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THE QUEST – Pre-Service Discussion Group

October 18, 2020 @ 9:30 am - 10:30 am EDT

The Quest is now VIRTUAL!

Join us on Zoom Sunday mornings at 9:30am to 10:30am before the 11am online Sunday Celebration Service on facebook live.

To join the discussion you will need to pre-register by emailing Zoe at UNY click here – PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

Sunday mornings before service, join us for a pre-service discussion group “THE QUEST”. The group is led by different Unity of New York teachers each week. The weekly discussions are based on a chosen book or topic.* All are welcome and encouraged to join the discussion and although the readings are recommended, no one is required to read the book being discussed in order to participate in the group discussion.   Join us for some fellowship before service and meet up with like-minded people on the spiritual path.

The book that is now being discussed is REVIVE US AGAIN: Vision and Action In Moral Organizing by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II.

We will continue the discussion on racism with a spiritual perspective.
BOOK AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM and BARNESANDNOBLE.COM

Ground Rules & Guidelines

we are currently using in the Quest

NO CROSS TALK

It’s okay to speak about issues that others bring up, but we avoid sharing about the personal details of what anyone says

NO ADVICE OR FIXING

CONFIDENTIALITY

What is said here stays here.

SHARE THE TIME

Be aware of how much time you’re using to speak so others can talk too.

LISTEN EMPATHETICALLY

Listen with an open mind. Don’t rush to react. Take in what’s been said.

USE “I” STATEMENTS

STAY ON TOPIC

Rather than getting lost in a long personal story or changing the conversation to a completely different topic.

FOCUS ON ISSUES OVER PERSONALITIES

We focus on issues rather than specific politicians for example.

FEEL YOUR FEELINGS

Rather than trying to jump to our intellect, or to avoid a feeling some other way, we encourage you to feel your feelings as part of a Divine process of healing

PUSH PAST DISCOMFORT

Allow yourself to not know. Consider you may be in error. Feel a feeling without needing to get rid of it. Breathe through it.

RESOURCES

For more on The Beloved Community and Dr. King’s philosophy visit:

http://www.thekingcenter.org/king-philosophy

Unity Worldwide also has a resource page called STANDING TOGETHER which is excellent

Here is a link to a powerful valedictorian speech where Francine shares about her experience of racism. https://nextshark.com/valedictorian-addresses-racism-from-classmates/

An article that is relevant to our conversation is “What Is Owed “  by Nikole Hannah-Jones it is the New York Times Magazine dates 6.28.20. Here is the link:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/25/magazine/behind-the-cover-what-is-owed.html?searchResultPosition=4

RECENTLY DISCUSSED IN THE QUEST:

Here is the Link mentioned about the YouTube Video on the Confederacy by Jeffrey Robinson

This is a good conversation on Race – podcast by Krista Tippett from On Being..
Music video shared at the top of class 7-26-20:
Shine by Tobe Nwigwe: https://youtu.be/uoIUnlFoySI

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koinonia_Partners

Here is a book which just came out that is a good resource for this discussion especially when we get to the last chapters that talk about next steps: https://www.makechangebook.com/

Video suggestion:“Africa’s Great Civilization” on PBS

Book suggestions:

“White Fragility” by Dr. Robin DiAngelo

Video Discussing the book “White Fragility”: https://youtu.be/45ey4jgoxeU

“The Afro-Latino Reader” Edited by Miriam Jimenz Roman and Juan Flores

Video of “The Mask” by Dr. Maya Angelou:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HLol9InMlc&t=212s

Dr. King’s Philosophy: https://thekingcenter.org/king-philosophy/

Ted Talk – “We Need to Talk about Injustice”: https://www.ted.com/talks/bryan_stevenson_we_need_to_talk_about_an_injustice/up-next?language=en

Poem by  Lindsay Young
Maybe your lane is protesting.
Maybe your lane is counseling.
Maybe your lane is art activism.
Maybe your lane is surviving the day.
Do not feel guilty for not occupying every lane.
We need all of them.
Poem by Mable Collins, Light on the Path, 1885
Seek out the way.
Seek the way by retreating within.
Seek the way by advancing boldly without.
Seek it not by any one road. To each temperament
there is one road which seems the most desirable. But
the way is not found by devotion alone, by religious
contemplation alone, by ardent progress, by self-
sacrificing labor, by studious observation of life. None
alone can take (you) more than one step onward.
All steps are necessary to make up the ladder.
This is a whitepaper I [Scott Hutchins] co-wrote a couple of years ago about improving the shelter system: https://www.picturethehomeless.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/PtH_White_paper5.pdf
Two online opportunities to delve deeper:
Middle Collegiate Church – Reverend Dr. Jacqui Lewis- Jacqui Lewis [email protected] via middlechurch.ccsend.com – On Wednesday, October 7th and Thursday, October 8th, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. ET, Erika Banks will lead “The Call Within: Dismantling Racism from the Inside Out.”  $20 covers both dates.
Kathy Grant’s new class beginning on ZOOM Tuesday October 6th – November 17th 6:00 – 7:30 PM – Conversation Skills – tools for listening from the heart, creating connection, and providing a safe environment for dialogue in tough, emotional situations.  SEE Credit. Email Zoe to sign up.
Daily Word Justice March 1, 1945
Book suggestion From Adrienne Williams Myers : Caste::The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Isabel Wilkerson published Penguin RandomHouse
Book suggestion: No Name Street by James Baldwin
There is a section in the NY Times section “Further Reading” where writers share books that have informed their perspectives on race and racism in America.
This is the author of the book Grandmother’s Hands: Resmaa Menakam:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/04/smarter-living/5-people-who-can-help-you-strengthen-your-empathy-muscle.html

Details

Date:
October 18, 2020
Time:
9:30 am - 10:30 am
Event Categories:
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