Together New Orleans

15Jul
‘I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.’ And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’

-Mark 2:11-12


This is the end of the story of Jesus healing the paralyzed man. I wonder if you’ve ever felt paralyzed. I know I have. And yesterday at the Together New Orleans gathering, I felt like I was being told to take up my mat and walk. 


I think with all the things going on in our home city, including drastic declines in population (-7.2%) and median income and a sharp rise in the cost of living, as well as the day-to-day aggravation of pot holes, flooded streets, and power outages; I tend to feel overwhelmed. Since I’m not sure what to do, I don’t do anything. Well, except to complain about the paralysis!


Add to that, the busyness of my schedule and my email in-box! The result is, I left it to others to respond to the Together New Orleans invitations to get involved this past year. Then yesterday, I finally went to a meeting with several other folks from Trinity to hear about TNO’s plans for the coming year. The work of the organization was impressive. The Lawless Chapel at Dillard University was full of people representing about fifty organizations around our city, with a wide variety of faith communities represented. 


In the past four years TNO has developed 13 solar lighthouse projects around the city that offer cooling and charging stations during storm season which can be critical to health and safety. These lighthouse projects are powered by solar energy, so they can supply these resources during power outages and save the host non-profit organizations money during the year. 


There are several other interesting projects that you can find on their website. One way we, as citizens of New Orleans, can overcome our own paralysis is to take some action on September 18th. On that day, TNO is planning to gather 3000 people at Xavier University to meet the candidates for Mayor and City Council. The organization has developed their own platform of questions for the candidates around a number of issues that seems to keep New Orleans stagnant. 


I was humbled by the work of these faith leaders, and inspired to follow their lead. Mark your calendar if you want to come along! Sometimes all we need is the invitation to pick ourselves up and move forward together. 


Musical Reflection - Siyahamba - We Are Marching in the Light of God, Angel City Choir


Holy One, let your Spirit move me, and move in me, so that I can get up and take the next right step. Amen.

GospelLove Your NeighborPentecost

Posted by Maria Elliott

Maria Elliott has been Trinity since 1994, first as a parishioner and then for sixteen years establishing the office of stewardship and development, and currently as the Director of Pastoral Care and Spiritual Life. 

WIth a degree in Music and Business from Drake University in her native state of Iowa, Maria went first to New York to work for a concert artist management and then for the Arts department at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.  At the Cathedral, Maria was confirmed, met and married her husband, The Reverend Michael Kuhn, and began an accidental career in the Episcopal Church. She has served on the Diocesan Stewardship Committee, the boards of The Episcopal Network for Stewardship and the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes, as a Stephen Minister, and currently Education for Ministry Mentor.

Maria’s interests include playing the oboe in the New Orleans Civic Symphony and she is currently training to be a Narrative Enneagram mentor. Her daughters, Hallie Wilkins and Sophie Bedaña are Trinity School alumni. Maria has two grandchildren, Celeste and Alden Wilkins.

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