Next Tuesday is July 4, the day the United States of America celebrates its so-called independence. All across the nation this weekend, people will be having parties, cookouts, and traumatizing fireworks displays to celebrate the occasion of a military victory over England, the primary colonizer of the land on which we live.
But are we really free? Is American independence for everyone, or just a privileged few?
Is the Doctrine of Discovery still alive and well in America, causing untold harm to folks on the receiving end of exploitation and colonization?
This week at New Wineskins we’ll view an NPR-produced video reading of excerpts from Fredrick Douglass’ “What To the Slave Is the Fourth of July” featuring narration and commentary by Douglass’ descendants (you can read the full text of the original speech here). Then we’ll discuss what true and full independence for all might look like, and what faith communities like ours can do to bring that dream to reality.
Join us this Sunday, July 2, in the New Wineskins Virtual Theology Pub powered by Zoom as we discuss what it means for spiritual exiles to celebrate Independence Day in 2023.
6:00pm ET: Happy Half-Hour (informal meet & greet time)
6:30pm ET: Presentation & conversation begin
Mark your calendars: Quarterly Community Sabbath coming July 16
Once every 3 months we take a break from our weekly gatherings to provide space for rest and renewal. It’s one of the spiritual practices that are part of the rhythm of our community.
There will be no gathering on Sunday, July 16.
We’ll reconvene for our regular Sunday night gatherings on July 23 with an old-fashioned open forum Q&A Gathering…bring your questions and observations about faith, religion, spirituality and how they intersect with culture and society in our world today.
Our next Community Sabbath will be in October.
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