Prayer and Action for MSP |
Creator God, Divine spark that lives and flows in and among us all-- Thank you for this life, this day, this breath.
Open our eyes so that we may see that we are all connected, that our fates are intertwined, that none of us are free until we are all free.
Raise up the voices of those of us most oppressed and persecuted by Empire, colonialism, violence, and greed. Humble those of us who need to hear them. Soften hard hearts. Strengthen our resolve and our voices that we might act, here and now, to do Your work of justice and renewal in the world. May we strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every living thing. May we respect the Earth and all her people—human and animal. Plant, water, soil, and mushroom. May we learn that this Earth is not ours to dominate but to protect and share. May we know that all the material things of this world are only ours to hold for a little while.
May we love one another as You love us. Amen.
CALL TO ACTION
Thanks to your response and generous donations we have collectively raised over $7,500 in January and February to send to local organizing efforts in Minneapolis-St. Paul. These donations have been redistributed to directly-impacted families, including Indigenous communities, for material support, rent support and food delivery in heavily-impacted South Minneapolis neighborhoods.
As rent comes due March 1st, we are calling on you again to join us in financially supporting our MSP relatives. The City of Minneapolis has reported an estimated $47 million in lost wages from people afraid to leave their homes to go to work. As ICE presence in MN continues into March, vulnerable peoples are now unable to pay March rent and at risk of eviction from their homes. That is why organizers are proposing an upcoming rent strike to call for a state-wide eviction moratorium in response to this crisis. Please support at-risk renters in the MSP area by donating today.
Donate here: dismantlediscovery.org/donate (mark your donation by selecting "Minnesota" from the dropdown menu) |
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Join Decolonizing Worship TODAY |
Friday February 27th: As winter is in its last weeks we come together once again in this "story-telling" time reflecting on how we understand our histories in this generation and time.
Join us: register for the link
*The ZOOM link has been set up to repeat each month. If you've participated since October it is the same ZOOM link. Feel free to add it to your calendar. |
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Join the Shinnecock Working group |
Weekly Prayer Gatherings
Wednesday mornings from March 4-April 1 at 8-8:20 EST - Register Here
The Shinnecock Nation working group invites you to a 20 minute prayer and meditation space on Wednesday mornings during the Lenten season. These spaces will be a calm and intentional way to draw attention to the Shinnecock Nation and the issues they face on a daily basis while praying as a community that they be granted with continuous strength and endurance and for a change of heart from oppressive powers. Conscience Point Screening & Discussion
March 14 - 6:30-8:30p EST and March 30 - 6:30-8:30p EST - Register Here
In March, the working group is also hosting 2 online screenings of Conscience Point, a documentary (released in 2019) about the Shinnecock Nation. This event will be 2 hours long and consist of an introduction to the Shinnecock Nation, watching the documentary, giving an update since this documentary was released, and small group discussions.
*If you cannot attend at these times but your congregation or community is interested in your own screening, email Alicia Maldonado-Zahra at amaldonadozahra@goshen.edu
The Shinnecock Nation working group meets every other Monday from 2-3p EST. If you are interested in joining this group, please email Alicia at amaldonadozahra@goshen.edu |
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Prayer Project Submission Request: |
The Activists Living with Disabilities working group invites any Coalition members to submit any of the following: - Written prayers for the work of the Coalition
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Prayer rituals from your tradition to share (ex: centering prayer, deep breathing etc.)
- Kinesthetic prayer practices, such as folding paper cranes for peace or string knotting
We would like to compile these into a multi-sensory prayer resource for everyone, with an inclusive understanding of what prayer is to different people. Please upload any submissions to this Google Drive, or you can email them to Doe Hoyer (doe@dismantlediscovery.org)
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Activists Living with Disabilities - Meeting Reminder 3/11/26
Activists Living with Disabilities have gifts to offer the movement for repair and seeking justice alongside Indigenous relatives. Together, we will explore these gifts and how we can effect change towards disability justice and increased accessibility within the movement. Anyone living with any kind of disability or chronic illness is encouraged to join our monthly drop-in calls. We meet monthly on the second Wednesdays.
Our next meeting will be Wednesday, March 11 from 3-4pm PST / 5-6pm CST / 6-7pm EST. You can register here to receive the Zoom link. This month, we will continue our discussion on activism as part of a life of resistance.
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Economic Justice Training - Coming April 2026! |
Registration is now open! The Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery will offer our new Economic Justice, Jubilee, and Reenvisioning Security training for an online cohort of ~30 participants, Sunday afternoons in April and early May.
If you’ve been thinking about divestment and alternative economies, join this learning community to reflect together on our participation in unjust capitalist systems and move towards life-sustaining possibilities.
This training will be offered in 4 weekly Sunday afternoon modules, April 12, 19, 26, and May 3. Register by April 3 through our online form. |
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Order Your Copy of A Dangerous Faith |
A Dangerous Faith is a new publication from Anabaptist World, in partnership with the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery, for youth and young adults. This zine features perspectives from young Anabaptists on seasonal themes in a format that's portable and easy to share. Each issue is filled with art, poetry, and reflections on living out faith rooted in love. For just $10 ($15 to Canadian addresses), you'll receive a copy of three issues during 2026, starting with the Winter 2026 issue on Hope and Lament.
