Minnesota Council of Churches and Churches United In Ministry put on a rally today in downtown St. Paul that made the Capitol Dome ring--literally.
Many Voices, One Minnesota,
a Massed Choir for the Common Good was this morning.
I keep kidding kossaks that they should preach on--I'm in the choir. Well, today the choir was a few hundred strong, and we all stood together in the rain singing for justice and a moral state budget.
Update, May 27: Photos are here.
more....
Music included "I Say 'Yes', Lord" by Donna Peña, "I Shall not be Moved" and "Who Will Speak".
They've promised to email us photos, and there will be some official information up online sometime on Monday--If there's interest I'll post a follow-up diary then.
I'm hoping to get some quotes from the speakers--they had honed their rhetoric nicely, and I'd like to see what the Frameshop can do with some of it. Although the sponsors were almost entirely Christian, I think they did a pretty fair job of being inter-faith!
In the meantime, here is the text of our responsive reading:
Responsive Reading
A Common Foundation: Shared Principles for Work on Overcoming Poverty
*One:
As a people of faith, with varying theologies and traditions, we are convinced of a remarkable convergence on fundamental principles that
call us to common work in combating poverty and walking with people living in poverty:
Many: We believe it is the Creator's intent...
One: that all people are provided those things that protect human dignity and make for healthy life: adequate food and shelter, meaningful work, safe communities, healthcare, and education.
Many: We believe we are intended...
One: to live well together as a whole community, seeking the common good, avoiding wide disparities between those who have too little to live on and those who have a disproportionate share of the world's goods.
Many: We believe we are all called...
One: to work to overcome poverty, and that this work transcends both any particular political theory or party and any particular economic theory or structure.
Many: We believe we are called...
One: to make alliances within the faith community and with others in society who share the commitment to overcome poverty.
Many: We believe that overcoming poverty...
One: involves both acts of direct service to alleviate the outcomes of poverty and advocacy to change those structures that result in people living in poverty.
Many: We believe government...
One: is neither solely responsible for alleviating poverty, nor removed from this responsibility.
Many: We believe government...
One: is the vehicle by which people order their lives based on their shared vision.
Many: We believe society...
One: is well served when people of faith bring their values into the public arena.
Many: We believe the desire to overcome poverty...
One: is not simply a human idea, but is the desire of our Creator, and that the work to create a more just and whole society will be empowered by the Creator's presence.
ALL: WE BELIEVE!
WE BELIEVE!
*Common Foundation: Shared Principles for Work on Overcoming Poverty was Written by Bishop Peter Rogness, Saint Paul Area Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Copyright © 2004. All rights reserved. Responsive Reading arranged by the Rev. Nancy Maeker, 2005. Permission to reproduce granted.