Faith in the Public Square

To mark World Refugee Day, religious leaders from several faith communities in the Capital District will offer an interfaith Zoom program on Monday, June 21. The hour-long program begins at 7 p.m. Among the speakers are representatives of the Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, and Protestant faiths. [The final list is still in formation.] Speakers will share selections from their sacred texts, prayers, and/or stories of what people of their faith are doing to help refugees.   No pre-registration is required. To join the Zoom Meeting, click  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81648352852 Meeting ID: 816 4835 2852 One tap mobile +16465588656,,81648352852# US (New York) For more information, contact Deacon Walter Ayres at 518-469-4339.    

Over at the Capital Area Council of Churches, the hard-working force behind the annual CROP Walk, Kitt Jackson, reports that they are just $40 away from their goal of $100,000. If you would like to help them achieve, or even exceed, their goal, visit their web page and make a general donation to the walk or support one of the teams or walkers who are registered. The total shown on the web page does not yet include all the checks we have received at the office.  

The newsletter of the New York State Council of Churches highlights its state legislative agenda regarding issues such as the environment, health, housing, and criminal justice reform. Here is a summary of some of those issues.  The Council supports the Climate and Community Investment Act (CCIA), “a landmark environmental justice bill” which will impose a carbon tax on corporate polluters and use the resulting revenues (estimated to reach $15 billion per year) to invest in frontline communities, build sustainable energy infrastructure, and create good, green jobs.  The CCIA is essential to realizing the vision of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019, which put New York State on the leading edge of the fight against catastrophic climate change.   People of faith can sign a letter urging legislators to pass this legislation.  The Securing Wages Earned Against Theft (SWEAT) Coalition seeks “to protect workers and honest businesses by stemming w...

Catholic Charities, in conjunction with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, is continuing to provide free food to anyone in need at food drops throughout the Capital District. A list of dates and locations is below. Volunteers are also needed to help distribute the food. A typical day begins at  8:15 a.m. and ends around 11:45 a.m. Volunteers can stay for the entire time or contribute less time if that is necessary.   The events are outside so volunteers are advised to dress appropriately.  Food will be packed and placed in the trunks of people’s cars when they drive through.  Volunteers are asked to wear a mask; gloves will be provided.  For further details or to volunteer, contact  volunteer@ccrcd.org     June 1 Montgomery Centro Civico 143 E. Main Street, Amsterdam June 11 Albany Macedonia Baptist Church 26 Wilson Avenue, Albany June 14 Albany Metropolitan New Missionary  105 Second Street, Albany June 17 Montgomery Our Lady o...

On Saturday, May 29, the National Muslim Soup Kitchen Project expects to serve about 2,000 meals, if not more, in the Capital District. One site is at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 275 State Street in Albany. Free to-go meals of chicken, rice, and vegetables will be available from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. For more information, call 518-443-0460. Food will also be distributed at the South End Children’s Cafe, 25 Warren Street in Albany. The Project seeks to encourage as many groups as possible, including other faith communities in the Capital District to come together once a year to plan and host a soup kitchen in their towns or cities to help those in need. In addition to the Al-Hidaya Center of Latham, this year’s event is being supported by the FOCUS Churches of Albany and the Capital Area Council of Churches. The Muslim Soup Kitchen Project, the community service arm of the Al-Hidaya Muslim Center in Latham, serve meals at several shelters monthly. The national Project has since spread t...

Albany’s  CROP Hunger Walk, organized by the Capital Area Council of Churches, celebrated 40 years of walking to end hunger on Sunday with a virtual Opening Ceremony via Zoom.  The  walk is now named for the late Rev. John U. Miller, who was active in the Council for many years.  You can watch the ceremony  here . Among those participating were Honorary Chairperson Christina Arangio, News10ABC anchor; Adam Smedberg, Community Events Specialist for Church World Services; Ruth Pelham of Music Mobile fame; Bruce France, Executive Director of the Council; and long-time Committee Chairperson Kitt Jackson.     There is still time to register on-line, join a team, or donate. Just visit the Council website here . Or, you can call the Council office with any questions at 518-462-5450.

Today is the fourth and final day of the 2001 virtual Ecumenical Advocacy Days, the time when participants contact their legislators to advocate for issues on which the event is focused. The theme of this year’s gathering is “Imagine! God’s Earth and People Restored.” The website offers this perspective on the issues of concern: As people of faith we call on Congress to act urgently and decisively on climate justice by addressing the intersection of climate change, economic justice, gender justice and racial equity: * Enact infrastructure and energy legislation that will promote climate, economic, gender and racial justice to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy and commit to net-zero climate pollution in electricity by 2035 and economy-wide by 2050. * Provide funding for multilateral and bilateral environmental accounts for FY2022, including $2 billion for the Green Climate Fund, focusing on funding for the most impacted countries and communities, in many cases burdene...