Our Christmas Letter 2023

 

Dear Friends and Family

Our wedding vows affirmed that the “Prince of Peace brought us together for a purpose greater than we can imagine” and
these words proved prophetic. Five years ago we were led to start Making Housing and Community Happen, a nonprofit dedicated to God’s vision of a world free from war and housing insecurity: “Everyone ‘neath their vine and fig tree will live at peace and unafraid, and into ploughshares turn their swords, nations shall learn war no more” (Micah 4:4). Our little nonprofit has thrived and accomplished great things, for which we thank God.

Sadly, however, our world has not taken to heart the message of the Prince of Peace. We grieve along with the people of Israel/Palestine, Ukraine and other parts of world who have lost loved ones to wars. Father Issa Thalijeh, an Orthodox priest in Bethlehem, recently said: “These are very, very sad times. But the message of Bethlehem and the message of Christmas, which is the message of peace, is more important than ever.”

Grateful for the love of Jesus that has transformed our lives and is transforming our world, we send our love and best wishes to you this Christmas! We thank God for the gift of family and friends who have enriched our lives and made this year very special.

Here are some highlights of 2023:

t

¨ Traveling to the Dominican Republic for a special gathering of Jill’s mission, Mission Door, which she has been
part of since 1977. We loved Santo Domingo, especially the plaza filled with families, jugglers, live music and more, next to the stunning Cathedral of Santa María la Menor built of coral, begun in 1512 and completed in 1550, in continuous use ever since. This city was founded by the brother of Christopher Columbus and was the first European city in the Americas.

¨ Traveling to Greece to visit Anthony’s family and historic sites: Olympia-where the torch is lit; the cave of St. John the Revelator in Patmos; the amazing cliffside monasteries of Meteora; sites like Ephesus associated with St. Paul and more! We traveled with our friends Carolyn and Sylvester Williams and Anthony’s sister Elizabeth and Anthony's cousins Alexandra and Peter, who hosted us at their home in Saronida, a coastal city south of Athens. Alexandra arranged a special memorial service honoring Anthony’s father, aunts and uncles in the church on the island of Andros where Anthony’s Dad was born.

¨ Celebrating Jill’s 70^th birthday—she still can’t really believe she is 70, except for all the aches and pains telling her it’s true.

¨ Watching movies like “The Burial" with Jamie Foxx, “Blue Miracle” with Jimmy Gonzalez, and “The Chosen” series with a group of friends from First United Methodist Church of Pasadena (FUMC).

¨ Relaxing and having fun with Jill’s sister Jana and her husband Dwight who have been visiting from

Mexico/Washington State. We enjoyed fabulous Christmas programs put on by Azusa Pacific University at Lake Ave Church, Pasadena United Methodist Church (which we attend regularly), and First Baptist (where we were married 12 years ago!). What a blessing to be in a city with such beautiful sacred music honoring the birth of Christ!

¨ The birth of Tatum, Jill’s grandnephew; following the travels of Sarah and Andrew (who were married this year); and feeling incredibly blessed to be related to Jana and Dwight’s 8 children and their families, as well as to Emily and Demetrius, Anthony’s nephews.  

¨ Celebrating the fifth anniversary of our nonprofit, Making Housing and Community Happen, at New Life Holiness Church in the heart of Pasadena’s African American community, where we also celebrated the completion of the N. Fair Oaks Vision Plan, which, if approved by our City Council, will ensure a bright future for this neglected area, a once-thriving African American neighborhood.

¨ Celebrating the passage of SB 4, the bill that rezones religious land and nonprofit colleges for affordable housing statewide, which we have been working on for three years. Woo hoo! And the launching of our Congregational Land Apprenticeship program where teams now forming in TX, CO, WA, and Nor Cal.

¨ Joining hundreds of Christians, Muslims and Jews each Monday at Rep. Judy Chu’s office asking for a ceasefire in Israel/Palestine (both sides).

