Justice is like the Kingdom of God — it is not without us as a fact, it is within us as a great yearning.
~George Eliot, Romola
Reflection
11/11/2011
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Posted by immanuelpres
Snapshots: Joe Porta & March for America group 3.14.10
03/23/2010Frank interviews immigration attorney Joe Porta in the Spanish service.
Mason Funk, Christy Lafferty, Ricardo Moreno and Anabella Trujillo are commissioned in the Todos/as Juntos/as + All Together service for their participation in the March for America for immigrants’ rights.
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Interfaith Vigil for Immigration Reform 3.3.10: More video
03/05/2010Parts two and three of the previously posted event. Sam Pullen fiddles in part two at 8:35. Frank Alton speaks in part three at 4:00. Thanks to Christy Lafferty for producing the videos.
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Interfaith Vigil for Immigration Reform 3.3.10
03/05/2010A group of religious leaders from faith communities around LA held an interfaith vigil to call on Senator Feinstein to take a leadership role in the fight for comprehensive immigration reform, stop separating families due to our broken immigration system, and end the raids and deportations while we are waiting for reform. Following the vigil, a small group met with representatives in Sen. Feinstein’s office and turned in a few thousand postcards from constituents around Southern California, which are a small sample of all those collected.
Immanuel was well represented with Samuel Pullen and Christy Lafferty (in her public performing debut) singing a song at the opening of this video of part of the event and Frank Alton among the religious leaders.
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Marcha por los derechos de los inmigrantes en Phoenix
02/06/2010Erin Tamayo
El 16 de Enero de 2010, me reuní con 10,000 personas para marchar por las calles de Phoenix, Arizona y reclamar por reforma migratoria en el estado del gran cañón. Yo había oído antes de las políticas inmigratorias fracasadas y de las injusticias que se han cometido en el área de Phoenix, y por esta razón cuando supe de esta marcha migratoria estaba muy interesada en participar. Mientras marchábamos ese Sábado por la mañana, muchas personas expresaron su desaprobación del Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Él se autodenomina “el Sheriff más duro” de los Estados Unidos. He leído en el periódico The Arizona Republic que ha sido acusado de cometer abusos a los derechos civiles contra los miembros de la comunidad Latina.
Mientras marchaba por la ruta de 4 millas en el centro de Phoenix, estaba sorprendida de que habían personas de etnicidades y edades diferentes, tanto como personas de diferentes vocaciones. Los que estaban demostrando su apoyo cargaban letreros con los mensajes: “Somos humanos” “Reforma Inmigratoria ahora!” y “Ya Basta al Odio.” Al final de una línea muy larga de gente que marchaba, yo estaba impresionada al ver un grupo que bailaba una danza indígena. Ellos bailaron por toda la ruta de la marcha. Yo estaba muy impresionada por su perseverancia. Se me ocurrió que sería muy importante recordar esa disciplina y perseverancia. Vamos a necesitar practicar esta perseverancia como una comunidad para poder lograr una reforma migratoria comprensiva en Arizona y en el país entero. Asi como los pies de los bailarines mantuvieron el ritmo a lo largo de la marcha, nosotros debemos ser persistentes en reclamar por un tratamiento justo y humano para todos los hijos e hijas de Dios.
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Phoenix March for Immigrants’ Rights
02/06/2010by Erin Tamayo
On January 16, 2010, I joined with 10,000 others who took to the streets of Phoenix, Arizona to call for immigration reform in the Grand Canyon State. I had heard about the failed immigration policies and injustices being committed in the Phoenix area and so when I learned that the Immigration march was to take place, I was greatly interested in joining. As we marched that Saturday morning, many marchers voiced their disapproval of Sherriff Joe Arpaio. He calls himself “America’s toughest sheriff,” and I have read in the Arizona Republic that he has been accused of committing civil rights abuses against members of the Latino community.
As I marched the 4 mile route through downtown Phoenix, I was struck by the fact that there were individuals of different ethnicities, ages, and from different walks of life. Demonstrators held signs stating: “We are Human!” “Immigration Reform Now!” and “Stop the Hate!” At the end of the long line of marchers I was amazed to see an indigenous dance troupe which actually danced the entire route in their support of immigration reform. I was most impressed by their perseverance. It occurred to me most of all that this discipline of perseverance will be important to remember. It will be this perseverance that we will need as a community in order to bring about comprehensive immigration reform both in Arizona and throughout the country. As the feet of these dancers tirelessly carried on their rhythm throughout this march, let us also tirelessly remain persistent in our call for the humane treatment of all God’s children.
