On April 1 at 2:00 p.m., ECS-NJ grant recipient St. Michael’s Church in downtown Trenton will mark the launch of its “Little BIGBOOK Store” by re-enacting Martin Luther’s nailing of his “95 Theses” document to the doors of the church in Wittenborn, Germany in 1517. Just as that event marked a turning point in the Protestant Reformation, the organizers of this one intend it to be a “turning point for 12-Step Recovery” in the City of Trenton.
This time, the “theses” will be statements of principle or proposals aimed at addiction recovery, and St. Michael’s is asking you to add your own.
ECS-NJ challenges you to submit your own theses—statements of actions needed to support addiction recovery in Trenton—to stmichaelschurchtrenton@gmail.com to help them reach their goal.
Here are a few sample theses to spark your own creativity:
- Trenton is the state capital, thereby “leading the state” in all things.
- All cities have their issues from which they need to recover. Trenton has issues and pledges to take its recovery seriously, “leading the state” in this as well, to show other cities how it can be done.
- Trenton pledges itself to recover from conflict and conflict entrepreneurs who benefit from feeding their neighbors with resentments and filling others with fear.
According to organizers, the bookstore aims to be “one of the first brick & mortar venues in the nation to recognize all forms of 12-Step Recovery within the broader continuum of family & mental health and self-help.” It currently has about 100 used books on meditation, faith, grief, depression, bullying, etc. all selling for $3 or less. It will also serve the city with a walk-up online referral service to Trenton’s many social service providers, open Tues-Sat 11am-2pm.
St. Michael’s Church and the bookstore are located at 140 N. Warren St., Trenton, NJ 08608. All are invited to attend the opening ceremony on April 1 at 2:00 p.m. to join the launch celebration activities and to witness the nailing of the theses on the door. For more information, please contact stmichaelschurchtrenton@gmail.com.
ECS-NJ is proud to partner with St. Michael’s and with the region’s Friends of the Library in support of this ministry to the Trenton community.
About ECS–NJ: Episcopal Community Services (ECS-NJ) is a new initiative that focuses on proactively addressing human needs, such as food and shelter, and relentlessly working against both social and racial injustice.
