‘Love God; And Love Each Other.’ – Jesus |
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God’s mission in the world is to reconcile all things to God’s self. It is to return us to one-ness with God and with one another. To engage God’s mission is to live into the invitation of baptism by joining God in that reconciling work, whether that be in our cathedral community, in relationship with others, or in our neighborhoods. Below please find opportunities to be part of creating Beloved Community by practicing the Way of Love through service and justice-making. |
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Wednesday, January 12, 2022 |
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Land Acknowledgment
Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral acknowledges that we are located and serve on the ancestral homeland of the Dakota People. We are in close proximity to the territories of the Anishinaabe and Ho-Chunk peoples. This land has been stewarded as a living relative by the Dakota for generations. The United States government effectively stole this land from the Dakota people through a series of unjust treaties and broken promises, followed by targeted efforts of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and forced removal.
Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, born out of White Protestantism, recognizes our complicity in these matters. The United States government often carried out this injustice in cooperation with institutionalized white churches. The trauma of forced assimilation and the boarding school system is a stain that cannot be washed away. But we can repent of that past and turn towards a more just future.
We look now to the Dakota people and indeed all Native American communities located in the State of Minnesota as examples of resilience, resistance, and strength. We stand resolute in our commitment to oppose any threat to Indigenous culture or tribal sovereignty, be it political, industrial, or religious.
We were wrong, we can do better, we will do better.
Adapted for Saint Mark's from the Minnesota Council of Churches
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Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
All throughout Minneapolis, special events are being held virtually and in-person to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr.
To check out activities happening across the city to honor the famous civil rights leader on Monday, January 17th, 2022, go here.
MLK Day honors the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and serves to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. Together we can strengthen our communities, bridge divisions, address social problems, and move closer to Dr. King's vision of Beloved Community. This holiday serves as an opportunity to educate and demand social justice in real and tangible ways. Hand On Twin Cities offers tools and resources to engage throughout the week of January 17-21 to make a difference for all. Go here to learn more.
Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan invite Minnesotans of all ages to join the 36th Annual State of Minnesota Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! Find information about this event here.
For MLK Day Collects and Prayers, go here. To learn more the Rev. Dr. King’s life and ministry, go to p.306 in Holy Women, Holy Men Celebrating the Saints, which can be found here. |
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Support Continues for Our Afghan Refugee Family
Most Urgent Needs:
1) Donate directly to Saint Mark’s to help the family with rent, groceries, and mass transit costs. Our goal is $7000. Donate online here. Select ‘Afghan Appeal.’ By Check: Send a check made out to Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, with ‘Afghan Appeal’ in the memo line to: Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, 519 Oak Grove St, Minneapolis, MN 5
2) Give a Cub or Aldi gift card or a Metro Transit bus pass. Mail to: Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Attn: Archdeacon Turnham, 519 Oak Grove St, Minneapolis, MN 55403.
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What’s new with the family? This last week the children in the family enrolled in school and our team helped them prepare by shopping for school supplies. The Zadran Family is off to schools this week! St. Markan volunteers Larry and Bev Wiesner and Lindsay Strand walked the 6 children to their schools on Monday. Yes, it was -13 but this is Minnesota!
The parents are beginning ESL classes this week. The family of eight arrived on Dec. 1. Our Saint Mark’s refugee resettlement team helped the family to move into their new home in Columbia Heights during the week of December 12th.
Thank You! Many thanks to those (64 people in total!) who donated furniture and household goods, Target gift registry items, and gift cards to Target and Cub (totaling $2630). And thanks to our many volunteers (26 in total) who have helped with a myriad of tasks related to helping to settle and acclimate the family—from rides to appointments and the grocery store, to teaching the family how to ride the bus!
Our team works closely with the Minnesota Council of Churches Refugee Resettlement Case Worker, as well as local community partners acting as additional resources to the family. The family is grateful for our help and kindness as they go through this difficult transition. The photo used here is taken and shared with their permission. Please keep the Zaderans in your prayers.
NOTE: We no longer need furnishings and household goods, and everything has been purchased off of the Target gift registry, THANKS TO SAINT MARK’S CATHEDRAL MEMBERS AND FRIENDS, ESPECIALLY THE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT TEAM!
Luke 10:27 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.
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Thanks to all who supported the Dignity Center Goods Drive
We collected several large tubs of coats, socks, handwarmers and gloves. Thank you Saint Markans!
The Dignity Center, a non-profit offshoot of our neighbor, Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, works with people to achieve and maintain stability in housing and employment. Participants engage with one volunteer advocate, working together on skills such as problem solving, decision making, organization and budgeting. The Dignity Center works with many congregations, across denominations, as part of their network of congregations, which includes Saint Mark’s. The Dignity Center remains open under COVID19 to serve its program participants. To learn more about the work of the Dignity Center, go to their website here.
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The Bishops Series for Parents & Caregivers
Dear Saint Mark's Parents and Caregivers, all who are connected with children!
You are warmly invited to the next Bishop's series for parents and caregivers, which will begin a discussion around some practical ways to both start and sustain conversations about race and racism with children.
This session will be led by the Rev. Dr. Fatimah S. Salleh of A Certain Work. The Rev. Dr. Salleh led a clergy group that I was a part of for a year, from which I always left inspired, challenged, and seen. I am thrilled that she will be leading this conversation.
