At Judson, we put our faith into action by engaging communities near and far
Action Through our Hearts and Hands
The Judson community is committed to discovering our talents and gifts, using them as we seek justice and mercy while following the life of Jesus. We have identified four focus areas to receive a special measure of our talents, gifts, and energy. Please consider joining us on our action journey as we:
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- embrace the LGBTQIA+ community by providing a safe sanctuary and sharing our resources to meet targeted needs within the
community.
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- focus on youth experiencing homelessness—supporting YouthLink and its nine guiding principles–by donating clothing, gifts, and supplies, and by serving meals to the 16-23-year-olds and the YouthLink staff who work with them.
Youth Experiencing Homelessness 4-27-20
- work toward climate justice by conserving energy and resources through investigating and promoting alternative energy sources and decreasing our contribution to the waste stream at church and at home.
Here is a list of activities of the climate justice group 4-23-20
Earth Day Reflection for Sunday April 26th Judson service
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- address racial injustice. We seek together, in community, to risk being open to exploring and reflecting on our white privilege. As a group, we intend to share resources, opportunities, and action plans to grapple with racial justice issues. Recognizing that each person approaches this work from their unique personal history, we invite others to join us in what we hope will be “brave” space to reflect, learn, change, and grow.
- embrace the LGBTQIA+ community by providing a safe sanctuary and sharing our resources to meet targeted needs within the
In addition to meetings, talking, reading, and individually attending plays, movies, music events, and other art events with a focus on racial justice, our group has:
- Started a list of books that we have read. The list is in the church library in the Racial Justice section and will soon be on our website. We welcome your suggestions.
- Planned an “All-church Read.” The book is White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. We plan to have a discussion of the book on January 30, 2020, at 7 p.m. at the church. Mark your calendars!
- The gathered information about plays, movies, and other events that we will publicize in the bulletin and Thursday email each week. We welcome your suggestions.
If you are interested in joining our group or attending our meetings, if you’d like a copy of our booklist, or if you have any questions or suggestions for us, call or text Monica Lewis at 612-226-8349 or email her at lewis145@q.com.
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Resources from the Racial Justice Team
In his Pastoral Response to the Death of George Floyd, Travis asked the Racial Justice Team to provide concrete examples and practices to “show the way for the broader Judson community to make the beloved community a reality.” We recognize that there isn’t one way to approach this work because we are all at different stages of awareness, ability, and readiness. Some of us are just beginning to explore the idea of systemic racism and grapple with the ways those of us in white bodies have benefited from it. Others have been working to become an “antiracist,” as Ibram X. Kendi calls it, for a very long time.
As a team, we don’t pretend we have all the answers (we are still learning ourselves), nor do we have perfect resources or suggestions. What we will try to do is provide a range of options for exploring and educating ourselves about racism. We will offer ideas for actions or ways to be an ally to the Black leaders in our community and country who are already doing the work and are asking that we support them in it.
We will send resource suggestions bi-monthly. If you find resources that have been helpful to you and want to add them to our resource “bank,” please share them with Carley Watts – carleybwatts@gmail.com.
As Travis reminds us … “stay with the moment, listen to the pain, and seek to be a part of the solution.” We hope these resources can help with that.
Judson Resources September 2021 Final
Judson Resources February 2021
Judson Resources December 2020 final
Judson Resources November 2020
Judson Resources September 2020_
Judson Resources August 24, 2020v2
Judson Resources August 3, 2020v.2
Action through partnerships
Partnerships with local organizations help us make a greater impact by focusing human and financial resources on work being done through the partnerships. Those include:
Joyce Food Shelf – Joyce Food Shelf is a program of Lake Harriet United Methodist Church. For more information see www.joycefoodshelf.org.
Judson Preschool – for more information see www.judsonpreschool.com.
Loaves and Fishes – serves meals five days a week to those in need. For more information see www.loavesandfishesmn.org.
Team Thailand – for more information see www.internationalministries.org/teams/377-hoefle-magal.
TRUST – Judson is a founding member of TRUST, an ecumenical coalition of 18 South Minneapolis churches serving families, youth and seniors. For more information see www.trustinc.org.
- Meals on Wheels is a program of TRUST.
- Parish Nurse Program is a program of TRUST.
Starfish Ministries – is a partnership between Bethlehem Lutheran Church and Judson and provides short-term emergency financial assistance for housing, utility services, transportation, and other basic needs.
The Gathering – is for those experiencing early-to-mid-state memory loss. For more information see www.lyngblomsten.org/thegathering.
Action through American Baptist Ministries
Alliance of Baptists – an organization uniting progressive Baptists in working together for social justice. For more information see www.allianceofbaptists.org.
Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists – since 1992, has supported churches in welcoming and affirming all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. For more information see www.wabaptists.org.
Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America – gathers, equips and mobilizes Baptists to build a culture of peace rooted in justice. For more information see www.bpfna.org.