Voices of Lament: Chicago Book Launch

3750 W Ogden Avenue,Chicago IL 60623

28 September, 2022

Description

So often, women of color are the ones who answer God's call to lead our communities and teach the coming generations what it means to walk closely with God, while working for justice, even in the darkest of times. Voices of Lament is a powerful collaboration from 29 Women of Color from a broad spectrum of racial backgrounds, ethnic groups, generations, locations, and experiences. Through our reflections on Psalm 37, we take its themes of justice and lament, revealing God’s faithfulness in our own lives and our communities throughout generations. We invite you to join us for the Chicago Launch of the new book “Voices of Lament,” featuring Chicago’s very own Chantel Varnado and Sharon Irving. Come hear the songs and cries of the oppressed and grow in empathy and understanding as we draw into deeper intimacy with God and experience the holy tension of lament and hope. – Natasha Sistruck Robinson, Sandra Maria Van Opstal and Kathy Khang *** THE EVENING WILL INCLUDE *** Reflections and Vision from project editor and authors Musical reflection (Sharon Irving and Chantel Varnado)Readings and Q/ABook signing*** FEATURING *** SHARON IRVING “I take a deep breath and step out on faith. Do it afraid.” Those words have been a mantra for South Side of Chicago Native, Sharon Irving, songstress/songwriter/spoken word artist, worship leader and actress, since she was a little girl, performing in front of the congregation at the south side church in Chicago where her grandfather was pastor. With loving encouragement from her mother and grandmother, Sharon has cultivated and shaped her own creative persona. She is an inspiring ‘voice for the voiceless’, a passionate wordsmith spewing truth and inspiration, singing songs of life and love motivated by her personal experiences, and undergirded by her Christian beliefs. Sharon has been a part of the worship team at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois for several years, has contributed songs and words of hope before thousands at liturgical and corporate events, youth conferences, including the popular “CHIC”, (‘ Covenant High in Christ’ ),in small clubs and intimate settings all over the country, at the Angola Prison in Angola, Louisiana, and even entertained millions while a participant on Season Ten of “America’s Got Talent.” sharonirving.com & instagram.com/sharonirvingmusic CHANTEL VARNADO is a creative mastermind who was born and raised in the Englewood section of Chicago. As a gifted singer-songwriter and recording artist, she expresses her love for God and leads others in a deeper experience of worship. Chantel currently serves as Senior Pastor at The Pivot-Place CHI, a new church plant, urban congregation that intentionally embraces and actively attempts to reach out to people across the city of Chicago to create inclusive worship experiences that celebrate the many cultures within the city. She is also Founder| CEO of the Kingdom United Collective, a collective of artists of different backgrounds. Her desire is to be a part of God’s work in bringing healing to the lives of people as they discover forgiveness, love, justice and reconciliation as people of all ages take their place in the kingdom. chantelvarnado.org & instagram.com/chantelvarnado SANDRA MARIA VAN OPSTAL, daughter of Colombian and Argentine immigrants, is the founder of Chasing Justice based in Chicago. Sandra is an author, pastor, and activist reimagining the intersection of faith and justice. Her work centers contemplative activism under the mentorship of the global church, for the mobilizing of the next generation of leaders. She holds a master of divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Her most recent books include The Next Worship: Glorifying God in a Diverse World and Forty Days on Being an Enneagram Eight. instagram.com/sandravanopstal & chasingjustice.com KATHY KHANG is a Korean American writer, speaker, and yoga teacher based in the north suburbs of Chicago. She is the author of Raise Your Voice: Why We Stay Silent and How to Speak Up and serves on the board of Christians for Social Action. kathykhang.com & instagram.com/mskathykhang NATASHA SISTRUNK ROBINSON, editor of "Voices of Lament" is the president of T3 Leadership Solutions, Inc., and the visionary founder of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Leadership LINKS, Inc. This African American woman from South Carolina is an author, host of A Sojourner’s Truth podcast, speaker, consultant, and coach who engages, equips, and empowers people to live and lead on purpose. natashasrobinson.com & instagram.com/asistasjourney PASTOR JONATHAN BROOKS, or Pastah J, as he is affectionately called, is Co-Lead Pastor at Lawndale Christian Community Church. He is the former pastor of Canaan Community Church in Chicago, and an adjunct Professor for Northern Seminary in their Christian Community Development Program and Trinity Christian College’s Chicago Semester program. Through various roles and partnerships, Pasta J is engaged in social activism, church planting, youth development, holistic health options, college scholarships, music lessons and continual support to the incarcerated and their families living in North Lawndale, Greater Englewood and other Chicago communities. Pastah J has a Bachelor of Architecture from Tuskegee University, Master of Arts in Teaching from National Louis University and Master of Divinity from Northern Seminary in Christian Community Development. He hopes to merge his academic knowledge, practical tools and ministry training to turn his convictions into tangible solutions which will help change neglected neighborhoods all over the city of Chicago for future generations. Jonathan and his wife, Micheal, have two children. DA BOOK JOINT is a Black woman owned business born on the Southside of Chicago committed to literary growth and the positive engagement of the youth. Reading is an activity that strengthens the mind and provides a barrage of ideas and creativity. With a wide array of books and literary materials available, more and more people are becoming even more enamored with the act of reading now than ever. We at Da Book Joint understand this, and that is exactly why we are here. dabookjoint.com Co-hosted by Lawndale Christian Community Church and Chasing Justice About the book How often do we hear from Christian Women of Color writing for themselves and the world more broadly, about faith and how it informs their distinct experiences with injustice, lament, anger, and hope? Inspired by Psalm 37, with its outpouring of emotion about the human experience, comes a new collection of essays, poems, liturgies and historical reflections from 29 Christian Women of Color. Here are stories that invite empathy and healing, from an inclusive, intergenerational sisterhood of Christian women—writers, clergy, entrepreneurs and more—making public their private pain, while modeling how faith allows them to hold the tension of injustice and heartache with hope and joy. Media contact Helena Brantley @RedPencilPR redpencilpublicity.com/contact/ 510.316.3545