There will be time for Q&A and connecting with other parents in small groups.
The Rev. Anna V. Ostenso Moore - Associate Priest for Family Ministry
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Sacred Ground Circle Starting January 13th!
If you wish to participate in a Sacred Ground Dialogue Circle this winter, Sts. Luke and James has a new circle starting on January 13th. We'll be meeting on Thursday mornings from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm. This is an opportunity to learn about history we never learned in school to help us understand more deeply the work of racial reconciliation. Find out more about the Sacred Ground curriculum here.
Each week the homework assignments come to about two hours, depending how fast you read. It’s a combination of videos, articles, and/or sections of books that are available online. There are also two core books that we discuss: Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman and Waking Up White by Debby Irving.
Learn more about Sacred Ground here. The group has room for a few more. If you'd like to join us please email Gretchen Pickeral here. |
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Save the Date: JRLC Virtual Day on the Hill
Tuesday, March 15, 6:30-8:45pm | Online
All Saint Markans are invited to make their faith-based values and voices known. Shape, influence, and support public policies for dignity, justice and the common good. Be a change agent and ally for and with struggling Minnesotans. The keynote speaker is Maharat Rori Picker Neiss, ordained clergy, Orthodox Judaism, Executive Director St. Louis Jewish Community Relations Council. She will inspire and call us to action, reflecting the Day on the Hill theme For Such a Time as This, from the book of Esther. Find more details here. Contact Archdeacon Rena Turnham if you’d like to take part and work together as a congregational team.
Guided by God's vision of the common good as reflected in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions, the JRLC mobilizes religious communities to influence public policy in Minnesota. ECMN is a member denomination/judicatory of JRLC (Joint Religious Legislative Coalition). Saint Mark’s financially supports the work of JRLC through an annual gift. Saint Markan and ECMN Missioner for Community Engagement, Rachel Babbitt, is the JRLC Board Chair. Learn more about JRLC here.
JRLC Announces 2022 Legislative Agenda
Affordable Housing
Across Minnesota, communities need more affordable housing. 20% of Minnesota rental households are severely cost-burdened, spending 50% or more of their household income for housing. We need substantial investment in affordable housing in all parts of the state, either though bonding or direct funding.
Emergency Shelter
80 of Minnesota’s 87 counties lack necessary emergency shelter beds. The need continues to rise. This year's bonding bill must include funding for more emergency shelter.
Sacred Communities/Tiny House Legislation
The JRLC is working with the nonprofit Settled to expand housing options for those experiencing chronic homelessness. Many deal with serious mental health challenges, addiction, or disabilities.
Settled is working with several faith communities to create tiny house communities for these Minnesotans, a model that will require a change in current law. You can read more about it here. We made good progress on this bill last year, with support from both Democrats and Republicans. We'll continue working to make this limited change in Minnesota law to allow places of worship host these sacred communities.
Child Care Assistance
The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) helps low- and moderate-income families with childcare costs so they can work or go to school. It is the state’s largest program serving infants and toddlers. Minnesota needs to make investments in our children and our state's future - to increase the reimbursement rates for providers and fund the program adequately to eliminate the current waiting list of 700+ families.
Addressing Gambling Expansion
As advocates for gambling expansion push to create easy access to sports betting, daily fantasy sports and other online gambling, the JRLC supports limits on access to online gambling, and adequate support for those dealing with gambling addiction and their families.
Other JRLC events coming up:
JRLC 2022 Legislative Kick-off Tuesday, January 18, 6:30 - 7:30 PM via Zoom. Overview of session challenges and opportunities, and the JRLC Legislative Agenda. January 18 Zoom Link.
Housing Webinar Thursday, February 3
Legislative Solutions and Housing Advocacy for 2022 Session. Hear from housing leaders about key legislative initiatives to address the crisis across the affordable housing continuum; be part of the solutions.
Join us 6:30 – 7:30 for a presentation, followed by small group discussion with members across the state. To RSVP and receive a Zoom link, contact: Joan Miltenberger at jmiltenberger@jrlc.org, or 612-230-3232
See earlier Housing Webinar Videos, Activities and Resource List here. |
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Episcopal Service Corps
The Episcopal Church invites young leaders ages 21 to 32 interested in a transformative outreach and discernment experience to consider applying to the Episcopal Service Corps for its 2022-23 service year.
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Looking to Connect Your Faith with Community Service and Action?
NEW THIS FALL at Saint Mark’s Cathedral, stop by our Monthly Virtual Community Engagement Connection Space ‘Called to Serve’ on the first Tuesday of the month at 7pm.
Grounded in prayer and through casual conversation, cathedral staff, clergy and members will help you to identify and connect your gifts and your passions with God’s mission of Beloved Community. This is the place to learn about and connect with local charity and relief opportunities as well as advocacy and social justice efforts, whether it be through an organized cathedral effort or with other community organizations, across ECMN, as part of local ecumenical and interfaith efforts, or even in your own neighborhood. Our next gathering is Tuesday, February 1st.
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Join Our ‘Faith in Action’ Efforts at Saint Mark’s
Interested in our gun violence prevention advocacy ministry? Contact Archdeacon Rena Turnham. *Lay leader(s) needed!*
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519 Oak Grove Street
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone Number:
(612) 870-7800
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