The request of the Outreach Committee to make window signs supporting Black Lives Matter is a call for us as Christians to bear witness to institutionalized racism against black people. It is not just a slogan, it is a baby step that we hope will encourage us to examine our own hearts and initiate conversations in homes around our neighbourhoods. We agree that all lives matter but the item on our agenda right now is black lives and we know that black lives have been and are devalued and disrespected on a scale that white lives are not.
Make a sign with a marking pen and piece of cardboard. It you can’t do that Katy Joaquim (ktjoaquim@gmail.com) can ensure you have a sign with some artistic flair. Once we get our signs up we think it would be wonderful to share them online by sending pictures to Al Wheable (awheable@gmail.com) who will ensure they get on E News or on our website.
Taking a further step, Katy Joaquim and Sandra Onufryk will be leading book clubs via Zoom on Wednesday, August 12 at 7:30 pm. The book we are reading is the best seller White Fragility by Robin Di Angelo. If you have difficulty procuring the book but would still like to participate in a discussion, Sandra will do a book presentation and lead a discussion about White Fragility on Zoom on Wednesday, August 19 at 7:30 pm.. If you would like to participate in either event please email Sandra Onufryk at sandraonufryk@gmail.com.
The Outreach Committee hopes that these discussions will lead to ideas that will help our congregation to try to create more profound change. This is just a beginning and we have a long way to go. In the meantime watch for the big banner supporting the fight against racism soon to be erected in front of the church.