Aurora church to host Social Justice Weekend event

The community is invited to participate in the Social Justice Weekend, Sept. 11-13, hosted by Cathedral of Grace St. John Church, 2950 Bilter Road, Aurora, Illinois.

In alignment with and in commitment to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr’s statement, “Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice,” the church will hold a series of workshops and worship services to engage and empower attendees in the work of economic and health equities, education access, workforce inclusion, and voting rights.

The Rev. Jamal H. Bryant, an international activist and senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia, will kick off the weekend’s event on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. as the guest preacher.

Saturday’s workshops, starting at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 1 p.m, will be led by local and regional leaders.

Attendees can expect meaningful, vigorous discussions on intergenerational community organizing, understanding policy-making, and collaborating on the next steps toward creating a just community and society.

The Rev. William Lamar IV, pastor of the historic Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, D.C., former managing director of leadership education at Duke University, and author of the recent book, “Ancestors: Those Who Bless Us, Curse Us, and Hold Us,” will conclude the weekend experience as the guest preacher on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 10 a.m.

There is no cost for this event.

The Rev. Jesse Hawkins is the pastor. For information, call the church office at (630) 898-5333.