¨ Finding a wonderful gardener and working with him on a delightful garden which gives us veggies and abundant fruit, reminding us of God’s abundance and endless love.

¨ Visiting Donna Shook, Jill’s Mom, each week in her board and care—she is now 93! She has late stage Alzheimer’s and ready to be home with the Lord. Her art is in galleries across the US, check it out here: https://www.donnashookwatercolors.com/

¨ Overcoming bedbugs that invaded our home while we were on vacation(see our poem).

 

We are looking forward to the New Year and a much-needed 5-month sabbatical starting in May. We love our work with MHCH, but we feel led to take a time of for rest and renewal. Jill has been doing intense housing justice work for 23 years. We are grateful to Bert Newton and our staff for stepping up to the plate to carry forward the mission of MHCH during this time of transition.

Love,

 Anthony and Jill

 

 

How can we get creative in the Israel/Palestine conflict? Talk by George Lakey , Quaker peace activist, at ICUJP

Please join us online ICUJP Friday Forum November 17th, 7:30-9:30 am Pacific   How can we get creative in the Israel/Palestine conflict? CLICK BELOW TO JOIN ZOOM: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82780596985 Call in by phone: Meeting ID: 827 8059 6985PASSCODE: 378677 *Meeting controls for call-in attendees: To mute/unmute yourself: *6 To raise hand: *9 Event Description: Understandably, activist responses to the new outbreak of Israel/Palestinian fighting is moralistic, preoccupied with "who's right and who's wrong." We'll take a deeper dive, trying to initiate a conversation about how adoption of nonviolent means of fighting it out might make a difference to the outcome. The point of the discussion will be to provoke creativity in the midst of a moralistic debate. One dimension of the speaker's thinking is featured on WagingNonviolence.org. Join the conversation with our speaker: Born into a white working class family in a small town in rural Pennsylvania, George Lakey was first arrested in the civil rights movement and risked arrest recently for climate justice as an 85-year old great-grandfather. He’s led social change projects on neighborhood, city, state, national, and international levels. He married a Norwegian woman, played cocktail piano in a hotel, taught at the University of Pennsylvania and Swarthmore College, co-parented a majority Black family, came out publicly as gay, and published ten books on how to make change. He led over 1500 social change workshops on five continents, for Buddhist monks, Russian LGBTQ activists, South African National Congress members, and Northern U.S. students bound for 1964 Mississippi Summer. A Quaker, he has been named Peace Educator of the Year and given the Paul Robeson Social Justice Award and the Martin Luther King Peace Award. His eleventh book, a memoir, is Dancing with History: A Life for Peace and Justice, from Seven Stories Press. “A civil rights legend” – The Guardian Learn More/Here's how YOU can help: Analysis: There are nonmilitary alternatives to Israel’s war in Gaza 7:30 - 7:35  Log in and socialize 7:35 - 7:45  Welcome and introductions  7:45 - 7:50  Reflection (5 min. maximum) 7:50 - 9:15  Program and Q&A 9:15 - 9:20  Announcements 9:20 - 9:30  Closing circle and prayer Start your morning with us! Facilitator: Rose Leibowitz Reflector: Maggie Hutchison ** Meetings begin promptly at 7:30 am Pacific. ** ----- Here's how to join the online meeting: To join by video conference, you'll need to download the Zoom app on your computer or mobile device. Click on the link to join the meeting and then enter the Meeting ID number and passcode. You'll be able to see slides and video, as well as speakers and other attendees. If you prefer to join by phone, you'll be prompted to enter the Meeting ID number and passcode. You won't be able to see the visuals or attendees, but you can view them on the meeting video recording afterward.  