Today, Together, We Lean In

Friends,

I spent most of last night under the trees in a backyard in the middle of Columbus Ohio where a large group of Hillary volunteers from all over the country were gathering. As the screen got redder I spent more and more time out back. And then more joined me, and we stood quietly, and hugged, and at some point made up pleas and prayers. We were strangers in a strange land, but for a brief time in that backyard we were stronger and hopeful, and we were together.

We are all responding in our own way to this election: anger, blame, disbelief, silence, fear. For others, exalted. For me, there is a welling up, a need for backyard belonging. No matter your response, we are love-bound to care for one another. The time will certainly come for front line action, with wisdom and power.

Perhaps the best that we can claim today is to come together, leaning on each other and leaning in to what’s yet to come. We’ll allow our fear and rage their presence, but we’ll also remember that we are called to raise our heads with hope, fill our lungs with song and hold our hearts with confidence. Let not our fears be the driving force igniting our reactions – we can, and must, come from faith in love.

We’ll meet TODAY with friends of faith and again THIS SATURDAY, gathering to process, ponder, pray, plan and be together. Details below. Please join us.

We are still stronger when together. Today invites us to be part of a much larger, more important and complex conversation about what “together” really means. And perhaps today and in the many days ahead we will claim as a priority our coming together in circles of shared values and hopes. It is for me. And I know I’m not alone.

I call on us to cast circles for open-hearted conversation, for courage and compassion, patience and resilience, resistance and persistence, towards the love and justice that we all deserve, yearn for and fight for. Together.

We are committed to relove.
– Amichai and the Lab/Shul Team

Upcoming Events

We’ll sing together, dance together and join together for a moment of prophetic respite and healing following an election season where hate took center stage. Please bring an umbrella in case of rain. TODAY, November 9, 2016 2:00pm – 2:50pm: contemplative silence and stillness (Judson) 3:00pm – 4:00pm: public pray-in (Park) 4:00pm – 6:00pm: light refreshments & community building (Judson) Judson Memorial Church and Washington Square Park MORE INFO

Monthly Shabbat AM’s are family-friendly musical morning worship events + Storahtelling-style adult learning, kids programs, and nosh. Saturday, November 12, 2016 9:30am – 10:00am: coffee & God-optional adult study session w/ Amichai 10:00am – 12:30pm: worship, kids programming, and Storahtelling 12:30pm – 1:00pm: hands on activities w/ our social justice community partners 1:00pm – 2:00pm: Post-Election Heart Circle Judson Memorial Church – 55 Washington Square S, NY, NY 10012 MORE INFO

Unwind + unplug + recharge at our monthly RituaLab welcoming the Sabbath Queen into our lives.  Popping up at an unconventional space near you. Friday, November 18, 2016 6:00pm – 7:00pm Open Bar Happy Hour 21+ 7:00pm – 8:30pm Live Musical Liturgy, Poetry & Contemplative Pause 8:30pm+ Kiddush: chill, drink, nosh Location TBD MORE INFO    |    RSVP

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As seen on Lab/Shul : http://labshul.org/today-together-we-lean-in/11039