It was the week before our annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's life that our President decided to make his "shithole countries" statement. A little later that week, his Immigration Control and Enforcement (ICE) agents moved on the New Sanctuary movement. First by seizing Associate Director Jean Montrevil. We knew the director, Ravi Ragbir, would be next.
Ravi speaks of his situation
The New Sanctuary Movement
NSM logo
is a grass roots movement commiNSM lgo tted to providing safety and shelter to vulnerable immigrants who find themselves under threat from ICE. Drawing its inspiration from the Sanctuary Movement of the 1980's which provided shelter for those escaping murder and repression in Central America, the NSM is committed to saving lives as well. The New York Times Magazine (1/17/18) has reported that immigration officials no longer ask the required questions as to whether someone fears for their life if returned, warranting an automatic hearing . Instead, persons are immediately deported, often to their deaths upon return. There are now, for example, nearly 300000 Salvadorans subject for deportation to the country with the world's highest murder rate. By the time Ravi's report date comes on Thursday, Jean has already been sent to the Chrome Avenue Detention Center in Miami, one step away form deportation to Haiti. We gather for breakfast and prayers, and then as Ravi leaves for his hearing, abroad interfaith coalition starts out on a "Jericho Walk"....
Beginning the "Jericho Walk" through AI Wei Wei's installation, "Fences make good neighbors"
seven circuits around the Federal Court Building with Marc Greenberg of the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing blowing the shofar. Later, word will come that Ravi has been detained. Because he fainted at the announcement, he is being taken to jail in an ambulance. Attempts are made to block the ambulance and ultimately two city council members are arrested including council member Jumane Williams being dragged away in a choke hold. **** Monday is the annual King Memorial day. Today is not a day of rest, it is a day of protest and marching. The special guest at Judson Memorial where we begin is Ruby Sales,
Ruby Sales
who as the little girl Ruby Bridges was the first to integrate the William Franz Elementary School in Louisiana. Ms. Sales tells us our movement must be international and have hindsight, insight and foresight. And that Anti-Islam and Anti- Black are connected and the same. What's happening today is not new, but has roots deep in the American soil. And that we must rid ourselves of empirism with remorse, restitution, reconfiguration,reconstruction, reconciliation and resurrection. In the freezing cold, we go outside or another Jericho walk, And back inside the church, there is an overflow crowd for the press conference with the council members.
New Sanctuary press conferecne
The question before us is where will stand in this rising? Council member Jumane Williams says We stand for all who are "other" anywhere and that we must uproot this system. We now know that Ravi, too, has been sent to Chrome. He and Jean were able to see each other before Jean was deported. Both have lived here over twenty years. Have wives and children. Are intimately and integrally part of their communities. And the Trump administration is determined o send a message to those who would seek to stand up for immigrants. **** Back uptown, I join in the 16th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day march for peace and justice.
At the Upper West Side march
This year's theme is "Immigration" and even with the freezing cold, a large crowd as come out to march from congregation to congregation singing, chanting and praying. At Pastor Heidi's church, Trinity, two vulnerable immigrants take the risk to tell their story, just so we understand.
Telling their story
At the march's conclusion, Borough President Gale Brewer,
Manhattan Boro President Gale Brewer in solidarity
our former council member, lifts up Council members Williams and Martinez. There is clear public concern about Trump's actions. **** At Ravi's court hearing on Tuesday, the judge expresses dismay that ICE would move when a natural "stay of deportation" hearing date as fast approaching. ICE's chilling response was basically, "We did it because we can..." **** Wednesday was the memorial service for my friend Philip Newell.
Philip's memorial service
His wife, Madelyn Tramm chose this day because it was in the center of the week celebrating Dr. King's life. And she chose the Riverside church for the service because that was where Dr.King preached his famous Sermon criticizing the US in Vietnam. Not all were aware that Philip and Dr. King had bene study partners at Boston, Philip drinking beers and Dr.King...Diet Pepsi?...Madelyne noted that Philip's last word was a loud and clear declaration, "Exonerate!"...perhaps himself, perhaps all who struggle to believe in their own forgiveness. Speakers noted that Philip believed that faith was not about pieties, propositions and proscriptions but purpose, proclamation and prophetic witness. And that he always believed at the Bible should be read as a social contract. with theological depth and resolve. And that one must love and be immersed in life. And that if you want to stay married, you must forgive each other from the bottom of your heart every day. Sitting in the congregation I can't help but wonder when I die, who will come? What will they say? What can still be done between now and then? **** The judge ruled that Ravi must be returned from Chrome to Elizabeth, New Jersey. And today, that he must be released from detention. Deportation still seems imminent. Saturday, 100s of thousands marched again in the Women's March. It's spirit was buoyant and defiant, voices --and fists--raised at Trump Tower, the Trump Hotel and FOX news.
