Wellington’s Weekly News 3/8/23

Thanks for taking a moment to check out these events in our shared life & the wider world.

If you’d like something included in an upcoming newsletter, let Jeffery know!
You can reach him at: office@waucc.org or 773-935-0642 (text or call).

If you’d rather join by phone, just dial 312-626-6799 and enter the Meeting ID: 917 3218 6458.

As we move from Black History Month into the season of Lent,
here are some more resources to inspire us
in our work to overcome
the legacy of racism in our country.

As part of the journey to becoming an antiracist denomination, we have been invited to join an All Church Read of Ibram X. Kendi’s book
How to Be an Antiracist.

Click here to learn more!

Ready to do a deep dive?

Check out this list of
158 Resources to Understand Racism in America,
published by Smithsonian Magazine.

Mary L. Johnson turned 90 on February 18th! Click here to read a piece from WBEZ that celebrates her organizing work to release survivors of police torture.

Mary was last with us in worship on July 4th, when her daughter Nina & son-in-law Eugene brought her to our in-person service. She is the mother of Michael Johnson, who has been on our prayer list for decades.

A recent article in The New York Times – Alone and Exploited, Migrant Children Work Brutal Jobs Across the U.S. – has drawn new attention to the perils facing unaccompanied minors once they reach the relative safety of the U.S.

Click here to take action and urge members of Congress to protect unaccompanied children and prevent child exploitation.

In November, Mayor Lightfoot and her allies denied the people of Chicago the chance to hold a subject matter hearing about Bring Chicago Home in City Council…which then prevented Chicagoans from being able to vote this month to house our neighbors by passing Bring Chicago Home.

We’re holding our own hearing – The People’s Hearing!
Hear from our neighbors who have experience with homelessness, from those on the front lines of ending the homelessness crisis, and from elected leaders pushing for change. You’ll also have the chance to connect with people from around the city who care deeply about the fight to house our 65,000 homeless neighbors.

Click here to register!

Click here if you’re interested in carpooling
with Pastor Ann-Louise to the event!

Tell the Biden administration not to bring back Trump’s Asylum Ban.

The Biden administration is taking comments from the public about its plan to bring back an asylum ban – a new version of one of the most anti-asylum seeker policies of the Trump era.

Use the link below to submit a comment sharing how this policy will hurt asylum seekers. To make sure your comment is counted and considered, please edit our pre-drafted suggestion to make it unique. Anyone regardless of immigration status may submit a comment, but comments must be submitted in English.

Click here to raise your voice!

Want to understand more about this issue, and the importance of policies that promote humanitarian asylum welcome? Click here to catch the latest episode of Craig Mousin’s podcast!

Wellington is now actively collecting Books For Africa
for a mid April delivery.
If you – or bibliophile friends- have books to donate,
please contact Karen Graham (312-607-6415)
to discuss and arrange a pick up.

Book Donation Requirements
New books or gently used books no older than 15 years old and relevant to an African reader including:

Children’s books
Primary, secondary, and college textbooks (soft and hard cover) published in the last 15 years.
Dictionaries or reference books published in the last 10 years, except encyclopedia sets.
Medical, nursing, technical and science books published in the last 10 years.
Bibles are sent only when requested by African recipients. Please place them in a separate a box from other donations & mark box as “Religious texts.”

Also accepted are school/office supplies, paper, pencils, pens, wall charts, maps, etc.

On March 21st, a federal appeals court will hear a pivotal case about Apache religious freedom that centers around a proposed copper mine, which would destroy the Western Apache sacred site of Oak Flat, Chi’chil Biłdagoteel. Wellington signed onto an amicus brief (a letter to the court) in support of the Apache Stronghold, along with other religious groups. The Apache Stronghold are rallying all people of faith and conscience under the call of “One Drum, One Prayer, One Circle,” to seek unity in protection of Earth and in resistance to ongoing colonization. They will be dedicating March 19th to prayer before their court case and ask us to join them.

Will you bring a sign to church in support of the Apache Stronghold/ Oak Flat? After worship, we will take a photo together to share as encouragement for the Apache Stronghold and to spread the word about Oak Flat on social media! You can include the hashtag #saveoakflat

On Monday, March 20, Kryss Chupp will host a Potluck & Prayer for Oak Flat at the church office (2649 W. 21st St.) We will break bread at 6:00pm and offer a sunset prayer at 7:00pm.
RSVP to kryss@cpt.org or 312-421-5513.

Save these dates!

Save yourself a seat at the next Last Supper* Club! It will be at Ann-Louise’s home on March 31st.

All you need to bring is YOURSELF & an appetite for good food & conversation.

*of the month – always held on the last day of the month

Music 4 the Soul!

In our Lenten Journey,
click on the image below to enjoy a new,
meditative video of our Lenten Introit,
for the March 12, 2023 service
curated by our Music Director, Chris Inserra.

My Lord What A Mourning

Portland State Chamber Choir