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A partnership between St. James UMC and Church of the Resurrection
 You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.  
Matthew 22:39
ARJ's JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION
IT'S FOR EVERYONE!
SATURDAY, JUNE 25th 
RESURRECTION LEAWOOD SANCTUARY 
Program Starts at 5:00PM 
Exhibits Open Saturday 4:00-8:30PM, Sunday 8:30AM-1:00PM  
  
Don’t miss this joy-filled salute to our national celebration of Juneteenth the day in 1865 when the last American slaves in Texas found out they were actually free; more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Officially recognized in 2021, it is the first Federal Holiday established since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983. Program includes: 
 
  •  Inspiring messages from Reverend Adrienne Ewell, Red Bridge UMC and ARJ-founding Senior Pastors Emmanuel Cleaver, St. James UMC and Adam Hamilton, Resurrection
  • Powerful music program led by Isaac S. Cates includes singers, liturgical dancer and spoken word
  • Awe-inspiring educational exhibits throughout the Narthex recognizing Black inventors, innovators and young entrepreneurs
  • Voter information  
Gather your youth groups, small groups, families and friends. The event is free and all are welcome! 

ARJ Volunteers needed to serve as greeters and other event support. Contact: Carolyn Hall cbjhall@msn.com or
TWO MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
ARJ  GUIDED TOURS OF "REDLINED" EXHIBIT 
Saturday, July 30
Friday, August 19
The Johnson County Museum Arts & Heritage Center exhibit, “Redlined”, is an absolute “must see” for everyone. It takes a deep dive into the history of redlining and how it was shaped by the Kansas City region. Learn about redlining’s 19th and 20th century foundations, how the private practice became federal policy, expanded during postwar suburbanization, the attempts to dismantle it, and how its legacies continue to impact communities and individuals in our nation today.
 
ARJ is hosting exclusive 45-minute private tours led by a museum docent. Following each tour, group discussions are held at the nearby Bistreaux Restaurant. Space is limited to just 20 participants at
each event
.  
  
Attendees are responsible for their own museum entry tickets and meal costs. The following additional dates have been added to the ARJ schedule. Invite friends and family to join you. Arrive by 9:30AM for 10:00AM tour.  

  • Saturday, July 30
  • Friday, August 19
Register Here
GETTING TO KNOW OUR PARTNER CHURCHES BETTER
Forging authentic relationships to eliminate the existing racial divide in our communities and churches.  
 A PRAYER AND AN ACTION  

A Prayer in Response to Gun Violence

Let us lament with all those who are touched by gun violence.
Let us lament the shooter’s choice for violence.
Let us lament laws that allow violent men easy access to guns.
Let us lament our politicians’ unwillingness to work for change.
Let us lament with the hearts broken by loss today.
Let us lament all the lives cut short today.
Let us lament, O God, and then let us rise from our knees to work for change, In the name of Christ, the prince of peace. Amen.
 
The Rev. Dr. Ellen Clark-King, Executive Pastor and Canon for Social Justice, The Spiritual Life  slife.org  

An Action in Response to Gun Violence

The massacre of 19 innocent children and 2 teachers in Uvalde, Texas on May 23, 2022 marked the 27th school shooting this year. Our thoughts and prayers are important to help heal lives and hearts. But it’s our elected officials who change laws. We need both prayers and action.
God calls us to take meaningful action against things that are wrong.
 Every individual step we take to achieve gun reform will make a difference. In a news conference on May 26, Senior Pastors Emanuel
Clever III and Adam Hamilton, along with pastors of other denominations, called on each one of us to focus on gun safety measures and to join a letter-writing campaign urging US Senators to take action on H.R. 8 background checks and other stalled gun legislation.
Allies for Racial
Justice, in support of these efforts, is offering our
“Influencing Public
Policy” letter writing workshop via Zoom on Saturday, June 4 from 9:00-10:00 AM.
You will receive guidance on creating a well-structured, impactful letter that shows your understanding of the issue and creates a call to action. Resources, including letter templates and contact information for Kansas and Missouri state and national legislative representatives will be provided. ARJ member and community development professional, Susan Ventura, will lead the workshop. A zoom link will be provided in your registration confirmation email.
Register Here
  OTHER INFORMATION & ACTIVITIES
UMKC 16th Annual Women of Color Leadership Conference
Adjusting Your Crown: Embracing Our Confidence
 and Restoring Our Minds
Friday, June 03    8:00am – 4:00pm CDT
Student Union – UMKC
 
Derecka Purnell – lawyer, writer, organizer and author of “Becoming Abolitionists:  Police, Protests and the Pursuit of Freedom” – headlines this event. Opening plenary from Kansas City, Kansas, Center for Equity Director and Entrepreneur Gabriela Flores. A day full of networking, empowerment workshops, shopping from local vendors, giveaways and more. Hosted by: Division of Diversity and Inclusion. For full details click this link:

https://www.umkc.edu/diversity/lectures-and-events/women-of-color-leadership-conference.html
United Methodist Church Racial Justice
Prayer & Action Challenge
Worldwide, we continue to experience racial, ethnic, and tribal injustices that dehumanize God’s people. Our Christian principles charge us to be a community of prayer and action. The General Commission on Religion and Race invites you to participate in the Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge. Beginning on Juneteenth (Sunday June 19, 2022) we will post daily prayers on social media for six weeks and include weekly challenges to help you put your prayers into action.
Click Here for full details
 Don’t Miss These June PBS Documentaries
 
Slavery by Another Name – Sunday June 19   5:30PM Central

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Douglas A. Blackmon, this documentary explores the little-known story of the post-Emancipation era and the labor practices and laws that effectively created a new form of slavery in the South that persisted well into the 20th century.

Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness – June 27 & 28 8PM Central

This new 2-part 4-hour documentary from Ken Burns examines the mental health crisis among youth in America that is exacerbated by uncertain times and the pandemic. The film presents an unvarnished window into living daily life with mental health challenges. It confronts the issues of stigma, discrimination, awareness and silence to help advance a shift in the public perception of mental health issues today.
Save the Date – July 2
8th Annual Jazz Walk of Fame

Induction of McFadden Brothers – 6:00PM
Outdoors, Free & Open to the Public
In front of American Jazz Museum, 1616 E. 18th St. KCMO
Peabo Bryson in Concert – 7:00PM
Gem Theater - $50 Eventbrite

For details visit americanjazzwalkoffame.org

  
Read, View and Learn
Visit the Allies for Racial Justice website for great video and book suggestions that can help us better understand our differences, appreciate our similarities and establish Christ-centered solutions to end racial and social injustices. Terrific selections for ARJ Small Groups! 
  Click HERE for all our recommended reading and video resources.
For more information on Allies for Racial Justice, visit our website:  https://alliesforracialjustice.org
or join the conversation on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AlliesForRacialJustice
 

Allies for Racial Justice Team

13720 Roe Ave, Leawood, KS 66224

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