GOOD NEWS Community Links

Advent & Christmas 2024

Are you anticipating sitting at holiday dinners with family and friends with whom you disagree? Has the election brought up strong emotions for you and those around you? Have you declared that particular topics of conversation are too divisive to allow? Are you isolating yourself within a group of just the people with whom you agree?

I’ve been reading and listening to webinars and such on these topics over the last few months, and can offer the following suggestions. Please let me know if you have others ideas to share!

1. Listen. Ask open-ended questions. Set as your goal to understand, not to score points, to build a relationship, not to change someone’s mind.

2. Consider asking one of these questions, and listening thoughtfully to the answers: What life experiences have shaped your views? For those who disagree with you, what would you like me to understand about you? Why is this personally important to you? (adapted from Solutions Journalism)

3. Walk away from people saying hateful things or making threats. Not everyone will be ready for a conversation with you. Some are; make it your business to find them.

4. Consider that, in the right circumstances, talking about religion and talking about politics are both ok, and that talking about them together is also ok. Perhaps, as Christians, we must talk about religion and politics. Why? Think about politics as a matter of power, who has it and who doesn’t, and how it is used. That is, think about power as who has voice, agency, and influence. What agency do you have? How do you use it, and on whose behalf? A political position Episcopalians might take is that we will use our influence for the common good, and we will speak up on behalf of our community. Our Baptismal Covenant has additional political positions: we strive to love our neighbors; we strive for justice and peace for all people; we respect the dignity of every human being; and we use whatever power we have in service of these commitments.

5. Seek out additional resources. For instance, consider the work of Braver Angels https://braverangels.org/ From their website, Braver Angels is “leading the nation’s largest cross-partisan, volunteer-led movement to bridge the partisan divide for the good of our democratic republic. Coming out of the election, we’re bringing together ‘We the People’ to find a hopeful alternative to toxic politics.” Another thoughtful resource is a recent article published in Christian Century, “On Bridging the Ideological Divide.”

6. Finally, for me the interior work is essential, the work that enables me to show up open to another’s point of view, willing to listen, prepared to love a person I don’t yet understand. It takes work to approach someone on the other side of some divide with inquisitiveness rather than dismissal or disdain, to take a stand of curiosity about the life experiences and beliefs of another one of God’s children.

The author of A Sin by Any Other Name: Reckoning with the Racism and the Heritage of the South, Rev. Dr. Robert W. Lee, came to All Saints on October 16, and offered us a presentation “Theology of the Public Sphere” (recorded, tba). Rob’s book — part memoir, part polemic, part sermon — and his presentation offer solid material for how to talk across divides. Already in his few decades, he has honed the skills of humility, radical love, and seeing in the other the face of the Christ. In his book, he quotes a friend who says, “We love to section ourselves off with people who look like us, think like us, and worship like us. I believe this causes us to never have conversations with people of color, with people who have a different economic status, with people who are differently abled. I pray,” his friend said, “that our churches will no longer look like sections. I pray that people in the church can truly say, ‘Peace be with you,’ to people they don’t agree with or look like.”

To get to peace among us all, start with one conversation.

Winter 2024

Have you heard people talk about “white Christian nationalism”? What is it?

Often we Episcopalians are told that one of our strengths is that we are structurally and theologically a broad tent. That is, we are comfortable embracing a wide range of beliefs and practices. We aim to include everyone: all races; sexualities; economic, educational and social backgrounds; and political perspectives. We have mostly made peace with the multiple paths to God that are practiced by our siblings from other faith traditions.

However, we do not tolerate white Christian nationalism.

At a seminar at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., Presiding Bishop Michael Curry reiterated The Episcopal Church’s position that “white Christian nationalism is a gross perversion of Christianity, and that Christians must refute such ideologies.” (Egan Millard, Episcopal News Service, “White Christian nationalism is not Christianity, presiding bishop says during panel discussion,” October 26, 2022.)

Why is this version of Christianity outside the tent?

Likely there is no single definition of Christian nationalism. In its most common iteration, it is a movement that promotes a blending of Christian values into national policies, contrary to the First Amendment’s separation of church and state. It demotes those who practice no religion or non-Christian religions to a kind of second-class citizenship. White Christian nationalism adds an affirmation of the superiority of white people, and limits the rights and opportunities of all other persons. It characterizes white people of a particular Christian subculture as those who have been in charge since the beginning, and are the rightful rulers; their culture should hold sway and should be institutionalized in American political life, according to seminar participant Samuel Perry, author of The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy.

’s impossible to square white Christian nationalist views with what Jesus taught. At the same time, being precise about who’s who is tricky. Do we not open city council meetings and sessions of Congress with prayer, most often Christian prayer? Do many churches not have American flags up front? Does the Pledge of Allegiance not include the words, added in 1954 at the request of mainline Protestants, “under God”?