Don't wait – this offer is limited! The deadline to order is Tuesday, March 10, for delivery of our Winter issue in late March. Order your copies today
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12th Annual Oak Flat Run - Report Backs |
From February 5-8, 2026 I participated in my fourth run / march to Oak Flat. This was my first run without any specific responsibilities besides running. That gave me more space for prayer, reflection and getting to know the other runners. It was good to be able to engage in a different way with the now familiar rhythms of running, walking and ceremony through Thursday, Friday and Saturday. -Tim Nafziger (COFA team member) |
Buddhist and Mennonite delegation members holding "Protect Oak Flat" signs (L to R: Jim Lichti, Cheryl Procaccini, Marcie Jenner, Charlie Hilton-Nickel, Cathy Cockrell, and Joanne Connelly) |
A small delegation of Buddhists and Mennonites drove from California to Arizona to participate in prayerful accompaniment of the Western Apache stronghold in their 12th Annual Sacred Chi'Chil Biłdagoteel/Oak Flat March and Prayer Run. We were welcomed with respect and appreciation, and we were deeply moved by the capacity of our Apache relatives, a people so “othered” and persecuted by colonizers, from whom we are all descendants, to uphold the truth of their beliefs — we are all one family.
We marched through several towns, young runners carrying sacred objects, and our signs pleading “Save Oak Flat”. Resolution Copper's propaganda billboards littered our protest route and stood in chilling contrast to the beautiful landscapes and spiritual corridors through which we passed. We cried and applauded as the final group of runners reached Oak Flat. The annual gathering followed, with speakers representing many tribes, backgrounds, and ages sharing their thoughts, feelings, and fierce commitment toward protecting Chi'Chil Biłdagoteel.
We felt honored to participate in the ceremonies and round dances with Grandmother oaks as our witnesses. As one member of our delegation expressed: "As I danced the Apache round dance, my legs and feet awakened to the ancient drumbeat. Elders and little ones, all in synchronized prayer. Trauma and grief - resilience and hope - permeated the spiritual atmosphere. I was humbled and privileged to be in the company of people such as these."
If you are interested in learning more and connecting with the Buddhist Working Group contact them at: oakflatbwg@gmail.com - Cheryl Procaccini and Marcie Jenner (Buddhist Working Group members) |
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Runners pass eagle feathers to the next group (photo credit: Tim Nafziger) |
| Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr. speaks to group gathered at Oak Flat |
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Trail of Death: Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) Pilgrimage |
The Trail of Death pilgrimage remembers the 1838 forced removal of about 850 Potawatomi people from their ancestral homelands in northern Indiana by state and federal militias.
Participants in the pilgrimage will enter into a journey of lament over and truth-telling about the violence caused by White settler colonization. Dates: May 11-21, 2026, this intensive AMBS course is limited to 15 participants.
Registration Deadline: April 1, 2026
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Celebrating a New Book from Our Friend Chris Hoklotubbe |
We’re excited to share that our friend and colleague Chris Hoklotubbe has recently published a new book, Reading the Bible on Turtle Island: An Invitation to North American Indigenous Interpretation (co-authored with Danny Zacharias).
This work invites readers to engage with the Bible through the lens of Indigenous North American perspectives. Rather than approaching Scripture solely through traditional Western interpretations, Hoklotubbe and Zacharias explore how Indigenous cultures, histories, ceremonies, and wisdom shape meaningful understandings of biblical texts. The authors celebrate the contributions of Indigenous Christians and challenge readers to appreciate the depth and dignity of Indigenous worldviews — from creation stories and kinship with all beings, to reflections on community, land, and reconciliation.
Reading the Bible on Turtle Island offers fresh insights that are at once scholarly and deeply rooted in lived experience. It’s a transformative resource for anyone interested in how cultural context enriches biblical interpretation and broadens our vision of faith and Scripture.
Want to help us feature this work?
We are looking for a volunteer to read Chris’s book and write a short review for an upcoming newsletter. If you’re interested, we’d be happy to send you a free copy of the book — just let us know! |
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Monday March 2nd at 4pm PT / 7pm ET - Join Coalition leaders by Zoom to have your specific questions about the land justice fund answered. Bring a hot beverage of your choice! Open to anyone who wants to join. |
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Resource Corner - Moving Towards Right Relations in March
- Sarah and Sheri's Substack: Sarah has written a young adult novel, “Peacekeepers/Truthbringers,” and we’re excited to share it with you. Read the latest:
- Read Joe Hubbard's Substack, Confessions of a Basic White Guy (in Clericals):
- The Eternal Song Film Series: The Coalition is an affiliate partner and receives 50% commission when you pay to stream these films using the links below
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All check donations to the Coalition should be sent to the following address: Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery 3258 Thompson Ave. Alameda, CA 94501 Checks should still be made out to our fiscal sponsor, Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference. If the check is for the salary campaign or another special fund, that should also be mentioned in the memo line. |
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Our Contact Information
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The Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition is fiscally sponsored by and a ministry partner of the Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference (PSMC).
Want to receive our appeal letters by mail? Email your address to us at admin@dismantlediscovery.org |
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