Category Archives: Social justice

99 Films presents Bastards of the Party, Thursday, June 28th, 7 pm

Bastards of the Party is a 2005 documentary film produced by Alex Demyanenko and directed by former Bloods gang-member Cle Sloan.

The film explores the creation of two of Los Angeles’s most notorious gangs, the Crips and the Bloods, from the perspective of the Los Angeles community. The film also denounces gang violence and presents meaningful solutions from former gang-members to stop this problem.

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99 Films are presented by Birmingham Institute for Social Change and Magic City Agriculture Project. These films are chosen to inspire, critique and educate the public about racial justice and community development.

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99 Films presents Free Angela and All Political Prisoners Thursday, May 24th

Free Angela and All Political Prisoners is Shola Lynch’s documentary about the scholar and activist Angela Davis and her 1972 murder trial. Join Birmingham Institute for Social Change for their monthly movie and discussion group. The film will start at 7 pm, and will be followed by a brief discussion.

This event will have a potluck-style snack bar. All are welcome to bring a snack for yourself or to share.

Magic City Agriculture Project and Birmingham Institute for Social Change will accept STRICTLY VOLUNTARY donations at the event.

[Optional] RSVP on Facebook.

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Progressive Christian Alliance PEACE Talk Thursday, April 28th

Birmingham Progressive Christian Alliance and International House of Peace present PEACE Talk! PEACE Talk is a monthly talk given by renowned speakers on the topics of social justice, radical inclusion and peace. PEACE Talk will take place at various locations around the state and will be streamed live via Webinar. Join us at Beloved Community Church for PEACE Talk featuring Dr. N.S. Xavier on April 28, 2016 at 6:00 pm.

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99 Films screening of Black Power Mixtape Tuesday, April 19th, 7 pm

Join Magic City Agriculture Project and Birmingham Institute for Social Change for another movie in their series of films on race.

Featuring footage shot by a group of Swedish journalists documenting the Black Power Movement in the United States and edited together by Göran Hugo Olsson, the filmmaker behind our first 99 Films choice: Concerning Violence.

$5 suggested donation.
Light refreshments provided.

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April preachers at Beloved: Sunday nights at 6 pm

As Beloved continues our search for a pastor, we will welcome incredible guest preachers from our community to share wisdom, guidance, and encouragement for our lives.

Join us Sunday evenings at 6 pm for the message, the company of Beloveds, and the music of our own Beloved Community Orchestra!

Sunday, April 3rd: Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers

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Rev. Rengers is associate rector for outreach and young adults at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. You may have seen her in action at The Abbey, our neighboring coffee shop, or during our recent Palm Sunday processional!

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Lenten Reflection from Ramallah Friends Meeting in Palestine

“Do not weep for me. No! Weep for yourselves and your children.”

This week, the worldwide Christian fellowship will turn its attention to the last days and hours of Jesus’ earthly life. Many will travel here to Palestine as pilgrims to participate in our spiritual observances.  Once again, together and wherever we may be in the world, our thoughts will dwell upon his suffering. We will undoubtedly be moved by compassion as we allow ourselves to enter into both the horror and the wonderment of this experience.

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Lenten Reflection from Rev. Lawton Higgs: A message to the white protestant church



2 Corinthians 5:16 (New Revised Standard Version)

“From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view, even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer that way.”
 
2 Corinthians 5:16 (The Message)
“Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way any more.”
 
Phil. 3:4b (New Revised Standard Version)
“If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more:”
 
Phil. 3:4b (The Message)
“we can list what many might think are impressive credentials.”

The White Protestant Church in Alabama has failed God. We evaluate people by what they have and how they look. You have to be born straight, out of a white, thin, rich belly from a white male, as a white male to count. We no longer see our Christ as a poor, brown, unattractive, Jewish, Palestinian, peasant as the embodiment of God’s rule among us, as the spokesperson and demonstration of the Queendom/Kingdom of God.

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Lenten Reflection from Rev. Lawton Higgs: Praxis

Luke 4: 5-8 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'”

Romans 10: 11-13 The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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Lenten Reflection from Black Elk: Prayer to the Great Spirit


“You lived first, and you are older than all need, older than all prayer.

All things belong to You—the two leggeds, the four leggeds, the wings of the air and all green things that live.

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Lenten Reflection from Angie Wright: In Search of a Round Table (poem by Chuck Lathrop)

Concerning the why and how and what and who of ministry,

One image keeps surfacing: A table that is round.

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