If you're new to Zoom and would like to use the video option, we recommend you download the app well ahead of time. ICUJP Friday Forum 11/17/23 Time: 07:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Option 1: Join video conference  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82780596985 Meeting ID: 827 8059 6985 PASSCODE: 378677 Option 2: Dial in by phone only: +1 669 900 6833 US (California) Meeting ID: 827 8059 6985 PASSCODE: 378677 *Meeting controls for call-in attendees: To mute/unmute yourself: *6 To raise hand: *9 (To find a dial-in number closer to you, go here.) ----- Please note: Our Friday Forums and other events are open to the public. By attending, you consent to having your voice and likeness recorded, photographed, posted on ICUJP's website and social media, and included in ICUJP materials and publications for noncommercial purposes. If you don't want to be photographed or recorded, please let the facilitator know. ICUJP has been featured on a few different media venues over the last few  weeks - ICUJP Chairperson Steve Rohde was interviewed on KPFK's long-running program "The Lawyers Guild", hosted by Jim Lafferty and Maria Hall. The program also featured legal scholar and ICUJP supporter Marjorie Cohn. You can listen to the program here: Steve was also interviewed by Jason DeRose of NPR on the difficulty in making definitive statements about the Israel/Hamas tragedies that do not get misinterpreted by either side. He was interviewed along with Tahil Sharma, an interfaith minister with the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, as well as Phoebe Milliken of Hartford International University, and you can listen to that segment here. _________________________________________ 22nd Anniversary of ICUJP: 22 years of working for Justice and Peace Twenty-two years ago, Rev. George Regas of All-Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena reached out to clergy, community leaders, and laypeople to come together to seek an alternative to the fear-mongering and vengefulness sweeping much of our nation in the wake of September 11. The message that they wanted to convey was coherent and powerful: “Religious Communities Must Stop Blessing War and Violence.” On that day, Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace was born. These past 22 years have been a journey for ICUJP - five Presidents, four California Governors, and numerous crises and issues that would shake the resolve of even the most devout and dedicated of activists. But through it all, we go forward in our mission to be the voice for "the least of these", and our determination to create the change we want to see in the world. On Sunday, September 10th, 2023, ICUJP honored Rev. George Regas's life and legacy, and recognized deserving organizations with the 2023 George F. Regas Courageous Peacemaker Award. As our theme was "Housing is a Human Right", we were glad to shine a light on the work of Making Housing and Community Happen, All-Saints Church Safe Haven Bridge to Housing, the Office of Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles, and the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center. Thank you for your part in keeping the vision of George F. Regas alive as we continue creating a place to gather, organize, pray, and act together united by the fundamental principle that Religious Communities Must Stop Blessing War and Violence. Please consider helping Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace in its mission. ICUJP operates as a largely volunteer organization with a small part-time paid staff. We have survived for over 20 years through the generosity of individuals and organizations like you. Like so many other organizations, our ability to raise donations has been hampered during the COVID pandemic.   DONATE HERE!

