Racial Justice News:
On Thursday, December 22nd, Centennial is hosting Miracle Moments with Santa, an event where families can enjoy a Christmas lunch and sing Christmas carols while the children shop in Santa's workshop for gifts for people in their lives. There will also be a visit from a Black Santa and Mrs. Claus, crafts, gift wrapping, and more. This event is to benefit the community and MN Wrongfully Convicted Judicial Reform.
Please support this magical event by:
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Sharing this event with families that would appreciate some extra Christmas cheer this year (there’s a suggested donation of $2.50 per child, but all are welcome regardless of ability to pay)
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Signing up to volunteer at the event
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Contributing new or (very) gently used items for Santa’s Workshop
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Making a financial contribution at the Giving page (select “Miracle Moments with Santa” in the dropdown)
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Inviting your family, friends, organization, and community to participate
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Share the event links on Facebook and/or via email
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Print the flyer and post it at your office, coffee shop, grocery store, etc.
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Gather funds to contribute and/or shop for gifts together
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A note from our Church Council: Centennial is a part of the Racial Reconciling Movement in The United Methodist Church. The Racial Reconciling Covenant was approved at Centennial’s All-Church Conference on June 15th by a vote of 56 yes, 7 no, and 2 abstaining. You can read the Covenant, as before, at http://centennialumc.org/files/docs/RacialReconcilingCovenantUpdated.pdf. The Covenant builds upon both our official church mission statement, approved in 2010, and our official Reconciling-Welcoming statement, approved in 2015.
Centennial for Racial Justice
At Centennial, we believe that God’s Kingdom is a kingdom of justice, unity and strength, and that all people are made in the image of God. To love Christ is to be actively opposing all forms of racism (explicit, implicit, systemic and individual) in pursuit of reparation, reconciliation and meaningful justice. (See Article V Racial Justice of of The United Methodist Book of Discipline)
The Centennial for Racial Justice team was formed to call our entire congregation into action to illuminate and dismantle racism within the culture of our church community and the communities in which we live. (See Centennial for Racial Justice Call to Action)
Please join our Centennial for Racial Justice email list. Contact Karensa Fischer, patinapatina [AT] me [DOT] com or Julie Elholm jelholm [AT] centennialumc [DOT] org to get on that email list.
Find us on Facebook
For more information or to join our team, please contact any one of our team co-chairs:
Sara Metz | snmetz [AT] msn [DOT] com
Karensa Fischer | patinapatina [AT] me [DOT] com
Resources for the journey:
Resources for Responding to Systemic Racism
Staying Awake: The Gospel for Changemakers by Rev. Tyler Sit of New City UMC
How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey toward Racial Justice by Rev. Jemar Tisby
Visit this website for a wide variety of resources about dismantling racism in your own life and in the world around you: https://www.dismantlingracism.org/
Video: "Marginalized Wisdom: Getting Beyond the Uncomfortable Part" by Dr. Bertice Berry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv8JLlTMWCA