2009 Countdown
#2 Just Love
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Greetings!
I am convinced; it really is all about love - love for God, love for our neighbors, love for the ones we fear, love for the ones we call enemy, and love for the rest of God's creation. The more we lack love on every level of life (personal, interpersonal, systemic, political, and ecological), the more our world suffers.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed justice is simply enforced love. That's why I'm so encouraged by what I see developing among and through the Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice. I see love.
On the fourth Sunday of Advent, I zested oranges and picked twigs out of cranberries with leaders from Interfaith Voices Against Hunger, Hazon, Faith House, and Holy Cross Episcopal Church - a few participants in the Food Justice working group of the Faith Leaders for EJ. We spent the afternoon making 180 jars of amazing cranberry sauce to distribute to more than 25 churches in Harlem and across the west side of Manhattan.
We laughed, told stories, learned about each other's faith traditions and our various connections to food and justice. We came back a day or two later, picked up jars, distributed them and invited pastors and faith communities to offer feedback and join Food Justice initiatives planned for 2009.
As I took my jars to All Angels church, Trinity Grace, Riverside Church, and St. Mary's Episcopal I was met each time by the same look of grateful surprise. "You made this from scratch?!"
"Yes," I said. "And it was made with lots of love. Please let us know if you want to join hands with about twenty-five churches in the Harlem area to help get two new high-quality / low-cost supermarkets above 125th street where there is currently a "food desert." Let us know if you would be interested in adopting an emergency food provider in your area or starting a community food garden? Let us know if you'd like to join with other churches in your area to start a community sponsored agriculture (CSA) project to help low-income people at your church gain more access to healthy vegetables."
Across the board, the responses were enthusiastic and grateful. "Thank you," they said, "for the sauce and for the initiatives! We are very interested!"
NY Faith & Justice partners with We Act for Environmental Justice, the first and one of the most reputable environmental justice agencies in New York City. Together, we co-lead the Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice leadership team made up of several faithful partnering organizations.
New York Faith & Justice aims to continue this great work in 2009. Yet, in the current economy we are dependent on the support of faith-filled individuals like you. So, I ask you to consider giving to NY Faith & Justice today. Help make just love a reality in New York City!
Give only $50 to become a member and help our vision become reality.. Give $100 (or more) and become a financial partner with this growing movement. Or click here to become an organizational partner.
If you made a pledge and haven't had the chance to send your gift, please take a moment and click here to give online now.
If you prefer to mail your gift, please make all checks payable to "FCNY". Write "NY Faith and Justice" in the memo line and send it directly to our fiscal sponsor at:
Fund for the City of New York
c/o NY Faith & Justice Donations
121 Avenue of the Americas
6th Floor
New York, NY 10013 |
