I was invited to this event by a fellow clergy sister when we met on the sidewalk in front of the ICE Concentration Center. We are a part of a "Clergy Presence" program in Portland. I feel solidarity and closeness to everyone I have met there and particularly to the Christian ministers for I don't have an opportunity to meet many Christian ministries who are activists. It is a privilege to stand together both as citizens and as people of faith as we long for a Moral 'Revival in our communities, country and planet. Together we stand against the illegal and immoral kidnappings and trafficking of people in our country by masked lawless thugs violently putting innocent people and children into concentration camps. The horror of 170 billion dollars allocated by the US government for immigration enforcement, 70 billion allocated for ICE makes me hang my head in shame as an America citizen. The same billionaire good old boys club that allocated these funds are often the same men implicated in the Epstein Files. The moral depravity is stunning. I am an old minister with grey hair. The young woman with bright dyed pink hair is the organizer of this event on Saturday. She shared that she appreciated standing with old white-haired ministers like me. I shared that I appreciate standing with young beautiful, creative, artists and courageous activist and Christian ministers like her. Together we stood in solidarity on the sidewalk at the ICE concentration camp in Portland and talked about Jesus and the sermon on the mount.
"Sermon on the Sidewalk!" she said. "Wow!" I said, "That is brilliant, Sermon on the Sidewalk!" I have not been able to stop thinking about this turn of phrase for it is time to pray with our feet. She has invited Operation Inflation, who are the people dressed up in colorful whimsical animal costumes that have been attending some protests of ICE in Portland, to co-sponsor the event.
“The role of the artists is to make the revolution irresistible.”
A true and articulate statement shared by Toni Cade Bambara the African American activist and artist. Well voila, join us Saturday night for an" irresistible revolutionary" event.
The photo below is me in front of the ICE Concentration Camp in Portland with an inflatable unicorn at our Christmas Eve worship on the sidewalk a few weeks ago. We brought a Jewish friend who had never been to a church before. She said what surprised her most was how peaceful the worship service was. It was beautiful and moving for the Christmas story of the Holy family - a family of refugees fleeing sociopathic leaders of Empire had never felt so relevant as it was in front of the ICE Concentration Camp this last Christmas.
So here is my, offering for Saturday, Sermon on the Sidewalk Prayer for you. Please commit to this proufound teaching of Jesus - love your enemy. Please meditate and pray on this before you come to, "Breaking Bread to Break ICE." You don't have to like your enemy or condone their behavior, but you must make a decision not to become like them. How? You make a decision and ask for God's help to love them as Jesus and Martin Luther King taught. This teaching changed my life many years ago. Now, I believe that without adopting this teaching we may not survive as a human species. It is possible for we did it here in the USA during the civil rights movement under similarly horrifying conditions. If we did it then, we can do it now. It began in churches and was largely led with Christian faith leaders. So please consider making a decision to love the ICE gestapo while praying for their conversion. Remember, ICE agents are sacred children of God also and as people of faith we are called to pray for them and all our persecutors.
I ordered a gas mask in case ICE tear gases us this weekend. My new mask just arrived in my pink mailbox, in front of my pink house and our Manger Church where we have worship in the barn with the Peaceable Kingdom of Animals. If you want more information, please contact me. As my husband Walt, a combat vet of the Vietnam war tells me, in the military there are eight support people for every person in combat. If you can't come on Saturday but you want to support me to be there with my clergy collar and my Sermon on the Sidewalk Prayer, then please volunteer at our church, or send a donation and please, please, please pray for us. There are at least eight jobs that need to be done here at Church for Our Common Home to keep this ministry going. We need your help. Please call me, (858) 248-5123. You can be part of this movement!
Please pray with me,
Dear God, called by many names,
“Blessed are you who walk forth on the sidewalk you who are poor, for the reign of God is yours.
Blessed are you who walk forth on the sidewalk, you who are hungry for you’ll be filled.
Blessed are you who, walk forth on the sidewalk you who weep now, for you’ll laugh again,
Blessed are you who walk forth on the sidewalk when people hate you, when they scorn and insult you and spurn your name as evil because you are a disciple of Jesus.
On the day you who do so, rejoice and be glad: your reward will be great in heaven, for your ancestors treated the prophets the same way.
Blessed are you who walk forth on the sidewalk, you who hear me, I say: love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. Amen
NOTE: We have changed to Google Meeting for those joining us online for
worship, Sunday 4-5 pm pst
https://meet.google.com/eto-aioq-xov
Church for Our Common Home invites you to join us in action and contemplation. Please contact me with questions and/or come visit our retreat center, Interfaith Secret Prayer Garden, biodynamic farm and counseling center or share this email and invite a friend. We are an untraditional progressive church, and we worship with the animals in the barn, (weather permitting) and are teaching Christian mysticism. We are dedicated to care for Mother Earth, the Divine Feminine, Loving Community and the Arts. Please find the link on church website homepage.
As well we offer Earth Crisis Support Groups and Potluck Parties every Sunday after worship 5-7 pm in Dallas, Oregon. Please contact me with questions and prayer requests.
From my heart to yours in love,
Rev. Bonnie Tarwater Minister Church for Our Common Home 15435 Strong Road Dallas, Oregon 97338 (858) 248-5123Zoom ID 3025719458 revtarwater@yahoo.com www.churchforourcommonhome.comwww.ourcommonhomecounseling center.org