“Theos ein agape” (“God is love”) -- 1 John 4:8

Christ is Born! Radical Living Christian Community / www.radicallivingnyc.com

Highlights

New radicals

Hart Street Block Party

Hospitality update

Tis the season to give

Radical Living Year-End Review

Merry Christmas! We count it a blessing to share with you the work that the Spirit of Christ is doing in the life of Radical Living. This year was a big one for Radical Living. We got some amazing new members, had our 4th Annual Radical Retreat (see pics), continued to practice hospitality to the stranger, celebrated life with our neighbors at our summer block party, and stood in the gap for other neighbors who are suffering injustice. Our community has embarked on developing a relationship with the Mennonite Church as Jason, the co-founder of RL, was recently licensed as a Mennonite pastor. The licensing service was held at The Bowery Mission (see pic below) with friends, family and a congregation of homeless men and women. Jason currently serves as Pastor and Chapel Director at the Mission.

We are blessed that our community continues to grow – we now have a couple dozen members living in a one-block radius, consisting of singles, married couples and families.

On behalf of everyone at Radical Living, we hope that you, your family, and your faith community have a wonderful season of celebrating the birth of Christ, and all that he promises us – peace, joy and love! – J&V

New radicals… In September, after hosting, interviewing and breaking bread with many amazing applicants, Radical Living extended invitations to two new members. We welcomed Krystal and Nicole, who both came with smiles, talents, and readiness for participation. Already their participation and ideas have been a blessing and encouragement to us. In October, two of our founding members welcomed family, Kelly, Melinda‟s cousin, and Jacob, Jason‟s brother, to our Bedford-Stuyvesant block. Kelly and Jacob moved into the neighborhood with fresh ideas and energy. Kelly, Jacob, Krystal and Nicole have been fantastic additions to our growing community. – Jolene

Hart Street Rocks! The Hart Street Block Party was rockin' this summer. Neighbors look forward to it all year, when the street is closed off to cars and the block becomes one huge party. This year, the gorgeous day started out calmly, with people setting up tents and grills, pushing folding chairs out onto the sidewalk, and inflating a huge bounce house for the kids. By mid-afternoon, the music was pumping as people danced, ate, and mingled with each other. As usual, the block party was a huge success, creating a space for neighbors to get to know one another better and celebrate life on Hart Street. – Melinda

Getting the block party started at Hart House

Nicole and Krystal (with Aly in the middle)

Jacob and Kelly Tony

Little radical friends – Elgin and Blaise!

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In solidarity with our neighbors… A group called Organizing For Occupation, which meets regularly at the Catholic Worker, Maryhouse, picked up on the injustices one of our neighbors, Ms. Ward, is facing here in Bedford-Stuyvesant. There was plenty of media coverage about the situation and how her eviction was blocked by a neighborhood rally and by negotiations led by a group of lawyers called Common Law. A few of us from Radical Living acted to support Ms. Ward and the efforts for reconciliation between her and the purported new owner of her home. Please pray for situations like this and specifically for Ms. Ward, our 82-year-old neighbor, who lived in her home for the last 44 years. Feel empowered to join in local community actions near you and show your support, too! – Greg

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Radical hospitality This has been a very busy year for the hospitality ministry! We began in January with our yearly partnership with the Don't Walk By Campaign. We hosted several street homeless women over that month and were blessed by the opportunity to offer them respite, if even for a short time. We've also had several long-term guests throughout the year that were in need of housing or job hunting. In addition to these, we've had the pleasure of hosting family, friends and fellow communitarians from around the world! -MCB

Bowery Mission Choir… When I moved from Long Island, I knew I was leaving the worship team at Three Village Church and the volunteer crew of Lighthouse Mission, but I did not know where in New York City I might have the opportunity to make music and serve the poor. Shortly after settling in at Radical Living, I was excited by the invitation to restart The Bowery Mission Choir. Music has been a part of chapel services at the Bowery Mission for more than a century, including the involvement of hymn writers Fanny Crosby and Victor Benke. For the past few years, however, the mission has not had a resident vocal ensemble. This October, choir rehearsals started with a few of the students in the Bowery Mission Discipleship Institute. Their first performances was on Thanksgiving Day. The men sang a medley of “Go Tell It on the Mountain” and sections of “De Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy.” I am grateful for this opportunity to combine my heart for ministry with my musical talents. -Krystal

Monthly movie night! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Blessings! My name is Carmelo (aka Bro. „Melo!). For more than a year I‟ve been part of the neighborhood ministry, of which Movie Night is a part.

Bro. Melo

Join us every 2nd Friday of the month as Radical Living hosts Movie Night! At Movie Night family, friends and neighbors come together for a fun night of film, fun, food and fellowship. During the summer months we show the movie outdoors in the middle of the block. In the colder months we show the movie at Services for the Underserved (SUS), which is a 52-single room occupancy apartment for individuals who were formerly homeless or in the shelter system. SUS is located at the end of the block, and we are blessed that RL and SUS have a wonderful relationship. We also have a monthly potluck at SUS. Hope to see you there! Lord bless. – Bro. „Melo

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Spotlight: Nomi Network Community members Lisa, Nomi Network‟s Director of External Relations, and Alissa, Nomi Network‟s Vice President, have been deeply immersed in raising the visibility and sustainability of their non-profit social enterprise this year. Founded in 2009, Nomi Network‟s mission is to create job opportunities and access the marketplace for women who are survivors or at-risk of human trafficking. Working through various partnerships in South East Asia, Nomi Network emphasizes product development and distribution for products made via clean supply chains and by these women. Their Buy Her Bag Not Her Body®collection of handbags is a prime example of how they also use these products to raise awareness about human trafficking, and specifically sex trafficking. They will be at the Union Square Holiday Market (Nov 19-Dec 24) if you‟re in NYC and would like to come say hello. Lisa and Alissa say, "We want to thank our Radical Living family members, as well as all of you, for your constant support of our vision and our passion to see faith and justice lived out at home and around the world!". www.nominetwork.org; www.buyherbagnotherbody.com

Tis the season to give… We have many friends and allies who are doing amazing work to usher in God‟s Kingdom of justice, peace, and righteousness. We want to give you some ideas of where you might want to invest this year. Make sure to check out our spotlight on Nomi Network to get some gift ideas!

Nomi Network (www.nominetwork.org)

Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger (www.bedstuyagainsthunger.org)

New Sanctuary Movement (www.newsanctuarymovement.org)

The Bowery Mission (www.bowery.org)

Bed-Study Farm Share (http://bedstuyfarmshare.org)

Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice (www.ympj.org)

Bed-Stuy Restoration Corp (http://restorationplaza.org/)

Brooklyn Rescue Mission (www.brooklynrescuemission.org)

Radical Living is a Christ-centered co-housing community located in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. We are a

multicultural, intergenerational, and ecumenical community of artists, workers, and students that includes singles and families.

There are many households associated with Radical Living. They are located within a one-block radius of each other and function as one

community with a couple dozen members.

In essence we are dedicated to a meditative, prophetic and prayerful life, centered in Christ, engaged in our neighborhood, concerned with social

justice, and led by the Holy Spirit.

About Us…