“A new commandment I give you: Love one another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
Our actions speak louder than words. We follow Jesus by living like Jesus, loving like Jesus. Justice for all is at the core of our love. As a justice movement we must seek equality for all people. As we do that, we live the life Jesus has called us to live by being his disciples.
The Justice Ministries and Witness of St. John’s Grace will strive to educate, participate and organize events that will witness to God’s love as we seek justice for our brothers and sisters as we stand in unity with them.
Online: Scheduled
Sacred Conversations to End Racism – 5 week online discussion lead by UCC national staff and others. Link to UCC SC2ER page.
Online: Available Anytime
Cross and the Lynching Tree Webinar – Sermon and discussion originally held May 31, 2020 with the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, Trinity UCC Chicago. UCC Info Page Here and the Video Here
UCC Racial Justice Ministry Website – information, thoughts, history, opportunities and resources gathered together. Website Here
Upcoming: At St. John’s Grace
Book Study: We are looking to create an opportunity to dialogue around a chosen book. This would be held either by Zoom or “under the trees” outside at church (following safe practices).
Books and Other Resources: To help with educational process
Good First Reads:
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism DiAngelo, Robin, (Peter Land Publishing, 2012)
What Does It Mean To Be White? Developing White Racial Literacy DiAngelo, Robin (Peter Lang Publishing, 2012)
More resources:
An African American and Latinx History of the United States Ortiz, Paul (Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 2018)
The Origins of Others Morrison, Toni (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2017)
The Racial Contract Mills, Charles (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1997)
The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism Baptist, Edward E. (New York, NY: Basic Books 2014)
My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies Resmaa, Menaken (Central Recovery Press: Las Vegas, NV 2017)
Video and Reading Resources:
Ibram X. Kendi on the History of Racist Ideas in the United States from his book Stamped from the Beginning. Video Here.
