Dear ones,
December can be a busy, buoyant, bluesy time — often a mix of it all. We hope you are taking care. And we want to lift up a few resources/events from the broader BMC community to support you this month, especially through grief, loss and conflict.
Dark Like Soil: A contemplative advent mini-retreat – led by BMCer and queer spiritual director Samantha Lioi. *Online* December 7th or 9th. “Advent comes gently in the middle of our mess…” Find more & register here (suggested donation): samanthaelioi.com/groups.
Compassionate Communication: an *in person* workshop Thursday, December 7th at 5:00 pm at The LGBTQ Center in South Bend, IN. Learn more and RSVP here. Led by BMCer and queer facilitator & mediator Nicole Bauman. www.nicolebauman.com/
Blue Christmas: holding space for grief amidst the holidays — *online* December 10th @ 5:30 Pacific/8:30 Eastern. A quiet service of song, silence, and candle lighting with queer Anabaptist church Community of Hope. Register for the Zoom link and email pastor@communityofhopechurch.com for details.
Mennonite Day of Action for Ceasefire: December 19th — If you are not yet plugged in to taking concrete action to stop the genocide in Palestine, Mennonite Action is organizing from an Anabaptist perspective. www.mennoniteaction.org/ Jewish Voice for Peace is another salient leader and teacher in this moment, and their organizing calls are open to people of all faiths or no faith. www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/
Ceasefire Christmas Carols: singing as activism! Robust analysis and toolkit here. Would love to see some Brethren and Mennos take this up.
On Earth Peace’s Digital Advent Calendar: daily nuggets of poetry, peace and justice inspiration. OEP is a Brethren agency-member of BMC’s Supportive Communities Network.
BMC’s year-end reflections and LGBTQIA+ Advent Devotional: check it out here.
A closing solstice blessing:
Oh, Spirit of the blessed dark,
fertile presence hovering over the deep,
be seed in the earth, life in the tomb,
liberating promise born in the beauty of night.*
With care through the churning, blessed dark,
Annabeth
*Blessing from my 12/17 piece in our Advent devotional. Download the full booklet here.
