Film Screening Philadelphia 11

Film Screening Philadelphia 11

Join us for a film screening of Philadelphia 11 

In 1974, in an act of civil disobedience, a group of women organized to be ordinated as Episcopal priests. Meet the women who built the movement that transformed an age-old institution and challenged the very essence of patriarchy within Christendom.

Screening in the Nave with potluck reception to follow in the Parish Hall. There will be a good will donation (suggested $10) to cover the cost of the screening with and remainder to go to Shirley’s Place.

Bring share with friends and fellow Episcopalians!

Learn more about the film

Food Should Not Be an Either/Or Proposition

Food Should Not Be an Either/Or Proposition

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Hebrews 13:2-9

For many migrants, food is not a given. That harsh realization during the pandemic was the catalyst for the creation of Food Justice DMV (FJDMV). It began when an immigrant seeking asylum spent money to pay for transportation to an ICE check-in that could have been used for his family’s food. When local powerhouse, Denise Woods, learned of this, she gathered forces to create a mission to make sure that food security would not be an either/or proposition. In three years plus, FJDMV has delivered food justice “in a bag” to 720,994 neighbors and raised more than $1,327,529 for food, diapers and baby formula. Episcopal churches in the Diocese of Washington are strong supporters and provide precious space, financial backing and volunteerism as we live our faith in welcoming the stranger.

San Mateo parishioners preparing food boxes

Under Bishop Mariann’s leadership, the diocese provided financial backing during COVID which was a boost to this operation of kindness. Two Episcopal churches in the diocese continue to provide storage, delivery preparation, places of distribution and church member volunteers. Saint Stephen and the Incarnation on 16th Street NW in Columbia Heights opens their nave for packing and preparation on Thursday nights and for distribution on Saturday mornings. On Saturdays, food is consolidated and wheeled to waiting cars. Those cars are driven by volunteers who deliver to homes in DC/MD.

When the COVID tsunami struck, FJDMV envisioned supporting 200 migrant families. The original 200 families have shared this food hotline with their community over the past 3.5 years. As a result, FJDMV’s support has escalated to meet an ever-expanding inclusive group including more than 9,000 Black and Brown Latinx families. FJDMV delivers to those who have no transportation, are unhoused or homebound which is unique among most aid groups in the city. With these dramatic numbers increasing, the need is outstripping FJDMV’s capacity to deliver. Therefore, the search for funds and volunteers continues.

San Mateo in Hyattsville is one of the fastest-growing Episcopal churches in the country. Since August, San Mateo has had to reduce food distribution to families from twice monthly to only once. Currently, with the support of FJDMV and Grace, Silver Spring they provide food to over 200 families each month. San Mateo also serves as a distribution base for FJDMV with 22 Black and Brown Haitian, Nigerian and Latin community leaders unloading, sorting, bagging and distributing to more than 1,100 families. It is a scene of frenetic action as trucks come in with bags of rice and beans and foodstuffs, as well as crates of reclaimed fresh fruits and vegetables. Many hands pass on the bags and boxes to the next volunteer in a chain that is a life-line to those who might not otherwise eat. It does not fall on deaf ears, that several helping the operation have received food support in the past. Just as the last bags are filled, families arrive to pick up their “justice in a bag”. There is no short supply of gratitude.

Parishioners at Grace, Silver Spring packing bags of beans and rice

Grace, Silver Spring purchases beans and rice for about 100 families every month. They package these staples into smaller quantities, and deliver the packages directly to San Mateo. Grace Church parishioners have embraced this project and come ready each month with measuring cups in hand to make sure justice is truly served!

FJDMV includes critical maternal and infant health items such as diapers and formula in their deliveries. Christ Church, Kensington is participating with nearly 1,000 diapers delivered to FJDMV in one carload just last week. The Cathedral Scholars, a program for recruited DC high school students who the Cathedral helps to mentor in academics and other skill sets, have brought their muscle and spirit on Saturdays to load vehicles. Members of our churches and ministries volunteer including students who receive community service credit.

