Alka's Angle May 2, 2025

Dear Broadway Community,

May is observed as Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month because in the 1970’s, Jeannie Jew, a former Capitol Hill staffer, approached the office of Representative Frank Horton with the idea that the contribution of Asians in the history of the United States of America should be officially recognized and celebrated. That effort first lead to the designation of the week of May 4 as Asian Pacific American Heritage Week and eventually designating the entire month of May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. May was so chosen because:

• the first Japanese immigrant arrived in the US in May of 1843, and
• the Transcontinental Railroad was successfully built because of the labor of Chinese migrants in May of 1869.  

AANHPI folk have been part of the fabric of this country for a long time and have contributed faithfully in every field possible- from government to food industry, and yet they continue to be victims of hatred and prejudice, and in spite of being third or fourth generation, younger Asians feel they do not completely belong.

At church we are celebrating the freedom that God gives each human to authentically live. This week we celebrate the ‘freedom to follow’ and I invite us to follow the footsteps of Jesus and extend the welcome that all humans deserve. This week, we will have coffee mugs available for you to decorate and welcome someone we do not know well, to a ‘cup of coffee/tea.’  

And don’t forget, this Sunday we will also hold ‘open space’ for folk to stay after worship and share thoughts, lament together, exchange resources, make new connections and perhaps even invite someone to a ‘cup of coffee/tea’. We plan to hold this space once every quarter to folk to process the current realities and build resilience and because of the nature of this space, it will only be in person.

Beloveds, the times we live in are challenging, so let us not add to the challenges of those struggling to see hope around them. Let us become agents of hope for them and bearers of the good news of resurrection and freedom from any bondage.