Occupy Advent at Zuccotti Park on Sunday

Calling all Ministers of Shalom:

Do you want to help make history on Sunday by your presence, prayers and participation in Occupy Advent at Zuccotti Park on the second Sunday of Advent, December 4, 3:30-4:00pm? 

Every Sunday OccupyFaithNYC.org hosts a multifaith prayer service in direct solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, with different faith groups and traditions leading the service.  This Sunday, Communities of Shalom at Drew Theological School was asked to lead the service, and our theme is  Occupy Advent--Watching, Waiting, Witnessing and Working for the Change that is Coming.

Students and faculty from Drew and representatives from several United Methodist Churches in the NY metro area will be attending, including:  Church of the Village UMC and St Paul and St Andrew UMC--both of which have opened their doors to provide hospitality to Occupiers.

Members of Church of the Village Occupy Wall Street

Here is the list of participants in the service:

• Bishop Jeremiah Park, Resident Bishop, New York Annual Conference 
• Bishop Alfred Johnson “Bishop J", Senior Pastor, Church of the Village United Methodist Church, NYC  
• Rev. Tanya Bennett, Ph.D., University Chaplain and Director of Chapel and Religious Life, Drew University
• Minister Eric C. Jackson, Drew M.Div student and Community Minister, Judson Memorial Church www.occupyfaithNYC.org
• Minister Annie Allen, M.Div., Coordinator of Training, Communities of Shalom, Drew University 
• Rev. David M. Best, President, Center for Urban Strategy Development, NYC 
• Rev. Michael J. Christensen, Ph.D., National Director, Communities of Shalom, Drew University

Dean Jeffrey Kuan carries golden calf to Occupy

Occupy Advent is about being willing, waiting and working for the coming Change, the pending Shift, the sure Turning, and long-anticipated Dawning of the Age of the Spirit.  I like the way the Irish song "Canticle of Turning" captures this theme (but you have to supply your own Occupy images to fully appreciate the apocalyptic power of Canticle of Turning.

I hope you will join us at the top of the steps of Zuccotti Park if you can possibly get there on Sunday afternoon. Since the the Park was raided by police last month, you have to enter from the middle of Cedar Street off Broadway (south of Fulton).
Directions by NYC subway: Take N R Train to Cortlandt Street - walk to cedar and up the incline opposite Ground Zero toward Broadway to enter park in the middle of Cedar Street.  Or take #4 or 5 to Fulton Street - walk on Broadway to Cedar and make a right down the hill to enter park in middle of the block.  
I plan to be there at 2:30pm to mill around and take it in.  Then we'll start at 3:30pm and go till 4pm (it will be a brief but powerful witness).

Also, share this post and invite your constituency to join us.  We want a big crowd of allies in support the occupiers to Occupy Advent.  After all, 
 “A servant church must have as its priority solidarity with the poor.” – Brazilian Cardinal Cláudio Hummes.    And according to a story in the Talmud, Messiah would be found outside the gates of the city, among the poor and marginalized.  

If you are not yet sure if the deep frustrations and longings of the poor who Occupy public spaces around the world are worth supporting and encouraging, I urge you to read more about Occupy in light of the biblical prophets and Jesus' identification with the poor and oppressed.

What Would Jesus Occupy (WWJO) is good question to ask during Advent--as we wait and witness and work for the Change that must come. 

shalom, mjc 

"Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: You don't give up."
- Anne Lamott  from Bird by Bird: Some instructions on writing and life

Is there a place for Religious Leaders in the Occupy Movement?