Action: Lenten Acts of Mourning and Lament

Why
We want to raise a public witness to the suffering and exclusion of the poor in our city, and to our own participation in the structures and perspectives that sustain and deepen their marginalization. The action testifies to the dehumanization that we all experience as a result of the injustice and inequality that has become normalized in our society. The action dramatizes the destructive exclusion of the poor and mourns our own complicity in the unjust social & economic patterns of our world.

What
The action will consist of a gallows (used in the play we did in October) set up in a public area, adorned with various symbolic items. A sign above the gallows will read: “The Crime: Being Poor in a World Class City.” We will gather around the gallows, dressed in black, holding candles; this symbolizes the act of repentance and mourning. There will also be opportunity to write and wear a sign that names the ways we participate in social and economic inequality.

When
Every Monday during Lent: Feb 26, March 5, March 12, March 19, March 26, April 2. We will gather just after 6 pm, and remain on site until 6:45 pm. Then we will go to the church.

Where
South East corner of Broadway and Commercial, just outside the skytrain station.

If you have any questions about the action or your participation in it, feel free to contact Teresa at tdiewert (at) hotmail dot com.

(A pdf file of the above information can be downloaded here.)