At the march
at Trump Tower
Diverse voices
Spirit of the day
Steady flow of marchers
The BBC ran a report on deportations that most Americans haven't figured out yet. People we've known for decades, neighbors, are disappearing day by day. We are already deeper into an alternative reality than could have been imagined. Steady loving confrontation, King called us to in Selma. That's what we need.
At the end of the week celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and on the evening after the stunning second Women's March in New York City, it was a moving end to the day to see "Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom" in the Sanctuary Theatre at the Center at West Park. It was a dramatization of the story of Lynda Blackmon Lowery who experienced her 15th birthday on the march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965. This one woman performance by Damaras Obi was directed by actor Ally Sheedy and began as a project at La Guardia High School in New York City (the "Fame School") where Ms. Obi was a student in Ms. Sheedy's class. The performance is essentially a dramatization of the young adult book by the same name Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story if the 1965 Voting Rights March by Lynda Blackmon Lowery as told to Elspeth Leacock and Susan Buckley. Both performance and book make a highly personal portrayal of what it was like to be part of that march including the fear, the physical pain of enduring beatings and the exhilaration of new hopes of freedom being won. Ms. Lowery helps us to understand the importance of teenagers in that crucial struggle for voting rights, being herself arrested 9 times before her 15th birthday. It's also a powerful description of the vicious violence which met the marchers. Ms. Obi successfully captures the emotional reality of a teenager having to mature beyond her years in the struggle. Adding richness to the performance was the Riverside Church Inspirational Choir's opening with Freedom Songs of the time with Ms. Obi emerging from the choir to begin the performance. There is of course a spiritual connection between the marchers of 1965 and of January 20th, 2018. It's clear as they won their voting rights victory in 1965 the Civil Rights marchers would never have imagined that over half a century later, not only would there be such a long road still to travel but that even what they had won would be under attack and in some states even reversed. Battles seemingly win have to be refought all over again. It's clear that the Trump presidency has unleashed the powers and forces that would like to roll the clock back before 1965. And disempowerment of African-American voters is a clear part of that agenda. Groups like the Andrew Goodman Foundation's campaign for Vote Everywhere with organizing work on college campuses across the country are essential to this struggle. (https://andrewgoodman.org/) The foundation founded by the family of Andrew Goodman who was murdered in 1963 in Mississippi working for voting rights. (In 2013, West Park hosted a 50th anniversary commemoration for Andrew who grew up a next door neighbor of the church.) West Park was a fitting place for this production given its predecessor Park Church's history as a stop on the "Underground Railroad" sheltering slaves until they could take boats up the Hudson to Canada and freedom. ( Read more about that here . https://www.westsiderag.com/2018/01/09/starting-this-week-ally-sheedy-damaras-obi-staging-play-about-historic-civil-rights-march-at-local-churchs-theater) Very importantly, most of the play's performances were for hundreds of New York City School Children, learning how people their own age had been important in changing history. In a post performance conversation, Ally Sheedy spoke of how moving it was to see the number of Muslim children who clearly have their own struggles to face. The week was very representative of what the Center at West Park is all about with "Turning 15.." in the mornings and the genre breaking creativity of the theatre-film-immersive perfomance of Anonymous Ensemble's "Love Liebe Amour" at night. The producers of "Turning 15..." hope to take it on the road. That would be a great teaching tool for local communities. In the meantime, the original book is a very valuable resource for understanding a time and movement that can inspire and inform us in our own unavoidable struggle.
Our journey with La Iglesia Valdense del Rio de la Plata comes to an end in Montevideo, the capital city of Uruguay. It's arc of high rise apartments and hotels along la playa are reminiscent of Miami as are the well preserved streets of art deco, more than any other city in South America.
Montevideo Deco
It's appearance is expressive of the most secular and progressive country in South America. And the safest city. It is a bit surprising, then,to learn of Uruguay's high suicide rate. This is the context for the ministry of la iglesia valdense . in Montevideo. While our plan was to have a workshop similar to what we did in Argentina, it became clear to me that the Montevideo Church may be the most important to look at because of it's history of having followed the cardinal rule of urban ministry, namely to be aware of and informed by its context. In listening to the stories of long time members, there was a conscious intentionality in how the church's ministry was lived out in the urban context.
