How Do You Measure a Year?

Can you believe it’s been a year since everything shut down? This year has been a blur: Sometimes it feels like the longest I can remember—other times it’s like I blinked and suddenly it’s March again. Are you feeling that strange duality, too?
I think that one of the kindest things we can do for ourselves is to truthfully name what a wild, hot-mess 12 months we’ve all had. A pandemic. Anti-Black and Anti-Asian racial violence. A monumental election. A devastating fire. A terrifying insurrection. And all these on top of the triumphs and tribulations in our own lives! Here’s a tip to help us resist and be resilient: Every day, just love, despite our overwhelming circumstances.
Sunday, we’re going to hold all the feelings. Rev. Amanda will preach about “How Can We Measure this Year?” (alongside a musical tribute from Rent, of course). Click here to see the full worship bulletin. Then, after worship we’re offering space for you to come together and share how we’ve measured this year (and what carried us through it). It’ll be such a beautiful moment to hold each other tenderly, I hope you’ll join us.
As we continue to double down on love, join us tonight, Thursday March 4, at 7:30 p.m. ET, as we cohost a multifaith DA forum, so we can ask candidates how they plan to unravel mass incarceration. Then next Thursday, March 11 at 6:00 p.m. ET, we’re hosting our next Freedom Lab, where Dr. Meghan Kirksey and Dr. Mary Bassett will talk to us about Race, the COVID-19 Vaccine and Public Health.
Speaking of the vaccine, if you’re eligible and need help securing a vaccination appointment, please email Rev. Amanda, who has a whole team of volunteers to help you get one. *And* we’re thrilled to announce that, beginning on March 12th, we’re partnering with East End Temple to provide free COVID-19 tests on the Lower East Side. (See the flyer at the bottom of this email for more information.) What a beautiful way for our communities to come together and show the world what God’s love looks like.
Truly, I would not have been able to make it through this year without the love and support of this community, and I hope you feel that same fierce embrace.
I love you so much,
Jacqui
P.S. Did you see the incredible Middle Rising benefit concert Tituss Burgess and Bevy Smith are hosting on 3/25??! Click on the flyer at the top of this email to learn more and get your ticket! We deserve some joy and this event will be a blast!