Category: Interfaith Prayer Vigils

Friday, November 20, 2020

This month, join us along with the indigenous community to reflect how we can live with integrity as migrants, settlers, and non-indigenous people on the sacred lands we live on. We invite the interfaith community to learn more about being in right relationship with the people and their ancestry that originally inhabited California. How can congregations lead an example of reparations to the indigenous community look like in the state of California?

This vigil is being co-lead by:

Corrina Gould – a Chochenyo and Karkin Ohlone woman, born and raised in Oakland, CA- or the ancient village of Huichin. She is a spokesperson for the Confederated Villages of Lisjan/Ohlone. She is a spiritual leader and has been a key leader in raising awareness of the 40 sacred Shellmounds around the Bay Area and efforts to protect the Berkeley Shellmound. Corrina is co-founder of Sogorea Te Land Trust, an urban Indigenous women-led land trust based in the San Francisco Bay Area that facilitates the return of Indigenous land to Indigenous people.

Ariel Luckey – a poet, performer, educator and organizer who works for healing, reparations and collective liberation. He is the creator of annual arts event Thanks Taken: rethinking thanksgiving. Ariel is co-founder of Jews on Ohlone Land, educating and organizing the local community to contribute to the Shuumi Land Tax, that is for the rematriation of Oholone Land– to restore a people to their rightful place in sacred relationship with their ancestral land.

Kathryn Gilje & Dr. Sharon Fennema
Kathryn and Dr. Sharon are United Church of Christ leaders in the Northern California Nevada Conference. They will share about the recent efforts to their denomination has made to make amends for the colonizing history through repair and a redemptive land tithe. Read more: UCC Resolution for Making Amends for a Colonizing Past

Interfaith Vigil on October 16, 2020: Sacredness of the Vote

We gather to remember those who gave their lives for voting rights, and to uplift those who are still struggling today to participate in our democracy. Join us for sacred music, prayer, and testimony.

Rev. Dr. Larry W. Foy, IM4HI’s Justice Not Jails Coordinator, will be presiding over the vigil.

Celebration and Song led by:

Pastor Roderick Hines & Evangelist Shandra Hines
Messiah Lutheran Church

Prayers & Testimonies By:

Rev. Dr. Art Cribbs
Emeritus Director – IM4HI
Pastor – LA Filipino American
United Church of Christ

Curtis Yarbrough
JNJ Leader for IM4HI

Hugo Aguilar
IM4HI Directly Impacted Leader

Rev. Wendell C. Miller
Lincoln Memorial
United Church of Christ

AND

Mr. George Finley
Retired Teacher and Community Advocate

Location:
FBLive @IM4Humanintegrity

It has been confirmed that there are now 38 confirmed positive cases and 42 pending results in Adelanto Detention Facility. GEO has had months to prepare and prevent such an outbreak from occurring. We pray for each one inside.

The Jewish High Holidays inspire us to reflect and take stock. Join us as we commit ourselves to reflection and acts of justice, as we engage in deep change, both within ourselves and our community.

Through this prayer service, we lament and highlight the inhumane treatment of detained immigrants inside Adelanto Detention Facility.

Not only are immigrants separated from their families but are also at risk of contracting COVID-19 while in detention. People are being sprayed with HDQ neutral, a highly toxic chemical, because the facility continues to use it as a disinfectant. The chemical is causing people breathing problems, skin irritation, and will have lasting negative impact on their health.

This prayer service will have a call to action to encourage collective accountability and support campaigns that will lead to teshuva (acts of restorative justice).

Co-led by:
Rabbi Suzanne Singer, Temple Beth El in Riverside, CA
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, IM4HI Board Chair
Rev. Jeffrey Kealoha Ryan, Center for Spiritual Living in Riverside, CA
Cantor Jennifer Bern-Vogel, Congregation Emanu El in Redlands CA