Łux lucet en tenebras
Located in the central heart of the city, its architecture is classic postwar modernist with the largest sanctuary I encountered in Rio de la Plata.
La Iglesia
It's interior is classic Valdensian, filled with bright streams of natural light. The light is another expression of the Valdensian motto, Lux lucet in tenebras, light shines in the darkness... The church began with a fellowship of young people in 1952 and by 1958 the church building was erected. It's worth noting that the church is directly across the street from the military hospital
Military Hospital
which during the junta years 1973-85 became a place of detention and torture. (On reflection, I would have liked to have heard more from the church members about what these years were like. It must have had a chilling effect on church life to be so near.) There were a good mixture of older members, "legacy" valdensians, a former Methodist, an Argentine and an American. At least one through mrriage and one by choice, attracted by its history, ideas and its living faith. And one member, the President, responded wit a sigh that he had been there "800 years."
Gathered for conversation
Among concerns of the people were the suicide rate and increasing refugees/migrants from the Caribbean, especially Cuba and Republica Dominicana. One of the richest resources of e congregation is its building, which was built to provide not only student housing but also housing for transients. And there is an appropriate sense of pride in having wanted mission as part of its original design. (It's also interesting that the walls outside the downstairs fellowship hall of the church have painted murals of the history of la iglesia valdense in Uruguay.)
Historic murals
There is also a strong sense of pride in their interfaith commitments and relationships, their women association and especially the musical and choral programs of the church. Known as the "home of choirs." Sunday was a bit of a different worship day in that Pastor Hugo Armond Pilon's ministry was up for a renewal vote and he was not there. It was also a special women's led service. Although larger in attendance than most, the sanctuary still had a lot of empty pews.
Sunday the women led worship
In my conversations after the workshop and on Sunday, I discovered that the original plans were even more visionary. The idea was to have a building that would essentially house all the members of the congregation as an intentional community. For its time, this was a truly unique and creative expression of urban ministry. Although that never actually happened, a number of families did initiate the process and one current member has war memories of growing up there and the sense of community and being able to move freely from floor to floor and apartment to apartment...a true sense of community. Hearing some of this story helped me to understand some of the weariness I felt from some members. They had opened their minds and hearts and had dreamed big. And there is that sense of aging with the dreams unfulfilled and wondering who new dreamers will be. This is a story that needs to be gone into more deeply and recorded as it was a very important experiment in urban ministry. Something of that vision can inform and inspire a new time of visioning. Certainly the building and its student and itinerant housing could be further developed in a number of different creative ways. Perhaps even related to refugees and migrants. It also strikes me that in this highly secular culture, the suicide rate may be expressive of a spiritual hunger. My impression of the Valdensians is that their unique spiritual culture may be especially consonant with the spiritual needs of the progressive secular culture in which they live. The basis for a creative progressive urban ministry that could revitalize the church and be an even more valuable presence in the city is clearly there. Lux lucet in tenebras.
On a freezing cold day, i make my way through the ever worsening subway system and somehow get to Beverley Church.
