Hello Jubilants,

Throughout the course of human existence we have evolved into the flow of our current environment. Much like the waters that flow over the earth in mysterious ways, we humans have discovered along our journey the unseen depths that may exhaust our fluid and energetic resources. We learned to maneuver the terrain. Hopefully we adapt accordingly and in harmony with all other life around us. That life is also journeying to a destination and encountering change in its environment. Climate change, global warming, human negligence and many other contributors are the designers of this landscape that sometimes puzzles and baffles our wildlife.

How do we return to the path that we know as “Nature in Balance and Harmony?" In those times when we look upon the effects of the devastation the human race has inflicted on the world, where do we find the answers? What are the questions? Where do we look? And has it just been humans or are we just another species in a much larger labyrinth seeking to Return To Nature?

Come and join us this Sunday and let’s discover together. All are invited. Cloud People, Tree People, Thunder Beings, Human People, Cats, Bats, Bees, DuckBilled Platypuses and such.

In a good way,
Yona

SWEAT LODGE BUILDING & CEREMONY
Celebrate Earth Day from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, April 24th with Jubilee! minister of Native American ritual Yona FrenchHawk in a sweatlodge building and ceremony in the beautiful rolling mountains south of Marshall.  Lodge building will start at 10am with the lessons of why and how the Tsa La Gi (Cherokee) build and create these sacred spaces. You are invited to come pray, sing and tell stories. This event is limited to the first 25 folks who sign up. To get on the list, please email michele@jubileecommunity.org. The address and directions will be sent to those who sign up.

EARTH DAY SPECTACULAR ONLINE SHOW
The weekly Saturday Night Alive show will present Earth Day - Our Planetary Family & The New Ecology on Saturday, April 17th at 9 pm. It features environmental luminaries Bill McKibben, Randy Hayes, Kenny Ausubel and many others, and will include wonderful music. Vinit Allen of Jubilee! is co-producing, so you won't want to miss this. To register, go to GlobalPeaceTribe.com

JUST CONVERSATIONS
Jubilee! is co-sponsporing Just Conversations: Dialoguing for a Deeper Truth with the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice.  This is a series of online discussions with activists  about the lessons they have learned working long-term with people who share their goals but not all of their identities. The first event in the series, facilitated by the Rev. Tami Forte Logan, will be with Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu and Rose Bator on Thursday, May 20th from 6:30 to 7:45pm. Please save the dates for the other sessions included in this series on June 3rd, June 17th, July 8th and July 22nd.  More details on furture dates will follow.  Learn more and register for the May 20th event.

RACIAL EQUITY RESOURCES
In the wake of the Duante Wright killing and as we hear the news of the trial of the murderer of George Floyd, Melody LaBaron shares the following resources with us: 

• The Southern Poverty Law Center just released their 2020 report on extremism, which includes an intersectional study on Patriarchal Violence and an interview on preventing radicalization with information in the last section is for parents of teens or pre teens.
• Resources from the Smithsonian to Understand Racism in America 
• RSVP to attend the virtual April 29th at 6pm book launch for Cousins: Connected through Slavery  
• Resources to Learn More about Reparations
• Learn why we need a voting rights bill here
• Fight gerrymandering in NC and protect voting rights by calling or writing

RECONNECTING IN PERSON IN SMALL WAYS
Here are some ways you can get involved in reconnecting safetly in person with the Jubilee! community:

• Watch Parties -- if you are interested in helping to organize Sunday Celebration Watch Parties at people's homes, please contact Laura Collins at revlauracollins@gmail.com
• Care & Compassion Team -- if you want to get involved in helping out with needs that members of the community may have, please contact Warren Harding at soul@main.nc.us
• Office Volunteers -- if you'd like to help out with office admin and organizations at 45 Wall Street for a couple of hours each week, contact patrickfitzsimmons@jubileecommunity.org

CREATION CARE ALLIANCE PARTNERSHIP
Did you know that Jubilee! is a partner in Creation Care Alliance, a network dedicated to preserving the integrity, beauty and health of the earth?  Here are a few ways to get involved:

• Earth Day Virtual Vigil with readings, prayers, songs and speakers from throughout Western North Carolina. The vigil will run from 6-7:15 pm on April 25th followed by regional breakout rooms.  Register to attend here.
• The next seven-week series of Eco Grief Circles -- an online opportunity to explore grief and sorrow, anxiety and fear, guilt and shame, anger and despair in a setting that offers mutual support, healing, insight and love -- starts on May 13th.  Learn more and register here.

SO MANY WAYS TO SUPPORT JUBILEE!
We know it's not the same as filling the basket in person, but there are lots of different ways you can donate to Jubilee! and the Hunger Basket.  Please give as generously as you can!
~  Online: Click here.
~  GivePlus app: Download the app, enter zip code 28801, then click Jubilee!
~  Text: Text 844-962-2639
~  Snail Mail: Mail your check to Jubilee!, 46 Wall Street, Asheville, NC 28801

Please donate to the hunger baskets or Jubilee!'s operating costs or both.  Jubilee! continues to have expenses to keep running.  All hunger basket donations are going to organizations that feed the hungry, house the homeless and support underserved communities in a variety of ways.