But before you scroll down, we just want to give you two important updates:
1. Tommy is moving most of his writing to his new Substack newsletter. He is posting pieces every Sunday morning. You can subscribe for free here.
2. At the end of this month, we are joining an interfaith coalition in D.C. to take on Christians United for Israel (CUFI), the largest Zionist organization in the country. Christian Zionism is a far-right fascist ideology that bears major responsibility for the ongoing U.S.-sponsored Israeli genocide being waged on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. CUFI is antisemitic and aggressively white-and-Christian supremacist in a way that is actively working within the highest places of power in our nation to strip us of our rights, safety and freedoms here domestically as well.
We are going to DC to participate in the largest interreligious protest for Palestine. Please consider joining us July 28-30 if you can!
For more details, click on this link to register for a mass informational call hosted by Christians for a Free Palestine tomorrow, July 11th @ 9amPT/12pmET.
Also, you can register to join us for this action in D.C. (either in-person or online) here.
On a more personal note, Lindsay participated with the Christians for a Free Palestine direct action in D.C. in April (more photos below), and the whole gathering was one of the closest things to liberatory church she's experienced in a long while. Not only was it empowering to take collective action together for Palestinian freedom and an end to this atrocious genocide being waged in our name, it also felt deeply aligned to be part of a burgeoning movement of Christians pushing back against the rising tide of Christian nationalism and fascism in our country - weaving an alternative liberatory network and narrative around what it means to embody Christian faith and witness in these harrowing times.
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We got to be the Uber drivers for a youth group with We the People of Detroit. They are conducting a series of water tests in the 48217 neighborhood of Detroit. It is one of the dirtiest zip codes in the US because it is home to many factories. One resident told us that on his street there are several developmentally disabled neighbors and he made no bones about the fact that the air their neighborhood is forced to breathe was doing the dirty work.
We also joined We the People of Detroit for a volunteer work day a couple Saturdays ago. Over the past couple years, they've transformed the backyard of an old eastside home and its beatdown garage into a rain garden and gathering space. The justice-weaving work We The People continues to do, at both the policy and grassroots community levels, is enduring and vibrant. A mustard seed model of what walking out hope looks like in our times...
...and always overflowing with a whole lot of joy and laugher!
Medicine for our souls.
The Craws came to town and we took them on a tour! Sara Jo is a beloved member of our board. She is pictured here with her husband Steve and her son Jeff and his girlfriend Sara.
Tommy met his mom down in Cincinnati for a long weekend. They visited his godmother Cheryl and her daughter Carrie.
Lindsay's mom came to town in early May and we made time for happy hour in Ypsilanti, visiting with Rev. Roz at Brightmoor Connection Food Pantry, a trip to the Ann Arbor student encampment at UofM, and lots of long walks, talks and meals with friends.
Tommy facilitated a couple personal retreats. He was in Oregon with former Capo Valley colleague and Kardia Kaiomene board member (and dear friend!) Chris Dollar.
Different state. Different river. Different dear friend. On the Allegheny in PA with Sheldon Good.
Lindsay held down the home front with accompaniment calls, marches, rallies and local solidarity meetings, attended the deeply impactful Annual People's Conference for Palestine (where 1000's gather from across the country and globe), and participated in various local actions pushing for an end to the genocide in Gaza. She also made sure to ease the looooong transition from Winter to Spring with consistent walks with beloveds in beautiful places (pictured below: Detroit's Belle Isle with dear friends Simon Wolff and Kateri Boucher).
Below, Lindsay is caught walking with Bill Wylie-Kellermann on the way to their direct action in the basement cafeteria at the US Senate office building on April 8th. Bill is a retired pastor who only worked part-time for churches so he would have the space in his schedule to organize for peace and justice.
Lindsay, Bill and 50+ other Christians were arrested for shutting down lunch service in the Senate Cafeteria, proclaiming no one in the White House should be allowed to eat while those in its halls of power are funding and supporting the ongoing war crime of starving the entire population of Gaza.
They were released later that day.
Having deepened bonds of solidarity and commitment to see justice for Palestinians.
Their action went viral.
We attended a vigil in downtown Detroit held by American doctors who just got back from a few weeks working in Gaza. The stories were heart-breaking and outrageous.
We visited the Gaza encampments at the University of Michigan and Wayne State University. These college students summon spiritual depth, moral clarity and political courage. You can read Tommy's write-up here.
We joined an interfaith coalition at multiple city council meetings in suburban Farmington Hills. We gave public comment and listened to stories from many Arab-Americans and Palestinians who live there.
After this month's full docket of action, we will be getting away for five days to a friend's cabin in Northern Michigan. Our hearts are full with much vital and fulfilling work, AND our bodies will be more than ready to let down into some of that good shoreside sunshine come month's end.
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