We could've gone one of two ways today..either the Baptism of Jesus or Three Kings...We'll have time to look at Jesus' baptism again in Lent...so I wanted to go with the Three Kings...it's like we need them to finish our Christmas. And I'm a believer in holding onto Christmas as long as we can. In our house, we always wait until the last week before Christmas to put up our tree and then leave it up until January 6th...Epiphany....And for our friends in the Orthodox Churches, this is their Christmas, old Christmas, Eastern Christmas. When I was growing up, our local paper always had an op ed honoring their celebration. So we today have one final day of Christmas. Especially since the secular commercial Christmas begins right after Halloween, I want to keep the spiritual, Christmas of faith on its own...all twelve days... And at West Park Church, when we were a fully bilingual congregation, this was a very special day for us, Three Kings Day, el dia de los tres reyes magos. That was the day of our Christmas pageant and procession. And our Latino members always had special gifts for everyone..and we had rosca de reyes...a special Mexican bread for the day...with a little baby Jesus inside..and whoever had the baby Jesus had to host a party.....usually with traditional tamales...so today we will welcome and honor the kings. Luke has the shepherds and the stable, Matthew the kings, and if you look close, (2:11), they went into a house..that's where the tradition came from that they actually arrived about a year later. We like to mash them up all these scenes together, like with the live camels and the procession at Radio City Music Hall... And it doesn't say three, though there are three gifts...and they got the gifts ...and camels from Isaiah, but Matthew adds myrrh.....as a foretaste of what will come... This is a nativity for adults. My friend Pastor Heidi Neumark of Trinity Lutheran wants us to keep Herod in Christmas. Driven by fear, Herod winds up murdering all the children under two...there is of course no external verification of thi story....but this was so common or Herod .that a relatively small massacre in a small hill country town would not be making the news...Herod was so afraid of losing power he even murdered his own son...so the deaths of these poor people in Bethlehem wouldn't be noticed. Pastor Heidi says: We Christians like to talk about putting Christ back into Christmas, but let's not forget to put Herod back into Christmas. Herod represents the dark side of the gospel. He reminds us that Jesus didn't enter a world of sparkly Christmas cards or a world of warm spiritual sentiment. Jesus enters a world of real pain, of serious dysfunction, a world of brokenness and political oppression. Jesus was born an outcast, a homeless person, a refugee, and finally he becomes a victim to the powers that be. Jesus is the perfect savior for outcasts, refugees, and nobodies. That's how the church is described in scripture time and time again - not as the best and the brightest - but those who in their weakness become a sign for the world of the wisdom and power of God. from Joy Carroll Wallis This kind of violence is certainly part of our own history. Last week I saw the new movie"Hostiles" . it takes place in the waning days of the US government conflict with Native Americans. Christian Bale a longtime "Indian fighter" who is assigned to accompany an Indian leader (Wes Studie)back to his home in Montana. Along the way, old enemies have to find way to live together, work together in order to survive. Along the way they come to respect each others integrity. Importantly, it is not the liberals, eastern journalists,etc.. who never actually encountered one another but those who truly engaged with ine another, vs "hostiles" ...who show the way towards reconciliation. So....Free people see Rome for what it is... There is enough love to drive out fear.. God is in and with all the characters..in these stories. A light glimmers on the horizon and the darkness has not overcome it And so the Holy family flees to to Egypt...as refugees...many traditions grew up around their time there...they'll even show you where they stayed.....One of my youth group advisors suggested they used the gifts to pay for the trip to Egypt. , So what do we make of all this? God places God's child in the hands of fallible human beings...just like us. Herod, the powerful one, is afraid. Joseph, who has nothing but a dream, is not. Ready to start as journey into a new year. Much to frighten us. We're called upon to face our own Herods. And go home by another way? Once you've come to know Jesus,you just can't go back the same way. It's got to be. new. What's our new way home look like? You tell me....
Here is James Taylor's song, "Home by another way": Home by another way . James Taylor Those magic men the Magi Some people call them wise Or Oriental, even kings Well anyway, those guys They visited with Jesus They sure enjoyed their stay Then warned in a dream of King Herod's scheme They went home by another way Yes they went home by another way Home by another way Maybe me and you can be wise guys too And go home by another way We can make it another way Safe home as they used to say Keep a weather eye to the chart on high And go home another way Steer clear of royal welcomes Avoid a big to-do A king who would slaughter the innocents Will not cut a deal for you He really, really wants those presents He'll comb your camel's fur Until his boys announce they've found trace amounts Of your frankincense, gold and myrrh Time to go home by another way Home by another way You have to figure the Gods saying play the odds And go home by another way We can make it another way Safe home as they used to say Keep a weather eye to the chart on high And go home another way Home is where they want you now You can more or less assume that you'll be welcome in the end Mustn't let King Herod haunt you so Or fantasize his features when you're looking at a friend Well it pleasures me to be here And to sing this song tonight They tell me that life is a miracle And I figured that they're right But Herod's always out there He's got our cards on file It's a lead pipe cinch, if we give an inch Old Herod likes to take a mile It's best to go home by another way Home by another way We got this far to a lucky star But tomorrow is another day We can make it another way Safe home as they used to say Keep a weather eye to the chart on high And go home another way So as God entrusts God's children to fallible human belongs, God entrusts us to each other. And we will walk with each other as we find our way home. And so we share our communion. And a hot cup of coffee. And unavoidably back out into the cold. (Like -14 degrees Centigrade!)
Happy New Year!
Matthew 2: 1-12 [1] Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, [2] "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him." [3] When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; [4] and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. [5] They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: [6] `And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'" [7] Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; [8] and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." [9] When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. [10] When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; [11] and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