How do these operations continue their missions? With volunteerism, generosity of our community and a well-oiled machine of dedicated volunteer leadership. There are cracks in the system forming due to the skyrocketing cost of food and growing number of those in need. FJDMV finds itself navigating both of these difficult realities. San Mateo would like to restore their twice monthly distributions. Fr. Vidal Rivas estimates the beans and rice cost $1,125 for each distribution.
St. Stephen and the Incarnation's nave with boxes of food awaiting delivery
Food distribution has become a network of support for those without a safety net. For example, a newly arrived family in Maryland was in need of food. The mother’s due date was the day of her call of distress. A volunteer delivered food while another helped her with the information regarding Montgomery County’s Pregnancy and Postpartum Health Care coverage. Likewise, San Mateo has the pulse of its community with food distribution being a point of contact in their network of services which include a bi-monthly medical clinic.

This is how migrant support unfolds – by word of mouth and networks that link need with support systems in a new country. We have been given opportunities in this network to be part of the joyful welcoming of our new neighbors.

There are many other avenues and support groups to help our new arrivals. If interested, please contact:

The Washington National Cathedral Sanctuary Ministry supports the migrants in many capacities as well as sending out regular Action Alerts of actions that can be taken as well as giving and volunteer opportunities in the DC metro area. Contact us to learn more 

The Refugee Response Team of the Diocese meets bi-monthly to discuss local diocesan needs, actions and responses for our neighbors. Contact the Refugee Response Team to learn more 

Claudia Russell
Co-chair of the WNC Sanctuary Ministry

A Service Honoring Matthew Shepard

A Service Honoring Matthew Shepard

Please join us at the Cathedral as we commemorate Matthew’s birthday and mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of his death. In prayer, song, and word, we will remember Matthew, reflect on his commitment to a more caring and just world, and resolve to embrace the dignity and equality of all people. The Reverend Anne Kitch, a Shepard family relative who preached at Matthew’s funeral in 1998, will offer the homily.

Matthew was interred in the Washington National Cathedral Columbarium on October 26, 2018, following a service of thanksgiving and remembrance in the Cathedral nave, and we honor his legacy with an annual service on his birthday. Those wishing to visit St. Joseph’s Chapel, Matthew’s final resting place, may do so prior to or immediately after the service.

Live webcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0VGWyE6Tw0

ASL interpretation is offered for this service.

Samaritan Ministry 2023 Gala — The Arc of Change: Celebrating Next Steps East of the River

Samaritan Ministry 2023 Gala — The Arc of Change: Celebrating Next Steps East of the River

Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington invites you to its 37th annual Gala, The Arc of Change: Celebrating Next Steps East of the River, on Saturday November 4th at the the Town Hall Education Art Recreation Campus (THEARC) West. The Gala takes place from 5:30 to 8:30pm and includes a cocktail reception, sumptuous hors d’oeuvres, silent and live auctions, annual awards, and plenty of onsite parking. Space is limited, so we encourage you to purchase your tickets now — or become a sponsor, which will entitle you to complimentary tickets, among other benefits. And if you can’t attend, we hope you’ll contribute to the Gala’s success by making a donation! Proceeds will fund Samaritan’s NEXT STEP program, a mutual ministry which employs intensive casework, coaching and other support to empower the DC-area’s returning citizens, homeless and unemployed to transform their lives. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/SMGWGala2023.

Honrando el pasado, presente y futuro de Juneteenth

Honrando el pasado, presente y futuro de Juneteenth

Honrando el pasado, presente y futuro de Juneteenth
Juneteenth conmemora la liberación de afroamericanos de la esclavitud el 19 de junio de 1865 en la Bahía Galveston, en Texas. A pesar de que la Proclamación de Independencia había ocurrido dos años antes, no todos los afroamericanos esclavos habían sido liberados en territorio de la Confederación. Se necesitó alrededor de 2000 soldados de la Unión para marchar hacia la Bahía de Galveston, en Texas y anunciar que todas las personas esclavizadas en Texas eran liberadas de la esclavitud por decreto ejecutivo. A partir de ese momento, las pesonas que habían sido esclavizadas comenzaron a recordar ese día como Juneteenth. La historia de Juneteenth nos invita a considerar cómo la libertad es una lucha constante y una práctica de compartir las “buenas nuevas”.

