AAPIDA Heritage Month at Middle
At Middle Church, the light guiding our feet is our vision of a world free of racism and white supremacy. During the latest swell of ghastly violence against our AAPIDA (Asian American Pacific Islander Desi American) communities, we name this racist evil for what it is: a sin against God and the Beloved Community. We center the suffering, resistance, and joy of our AAPIDA family–of ourselves. Just as important, we lift up the too-often-underrecognized achievements of our AAPIDA family. At Middle Church, APIDA/AAPI Heritage Month in May is celebrated in our worship and more. Throughout the month of May, Middle we’ll be featuring art and music by our AAPIDA community members.
Read on for Middle Church’s AAPIDA events, worship offerings, small groups, community empowerment resources, and news.
Middle AAPIDA Offerings (All Times ET):
Queering the Canon: Rom-Com Series | April 30, 2022 – 6 – 9 pm EST
Kick off AAPIDA month with this sweet rom-com about two queer Chinese American. This film screening & panel of Saving Face is a part of NewFest & Bam’s “Queering the Canon: Rom-Com” series. Please RSVP your attendance to Elise no later than Thursday, April 28th. Tickets can be bought directly at newfest.org; for information about discounted tickets, please email Elise. Middle’s COVID policy in effect.
5k Against Asian Hate | May 1, 2022 – 11 am – 1 pm EST
5K Walk Against Anti-Asian Hate happening next Sunday, May 1 at 11am at Columbus Park Field. AAPIDA women and seniors will receive free pepper spray. Contact Glory Moy for more information.
Worship Celebration | May 1 | 11:45 AM EST
disOrientalism Part 2: The Revenge of Hello Kitty at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theatre | May 2, 2022 – 7 – 10:00 pm EST
New York’s premier Asian American performers — tearing up the stage and changing the dynamic with their world class talent: Top notch performers from Broadway, Stand Up Comedy, Burlesque, Rock and Classical Music (with a twist) join forces for one electrifying show. Curated and hosted by comedian/rapper Kate Siahaan-Rigg alongside child star-turned-Broadway actress Olivia Oguma. This program lasts about 75 minutes and is recommended to boost your immunity against boredom, inaction, xenophobia, and orientalism.
Worship Celebration | May 8 | 11:45 AM EST
Scripture: Acts 9:36-43
Sermon by Chad Tanka Pack
Worship Celebration | May 15 | 11:45 AM EST
Scripture: Rev. 21.1-6
Sermon “Can You Feel A Brand New Day” by Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis
Worship Celebration | May 22 | 11:45 AM EST
Sermon by Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis
Worship Celebration | May 29, 2022 – 11:45 am EST | Hybrid
Sermon by Jocelyn Lieu
May Yoga Series with Middle Member Vicky Salim for Yoga Thursdays! | Online | May 5, 12, 19, 26
7:30-8:30 PM ET
Vicky writes, “The idea of renewal and rebirth is apparent, though it’s easy to forget that there was a process to get to all the beauty we are witnessing now. This month will be dedicated to tending to the lymphatic system, consciously ridding our system of toxins to make room for renewal. Each week we will dive into breath-work and movement to prepare for a proper savasana.” Her Yoga Class is pay what you can, via Venmo or Zelle. Please email Vicky if you’re interested in attending.
More AAPIDA Offerings (All Times ET):
Children’s Day: Kodomo no Hi at the Japan Society | May 8, 2022 – 11 am – 12:30 pm ET & 1 – 2:30 PM EST
Hang the koinobori carp streamers and dust off your samurai helmets—Children’s Day is on its way! Come share Japan’s national holiday with us, where all children are stars and their happiness is celebrated. Embrace samurai tradition with our life-sized armor displays and a popular sword-fighting workshop led by Kyo Kasumi from TATE Hatoryu NY. 2022 Children’s Day will introduce families to diverse cultures of Japan through a beautiful performance in traditional Okinawan dance led by dance master Junko Nagahama. Children can create their own wearable origami kabuto samurai helmets and bring Children’s Day home with additional take-home craft activities!
2022 Global Talent, Diversity and Inclusion Symposium | Wednesday May 11, 2022, 9:30 am – 2:30 pm EST | In-Person & Online
Annual event discussing the challenges and opportunities the AAPIDA community faces within and outside the workplace hosted by the Asia Society.
Blurring the Color Line Film Screeing | May 9, 2022 – 6-9 PM ET
“Blurring the Color Line” disrupts the binary black and white narrative of the American South by examining the complexities of race relations between the Chinese and Black communities during Jim Crow in Augusta, GA, in the 1930s with the hopes of bringing much-needed discussion and dialogue between the same communities now as our nation is at reckoning with racism and white supremacy. Masks required.Email Elise if you’re planning to attend!
My Tree Reading | Saturday, May 14, 2022 – 10:30 – 11 am EST | Online Only
The Center for Global Education hosts a live webcast reading of “My Tree” by illustrator and author II Sung Na, a story about the struggle felt by many immigrant children around the world.
Watercress Reading | Saturday May 21, 2022 – 10:30 – 11 am EST | Online Only
The Center for Global Education will host a live webcast reading of Watercress, an autobiographical story of a child of immigrants discovering and connecting with her heritage, followed by a discussion with renowned illustrator, Jason Chin.
MOVEMENT | Wednesday May 25, 2022 – 7:30 – 8:50 PM EST | In-person & Online
The Asia Society of New York presents MOVEMENT: Performance Platform Featuring work by three dynamic artists: eddy kwon, Barkha Patel, and Yin Yue, who are expanding the possibilities of dance.
Kazuko Miyamoto at the Japan Society
Kazuko Miyamoto: To perform a line provides an overview of the artist’s work, moving from her contributions to the Minimalism movement through early paintings and drawings from the 1960s, and her increasingly spatial string constructions in the 1970s, to her conceptual experiments in performance, culminating in her kimono series from 1987 through the 1990s. A number of works that will be on view have never been shown publicly, offering a crucial opportunity for the public to encounter Miyamoto’s rich oeuvre for the first time.