Our BelPresJustice.org website just got an update and an upgrade! We've upgraded the software version, and added all of the content from our newsletters since we first started sending them. Here's a little history about the site.
In mid-2018, we began work on a website dedicated to the J&RR Team at Bellevue Presbyterian Church (BelPres). The purpose of the site was to provide a place to post our team meetings, events sponsored by the J&RR Team, BelPres events, and local Community events in support of racial justice and reconciliation. We also posted links to the books we've studied, to movies and videos we've seen, and podcasts we've heard, along with other relevant articles.
Many are deeply troubled by the ongoing death and destruction in Gaza. If you are among those who long to see the horrific violence in the Holy Land come to an end, join people of all faiths – including friends from BelPres – for the Seattle Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage walk on Saturday, March 9.
The Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage walk is an event taking place in over 100 cities worldwide during the season of Lent. The Seattle walking route travels through both Seattle and the Eastside and covers 25 miles – the same length as the Gaza Strip. The route loops around the north end of Lake Washington and, for those walking the entire distance, you should allow 10-12 hours. Participants are welcome to walk as much or little as they want.
A few weeks ago, several members of the J&RR team went to Bethany Community Church to hear a keynote address on justice from Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra. The focus of her message was on "Familia Justice" — what would justice look like if we saw everyone around us as family?
This powerful message is now available on video. You can watch the whole event which includes a panel discussion, or if you'd just like to watch the keynote, it begins at minute 8 and ends at minute 40.
Link to Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra's Familia Justice Keynote
Looking for a local summer outing? Bellevue Arts Museum is hosting an exhibit called Strange Weather, featuring contemporary works of art spanning five decades.
We encourage you to engage with the sermon series – Just Neighbors. The word "justice" in the Bible means "to make right." Justice is the act of bringing things back to the way God originally intended - in right relationship with one another, creation, and God.
As a community, we feel called to follow God's lead in being healers of injustices, a people who right wrongs in our communities, neighborhoods and homes. We are in the middle of a five-week sermon series titled "Just Neighbors," which will kick off our discipleship initiative to understand God's call to bring justice where we live and to use our property and land for his purposes.
Take time this month to learn from and about the Native American community.
Resources for Children
Read one of these picture books with your children. All are available at the King County Library System. Click on the covers to learn more about the books.
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It's that time of year when you may be looking for Christmas gifts for family and friends or maybe a few ideas for your own wishlist. Check out our list of racial justice-themed gift ideas from members of the J&RR Team!
Recommended by Vicki Foreman
I love reading aloud to young children. I love introducing a good book to young readers. I love sharing books with kids and adults and talking about the stories that capture our imagination and our hearts. It's even fun to talk about books we don't all like and why. Reading stories of other lived experiences is a great way to expand our understanding of our fellow humans and develop empathy for people not just like us. These book suggestions are a very, very small sample of the excellent multicultural literature available. Just start searching for "the best multicultural books for (age group)". And for you adult fiction and/or poetry buffs, read anything Maya Angelou or Toni Morrison ever wrote.
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