Holly Roach

A Letter From Shane Claiborne

To all my grace-filled revolutionary friends,

Here’s what I realized as I finished writing my new book Executing Grace. This isn’t just about a book. It is about a movement that has the potential to make history – to make the death penalty history.

This isn’t an ad (I’ve never been much of a self-promoter), it’s about uniting our voices and movements to stand on the side of grace, redemption, and life… and to put an end to the death penalty once and for all. I am hearing conservatives, liberals, and political misfits (I think that’s what I am) who are all convinced that if we work together we can create better forms of justice than killing those who kill to show that it is wrong to kill.

Unfortunately, when it comes to the death penalty – we Christians have been the champions of death. 85% of executions happen in the Bible belt. Where Christians are most concentrated is where the death penalty continues to flourish. It’s time to change that – as we declare the truth that no one is beyond redemption.  And for those of you who are not Christians, we need your voice and your courageous witness too. We Christians don’t own exclusive rights to grace and mercy. We need your voice.

So here are a few really practical ways we can collectively disrupt the machinery of death in America:

Order Executing Grace now, as it releases this week, so that it can hit some bestseller lists and get as much buzz as possible. If you like it, throw a review up on Amazon. If you don’t like it, keep that to yourself (just kidding). We have also created a very helpful “Influencer Kit” which is sort of a tool box with everything you need to spread the word, and keep amplifying the message of grace.

Go to our website and check out the materials there. We’ve worked hard to create practical resources, links, facts, and photos there… useful info for organizing and creating conversations. There’s also a press kit for media on the site.

If you’re feeling a little more on the wild side, join me and some of my heroes on the steps of the Supreme Court as we hold vigil to abolish the death penalty on June 29-July 2. Every year, groups working for the abolition of the death penalty converge during this specific week, which marks both the date executions were halted in 1972 and when they resumed 4 years later. Murder victims’ family members against execution, exonerees (folks wrongfully convicted), and families of the executed – all join together. It’s a powerful event, and I hope you’ll join, even for a day. Register for the vigil here.

I want you to know that I feel so honored to have such incredible friends with whom I get to conspire and plot goodness, and create holy mischief. We really do have a movement on our hands. So much is at stake. Many lives are at stake. The message of God’s grace is at stake. So let’s do this thing… and make the death penalty history.

I love you each and all. Thanks for being such powerful voices for grace. Thanks for doing what you can to amplify the message of Executing Grace and bring about an end to execution.

– Shane Claiborne
Author / Speaker / Activist
ExecutingGrace.com

A Call to All Drummers by Phil Wyman

The Wild Goose Festival knows you have drums. We peeked into your closets and the corners of your rooms, and we saw those Djembes, Congas, Bongos, Cajons and assorted percussion instruments. Some of them have been gathering dust, but we have seen some of you making noise late into the night with your friends.

We need your help! We love drummers at the Wild Goose Festival, but sometimes the drummers don’t bring their drums. When that happens, the Wild part of the Wild Goose gets suppressed just a little bit. If there’s one thing the Goose is not about, it is not about suppressing our Wild.

So, this is a call. Bring your drums! It doesn’t matter if you are a professional drummer in a studio, someone who likes to make noise when the musical instruments break out, or someone who bought a drum because you had a little rhythm and thought you could learn how to bring a little life to the party. Whatever your reason for having a drum, bring it. Bring your drum. Bring your Wild to the Goose, and release that Wild at the late night drum circle fire pit with us.

Phil Wyman is a musician, songwriter, writer, poet, wanna-be philosopher, pastor, creator of interactive “blank canvas social art”, and a general instigator looking for people to join him in a revolution. He is the pastor of The Gathering in Salem, Massachusetts and is working with a team of friends to plant spiritual communities in festivals in the US and UK. The festivals include places like Haunted Happenings in Salem, Burning Man, and Rainbow Gatherings. The recently published Burning Religion highlights his concept of a “Wild Theology,” which envisions God, creation, and humanity as wilder than most “radical” theologies have imagined. Phil is the leader of the Wild Team at Wild Goose so keep an eye out for dispatches from the Wild Team as the festival gets closer!

If main stage at night is your happy place at the Wild Goose, we have a lot in store for you this year!  Much of the magic of the Goose is due to the generous and amazing artistry of musicians who inspire us and move us. This is just the beginning of the amazing line up we are putting together this year so stay tuned!

We are delighted to have the Indigo Girls back again this year. This much beloved duo is coming back to the Wild Goose stage with their sixteenth studio album called “One Lost Day.” We are much indebted to the friendships and graciousness of Amy and Emily and can’t wait to boogie down to their new songs as well as our longtime favorites!!

Dar Williams is a folk artist with a tremendous gift of storytelling. Whether it’s “Christians and Pagans sitting together at the table” or an introspective “wandering out on the hills of Iowa” Dar’s ability to weave a story through song is unparalleled. Dar is also an author of three books and a profound teacher of the power of music and songs to create social change in justice movements.

Matt Maher, a Grammy nominated musician whose latest release, Saints and Sinners is a call for social justice rooted in the work of historic faith leaders such as Archbishop Oscar Romero, Martin Luther King Jr., St. Therese of Lisieux, and Mother Teresa, joins the 2016 Wild Goose opening night experience!

Across the years, Ken Medema has shared his passion for learning and discovery through storytelling and music with an ever-growing circle of followers around the world. Ken has been performing for over 40 years and though blind from birth, Ken sees and hears with heart and mind, singing stories from his audience and accenting themes and perspectives from speakers and workshop leaders. Ken custom designs every musical moment through improvisation and new composition to bring each event to life.

Three years ago when Melani Jackson first played the Performance Cafe, we had complaints that Melani wasn’t featured on the main stage. We’ll never make that mistake again! We are proud to welcome Melani Jackson back to the main stage this year!