Justice and Outreach Council
Monthly Digest
December 2021
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Welcome to the Justice and Outreach Council (JOC)'s monthly newsletter.
A place to find all the happenings of this active ministry at Trinity.
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Land Acknowledgement
The JOC committee devised this Land Acknowledgment statement to be read before meetings at Trinity and during services.
We honor and acknowledge the Chumash people, the traditional custodians of this land, and pay our respects to the Chumash elders, past, present, and future, who call this land on which we sit their home. We appreciate their wisdom, their culture, and their presence among us today as the host people of this land. We lament the injustices done to the original inhabitants and the injustices done to this land in the centuries since. We seek the courage and wisdom to heal the wounds of the past and build a better future together, in deep solidarity.
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November 15 JOC Meeting Highlights
SBACT relief help at La Cobina Shelter in Mexicali:
Laurinda Marshall, who has spearheaded Trinity’s contribution to this cause reported that, besides the total amount of $3,700 collected from Trinity (JOC $500), and other faith communities last month, a second check was sent from the SB Interfaith Alliance totaling $4,800 to continue to provide for the 300 refugees sheltered there.
Openings on the Justice and Outreach council:
Mary Ann Evans resigned from JOC because of family commitments. Her energy,
knowledge, and perspective will be missed! Our council has three openings to fill. If you are interested in joining this dynamic group please contact Jeffrey Krutzsch at [email protected].
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Co-Chair Named for the
Alternative Christmas Market (ACM) on
Sunday, December 5 after both services
JOC is excited to share that Melissa Moriarty has stepped forward to co-chair this year’s ACM and will continue to help in the future! Thank you, Melissa!
The Alternative Christmas Market is an opportunity for Trinity parishioners and friends to “justice shop” and support a wide variety of local and international charitable organizations. It is a FABULOUS experience to see our parish, including its children and youth, in high gear doing justice work for the benefit of those around the world! See the event flyer for more information and please invite friends! If you are unable to attend in person, but would still like to contribute, send a check to the office along with the passport form, or donate online, selecting "Justice Fund" in the drop down menu and adding any specific organization names in the "special instructions".
Volunteers are needed to serve as cashiers. And we need someone to handle the reconciliation one week after the event when all sales are final. Please contact event co-chairs: Jennifer Bergquist or Melissa Moriarty if you can help, or have any referrals.
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SB ACT Sleeping Bag Drive
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Santa Barbara Feeding Ministries
The Dinner in Alameda Park Meal Ministry will resume on December 23. Check the sign up for open volunteer spots.
Trinity continues to collect frozen casseroles for the Freedom Winter Warming Center opening. Please consider making a fully-cooked casserole for the freezer. Frozen purchased casseroles are also welcome. This winter season is dedicated to the beloved Katrina Perez, tireless volunteer and advocate for the Warming Center. Our next chance to serve is the week of December 12-18. Please email [email protected] if you'd like to get involved.
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Support the FoodBank
Empty Bowls Event on December 5
Santa Barbara Empty Bowls will be an outside, in-person event on December 5 at the Foodbank Warehouse (next to Ben Page Youth Center). This year, the traditional Empty Bowls soup luncheon will be transformed into an outdoor holiday market, where guests can explore a range of holiday gift opportunities, all benefiting the Foodbank’s work to transform hunger into health in our community. Included with their purchase of $30 ticket, guests will receive the handmade ‘Empty Bowl’ of their choice, a container of the soup to heat and enjoy at home, and a collection of Empty Bowls-exclusive offers from local restaurants to fill your bowl following the event. Guests will also have opportunities to take a warehouse tour, purchase tickets for the chance to win amazing raffle prizes, and access to the Empty Bowls pottery marketplace. The event will follow all current Covid-19 health protocols. Buy tickets to the 12pm, 1pm and 2pm seatings. Learn more here.
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Opportunities for Involvement
in our local community, at Trinity, and in the world
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Urge Congress to Support the Afghan Adjustment Act
Over the last few weeks, several thousand Afghans have arrived to the United States with many more being processed and screened at U.S. military bases overseas. Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) and the other refugee resettlement agencies have taken enormous steps to resettle these arrivals. While we praise Congress for passing legislation that expands the number of Afghan arrivals eligible for refugee resettlement benefits and provided EMM with funding to assist with resettling these individuals, long-term legal and administrative hurdles remain that prevent the full integration of our newest neighbors. Click here to read more and to sign the petition.
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Border & Migration Ministry Summit
Rescheduled for March 30-31, 2022
The work of migration ministry is not without its challenges. In the midst of finalizing conference details for the 2021 Summit, EMM began working diligently to assist arriving Afghan individuals and families through our network of affiliates across the country.
Around the same time, the Immigration & Refugee Ministries of the Diocese of West Texas began responding to the crisis in Del Rio and are providing humanitarian aid to the displaced Haitians traveling through their diocese to family and sponsors throughout the U.S. These humanitarian crises require significant staff attention and time, limiting the co-hosts’ ability to provide the conference originally planned.
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Stories of Justice Ministries |
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Every month we publish a story of ministry and volunteerism from a Trinity parishioner. This month’s story is from Kate Wenzel, volunteer for the Meal Ministry in the Park.
For my whole life, I've seen members of my community struggling and living on the streets. I can remember many times feeling sad about their situation. I’ve always wanted to do something about it. In the past and with the Youth Group, we assembled brown bags with water, a pair of socks and a granola bar and kept those in the car. We would give those out when we saw people at freeway off-ramps and street corners. It’s a small thing, looking the person in the eye and giving them a smile creates a connection that we can both share. Continue reading here.
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Celebrate and Support Justice |
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Look for the blue celebration envelopes in the pews!
CELEBRATE!...a birthday, an anniversary, a special event of any sort for which you are thankful.
Turn your “celebration” into a donation to the Justice and Outreach Council. We will use these funds to provide comfort and safety to those in need—food, education for children, assistance to immigrants—any of our neighbors needing support….so they can celebrate. Together, these gifts make possible our community of welcome, reconciliation and service.
We would like thank Alice Noble and Jeannie Christensen for their generous contributions to the JOC celebration fund in November.
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The Justice and Outreach Council (JOC) continues its important work in our community and beyond. Funding for the JOC comes from your pledges and Celebration offerings. The JOC’s funding is part of our annual Operating Budget where five percent (5%) of all pledges received during the year is put in the JOC account. As pledge income has remained steady this year, these funds continue to be set aside for justice work.
There are two ways you can continue to celebrate and support our justice work in addition to your pledges both now and in the future. You can send in a check made out to Trinity and simply note “Justice” in the memo line and provide the names of the persons or occasion you want to celebrate. You can also donate via Trinity’s PayPal account, select "Justice Fund" and under “special instructions” provide the names of the persons or occasion you want to celebrate.
Thank you for supporting our justice work through your pledges, donations, prayers, and most of all, the work you do in your lives to make this a more loving, peaceful, and just world.
Kathryn Dean, JOC
Michael Dean, Treasurer
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