Join us at Garrett's Brewing Company at 7pm this Sunday July 27 for thoughtful conversation.
TOPICS THIS WEEK: Spiritual accomplishments, the Johnson Amendment and ICE entering religious spaces
ICE BREAKER: Would you rather have a grilled cheese sandwich or a PB & J?
1. It is not uncommon to want to learn more, experience more, accomplish more, be more regarding one’s spirituality.
Discuss how one might proceed in a healthy way to cultivate the spiritual values of humility, contentment and simplicity.
2. Psalm 91:4 says,
"He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."
Discuss the metaphors used in this verse and the imagery for God that resonates most with you?
3. The current administration is giving churches a green light to explicitly endorse political candidates, without fear of losing their nonprofit tax status, under a proposed court settlement.
Do you feel that churches should be able to endorse political candidates explicitly?
Some worry that this ruling will transform houses of worship into a political powerhouse for the MAGA GOP, which relies on evangelical Christians as its base. But Doug Pagitt, a progressive evangelical pastor and executive director of Vote Common Good, argues that ruling provides much needed clarity — and could actually give progressives a desperately needed boost.
“For too long, Republican politicians and their allies
have spoken freely from pulpits,
while too many Democrats and faith leaders held back, worried they would cross an invisible line,”
Pagitt says. “This decision removes that roadblock.”
Discuss.
4. Religious organizations—faith-based food banks and shelters in particular—in New York City are reviving old strategies and adopting new ones to protect their communities from immigration enforcement. Though ICE has not yet raided a religious institution in the city, staff and clergy said the risk seems urgent.
“We certainly have done some internal preparations
just so that our staff knows what to do
in the event that [immigration agents] show up,”
said Elizabeth Starling, Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen director of development.
“We went through a training about the need for them
to have a specific judicial warrant because,
you’re not coming on our property for a fishing mission
— that’s not going to happen.”
Do you think ICE agents should be able to go into these spaces?
What is or should be the role of churches and religious institutions in this situation?
Also check out other Workshops in Trumansburg, Food & Drink events in Trumansburg.
