Seattle MLK March 2010 – walking and making noise

By Eliacín

Last week my 7 yrs old daughter and I participated of the annual MLK march in Seattle. We got up early made some lunch, pack our bags and took the bus to Garfield High School, which is where the workshops, rally and the march starts. We walked several miles to downtown. Catie is a girl full of energy and questions. Part of our ritual of preparation to this event is to spend some days talking about the legacy of Dr. King, the civil rights movement and solidarity for freedom and liberation in the current time. However no matter how much we read and discuss, the part that make her realize the importance of these people, events and questions is when she find herself surrounded by the multicultural sea of people whom she is marching with.

Catie- “I do not call this the march.”

me – and why not?

C- “because to me the march is when people start singing and chanting.”

m – so it is not enough to walk?

C- “No. We gotta make noise so everybody know we are here.” “what do want? Justice! … when do we want it? Now!”

Catie marching enthusiastically.

Brother David and me – taken by Catie

You Say You Want a Revolution? Creating Liberated Spaces in the Empire | Feb. 13: Portland, OR

You Say You Want a Revolution? Creating Liberated Spaces in the Empire

What? a facilitated conversation

Where? The Boise Street Asylum | 7030 SE Boise St. Portland, OR 97206
When? February 13, 2010 | 7:00 – 9:00 PM

Register Online – http://creatingliberatedspacespdx.eventbrite.com

In what way is Jesus and his way actually revolutionary? Is Jesus’ call to “seek the Kingdom” actually a call to nonviolent resistance, to solidarity with the poor, to liberation for the oppressed?

What structures within our society (organizational structures, thought structures, etc.) get in the way of that happening? And what way can we realistically embody the Kingdom alternative?

Join us as we talk honestly about the radical call of Jesus, the distractions that gets in the way, and how we can begin to to create Kingdom spaces in the here and now.

This conversation will be facilitated by Mark Van Steenwyk (founder of Missio Dei, Minneapolis & conspirator at The Common Root) and Eliacín Rosario-Cruz (member of the Mustard Seed House, Seattle and Community Cultivator with Mustard Seed Associates)

This is a free event. Donations will be accepted. All donations will go to a Haiti relief fund (be generous).
For more information contact eliacin@gmail.com

Register Online – http://creatingliberatedspacespdx.eventbrite.com

Spaces limited – Kerlin told us we might be able to fit 30 people cozily in her living room. Bring some goodies and drinks to share.

This event is hosted by Mustard Seed Associates, The Common Root and The Boise Street Asylum.

New monasticism, also known as ordinary life in the neighbourhood

By Eliacin

The following is the last paragraph in a response I wrote to an article about New Monasticism published in Geez Magazine.

Ultimately, the 12 marks are not the only expressions of neo-monasticism around. People like my parents and other sisters and brothers have been living kingdom-saturated lives for longer than the name new monasticism has been coined. We need to differentiate between a way of living and one expression of that way of living. The movement needs some time to grow, to allow what we know in our heads to move into our hearts and become who we are. The 12 marks can serve as points of inspiration, but not as the definition of neo-monasticism, or as a litmus test of what “serving the other” is. As always, the kingdom is much bigger than this new expression of faith and praxis.

via geezmagazine.org