Dear Friends in Christ,

Last night I attended (along with several others from the St. A’s community) an event hosted by the local YWCA entitled “Practicing Solidarity and Imagining New Futures.” The panel discussion and community questions gave us a lot to ponder in terms of how we engage with integrity the work of living and working for justice alongside people who are oppressed or marginalized. The event left me energized and excited for our continued communal discernment of how we can act locally with solidarity on two fronts in particular: antiracism, and support for newly-arrived migrants. 

The next 3 weekends at St. A’s hold some great opportunities on both of these fronts. This Sunday, after church, I hope you will either lace up your running/walking shoes and join the first of 3 (optional) training sessions for the June 16th Race Against Hate (see details below), or come to the lounge for an adult forum presentation by co-leaders of the emerging United in Welcome project that’s bringing local Episcopalians together to provide housing and other support for asylum-seekers (also see details below!).  

The following two Sundays (May 5 & 12) will also hold important adult forum conversations about how we might deepen and enflesh our solidarity commitments on both of these timely fronts. (More info on those below too!) Your voice is essential to the conversations; and your presence at the Race is an act of hope. I am grateful to get to share in this critical part of our discipleship journey together.  

In peace and solidarity,

Nadia 

This Sunday, April 28

United in Welcome: Evanston-area Episcopal Migrant Response

Cynthia Doucet and Marta Humphreys, leaders of this group, will tell us about the efforts to upgrade an unused rectory in Evanston, so that it can be used to provide housing for children and adults who are seeking asylum. They will share with us how St. A’s could participate in their work. 

Sunday, May 5

Community Conversation: Moving Forward on Anti-Racism

Come join the conversation about what next steps St. A's might take to enflesh our commitment to antiracism. This will include a chance to learn about Becoming Beloved Community--an Episcopal resource for congregations seeking racial justice, healing, and reconciliation--which could serve as a possible framework for continuing our conversation and work on racial injustice.

Sunday, May 12

How Does St. Augustine’s Want to Support Migrants?

St. A’s has been collecting needed items for migrants for several months. Nancy Freeman and members of SNA (Support Newly Arrived), a group of St. A’s parishioners, will provide updates on current and anticipated future needs. This is an opportunity to gauge interest in possible next steps for us in this work. 

Please join us for our next shared-church Cross Quarter Service: "A May Day Celebration" this Sunday, April 28, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (1509 Ridge Road in Evanston). This will be a celebration of Spring, when we take note of God's renewal of the earth and the blossoming and abundance of all life! Along with a brief worship service, we will plant a seedling to take home, make wind streamers, have an opportunity for contemplation and (weather permitting) an outdoor bonfire. Questions? Contact Allison Ashley at creation@stmarksevanston.org. 

It is time to celebrate and honor our graduates! We want to remind them that St. A's is a home for them -- a place where they are always welcome. Please email Becky Wright and let us know about your graduate, including the plans for their next steps. 

Our April collection will be delivered to Hillside Food Pantry in Evanston. Your donations can be left in the hallway by the Community Events bulletin board on Sunday mornings or during regular office hours (Tues-Wed-Thurs, 8:30am-4:30pm). Donations must be in sturdy bags and contain no glass. Thank you for your generosity! Questions? Please contact Greg Burns.

Thank you to all who have already volunteered to help welcome our Family Promise guests during host week:

Terrell (dad) & Destiny (mom) and their 2-year-old son Jasiri; Marla and her sons, 12-year-old Damarrien and 7-year-old Marlan; and James and his 5-year-old son Zimari. As always, this guest list will be updated as families finish the program and new families become Family Promise guests. 

At this time we have 6 of the 7 evening dinners needed and 2 of the 7 overnighters needed. This is a good start but we do need more volunteers, especially to provide overnight hospitality. If you can help or want to partner with another volunteer (a great way to get to know another generous person), please click here to sign up.

Thank you to all in our church who support Family Promise families as they work from homeless situations to stable housing. If you are or have been a volunteer, are an individual financial supporter, or give through your pledges, your generosity is making a difference for our guests, one family at a time.

Kathy Gander & Julia Joehl, coordinators.

You are invited to a discussion of Anxious People by Fredrik Backman on Thursday, May 2, at 7:15 p.m. The meeting will be held both in Puhlman Hall and on Zoom (pw: lacroix). Everyone is welcome, even if you haven’t participated in any previous book group meetings. Questions? Please contact Sue Nebel.

Save the date for the next gathering of St. A’s Prayer Shawl Guild on Saturday, May 18, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Debbie Buesing's home.

St. Augustine’s is once again joining forces with the Episcopal Churches of Evanston for the 24th Annual Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Race Against Hate on June 16. This was such a great event last year, and we hope to get an even bigger contingent this year. Everyone is welcome–walkers and runners, young and young at heart! We can all make a difference in the fight against racism! For complete details, including race start times, location, registration and donation links, and even pre-race training sessions with others from St. A's, please see St. A's April 11th e-news or contact Becky Wright.

Support Newly Arrived / Migrant Donations Ministry

Sunday Morning Coffee Hour Host Sign-Up

Music for This Sunday