Faithful Episcopalians can stand against white Christian nationalism without just declaring that “my Christianity is right and yours is wrong.” What Bishop Curry would have us oppose is the version that seeks to limit who can have access to the rights and privileges of power, influence and democratic life, especially if those limits are based on race. (See Beau Underwood, author and Disciples of Christ pastor, quoted in a June 17, 2024, interview by Mitchell Atencio, “Are You Accidentally a Christian Nationalist?”) We must stand against those trying to use the power of the state to impose their particular religious views on others.

For a deeper dive into this complex topic, mark your calendars for two upcoming events. The Christian Century is partnering with the organization Faith and Reason to host an online conversation called “Confronting White Christian Nationalism” on Thursday, September 19, at 3pm. This free event will feature experts Gary Dorrien, Obery Hendricks, and Grace Ji-Sun Kim, who will explore the Christian faith and the role that it can play for those committed to democracy, peace, and social justice. You can register and learn more HERE. Following that, a lecture/discussion “Theology in the Public Square” will take place at All Saints on the evening of Wednesday, October 16. Presenter Robert W. Lee is the author of A Sin by Any Other Name: Reckoning with Racism and the Heritage of the South.

Additional article regarding the Episcopal point of view on Christian Nationalism:

Winter 2024

The Riverside Black History Expo and Parade will take place on Saturday, February 10, 10am-5pm, outside of City Hall, 3900 Main St. Riverside. Organized by the Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation, it is one of the longest-running Black History Month parades in California. This year, the 44th annual, it will focus on the theme, “It Takes a Village,” with a parade and over 40 vendors offering food, artifacts, clothing and books, information booths, and live entertainment. The parade will feature floats, marching bands, dance groups, and community organizations displaying their African American heritage. Throughout the day, the stage will be the setting for local musicians, dancers, and spoken word artists to showcase their skills. For information, contact (909)213-5583

Taizé Meditative Worship takes place in Riverside on the second Monday of each month, 7-8pm. Coming up are Monday, February 11, at Madison Street Church, 3991 Madison Street, and Monday, March 13, here at All Saints’. Several Riverside churches collaborate to provide this worship opportunity to the community; in addition to Madison Street and All Saints’ are First Congregational, Trinity Lutheran, and Eden Lutheran. Singing in Taizé worship is usually a simple melody and lyrics that repeat over and over, sometimes with harmony, and is meant to serve as a kind of musical centering prayer. Readings from scripture and various sources are generally short, and there are long silences. If you would enjoy helping plan the March Taizé service at All Saints’ or being one of the readers, please contact Andrea Briggs.

Evensong – 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024 – First Congregational Church 3504 Mission Inn Ave., sung by the Raincross Master Chorale and officiated by Fr. Ryan Macias. Evensong is part of the annual Riverside Dickens Festival. $10. https://www.raincrossmasterchorale.org/

Chapman University Founder’s Day Lecture, March 9- Chapman University is a private research university in Orange, founded in 1861 and affiliated with Disciples of Christ and the United Church of Christ. Every year as part of their Founders Day celebration, Chapman hosts a presentation, open to the public, by an outstanding scholar in the area of religion. This year the public lecture on Saturday, March 9 at 10am, will be given by Diana Butler Bass on the theme of “Gratitude.” Bass is an historian of Christianity, an advocate for progressive Christianity, and an Episcopalian. This is an opportunity to hear one of the nation’s leading commentators on the state of religion in the US today. Chapman Is about an hour’s drive from Riverside, and tickets to the all day event are $50. Alternatively, we may want to organize a virtual watch-party; watch this space for developing plans. Fore information and registration, visit https://events.chapman.edu/

The holy season of Ramadan begins on Sunday, March 10, and runs through Tuesday, April 9. This is about ten days earlier than last year’s Ramadan. The date is based on a lunar calendar, a bit like Easter, and begins on the night when the new crescent moon is sighted in the ninth month of the Islamic year. Ramadan is the holiest month of the year for Muslims, and fasting during Ramadan is a core Islamic practice. From sunup to sundown for the whole month, fasting Muslims refrain from eating or drinking anything, even water. Be considerate of your Muslim co-workers when planning work events involving food! The discipline of fasting is considered a way of becoming aware of all who struggle in their lives, and a way of being devoted to God (Allah). In addition to fasting, for many Muslims Ramadan is also a season of extra prayer, family time, self-reflection, and charitable giving. You may be invited to an iftar, the celebratory breaking of the fast at the end of the day, often generously and joyfully shared with non-Muslim friends. Remember, dinner won’t be served until after sunset! Many Muslims are happy to answer questions about their fast and their faith. It’s a challenging time but not a gloomy one for Muslims; if you’d like, you can greet them with “Ramadan Mubarak,” which just means “Happy Ramadan.

The 2024 CROP Hunger Walk is set for Sunday, March 17 and All Saints will once again participate. Our CROP Walk coordinator is Jim Boyer.

Late Fall 2023

Episcopal resources in response to the conflict in the Holy Land –

The war in Gaza – are you still reading the news? Are you still trying to take in the horror of this violence, or the violence happening in many other parts of the world today? Sometimes we need to be able to do something, in order to come to some sense of peace when the world seems to be in chaos.

We hope you'll stay in touch.