El domingo 18 de junio, el Ministerio de Justicia Racial en Silver Spring, “Wade in the Water”, realizó un forum sobre el Juneteenth con propósito educativo. Los presentadores fueron Gabby Whitehurst, del Comité Diocesano de Reparaciones, y Keith Allen, quien creció en la Bahía Galveston, Texas, celebrando el Juneeteenth.

Keith compartió la historia de Harrison Barrett (1845-1917), quien nació como esclavo y recibió la noticia de su libertad en junio de 1865 en Texas. Después de su emancipación, él buscó a los miembros de su familia y encontró a todos excepto a su hermana. En 1889, Barrett compró la parcela de tierra más grande que una persona esclavizada tuvo en el condado Harris, en Texas. En 1947 se construyó una escuela en ese lugar y fue nombrada en su honor. Puedes saber más sobre la historia de Harrison Barrett aquí.

Grace Silver Spring Juneteenth 2023
Grace Silver Spring Juneteenth 2023

Gabby Whitehurst hizo una presentación sobre Juneteenth y le pidió a la audiencia que reflexionara sobre el feriado y su papel en este momento de cambios. Whitehurst evocó el blues, la memoria y el alma para ayudar a los miembros de la Iglesia Grace a procesar la historia de manera constructiva. Whitehurst compartió una cita del estudioso literario afroamericano Ralph Ellison, relacionada con nuestra historia desafiante y compleja en los Estados Unidos. La cita dice: “El blues es un impulso para mantener vivos los detalles y episodios dolorosos de una experiencia brutal en nuestra conciencia adolorida, para apuntar a su engranaje y trascenderlo, no a través de una filosofía de la consolación, sino sacando de él su lirismo tragicómico.

Después del forum, la Iglesia Grace tuvo su servicio de adoración usando un himnario y con la participación de un coro afromaricano. El Misionero para la Equidad y la Justicia, Rudy Logan, predicó sobre Mateo 9:35-10:8 en el contexto del Juneteenth. Rudy compartió que el Juneteenth nos invita a un recordatorio contante, al amor anónimo, a vivir abiertamente nuestro discipulado y mostrarle a todos lo que se ha cosechado. Al concluir el servicio, la Iglesia Grace, de Silver Spring compartió con San Mateo, en Hyattsville una distribución de comida.

Church of the Epiphany, en DC, también tuvo una celebración de Juneteenth a través de la presentación del saxofonista Irvin Peterson y el organista David Houston, quienes tocaron música de Leo Sowerby, Paule Maurice, Duke Ellington, Jimmy Dorsey, entre otros. Pueden encotnrar un video de la presentación de Irvin Peterson y David Houston en la Iglesia Epiphany al final de este escrito, en la sección de recursos. La celebración también incluye la presentación del bailarín litúrgico P.J. Green-Young a partir de “Sounds of Blackness: Sunup to Sundown” (“Sonidos de la Negritud: del amanecer al atardecer”) y “The Drum” (“El Tambor”). Los poetas C. Etta Powersand y Angie Whitehurst leyeron sus creaciones tituladas respectivamente “1863” y “Juneteenth.”
Epiphany Juneteenth 2023
Epiphany Juneteenth 2023

Las parroquias en la Diócesis Episcopal de Washington nos recuerdan que Juneteenth no es solo un momento para celebrar, sino también es un proceso continuo de memoria y viaje por las realidades de la libertad. Pedimos a Dios que podamos honrar en nuestro trabajo de justicia y en todos nuestros ministerios a aquellos a quienes se les negó la libertad y la justicia. Contacta al Misionero para la Equidad y la Justicia, Rudy Logan si estás interesado en compartir sobre la celebración de Juneteenth en tu parroquia, o si estás interesado en celebrar el Juneteenth en el futuro.

Contacto: Rudy Logan, Missioner for Equity and Justice