Dear sisters and brothers:
 
I wish you peace and everything good. The letter of James teaches us that “the harvest of justice is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace” (James 3:18). I cherish you for the work you have done to sow peace-salaam-shalom in Inwood. There is much reaping in the month to come! Help us gather the harvest.
 
Please save the dates of 
 
Friday, Oct. 4, our Prayer for the Earth.
 
Monday, Oct. 7, the rent laws teach-in that takes the place of our October monthly meeting.
 
Thursday, Oct. 17, a community interfaith vigil to remember the 400th anniversary of slavery in the U.S.
 
Here are brief updates on activities and projects. Go to www.goodshepherdnyc.org/jpic for the calendar. For full updates, join the working groups.
 
Care for Creation
 
Join our Prayer for the Earth on the feast of St. Francis, Oct. 4. Altagracia Faith and Justice Works is having a community cleanup on Oct. 5. The working group meets Tuesday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. at San Damiano. Newcomers welcome. The Season of Creation comes to an end on Oct. 4, and we invite everyone to our prayer for the earth and one another. Our theme is “We Are All Connected: The Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor.” We thank the folk music ministry and youth group for contributing to this liturgy of hope. See the JPIC website in the Documents section at the bottom for Season of Creation events around NYC. Contact: Janet Kraus, janetkraus2@gmail.com.
 
Homelessness
 
The working group meets on Wednesday, Oct. 2 and Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. in the rectory conference room. Join us for our street outreach on Sept. 28 and Oct. 26. Our outreach team will meet at 10 a.m. outside the Isham Street entrance of the church. Please also come to City Hall Park on Sept. 26 for a rally calling on our leaders to build more housing for the homeless. Let us love our neighbors who live on the streets with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ. Contact: Alba Fresco, amfresco@gmail.com.
 
Immigration
 
We are looking for volunteers to organize this group. From accompaniment to ICE or immigration court, to visiting the sanctuary churches, to supporting family reunification, to helping refugees, there is much work to do. Please contact Brother Anthony if you feel called to be a driver of parish action.
 
Tenants
 
We won real rent reform, and now we will teach the community its rights. We agreed at our September plenary meeting to throw our support behind the rent laws teach-in taking place on Oct. 7 at Washington Heights Academy. We ask everyone in JPIC to join us and reach out to their neighbors. Housing is a human right. Working together, and with God’s help, we will preserve affordable housing for all people. Contact Graham Ciraulo, gciraulo86@gmail.com, to get involved.
 
Watch for e-mails from the Good Shepherd JPIC Google group for more news about the 400 Years of Inequality prayer vigil as well for the theater performance by The Open Program. Let us pray and work together for the reign of God in our world.