Dear Beacon:

Wow, did you all have a lot to share with me (Rev. Emilie) about the TV series Outlander after Sunday’s reflection! “If Outlander made you uncomfortable, Rev. Emilie,” at least ten of you whispered to me, “you have to watch Sex Education on Netflix!” Not to worry, I have watched all three seasons ~ just not with my teenager ~ and loved and learned a lot. 

I wonder. What other shows, books, podcasts, conversations are helping liberate you? Not just about sex, but all manners of things. Death? Money? Race?

The book that is liberating me wholeheartedly this new year is Patrisse Cullors’ An Abolitionist’s Handbook. It isn’t a book that you read from start to finish, and then, let it sit on the shelf. It is a handbook for life. One of her tenets is “allow yourself to feel.” Whoa.

On Sunday, Tuli challenged us to get proximate in creating justice. “Look within. Ask yourself - What’s my blueprint - the place I come from? What structures of oppression are built into my very being and how am I complicit in perpetuating them? How can I alter them and stretch the walls of comfort to include the discomfort on the journey towards liberation?” When I heard her challenge, I immediately thought of Patrisse Cullors who says that handbooks like hers offer us “a deep opportunity to transform how we are” so we can begin the work of transforming what we imagine is possible for our country.

Have you accepted the challenge? Make a commitment today to get proximate. Register for one of these upcoming antiracism trainings: 

Especially good for people beginning their antiracism journeys, Dialogue Circles on Race are being offered by the Summit Interfaith Council’s Anti-Racism Council (ARC). Five free sessions which meet weekly via Zoom with local New Jersey folks. Dialogue 1.0 for beginners and Dialogue 2.0 for a deeper study. You may have missed your chance to register for the March sessions. Luckily, they offer it 2-3 times a year. (I have co-facilitated these sessions every year, and I learn something new every time!)

Jubilee 3 is coming up April 1-3. It’s a weekend training with Unitarian Universalists and led by longtime Unitarian Universalist leaders, namely Paula Cole Jones, who has been co-leading the 8th Principle movement. Don’t worry, it has lots of breaks! Learn more and register here. 

Beacon’s Racial Equity Training is happening April 23 & 24th. Led by the Racial Equity Institute, we have 35 spots for this deeply engaging, highly transformative training. You’ll gather via Zoom with other Beacon folks for the weekend. A majority of our leaders, including our Board members, took this training last year. If you’d like to talk to one of them about their experience, we’re happy to connect you. Please register here by April 1st.  

Where are you seeking and finding liberation, beloved? Make a commitment. Get proximate. 

We are with you on the journey,

Dr. Tuli, Revs Robin and Emilie