Saturday's parting shot

A look at the SE corner of Second Avenue and Seventh Street this evening after the fire...

A heartbreaking look at what's left of Middle Collegiate Church

Thank you to Billy the Artist for sharing these photos of the fire-damaged Middle Collegiate Church on Second Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street...

Statement from City Councilmember Carlina Rivera on this morning's fire on 2nd Avenue

Local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera released this statement about this morning's fire on Seventh Street and Second Avenue ... which provides more details on damage to surrounding buildings:

Today, the East Village community is devastated and heartbroken at learning of the six-alarm fire that damaged or destroyed at least three buildings along 2nd Avenue between East 7th and East 6th Streets. 

Two of the buildings — Middle Collegiate Church, which appears to have been devastated, and the Women's Prison Association (WPA)'s Hopper House, which received smoke damage and other possible effects — are pillars of our community. We do not know the cause of the fire, which remains under active investigation. 

We hold the firefighters who were injured in the blaze in our thoughts, and I want to thank all the first responders who risked their lives to extinguish this fire. While I am thankful that no deaths have been reported, my heart is so very broken for the victims of this tragedy, who have been generational leaders in our community for social justice and equality.

My office is working closely with the FDNY, OEM, NYPD, DOB, and all other relevant agencies as they continue to assess the damage to 47 E. 7th St. (which was vacated earlier this year), Middle Collegiate Church, and the Hopper House. I promise that we will ensure this incident is investigated thoroughly.

We are also working to ensure that the 22 women who were residing at the Hopper House, and had to evacuate to WPA’s nearby family shelter, are provided with stable housing options and support. Donations to Middle Collegiate Church and WPA can be made at www.middlechurch.org/donate and www.wpaonline.org/donate, respectively.  

Middle Collegiate Church is one of the great, landmark institutions of our community, having served the New York City for almost 400 years and for over a century providing the East Village with spiritual and physical resources. They've taken care of so many during our City's darkest moments, from 9/11, to Superstorm Sandy, to the 2nd Avenue Explosion. 

And the Women’s Prison Association has provided housing, employment, and assistance for justice involved women for generations. The damage this fire has caused goes far beyond the structural effects alone.

But we know that our East Village community is strong and we will be there beside them every step of this recovery, however we can. As we begin this difficult work, I am inspired by the words of Middle Collegiate Church's Rev. Jacqui Lewis — someone who I’ve considered a close friend and adviser for many years — when she said this morning that "no fire can stop Revolutionary Love." I will take that spirit into my heart in the coming days and weeks as we continue our response and recovery.

Photo credit: FDNY Response Videos

'No fire can stop Revolutionary Love'

The Rev. Jacqui Lewis, senior minister at the Middle Collegiate Church, responded on Twitter to the devastating fire that badly damaged the historic church this morning.

We are devastated and crushed that our beloved physical sanctuary at Middle Collegiate Church has burned.

And yet no fire can stop Revolutionary Love. pic.twitter.com/R8D3NVjAiY

— Rev. Jacqui Lewis, PhD (@RevJacquiLewis) December 5, 2020

And from the Church's account...

Thanks to everyone for your support. It means so very much in our overwhelming grief.

The Church is not a building, but buildings matter. This is home.

We’ll have more to say in the days to come, but here’s the link for anyone looking to donate.https://t.co/Rtb3odKP9d

— Middle Church (@middlechurch) December 5, 2020

For anyone interested in making a donation, here's a link. 

The fire started next door in the currently vacant building on the corner. The cause is under investigation. 

Published reports say that the church, built in 1891, has been destroyed. A commanding officer for the FDNY told Sen. Brad Hoylman that the "structure may not stand."   

Photo by 7th Street Neighbor

Updating: Fire engulfs southeast corner of 7th Street and 2nd Avenue; Middle Collegiate Church destroyed

Updated 11 a.m and 2 p.m. The FDNY is investigating the cause of the fire. There are published reports that four firefighters suffered minor injuries. This link has reaction from Middle Collegiate Church officials. Here's a statement from local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera... and an update from the FDNY.

-----

The FDNY is responding to a four-alarm (now five) fire at the southeast corner of Seventh Street and Second Avenue ... early reports (the first came in at 4:30 a.m.) is that the fire has destroyed the currently vacant 48 E. Seventh St. — the site of another blaze back in February. 

