Faith in the Public Square

 FOCUS Churches of Albany will have a Combined Winter Worship Service on Sunday, February 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 85 Chestnut Street in Albany.  Featuring a joint choir directed by Christopher Price, they will gather to renew the FOCUS Covenant, acknowledging “our common calling to work together more effectively than we can separately.” Based in downtown Albany, FOCUS “brings people together to respond to hunger and basic needs with dignity and care.” People can participate either in-person or online via Zoom. Zoom details are available here .

FOCUS Churches of Albany and Westminster Commons w ill host the First Annual FOCUS Festival of Thanks and Giving on  Sunday, November 24  from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 85 Chestnut Street in Albany. The festival will feature a variety of activities led by members of FOCUS Churches, including Westminster, such as kindness stones, gratitude flags, Thanksgiving cards for  guests of the FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry,  games for all ages, and a light lunch.    At 1 p.m., attendees are invited to join a Circle of Gratitude with songs and a chance to share what they are thankful for this season.   If you would like to help with this event, please contact Pastor Heather  at  pastor@wpcalbany.org .   Although the event is free, donations to support the work of the FOCUS Churches of Albany will be appreciated. Donations of non-perishable food are welcome for the FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry.

The New York State Labor-Religion Coalition -- in conjunction with the Capital Region Poor People’s Campaign, FOCUS Churches of Albany, and Schenectady Community Ministries -- will sponsor a Truth Commission on December 7 to highlight “the continuing crisis of poverty, amplify the demands put forward by directly impacted communities, and help connect leaders and groups representing different identities, issues and regions of New York.”   According to an announcement for the virtual event, it will “gather testimony from directly impacted leaders, learn about ways communities are organizing in response, and build solidarity among the poor and dispossessed.”   Here is more: In 2017, the  Labor-Religion Coalition  organized a  Truth Commission on Poverty in New York State  that collected testimony from directly impacted New Yorkers, advocates, direct service providers, faith leaders and policy experts. The Truth Commission showed the prevalence and systemic nat...