When we work together to seek racial justice and healing and reconciliation, we often encounter stories of struggle and suffering. We turn on the tv or open the newspaper and we mourn for the vulnerable and the marginalized: refugees fleeing their homelands and seeking shelter in camps or new countries, children separated from their parents as their families seek asylum, unarmed young black men being shot, victims of mass shootings targeted because of their ethnicity or religion. What do we do with the heartbreak we feel when we encounter these stories? The place to start is with lament. But what does it mean to lament?
In his book, Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times, Dr. Soong-Chan Rah examines in detail the most famous lament in the Bible. The book of Lamentations is a response to the suffering of the people of Jerusalem after their city has been destroyed and most of its inhabitants have been taken away into exile. Over the course of his analysis, Dr. Rah outlines many facets of lament.
If you attended Frames and Filters and would love to hear more from Tali, you'll want to participate in Wonder, Heartbreak & Hope: Why Your Work Matters on Sunday mornings in September. Ryan Beattie will lead this class exploring God's original purpose for work, the unavoidable brokenness we all experience, and how our work can be a primary means to bring Jesus’ healing. On Sept. 29, Tali Hairston will join Ryan to go deeper into one aspect of this: race in the workplace.
Join us on Saturday, October 5th as we visit the outstanding exhibit "In Our Shoes" presented by Lake Burien Presbyterian Church. The exhibit shares the history and reflections from their recent Justice Pilgrimage to important Civil Rights sites.
Join us for a six-week series exploring how the church can embody the gospel through the love and unity we demonstrate across economic, cultural, and racial divides. Each session will include biblical instruction, a video message from a Christian leader, and group discussion.
Click here to immediately download the study guide.
Join us for dinner immediately in the Community Center prior to the meetings: https://belpres.org/belong/wednesdays
Our March book Race and Place may have sparked your interest in urban geography. Dive in more deeply with these great resources:
- Mapping Inequality: Redlining in New Deal America. Explore more than 150 redlining maps, including Seattle.
https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/redlining - The Statistic Atlas: A treasure trove of demographical statistics. You can look at any area in the United States and even drill down as far as your state legislative district.
https://statisticalatlas.com/United-States/Overview
When we hear the name Malcolm X, a variety of adjectives comes to mind: black nationalist, Muslim, radical, civil rights leader, and for others, racist.
Few people who have an opinion on Malcolm X actually know that who he was in the beginning of his career, was dramatically different by his tragic end. His story is that of transformation. Malcolm, at his end, left the Nation of Islam and became a Sunni Muslim and was very publicly for the brotherhood of all people as God's creation.
Looking for ways to commemorate MLK Day? Here are some ideas:
- Participate in a tree planting at Eastgate Park. The tree-planting will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the park, 14509 SE Newport Way. Gloves, tools, hot drinks, water and snacks will be provided. To sign up, go to EarthCorps.org and click on "Volunteer Calendar."
This Fall, BelPres has made some exciting staff additions. Pastor Harvey Drake has joined BelPres for two years as, "Pastor in Residence for Racial Reconciliation and Multi-Cultural Community." As many of you know, Pastor Harvey has been an influential leader in the church and broader community for over 30 years. BelPres has invited Pastor Harvey to help us continue to grow in God's call to build toward "3rd way" racial justice and healing in pursuit of God's heart. He is uniquely gifted as a pastor and prophetic voice in this area.
We are also excited to welcome Anthony Ballard to the BelPres pastoral residency program. The purpose of the program is to train and equip people who are interested in entering professional ministry while also using their skills to help us in specific areas highlighted by our roadmap. Anthony's focus is on multi-ethnic community and racial reconciliation, and he'll be working closely with the J&RR Team.
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