Riverside Weekly Actions | May 21, 2026
Power in the Collective
In Exodus 17, when the Amalekites attacked Israel, Moses stood on the hill with his staff raised. As long as his hands stayed lifted, the people prevailed. But when exhaustion crept in, Aaron and Hur came alongside him, holding up his arms until sunset. Victory did not come through one person’s strength alone, but through the steady power of people refusing to let one another fall.
The story reminds us that God rarely calls us into struggle or healing alone. Liberation is often braided together, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder. Though American values celebrate rugged independence, our faith tradition draws on power in the collective: communities feeding one another, carrying burdens together, and becoming strength where another is weary.
The collective is holy ground. When we stand together for justice, mercy, and hope, even trembling hands can hold steady long enough to see a new day dawn.
We invite you to participate in these ways to build power together as a collective:
Hands Off Our Vote- Election Protection Volunteer Training [Manhattan]
May 23 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Join us for Hands Off Our Vote, a powerful statewide Election Protection initiative led by Common Cause New York to safeguard voter access amid rising challenges like misinformation, intimidation, and administrative barriers. Building on more than a decade of election protection work, this initiative strengthens coalition coordination, rapid-response support, and community-based voter assistance to help ensure every eligible voter can participate with confidence.
More information and Registration here: Hands Off Our Vote- Election Protection Volunteer Training [Manhattan] · Common Cause
Are you ready to vote? Check out our Voter Resource page:
Riverside Church Voter Resource – Riverside Church
Save the date for Pride Eve Celebration and Book Talk
May 31 @ 1:30pm
Join us on Pride Eve for an afternoon of joy, liberation, and holy celebration with Rev. Brandan Robertson as we explore his book Queer & Christian. Together, we will celebrate the beauty, resilience, and sacred worth of Queer identities within Christianity, reclaiming the truth that Queerness is not something to apologize for, hide, or overcome, but something to honor openly and unapologetically.
June 17 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
With the daily horrors of immigrants being rounded up and kidnapped right here in NYC, it’s often hard to remember that not only does the climate crisis still rage on, but these injustices are inextricably linked. Families flee their homes after climate catastrophes like hurricanes, drought, and famine, only to travel thousands of miles to a new land—only to face the brunt of violent xenophobia and white supremacy in our own city.
As people of faith, we are coming together through the Covenant for Our Future, a movement that unites solidarity with our immigrant neighbors and addresses the ongoing harms of environmental devastation.
RSVP now to save your spot at the summit: The Earth Cries Out: A Faith Summit on Immigration + Climate Justice Tickets, Wednesday, June 17 • 9 AM – 5 PM | Eventbrite
Join the Riverside Delegation on the next Q Christian Fellowship Conference
Jan 21-24, Philadelphia
The Q Christian Fellowship Conference is an annual hybrid gathering where LGBTQ+ Christians, parents, and allies: gather for worship, fellowship, workshops, and keynote speakers; make lifelong friendships or reunite with those friends; experience healing, transformation, and hope; witness the fullness of God’s love and affirmation through each other. More information here: Symphony | 2027 Q Christian Fellowship Conference
We have brought a delegation the last two years. Would you like to join our 2027 delegation? Respond to this email to reserve your spot before June 10!
Call your electeds and demand support for Lebanon War Powers Resolution
Our collective action brought the Iran War Powers Resolution to the senate floor, advancing a war powers resolution aimed at ending the ongoing conflict with Iran, marking a significant breakthrough after seven prior failed attempts.
We can do this again!
Israeli forces, backed by the U.S., have forcibly displaced one fifth of the country’s population, and our voices are important before Congress votes on a resolution to stop U.S. participation in the genocidal war.
In Lebanon, over 1.2 million people have been displaced and more than 2,000 people killed. The United States is assisting military operations through intelligence and other forms of support. Congress must act to end U.S. participation in ethnic cleansing.
Three steps:
Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your representative.
Say, “Hi, my name is ______ and I’m a constituent from ______ (city/town) calling to urge the representative to support the Lebanon War Powers Resolution, H.Con.Res.83, to block unauthorized U.S. military participation in Lebanon. Congress must act to prevent further escalation. Will the representative vote for the Lebanon War Powers Resolution when it comes for a vote? My phone number is ______ .
Respond to this email letting us know what you learned.