Introducing: The Presence Team

How full our days are: so many responsibilities, commitments, and distractions too. How do we make time to genuinely engage with critical issues in our community? Yes, we can send a donation or learn more about an issue, but in our hearts we may feel that we’d like to be truly present for issues that have a serious moral and spiritual dimension.

If you’re like me, you also sometimes feel anxious or uncertain about participating in a demonstration or joining a march or vigil if you need to do it alone. I know I’d like to be a presence, but it would feel easier if I had a friend or two with me.

Being present—in a particular place, and fully focused or involved in an issue or action—is a powerful way to live out our faith and convictions. Presence can be a truly affirming experience for us as well as those whose needs or rights we’re supporting.

In order to encourage more of us to be a living presence, Plymouth is creating a Presence Team, and you as well as any friends of the Plymouth community are invited to join us. Become part of an informal group where you can easily learn about marches/vigils/demonstrations in the Twin Cities, and join in with other Plymouth folk to participate. Many of these experiences would be appropriate to attend as a family or as a grandparent with grandchild.

The Presence Team will have event information relating to several issues: race, immigration, climate and more. Your suggestions for events to be included are welcome!

Please contact Judy Takkunen (judyptakkunen@gmail.com) or Peter Eichten (pjeichten@hotmail.com) for more information.