Early reports indicate that the fire has spread to the neighboring Middle Collegiate Church... no injuries have been reported...

4-alarm fire in 2nd Ave and 7 Street #EastVillage inside a vacant building and spreads to Middle Collegiate Church. FD reports no injuries and operations ongoing—live report at 6a. @evgrieve pic.twitter.com/qiK5c3H3OI

— 𝐌𝐲𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐍. 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 (@MylesMill) December 5, 2020

... other videos show the church engulfed in flames...

Woken by smoke and embers - Middle Collegiate Church burns in East Village - devastating. Was fire next door last Feb that gutted building on E7th St. pic.twitter.com/H4XUgnsC4R

— Revolting Lesbians (@RevoltingDykes) December 5, 2020

From my roof:@middlechurch fire, 5:30am #eastvillagenyc pic.twitter.com/4kTqraiiAU

— Duke Todd (@DukeToddIsAlive) December 5, 2020

Check back for more updates... 

Top photo by EVG reader 2ndAvenueSilverPanther

Updated 9 a.m. 

Back from the scene... the fire is under control... and now you can begin to see the extent of the damage...

Updated 10 a.m. A 7th Street neighbor shared these photos...

... and from Alexander Romanovich...

Updated 10:15 a.m. There are now concerns that the church, erected in 1891, may not stand...

On scene at devastating fire at Middle Collegiate Church, which is completely gutted.

Can’t help but think of comparisons to Notre Dame fire.

Tiffany stained glass windows destroyed.

Commanding officer told me structure may not stand.

Investigators on scene. pic.twitter.com/8uyC7YPU52

— Senator Brad Hoylman (@bradhoylman) December 5, 2020

Today: Middle Collegiate Church hosts their 3rd annual Children's Multicultural Book Fair

Via the EVG inbox...

Today (Nov. 17), Middle Collegiate Church hosts their third annual Children's Multicultural Book Fair from 1 - 3:30 p.m. More than 70 titles of books for children and youth (grades 0 - 8) that engage the diverse cultures of our city across faith, ethnicity, race, gender, and identity will be available for purchase.

Authors Isreba Wheeler ("I Love My Hoodie") and Chana Ginelle Ewing ("An ABC of Equality") will be reading and signing their books and a reader from the Islamic Center at NYU, Arif Choudhury, will read "The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family".

There will be stations for children and youth to engage in art, movement, card making, and raffle prizes. Titles will also be available from Archie Bongiovanni, Hena Khan, bell hooks, Jamia Wilson, Jacqueline Woodson and numerous others. This is a free event.

Middle Collegiate Church is on Second Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. Entrance to the event is at 50 E. Seventh St.

'Fall Into Love' at Middle Collegiate Church's street fair on 2nd Avenue

Tomorrow (Oct. 12!) Middle Collegiate Church hosts the Second Avenue Street Fair: "Fall Into Love."

Here's what you can expect between Noon and 5 p.m. along the Avenue (from Sixth Street to 14th Street):

Children and families can enjoy fall-themed activities like pumpkin painting, art projects, a bounce house, tie-dye t-shirt making, and a bubble station, in addition to local vendors. The Jerriese Johnson Gospel Choir, the Village Chorus for Children and Youth and other local artists will be offering entertainment in front of Middle Collegiate Church.

The Second Avenue Street Fair was started in the 1980s as a way to raise money for the "Celebrate Life Meal," the free meal the church offered to those living with HIV/AIDS. The meal continues today in partnership with The Momentum Project. Proceeds from the Second Avenue Street Fair benefit the pride ministries of Middle Collegiate Church.

At the Queer Faith celebration at Middle Collegiate Church

All photos by Angie Dykshorn

Here's a quick recap from the Queer Faith event this past Wednesday at Middle Collegiate Church, 122 Second Ave. ... where the church celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising and Juneteenth, the anniversary of when the news that slavery had been abolished reached Texas in 1865.

The Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, senior minster of Middle Collegiate Church, honored civil rights icon Ruby Sales and the late Gary Ranker, a longtime East Village resident who marched with Harvey Milk.

At the event, Lewis announced the Ruby Sales/Gary Ranker Fund for Racial and LGBTQIA+ Fund at Middle Church for justice initiatives that speak to the legacy of their activism.


