One of the joys of being CUCC's webmaster is that I see emails from CUCC's groups, formal and informal. This one made me smile so much I asked permission to share excerpts. On Oct. 27, Gabby represented the Oaxaca Team, telling the Do Justice Ministry what they have been doing since September 11 (yep, all of this in just 6 weeks)!
We want to share with you the actions we have taken in response to our Oaxaca Trip since our last meeting with you on September 11.
• Our travel team met on September 29 for a dinner and planning meeting.
• We decided to build two Ofrendas in October, one to remember our own loved ones, and one to remember those who have died in ICE detention.
• We found a place to share our Ofrenda to those who died in ICE detention. (A Latinx Dia de Los Muertos festival in Durham organized by Comite Popular Somos - a grassroots immigration justice group.)
• Do Justice members delivered the second meal we promised provide to Eliseo on October 11.
• We invited Yolanda Zavala Lopez (with Comite Popular Somos) and Emily Rhyne (with Witness for Peace) to be our guests in Youth Sunday School on October 13. Yolanda shared her memories of Dia de Los Muertos and her inspiration to start an Ofrenda exhibit and celebration. Yolanda also generously explained all the components of a traditional Mexican Ofrenda, and Emily translated for us. We provided Yolanda with a $100 stipend for her time with us.
• We collaboratively built two Ofrendas (including all the components Yolanda described) and shared in a ritual of remembrance on October 19.
• We invited the congregation (in news articles and emails) to add their own images of deceased beloved family, friends, or pets to our personal Ofrenda.
• We purchased and delivered fabric for cloth napkins for the Quinceanera celebration for the daughter of Rosa del Carmen Ortiz-Cruz (Rosa is in sanctuary at Church of the Reconciliation in Chapel Hill).
• We agreed to share the details of our Ofrendas with Monday Lunch on October 28.
• We agreed to go to Durham on Friday, November 1 to set up our Ofrenda to those who've died in ICE detention (alongside many other Ofrendas).
• We invited the youth and the congregation to join the Dia de Los Muertos celebration hosted by Comite Popular Somos. We will attend the celebration on Saturday, November 2, 6-8PM at 2000 Avondale Dr. in Durham.
• We provided Fellowship after worship on October 20.
• In order to support our neighbors in Nicaragua, we sold coffee at fellowship on October 20. The coffee came from Finca Esperanza Verde, an organic Nicaraguan farm that practices sustainable agriculture. We raised $120 to support the farm.
We invite Do Justice to participate in our efforts by helping with any of the following next steps:
• Learning and adding more to our Ofrenda to those who have died in ICE detention.
• Helping to set up our ICE detention Ofrenda in Durham on Friday, November 1 at 11AM.
• Attending the Day of the Dead festival in Durham and strengthening our connections with Comite Popular Somos.
• Exploring taking orders and selling more coffee from the farm in Nicaragua, either to members or to provide in fellowship, or both.
• Providing an angel tree for Community Outreach that supports NC FIELD migrant farm workers. NC FIELD is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that works with migrant and seasonal farmworker youth and families. It utilizes grassroots organizing principles to teach leadership, promote education and facilitate opportunities. NC FIELD’s vision is to improve the quality of life for farmworkers by increasing dignity and respect throughout the community.
• Connecting with Poder Juvenil Campesino “Rural Youth Power”, an NC FIELD group of migrant youth farmworkers between the ages of 12 and 22 from Lenoir, Greene and Wayne Counties. Our youth would like to lead the congregation in a collaborative spring youth event/service project with this youth farmworker organization. Since 2009, this group has promoted the well-being and dignity of migrant farmworkers, spoken against child labor, and practiced environmental sustainability through participating in educational and creative projects.
Read, celebrate, and get involved.
Jane Smith smithjeg@mindspring.com
We want to share with you the actions we have taken in response to our Oaxaca Trip since our last meeting with you on September 11.
• Our travel team met on September 29 for a dinner and planning meeting.
• We decided to build two Ofrendas in October, one to remember our own loved ones, and one to remember those who have died in ICE detention.
• We found a place to share our Ofrenda to those who died in ICE detention. (A Latinx Dia de Los Muertos festival in Durham organized by Comite Popular Somos - a grassroots immigration justice group.)
• Do Justice members delivered the second meal we promised provide to Eliseo on October 11.
• We invited Yolanda Zavala Lopez (with Comite Popular Somos) and Emily Rhyne (with Witness for Peace) to be our guests in Youth Sunday School on October 13. Yolanda shared her memories of Dia de Los Muertos and her inspiration to start an Ofrenda exhibit and celebration. Yolanda also generously explained all the components of a traditional Mexican Ofrenda, and Emily translated for us. We provided Yolanda with a $100 stipend for her time with us.
• We collaboratively built two Ofrendas (including all the components Yolanda described) and shared in a ritual of remembrance on October 19.
• We invited the congregation (in news articles and emails) to add their own images of deceased beloved family, friends, or pets to our personal Ofrenda.
• We purchased and delivered fabric for cloth napkins for the Quinceanera celebration for the daughter of Rosa del Carmen Ortiz-Cruz (Rosa is in sanctuary at Church of the Reconciliation in Chapel Hill).
• We agreed to share the details of our Ofrendas with Monday Lunch on October 28.
• We agreed to go to Durham on Friday, November 1 to set up our Ofrenda to those who've died in ICE detention (alongside many other Ofrendas).
• We invited the youth and the congregation to join the Dia de Los Muertos celebration hosted by Comite Popular Somos. We will attend the celebration on Saturday, November 2, 6-8PM at 2000 Avondale Dr. in Durham.
• We provided Fellowship after worship on October 20.
• In order to support our neighbors in Nicaragua, we sold coffee at fellowship on October 20. The coffee came from Finca Esperanza Verde, an organic Nicaraguan farm that practices sustainable agriculture. We raised $120 to support the farm.
We invite Do Justice to participate in our efforts by helping with any of the following next steps:
• Learning and adding more to our Ofrenda to those who have died in ICE detention.
• Helping to set up our ICE detention Ofrenda in Durham on Friday, November 1 at 11AM.
• Attending the Day of the Dead festival in Durham and strengthening our connections with Comite Popular Somos.
• Exploring taking orders and selling more coffee from the farm in Nicaragua, either to members or to provide in fellowship, or both.
• Providing an angel tree for Community Outreach that supports NC FIELD migrant farm workers. NC FIELD is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that works with migrant and seasonal farmworker youth and families. It utilizes grassroots organizing principles to teach leadership, promote education and facilitate opportunities. NC FIELD’s vision is to improve the quality of life for farmworkers by increasing dignity and respect throughout the community.
• Connecting with Poder Juvenil Campesino “Rural Youth Power”, an NC FIELD group of migrant youth farmworkers between the ages of 12 and 22 from Lenoir, Greene and Wayne Counties. Our youth would like to lead the congregation in a collaborative spring youth event/service project with this youth farmworker organization. Since 2009, this group has promoted the well-being and dignity of migrant farmworkers, spoken against child labor, and practiced environmental sustainability through participating in educational and creative projects.