St. Stephen's Lutheran Church Prepares for Peaceful Community Advocacy

WOODBURY, N.J. - Feb. 3, 2026 - PRLog -- St. Stephen's Lutheran Church is responding to recent ICE activity in Woodbury with peaceful, faith-led action.

In coordination with local organizations Mi Casa Woodbury and Cooper River Indivisible, the St. Stephen's Advocacy Committee will join the Solidarity Sunday assembly on Sunday, February 8.

Meg Tom, organizer for Mi Casa Woodbury, describes the event as "a peaceful community gathering where neighbors come together to visibly affirm that every person deserves to feel safe, supported, and at home." These gatherings take place every Sunday from 10:00am to 12:00pm at the corner of Broad Street & Delaware Street in Woodbury.

Following their 9:30am worship service on Sunday, February 8, members of St. Stephen's will take the 20 minute walk together from their church at 230 N. Evergreen Avenue to the assembly in Woodbury.

"Our faith calls us to love our neighbors and to seek justice for all God's people," said The Rev. Joseph Graumann. "We join this peaceful gathering as a way to put our faith into action and care for our neighbors."

To help participants engage safely and respectfully, the church will host an informational meeting on Wednesday, February 4 at 7:00pm, focusing on nonviolent participation and community safety. For those unable to attend in person, a 20-minute recorded session is available on the St. Stephen's Lutheran Church YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/@ststephenselca), offering best practices for peaceful demonstrations from a Lutheran perspective.

A recent statement from Presiding Bishop Curry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America emphasized the Lutheran commitment to "welcome the stranger" and to actively support justice and dignity for all people. This call further affirms St. Stephen's decision to engage in peaceful, community-centered advocacy.

For more information, contact: St. Stephen's Lutheran Church
(856) 845-1747 | info@ststephenselca.org | http://www.ststephenselca.org