Marching in the Light of God in Logan Square

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Hosanna! We are Marching in the Light of God on Palm Sunday in Logan Square!  by Joe ScarryMembers of congregations from across Logan Square and Humboldt Park will be processing from their respective houses of worship to the Logan Square monument at the end of services on April 1 to Occupy Palm Sunday!  We will be singing and chanting songs of protest and praise as we occupy the green space at Kedzie, Milwaukee and Logan Boulevard.Once gathered there will be a series of teach-ins on topics reflecting the real needs of our neighbors in Logan Square and the ministries of our congregations as we work toward the realization of God’s vision for the world.  Specifically, we’ll be presenting news, information and opportunities for service and advocacy on matters of healthcare, housing, hunger and immigration. Read on to learn more!FEEDING: "I was hungry and you gave me food."Making sure that everyone has enough to eat continues to be a major challenge in our area, with two food pantries in the area ceasing operations in the last year. Several of the sponsoring congregations operate food pantries and/or meals for the hungry.  On Palm Sunday, we will hear from a representative of The Greater Chicago Food Depository -- Chicago’s food bank -- which is a nonprofit food distribution and training center providing food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community. The Food Depository distributes donated and purchased food through a network of 650 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters to 678,000 adults and children in Cook County every year.IMMIGRATION: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me."Many members of the sponsoring congregations are working actively for justice and security for the many immigrants who are our neighbors, including through the Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA). We will hear from a representative of the LSNA Immigration Committee, whose mission is to educate, organize, help immigrants obtain services and certifications needed for citizenship as well as advocating for comprehensive immigration reform. The LSNA Immigration Committee is an affiliate of Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR)HEALTH CARE: "I was sick and you took care of me."The diverse challenges faced by members of our community to obtain health care is something that our congregations have worked on together in recent years.  On April 1, a parishioner who works for Campaign for Better Healthcare will introduce the topic. We will then hear from a speaker from The Center for Faith and Community Health Transformation, a group for leaders working in faith and health in metropolitan Chicago addressing how faith can be mobilized to address the social conditions that impact the health of the poor and people of color.SHELTER: "I was naked and you gave me clothing."We will start to address this issue on the eve of Palm Sunday, when Kimball Avenue Evangelical Church will "Occupy Homelessness!" with an event that focuses on the need for affordable shelter for all. The event, at Kimball and Medill, will include presentations by organizations active on housing and a one-night tent city.On Palm Sunday, we will hear from a representative of Humboldt Park Social Services (HPSS) Center for Changing Lives, which provides comprehensive support to serve, empower and advocate for community residents who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability so they may obtain and maintain permanent housingOther organizations that have been invited include:

JOIN US!Join us as we Occupy Palm Sunday! All are welcome at this public event, regardless of faith background or religious identification.  Everyone is encouraged to bring lunch for themselves with extras to share.To be added to the list of sponsoring congregations, or for more information, please contact Joe Scarry at jtscarry@yahoo.com or visit our Facebook event page at http://www.facebook.com/events/104978062959348/ 

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