Reflection: Pastor Jordan Jones, Metro Hope Church, Disciples of Christ 12/28/25

This Sunday, December 28 at Freedom Church of the Poor we began our Birth of a Movement season—a sacred time of remembering, organizing, and imagining new life toward liberation. This service reflected on the Biblical story of the Massacre of the Innocents—a painful and powerful story of state violence, grief, and resistance at the birth of the Jesus movement. Together, we held this story alongside the realities of our world today, lifting up freedom stories that emerge even in the face of oppression. Across our collective histories, there are moments when something new is born: a movement, a moral awakening, a people united across difference. In this season, we remember rebirths toward liberation—from the history of the Israelite people to the early Jesus movement to today’s struggles for housing, dignity, and justice. This service will include reflections from: Pastor Jordan Jones, Associate Pastor, Metro Hope Church (Disciples of Christ), Harlem Mike Ishi, Tsuru for Solidarity and Free Families Gann Herman, North Carolina Union of the Homeless Shailly Gupta Barnes & Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice & Freedom Church of the Poor This season moves alongside the Winter Offensive organizing drive of the National Union of the Homeless, grounding our faith in collective action. This season, we invite all to: 🕊️ Build spiritual community through reflection, study, song, art, and prayer ✊ Take action and get organized against the forces harming our people 🕕 6:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM CT / 3:00 PM PT 📍 Online via Zoom 🔗 RSVP: bit.ly/FCOPSIGNUP National Union of the Homeless: nationalunionofthehomeless.org Come as you are. Bring your grief, your hope, and your commitment to liberation.