Hello Jubilants,

"You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also..." Matthew 5:38

Dr. Cornel West has famously said, “Justice is what love looks like in public.” It’s a good reminder that love, which can sound soft, and justice, which can sound tough, are actually two sides of one coin. The racial reckoning that erupted during the pandemic requires us to pay with the whole coin.

Some people like to read Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech on the holiday we set aside for him. I prefer his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” and read it at least once each year. In it he reminds us, “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” And that, “Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of men willing to be coworkers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation. We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right. Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy and transform our pending national elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood. Now is the time to lift our national policy from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of human dignity.”

Now is the time, he said 58 years ago. Justice delayed is justice denied and yet we delay and delay and delay. What would it look like to be rooted and grounded in justice? If the Via Creativa is a call “to explore the imagination and creativity that underlie all of creation at every moment” how do we engage our imaginations and creativity in the call for justice?

Does justice dance? Does it sing? Does it paint a new picture of the future? Tell a compelling story of our past? Maybe love and justice aren’t two sides of a cold, hard coin so much as two arms reaching out from one heart. Two legs hiking together up the summit of joy. Two ears listening for truth. Two eyes gazing at creation. Two bodies entangled in passionate union.

Laura Collins

SACRED LANDS, SACRED BODIES
Jubilee! is part of Creation Care Alliance who is offering a chance to connect and renew hope with a symposium called Sacred Lands, Sacred Bodies; Faithfully Caring for People and Place January 28 & 29. Designed with creation care volunteers and clergy in mind, this retreat allows you to spend the time with colleagues, friends and clergy who care about people and planet. Our time together will include science, spirituality, practical tips, prayer, ritual, stories of creation care and resilience from congregations practicing right relationship with practical steps for caring for our neighbors and the earth. We will include time for regionally based brainstorming and discussion.  Sign up here. 

ECO-GRIEF CIRCLE
Creation Care Alliance is also offering a seven-week Eco-Grief Circle on Thursdays starting January 14th. This is an opportunity to explore grief, sorrow, anxiety, fear, guilt, shame, anger and despair related to the social and ecological challenges of our time. Eco-Grief Circles offer mutual support, healing, insight and love but are not a grief therapy experience.  The leadership team includes counselors, pastors and environmental advocates. Space is limited. Learn more and register here.
 
UNBREATHABLE
Interfaith Power & Light invites you to a free screening of the short film Unbreathable, a timely, powerful look at fifty years of the Clean Air Act and the challenges we still face to ensure healthy air for everyone. Weaving historical milestones with current day stories of environmental injustice, the film is an excellent tool for educational and community engagement. View the trailer here. The 30-minute film will screen on January 19 at 6:30pm ET and a 60-minute webinar discussion will immediately follow. Learn more and register here
 
DON PFISTER OBITUARY
Long time Jubilant Don Pfister passed away on December 24^th.  Some services/celebrations may be scheduled in the Spring when it is possible to gather outside once again. In the meantime, here is the link to his obituary.
 
WHITE AWAKE
It’s more important now than ever before that the white members of our community stay resourced, resilient and engaged in the work of racial equity.  White Awake - How to Stay Engaged in the Challenging Work of Racial Justice will explore tools to help us stay in hard conversations and continue to be engaged in this work while taking care of ourselves and communities. The online workshop takes place on January 19 from 7-8:30pm and the fee is $20.  Get more information and register here.