A Quaker Perspective on Mysticism and Activism For Spirit Seekers

I shared this with a group of Methodists who wanted to know more about how the Quaker practice of contemplative worship and mysticism is linked to social activism/prophetic witness. 

What Do We Mean by Mysticism and Prophetic Witness?

Mysticism is the belief that people can directly experience God or true reality, rather than through books, ritual or other people. People who practice this are called mystics. Mystics usually experience this direct connection through contemplation, or silent worship.

The prophet is distinguished first by a face-to-face relationship with YHWH. The prophet then serves as a witness of YHWH and ministers by speaking and actuating the word of God. In an intimate encounter, a prophet hears from God, receives a word to be shared with God's people, then acts.

What do prophets and mystics have in common? How are they different?

Have you ever had a direct experience of the Divine that led you to take action?

Quakers believe that everyone can have a direct experience of God through the practice of contemplative worship. Some Quakers feel called to prophetic witness either individually or collectively as a result of waiting and listening for the Word of the Lord. For this reason, Quaker worship is sometimes called “listening” or “expectant” worship.

When we sit in contemplative silence during times of pain and experience the healing power of Spirit, we can become more compassionate listeners. This led the Quaker peace activist/mystic Gene Hoffman to develop a technique called “Compassionate Listening.” She brought together Israelis and Palestinians and taught them how to listen to each other’s stories nonjudgmentally and compassionately. This has proven to be a powerful tool for reconciliation. Her work is being carried on by Leah Green through the Compassionate Listening Project.

After 9/11, Gene Hoffman’s insights had a profound effect on me:

“Some time ago, I recognized that terrorists were people who had grievances, who thought their grievances would never be heard, and certainly never addressed. Later, I saw that all parties to every conflict were wounded and that at the heart of every conflict was an unhealed wound. I began to search for ways to heal these violence-causing wounds.” [1]

In addition to listening compassionately, Quakers also see themselves as “speaking truth to power” (a phrase coined by the Quaker activist Bayard Rustin), like the prophets of old.

“Like the Hebrew and Christian prophets whose lives [early Quakers] used a models, they experienced God as a living, energizing power that spurred them to confront corrupt institutions and to form communities of believers” (Pacific Yearly Meeting Faith and Practice, 2001,  p. 3).

Have you ever felt Spirit or God leading you to take some action to correct or protest an injustice? Describe what this was like for you. What did you do?

Quakers believe that we can have a mystical/prophetic experience collectively when we sit in contemplative silence together, seeking to hear and do the will of God. This was also the belief of early Christians, as Rohr explains:

 

Richard Rohr on Prophetic Witness

Christianity has given little energy to prophecy, which Paul identifies as the second most important charism for building the church (1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11). Too often, when Christians talk about prophecy, we think prophets make predictions about the future. In fact, prophets say exactly the opposite! They insist the future is highly contingent on the now. They always announce to the people of Israel that they have to make a decision now. You can go this way and the outcome of events will undo you or you can return to God, to love, and to the covenant. That’s not predicting the future as much as it’s naming the now, the way reality works. The prophet opens up human freedom by daring to tell the people of Israel that they can change history by changing themselves. That’s extraordinary, and it’s just as true for us today.

The prophets ultimately reveal a God who is “the God of the Sufferers” in the words of Jewish philosopher Martin Buber (1878–1965. I’d like to put it this way: it is not that we go out preaching hard and difficult messages, and then people mistreat and marginalize us for being such prophets (although that might happen). Rather, when we go to the stories of the prophets and of Jesus himself, we discover the biblical pattern is just the opposite! When we find ourselves wounded and marginalized, and we allow that suffering to teach us, we can become prophets. When we repeatedly experience the faithfulness, the mercy, and the forgiveness of God, then our prophetic voice emerges. That’s the training school. That’s where we learn how to speak the truth.

The prophets were always these wonderful people who went to wounded places. They went to where the suffering was, to the people who were excluded from the system. They saw through the idolatries at the center of the system because those who are excluded from the system always reveal the operating beliefs of that system. Speaking the truth for the sake of healing and wholeness is then prophetic because the “powers that be” that benefit from the system cannot tolerate certain revelations. They cannot tolerate the truths that the marginalized—the broken, the wounded, and the homeless—always reveal.

A favorite Bible passage for Quakers:

The story of Elijah from Kings 19:9-13

9 And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Why did Elijah run away? Was he simply afraid? Did he lose faith in God?

Have you ever experienced times when you needed to withdraw from a difficult situation to find clarity? During this time of withdrawal,  did you seek God’s guidance and experience a “gentle whisper” or “still small voice” giving you wisdom on how to deal with this situation?

Elijah is asked the same question twice by God: “What are you doing here?” How do you think Elijah’s mountain-top experience changed the way he responds to this question?

---

[1] See Compassionate Listening and Other Writings by Gene Knudsen Hoffman: Quaker Peacemaker and Mystic, 2002, ed. by Anthony Manousos.

The Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign: A Multifaith Approach to Countering Anti-Muslim Discrimination

 

Please join us online ICUJP Friday Forum November 3rd, 7:30-9:30 am Pacific    The Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign: A Multifaith Approach to Countering Anti-Muslim Discrimination Join video conference here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85795929427 Call in by phone: +1 669 900 6833*  Meeting ID: 857 9592 9427 PASSCODE: 800955 *Meeting controls for call-in attendees: To mute/unmute yourself: *6 To raise hand: *9 Event Description: Participants will explore the importance of multifaith solidarity work, the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign's specific framework for practicing it, and discuss strategies and tactics for building a more pluralistic and inclusive nation where all people are treated respectfully, fairly, and with dignity. Shoulder to Shoulder is a national multifaith coalition that connects, equips, and mobilizes faith communities in the United States as strategic partners in countering, addressing, and preventing anti-Muslim hatred, discrimination, and violence. Join the conversation with our speaker: Nina M. Fernando serves as Executive Director of the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign: Standing with American Muslims, Advancing American Ideals, a multifaith coalition of religious denominations and faith-based organizations committed to countering and preventing anti-Muslim discrimination and violence in the United States by building a society where all are treated with dignity and respect. She first joined the Shoulder to Shoulder team in 2017. Learn More/Here's how YOU can help: Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign Faith Over Fear Training 7:30 - 7:35  Log in and socialize 7:35 - 7:45  Welcome and introductions  7:45 - 7:50  Reflection (5 min. maximum) 7:50 - 9:15  Program and Q&A 9:15 - 9:20  Announcements 9:20 - 9:30  Closing circle and prayer Start your morning with us! Facilitator: Steve Rohde Reflector: Jasmine Hailey ** Meetings begin promptly at 7:30 am Pacific. ** ----- Here's how to join the online meeting: To join by video conference, you'll need to download the Zoom app on your computer or mobile device. Click on the link to join the meeting and then enter the Meeting ID number and passcode. You'll be able to see slides and video, as well as speakers and other attendees. If you prefer to join by phone, you'll be prompted to enter the Meeting ID number and passcode. You won't be able to see the visuals or attendees, but you can view them on the meeting video recording afterward.  If you're new to Zoom and would like to use the video option, we recommend you download the app well ahead of time. ICUJP Friday Forum 11/03/23 Time: 07:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Option 1: Join video conference  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85795929427 Meeting ID: 857 9592 9427 PASSCODE: 800955 Option 2: Dial in by phone only: +1 669 900 6833 US (California) Meeting ID: 857 9592 9427 PASSCODE: 800955 *Meeting controls for call-in attendees: To mute/unmute yourself: *6 To raise hand: *9 (To find a dial-in number closer to you, go here.)

How to Make Sure the Bedbugs Don't Bite (and a poem about Bed bugs)

 

Having recovered from our month-long bed bug infestation, I'm finding others who went though a similar experience of feeling traumatized. When you have bedbugs, you not only suffer from sleepless nights, you also become socially isolated. You can't have people in your home. You can't visit other people (lest you bring bedbugs with you). It's deeply disturbing psychologically as well as physically unpleasant, especially if you are hyper allergic like me. Thirty percent of people aren't affected by bed bugs (my wife is one of these), but they can carry bed bugs to other people's homes since bed bugs like to hitchhike on clothes, luggage and handbags.

So here are some lessons learned: 

1) When you discover you have bedbugs, deal with the problem immediately and don't try to get rid of them yourself. You'll probably make it worse. Hire a professional asap, preferably one with excellent credentials and recommendations who can provide all three types of service: chemical treatment, heat treatment and fumigation. We highly recommend a company called Isotech Pest Management that provided a bed-bug sniffing canine as well as excellent advice and service. 

2) Chemical and heat treatment are not infallible, no matter what your exterminator says. Both require that you remove stuff from the room being treated. The trouble is bedbugs may be hiding in these items, so when you return them, the bed bugs return. However, if your infestation is limited, these treatments may work. 

