Everyone knows what Jesus did 2016 years ago, but sussing out what Jesus might be inclined to do in this day and age is a much tougher proposition without getting steeped in politics and agendas. As a sworn agnostic, please do not suppose that I think myself qualified to come anywhere near understanding the elusive question “What would Jesus do?” But, I do take notice when a community is willing to put their back into an answer.

Recently, the priest and congregants at Trinity Episcopal Church have taken two compelling stands: they publicly aligned themselves with the Black Lives Matter movement to serve the movement as allies; and this week, they offered sanctuary to the undocumented workers who lost their jobs and homes in a series of raids by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) on area Mexican restaurants.

So I say to you, Ask and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. - Luke 11:9

In 2015, Trinity was one of the few churches in the Buffalo area to post writ large, “Black Lives Matter” on their church signage.

This month, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Amherst unvieled its Black Lives Matter sign which can be seen by approximately 20,000 drivers on Main St.

Rev. Matt Lincoln, rector of Trinity Church told the Buffalo News, “I was really hoping that the sign would serve to start a dialogue with people who might be unclear as to its real intent and meaning.”

The sign was repeatedly stolen and had to be replaced. These incidents helped redirect the efforts of the church.

"When all they did was take it away, it only tore people apart even more rather than bringing us together,” Rev. Lincoln explained.

The congregation decided to formally align with VOICE Buffalo, whose organizational tenets state: “With Buffalo as a largely segregated city, steps must be taken to ensure that marginalized communities are receiving the same services and benefits as other communities.” The Trinity congregation now works with VOICE Buffalo in a concerted effort to advocate for social justice. 

Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. - Mark 12:31

Trinity has again joined forces with area churches, particularly Pastor Drew Ludwig of Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church  and the Cosecha Movement to provide shelter, relief and meals to those undocumented workers who were evicted from their homes, lost their jobs and had their savings seized during the raids by ICE of four Erie County Mexican restaurants.

Twenty-five workers were left bereft following the raids as they await formal judgement.

Trinity Church has been providing shelter to a couple members of the workers' community because the houses where the workers were living are not safe since the raid. Rev. Matt Lincoln and leaders of the church responded immediately when asked to provide sanctuary. Lincoln says, "We all have the experience of being a stranger in a foreign land in our personal history or in our ancestry. Scripture reminds us that this is true spiritually as well as practically, and that we are called to treat foreigners not as strangers but as neighbors--and to love our neighbors as ourselves."

Congregant, former Congregational Minister, and child advocate Holly Maloney asked her friends on Facebook, “Anyone out there in cyber-land willing and able to pitch in to feed 25-30 people tonight?”

Whatever your stance on immigration, here is a moment to put the rubber to the road and love thy neighbor. The Cosecha Movement has set up a way to donate for those who would like to support these families during this devastating time: I STAND WITH THE #BUFFALO25