I wish you peace and all good things. With summer upon us, we will take a break from monthly meetings. However, the working groups will continue to meet and take action. Read on for updates on care for creation, homelessness, and rezoning. Immigration will be covered in a separate e-mail.
 
This summer I would like to have one-to-one meetings with each of you. This way, we can catch up on how God is moving in our lives. We can listen to each other. And we can learn what God is calling each of us to do. I will contact you soon. Or you can call me first!
 
Please save the dates of 
 
Sunday, July 15, our picnic. Let us enjoy good company with good food. Bring your favorite picnic dish. Please also bring re-usable flatware and tableware to share your dish.
 
Saturday, July 21, a benefit for the Good Shepherd women’s shelter at Dyckman Farmhouse. Enjoy performances from stand-up comediennes. Pizza and beverages available for price of admission. More information to come.
 
Monday, Sept. 10, our next monthly meeting.
 
Here are brief updates on activities and projects. For full updates, join the working groups.
 
Care for Creation
 
Our working group is making plans. We have projects to promote ecological conversion, parish action, and policy advocacy. We will have a prayer for the earth in early fall. We will hold an ecology fair next spring. We want to reduce plastic use at the parish and school, recycle more, and re-use more. We will educate children and adults for ecological conversion. We will demand better protections by the government. The working group meets again on Thursday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. at San Damiano. All are welcome.
 
Homelessness and Housing
 
We are becoming servants and advocates. On Saturday evening, June 23, an audience of 40 people met advocates from Picture the Homeless. We learned about the injustices of the shelter system and how we can support the civil rights of homeless persons. We will have our next day of street outreach on Saturday, June 30, from 9 to 11 a.m. Meet outside the Isham Street entrance of the church. The next working group meeting is Wednesday, June 27, 6:30 p.m. in the Choir Room. Contact Alba Fresco, amfresco@gmail.com.
 
Rezoning
 
Come to the City Council hearing on July 11. The future of Inwood depends on the City Council. It depends on the vote of Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. It will take all of us in the community to push our city leaders to make necessary changes to the current rezoning proposal. We have to preserve affordable housing in Inwood. Join the Met Council on Housing. Join Northern Manhattan Is Not for Sale. Join the rezoning working group! Contact Graham Ciraulo, gciraulo86@gmail.com.
 
Ministry Fair
 
Thanks to everyone who supported the JPIC table on June 10. Nearly all the groups, ministries, and societies of the parish took part. I am glad we could show the good works of Good Shepherd to the people of God. Let us tend our garden and cultivate disciples who will go into the world and change lives through the Gospel. Let us organize!