those who will continue to donate during this time of dire need.
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Santa Barbara Feeding Ministries
Transition House. April’s dinner was provided by Stephen Singleton and Chris Teasley. Thank you for your important contribution to our neighbors. Transition House will be reopening their dining room with safety measures in place beginning May 4. Meal providers, if they are not ready to serve in-person, can continue to drop off food or use the Transition House kitchen for cooking and plating and leave before families come to dinner. For those interested in helping with this ministry, please contact Teresa Pietsch, teresapietsch@cox.net
The Dinner in Alameda Park Meal Ministry. Trinity served delicious hot casseroles (from the Warming Shelter supply in the freezer) on Thursday, April 28 to our neighbors in the park. Our next meal will be on May 26. Check the sign up for open volunteer spots.
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Trinity's and the Unitarian Society's Youth Groups Team Up to Support the Border Compassion Project
The Border Project collaborates with Interfaith Sanctuary Alliance (ISA) to stand with our immigrant neighbors at the border. Currently they send financial contributions to La Cobina Posada, a shelter for immigrants in Mexicali, Mexico. Sister Suzanne Jabro of Palm Desert organizes donations to La Cobina through the nonprofit Border Compassion, and most of all, loves the residents.
On April 28, Sr. Suzanne guided 4 members of the interfaith Border Project on a visit to La Cobina. The Border Project members hope to learn from the refugees about their experiences, faith, and resilience. The donations gathered by Trinity Episcopal ($1425, including $1000 from JOC) and the Interfaith Sanctuary Alliance (a total of $7400) will coincide with the visit, so Border Project members can participate in the purchase of necessities in Mexicali, led by the shelter manager.
Members of both Trinity’s Youth Group and the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara collaborated to raise funds and resources to provide art materials and books in Spanish to 100 children residing at La Cobina Shelter. The Trinity Youth Group was awarded funds from the Elizabeth Hess CYC Justice Fund, a bake sale held by the Unitarians ($350), and a go fund me page ($1400) to purchase these art supplies. They packed the supplies into 8 rolling suitcases, which were walked across the border by the crossover team, just in time for Mexico's Children's Day (El Día del Niño) on April 30. Excess funds will go to the Border Project.
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Opportunities for Involvement
in our local community, at Trinity, and in the world
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Summit on Homelessness
Friday, May 6, 5-6:30pm
Join the City of Santa Barbara, SB ACT, and a variety of faith community leaders for a conversation about efforts taking place in our city to address and alleviate homelessness, and ways that you can partner with the work being done. The meeting will be held at the Community Development Department at 630 Garden Street in the Gebhard Room. Light refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP to this event by sending an email to info@sbact.org with the words "May 6 Summit" in the subject line.
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PFLAG Connects: Virtual Support Meetings
PFLAG meets online every month, in English and in Spanish, for virtual support meetings. 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.
Upcoming Meetings:
Monday, May 9 at 7pm (English)
Thursday, May 12 at 7pm (Spanish)
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PATH Fundraiser
Saturday, June 4, 5pm
Take a trip out to Santa Ynez and enjoy a lovely outdoor event featuring wine from Sunstone Winery, delicious bites from Leonardo’s Ristorante, live local music, a cornhole tournament, and a live auction. Tickets available online and sponsorships are welcome.
Proceeds from the festival go towards supportive services for our neighbor's experiencing homelessness in Santa Barbara. In the last year, PATH has provided services for more than 18,000+ people and permanently housed more than 1,200 people.
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Sarah House Fundraiser
Friday, June 10
Support Sarah House by attending Waula Fest, an intimate music festival with great music, food, cocktails, beer and local wine. Wade Cowper and Paula Phan both serve on the board of Sarah House. Instead of a wedding, they decided to celebrate their love and commitment by throwing a music festival to benefit the community and their favorite charity. Buy tickets and learn more.
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Independent Living Resource Center
Mini Summit
Saturday, June 23, 5-8pm
Hear from artists and activists with disabilities about what pride means to them. Explore what it means to be an ally. Register for this online meeting by emailing Jacob Lesner-Buxton.
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Goleta’s Super 8 Motel to Become Permanent Housing
City, County, and State Pitch In to Purchase Hotel with County Housing Authority
Central Coast Regional Equity Study
The Central Coast is at the leading edge of inequality trends that have gripped the nation for decades. To better understand and to take action for needed changes towards more equity in our region, please read this eye-opening report!
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Every month we publish a story of justice, ministry and volunteerism. This month we feature Anne Roediger, a Lay Eucharistic Visitor for Trinity. Here is her uplifting story.
My first introduction to the Holy Eucharist was a wonderful surprise and revelation. Having been born in rural Maryland where there wasn’t a public kindergarten, I started my education at the local Roman Catholic parochial school. To my parents’ dismay, I loved the Catholic church: it's dark quiet, the smell and sight of candles burning perpetually, praying with rosaries and kneeling while praying. Attending a liturgical service was like participating in a theatrical production, which I observed closely, looking forward to the day when I could have my First Holy Communion. While I envisioned myself in patent leather shoes, a beautiful white dress and veil, those plans wouldn’t come to fruition because: “We are not Catholic”, my parents stated quite emphatically. Nevertheless, the seeds of appreciating a liturgical church had been planted.
After attending churches for many years where Holy Communion was celebrated only on the first Sunday of the month and only by adults, my family began attending a liturgical Lutheran church when I was a teenager. It felt like coming home: the whole momentum of the church service moved towards and culminated in the sharing together of the Holy Communion. I not only felt closer to my church community, but also to the many generations before me who have found meaning and sustenance in the Eucharist, from those early Christians celebrating secretly in the catacombs to the present day when on a given Sunday millions celebrate together and remember the gift and blessing that Christ gave to his disciples, the Last Supper. Distribution of the consecrated elements was done exclusively by ordained clergy throughout most of the church’s history, until 1967, when, in the Episcopal Church, lay readers were also allowed to assist in the distribution of the consecrated bread and wine. Soon after joining Trinity, I signed on to be both a Lay Eucharistic Minister and a Lay Eucharistic Visitor.
I recall the last Eucharist we celebrated in March 2020 before pandemic restrictions prevented us from worshiping together, everyone feeling unsettled, sad, and concerned. It was a palpably somber time. Then after five months of worshiping virtually, we again were able to worship together outdoors on the labyrinth and celebrate Eucharist. I waited especially for the invitation: “Lift up your hearts!” and for our response: “We lift them to the Lord!” It wasn’t the same format as before, but it was a service that was carefully and creatively created by Elizabeth, Sarah, and Trinity’s staff following diocesan and public health guidelines.
It was entirely wonderful to finally be physically together again, and I felt doubly blessed to be able to take some of the consecrated wafers to others who couldn’t be with us that day. Trinity has a small team of Lay Eucharistic Visitors, and we love to bring this special part of each Sunday’s service to anyone who would like to receive it. I frequently recall Mother Teresa’s words: “We can do no great things, only small things with great love”.
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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.
This month we thank these contributors to ERD (Episcopal Relief and Development) for Ukraine: Kristi Wallace, Jeannie Christensen, Stephen Singleton and Christopher Teasley, and the Wenzel Family.
We also give great thanks for the donations to The La Cobina Shelter from Emily and David Young, Norma and Glenn Stuck, Robert Mann, Mac McNeel, Michael and Kathryn Dean, and Jim and MK Micallef.
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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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