Hello Church Family,
With the recent shift in immigration policies many in our congregation have felt the call to serve or are personally impacted. Knowing what is both informed by our faith foundations and also beneficial to those who are vulnerable has taken time to discern. The Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts have created toolkits to help parishes develop opportunities for outreach, and St. John’s is participating alongside fellow Deanery parishes in these efforts. To understand challenges and be best equipped to serve we are have been called to lean on these resources:
To begin, we will be offering multiple opportunities to serve those impacted directly and also inform our parishioners as they continue long standing community-facing ministries here at St. John’s:
Attend Know Your Rights Trainings
The Hingham Unity Council and Hingham Human Rights Commission have partnered for an informational session for our community.
When: Mon., June 9
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Where: Hingham Town Hall or Zoom
Zoom info:
Webinar ID: 821 1201 5302
Passcode: [please contact Fr. Ed or Kenzie Blackwell]
Brazilian Portuguese and Spanish interpreters will be available to Zoom attendees, please select your preferred language when you join the meeting.
The training will also include best practices for bystanders and information regarding Hingham Police Department policies and procedures presented by the Hingham Police Chief and Civil Rights Office. There will be time for a Q&A at the end of the presentation.
Thank you to HUC, HHRC and the St. John’s parishioners who coordinated this event.
Recorded Trainings: MIRA Coalition: Know your Rights Recorded Presentations and Slides
We will advertise additional opportunities for trainings as they are made available
Individual Donations:
From the Episcopal City Mission:
Episcopal City Mission (ECM) is hearing from churches across the Commonwealth-urban and rural, affluent and working class-all united by growing concern over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the shrinking legal protections for immigrants, including asylum seekers and families who arrived here legally.
What we are Seeing:
Some churches have parishioners at risk of detention or deportation.
Others are connected through programs and partnerships
Many, while more removed, want to act but don’t know how.
Make an individual donation to ACE Center for New Americans (please select “In Honor Of” and select “Episcopal City Mission” so we can track our total impact)
Make a Donation Directly to the ACE Center for New Americans Today! (Note, the link will bring up the Mass. Baptist Migration Ministries. This is correct: ACE and MBMM are fundraising together)
Here’s how you or your parish can make a difference:
$375 funds one asylum case
$1000 supports an immigration attorney for one week
$2000–$10,000 funds a full legal defense for a family in deportation proceedings
Get to Know our Neighbors:
The Episcopal City Mission has invited us to get to know our neighbors in Lowell.
African Festival of Lowell: June 21—All Day @ Sampas Pavillion africanfestivallowell.org
World Refugee Day: June 21 4–6 p.m. @ St. Anne’s, Lowell. (Hosted by ACE) there will be food trucks, music and family fun
Lowell Folk Festival: July 25–27 @ St. Anne’s and downtown Lowell. One of the largest free folk festivals in the US! lowellfolkfestival.org
Weekly Zoom for St. John’s parishioners:
This is a space for us to share our experiences, concerns and opportunities. If you are interested in taking part in Zoom conversations, please email Kenzie Blackwell (kenzieblackwell@gmail.com). We will decide on a schedule once interested parishioners have reached out. Note, there is no obligation to be there each week. Join if you can, when you can!
Please reach out with any questions to Father Ed or Kenzie Blackwell.