Dear Beloved Keystone Community,
Last month I was telling you about all our building expenses. This month, I’m going to tell you why those expenses are absolutely worth it. We have had an explosion of folks asking to use the building, and to connect with the Keystone community, for various justice-centered activities. In this difficult time of fear and division, in which forces of domination seek to isolate, stalwart individuals have been working to foster community connections.
Two weeks ago, a pair of young neighbors named Ana and Charlotte stopped by to ask if they could post flyers about neighborhood meetings. After showing them around the building and getting to know them a bit, I offered our building as a resource – they wanted to host a neighborhood potluck and, after consulting with the leaders, I heartily agreed. We have been wanting to reach out to our neighbors for some time, but have not had the bandwidth; these two young people seemed like an answer to our prayers!
Over the past week, I have been contacted by other organizers: the immigrant rights group that works with the Indivisible movement, asking if they could use Keystone for a resistance training; Standing Together, an Israel/Palestine peace organization, looking for a new space for meetings; and Jim Page and John O’Connor, two Seattle folk singers, who want to hold a concert at the end of the month. In each case, I was grateful to be able to offer the building as a resource for community, connection, safety, and peace – as Rich used to say, an embassy for the Realm of God.
I am reminded of the bell hooks quote hanging on my office wall: “Dominator culture has tried to keep us all afraid, to make us choose safety instead of risk, sameness instead of diversity. Moving through that fear, finding out what connects us, reveling in our differences; this is the process that brings us closer, that gives us a world of shared values, of meaningful community.”
I would invite you all to come and see what these events offer. I’m planning to hand out a few flyers about Keystone as well, because maybe some folks from these gatherings might even want to come to church – what a concept, eh? And for those of you who prefer to connect online, we will have a new offering on the third Wednesday of the month after lectio divina: an opportunity to contemplate the spiritual meaning of nonviolence. Please look at the newsletter for more details about all community events happening at Keystone, and bring your friends!
Be well, and don’t forget to sign in PRO on all the bills recommended by Take Five, the Green Team, and Yours Truly!
With love
Pastor Adina