3) The only infallible treatment is fumigation. The fumigants kills all bedbugs and eggs (and also termites). Fumigation means tenting your home.  It costs a small fortune but produces peace of mind. 

This week Jill and I went on a date and had veggie burgers and fries in Old Pasadena, and compose this "Little Bad Bed Bug Saga." It was good to be able to look back and laugh. We are finally beginning to heal from our bed bug nightmare.

"The Saga of the Little Bad Bed Bugs"

The first night after returning from Greece
We hoped to spend time sleeping in peace
But bedbugs invaded while we were away
Their message was clear: we’re here to stay!
They gave sweet Anthony 40 plus bites
As well as a month of restless nights.

These bugs for some reason disliked Jill’s taste
So she worked super hard to clean up our place.

When bed bugs bite, you can’t have a good night:
Going to bed makes you very uptight.
So we hired an exterminator who promised to kill
These irksome pests who hide where they will.

We were told to take everything from our humble abode
Wash our clothes and our blankets, load by load by load……
Bedbugs expire when the heat is too high.
So we put some stuff in the dryer to fry
Those bad little bugs ‘til they finally die.

In black plastic bags we put other stuff
Hoping the sun's rays would be enough.
But the days were too chilly so this work was in vain.
Finding stuff later was really a pain!

Jill was exhausted past reason or rhyme
Anthony was the canary in the coal mine.
With daily bites he’d let us know
Those bedbugs had no plans to go.
Weary and anxious and living in fear,
We never knew if the bedbugs were near.

So we hired a beagle with an amazing nose
That knows 10,000 times more than a human nose knows!
Rocky could tell where the bedbugs were hiding
and even could sniff where their eggs were abiding.

We learned that our efforts were on the wrong track.
We needed to try a different tack.
We learned from Isotech that fumigation
Was the only cure for our grim situation.

To make room for the tent, we had to clear
Around the perimeter front and rear.
So we hired Walter, a human machine
Who worked harder than anyone we’d ever seen
He gathered up 35 bags of yard waste.
It cost us a bundle to clean up our place!

Then our water heater went on the fritz.
We bought needed tires! We were having fits!

For four nights we lived in an Airbnb,
And boarded our cats in a place of safety,
while the fumigant wiped out our bug colony.

We spent a small fortune to be bed bug free
And it seemed to take an eternity.

After fumigation, we spent many days
Unpacking our bags in a kind of a daze.

It feels good to have our old lives back
But our bodies take time to learn to relax.

On a happy note our long saga ends:
We can finally hang out in our home with our friends!
Free at last! Free at last! Free of bed bugs at last!
Celebrating with friends will be such a blast!

Celebrate Jill's 70th Birthday with Your Support!

 

Celebrate Jill's 70th Birthday with Your Support!

Join us in celebrating the birthday of Jill Shook, co-founder of Making Housing and Community Happen, who turns 70 years old on Wednesday, November 1. Jill has been tirelessly working for affordable housing for 23 years, advocating, organizing teams and churches, giving workshops nationwide, and publishing a book, Making Housing Happen: Faith-Based Affordable Housing Models, that has been used in campuses across the country.  Jill has worked tirelessly, but is not getting any younger and is aware that our organization needs to plan for a transition when she can no longer work at her current pace. We need to hire younger staff to replace her (and her husband Anthony). Both Jill and Anthony feel led by the Spirit to work full-time as volunteers. Replacing them will require significant funds.  If you'd like to  express your appreciation for Jill,  please contact her at jill@makinghousinghappen.org and make a contribution in her name to MHCH by clicking here. Your support will help us to plan for a bright future for MHCH and to continue Jill's legacy. Also please join us on Nov. 19 when we celebrate the 5th anniversary of Making Housing and Community Happen and honor affordable housing rock stars as well as Jill's 70th birthday. To register, click here.