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advent journal – day 11 – 12.09.09
12/09/2009Wednesday, December 9 | Advent Week Two
Wednesday Morning Communion Service, 7:30 a.m., Westminster Chapel
Wednesday Evening Prayer Service, 7:30 p.m., Westminster Chapel
Breath Prayer
In Hebrew the words for breath and spirit are the same word, ruach. A Breath Prayer is a short prayer that can be said or thought in a single breath. From the story of creation when the breath of God (ruach) moved over the waters, to the psalms where the psalmist declares “Where can I go from your Spirit (ruach), to the coming of the Holy Spirit, when a sound like a strong wind (pneuma) was heard, the Spirit of God has been linked to air, breath, wind. In fact, the Greek word pneuma can be translated as “Spirit” “inner life” “wind” or “breath.” So, in its basic form a breath prayer is inhaling God and exhaling whatever one needs to release.
Simply use a short phrase that affirms God’s presence as you breathe in, and a short phrase of release as you breathe out. Or your exhaling phrase might strengthen the inhaling phrase. Some examples might be “come Lord Jesus”, or “peace” or “ act justly, mercy, walk humbly with your God”
Sit quietly and repeat the phrase gently in your mind for several minutes. Allow the prayer to take on the shape of your breathing so that the words accompany your every breath. Take a walk, repeating your prayer while you move. Note how the prayer shapes your perceptions. Allow the prayer to accompany the rhythm of your walking and your breathing. Carry this prayer with you throughout the day
Miércoles, 9 de diciembre | – Adviento Segunda Semana
Servicio de Comunión del miércoles por la mañana, 7:30 a.m., Capilla Westminster
Servicio de Oración del miércoles por la noche, 7:30 p.m., Capilla Westminster
Oración de respiración
En hebreo las palabras por respiración y espíritu son las mismas palabras, ruach. Una oración de respiración es una breve oración que puede ser dicha o pensada en una sola respiración. De la historia de creación cuando el aliento de Dios (ruach) movió sobre el agua, a los salmos donde el salmista declara “Donde puede ir de tu Espíritu (ruach), a la venida del Espíritu Santo, cuando un sonido como un fuerte viento (pneuma) fue oído, el Espíritu de Dios ha sido enlazado al aire, respiración, viento. De hecho, la greca palabra pnuema puede ser traducida como “Espíritu” “vida interior” “viento” o “respiración.” Así que, en su forma básica una oración de respiración es aspirando Dios y espirar lo que necesita liberar.
Simplemente use una corta frase que afirma la presencia de Dios mientras que aspire, y una corta frase de liberación mientras que espira. O su frase de espiración puede fortalecer la frase de aspiración. Algunos ejemplos pueden ser “venga Señor Jesús” o “paz” o actué justamente, misericordia, camina humildemente con Dios”
Siéntese en silencio y repite suavemente la frase en su mente por varios minutos. Permite que la oración tome la forma de tu respiración para que las palabras acompañen tus respiraciones. Tome un paseo, repitiendo tu oración mientras caminas. Note como la oración forma tus percepciones. Permite que la oración acompañe el ritmo de tus pasos y tu respiración. Lleva esta oración contigo durante el día.
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seek justice – One LA organizing for better schools
11/26/2009READ the cover story of this week’s Jewish Journal exploring the organizing work of One LA-IAF -
One LA-IAF is a broad-based organization of congregations, schools, unions, and community groups throughout Los Angeles County, affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), the oldest and largest national organizing and leadership development network in the United States.
The primary purpose of One LA is to enable its member organizations to effectively deal with the issues affect their constituents. This is done through building relationships between IAF’s institutions and their people, acting together on commonly identified issues affecting our families and communities, and building leaders.
Immanuel connects with One LA through the Immanuel Community Organizing Team. We organize our congregation to collectively identify issues that most affect our daily lives and then do something about them.
• We identify members who desire to work together to address neighborhood,
community, regional, and countywide issues.
• We build the capacity, ability and willingness of our people to address these issues.
• We represent our church in the Central Region of One LA.
• We support other One LA institutions in addressing their issues and coordinate
the countywide organizing of One LA.
If you want to get involved, please contact Jane Hirsch or One LA organizer, Robert Hoo at rhoo@metroiaf.org
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what’s in a logo?
11/14/2009
The logo is composed of the Immanuel Presbyterian Church name and the radiating IPC cross. These elements represent the intersection of cultures, spirit and justice. The three concepts are represented by the arcs surrounding the cross. These can be seen as radiating outward and inward illustrating that Immanuel’s message reaches out to the community and draws people together.
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Women’s group: Next meeting Saturday, 11/28, 6-8 pm
11/14/2009Saturday, November 28, 6-8 p.m.
Potluck, Parlor
Join the women of Immanuel for an evening of tasty food & fellowship. Christy Lafferty will be sharing about her experience working in the grape fields of Central California. Contact Leticia at 213-389-3191 x 103 to request childcare.
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