[Ruby Sales with a photo of Gary Ranker]


[Jacqui Lewis with members of the Ranker family]

The evening included the opening of the Queer Faith art exhibit ...



... as well as musical guests BETTY, Alex Bertrand and Madge Dietrich ...


[Alex Bertrand]


[BETTY]

A Stop the Ban rally at Middle Collegiate Church

In response to the spate of anti-abortion legislation in several states, more than 50 organizations, including Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union and NARAL Pro-Choice America, are participating in #StopTheBans protests nationwide today.

The Middle Collegiate Church is hosting a rally at noon on its front steps, 112 Second Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. Find more information at the Facebook event page.

The main NYC event takes place at Foley Square starting at 5:30 p.m. Details here.

An evening honoring extraordinary women at Middle Collegiate Church

Middle Collegiate Church on Second Avenue is hosting the following event on Tuesday night... "Rage, Rejoice & RISE: An Evening of Celebration, Inspiration and Solidarity."


Here's more via the EVG inbox...

Eve Ensler, Tony-Award-winning playwright and founder of V-Day and One Billion Rising, hosts an evening featuring best-selling author Naomi Klein; "Westworld" star and domestic violence survivor/advocate Evan Rachel Wood; and Rhanda Dormeus, mother of Korryn Gaines, a young woman shot and killed by Baltimore police in 2016.

The evening includes the Rev. Jacqueline J. Lewis, Ph.D.; musicians, activists, and the gospel choir of Middle Church. The evening honors the extraordinary women who are rising in unprecedented ways across New York City, the country and the world.

Tickets are $10 and available here.

The event starts at 7 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.) Middle Collegiate Church is at 112 Second Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. Find more info here.

MLK weekend at Middle Collegiate Church with Civil Rights icon Ruby Sales

Text and photos by Dan Efram

Middle Collegiate Church, 112 Second Ave., yesterday hosted “Redeem the Soul of America,” a special discussion honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.‘s legacy with Civil Rights icon Ruby Sales.



Sales described her work with The Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the critical role of women in the Movement, and gave the attentive audience context as to the foundations of racism and bigotry that have permeated American society.

“For black people, the streets and the fields have always been subversive sites,” Sales contextualizes. “It was the same during the Southern Freedom Movement. The streets that once upon a time where places in the South where black people should not be caught. We transformed them from dangerous places to liberating spaces.

“One of the things that the Movement literally did was to transform sites of terror, sites of oppression, into sites of liberation and sites of honor,” she said. "It was an honor to go to jail. It was an honor to be arrested on the streets of America.”

Though there were many enlightening moments, perhaps the most salient point was her description of a movement.

“A movement is dangerous, it’s not warm and fuzzy and cozy,” Sales said. “It doesn’t happen without a community to cover and guard you. It’s not an action of a few justice elites. It’s a community enterprise. You can’t be in a movement if you are afraid to die.”



The talk was led by Middle Collegiate Church’s Senior Minister Rev. Jacqui Lewis (above, left), who told of Sales’ direct impact on her life. Watch the full discussion here.

The Second Avenue Street Fair is tomorrow (Saturday!)

As far as street fairs/festivals go around here, the annual one hosted by Middle Collegiate Church is a good one, with the community spirit absent in those just with the funnel cakes and tube socks.

Via the EVG inbox...

Join us for our annual Second Avenue Street Fair on Saturday, May 6, 12-5pm! Children and families can enjoy activities like a bounce-house, tie-dye t-shirt making, sidewalk chalk, bubble station, Japanese calligraphy, and more!

From 1-5pm, hear live music on the Middle Church stage featuring celebrated East Village musicians, including the Jerriese Johnson Gospel Choir and Village Chorus for Children & Youth. Voter registration and election information will also be available on our block. It’s an all-day party with Middle Church, filled with art, justice and music — you won’t want to miss it!

And this is not the first street festival of the season... that happened on April 9 with the Astor Place Festival ... and there was the Broadway Festival on April 15 on Broadway from 14th Street down to Eighth Street...


[Photo of what you missed on April 15]

H/T EVG reader Marjorie

Hoodie mass this morning at Middle Collegiate Church

At the Middle Collegiate Church at 122 Second Ave. this morning:

In response to the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial, on Sunday, July 14 at 11:15 am at Middle Collegiate Church, our multiracial congregation, will wear hoodies in memory of Trayvon Martin and those who like him who have been killed. Congregants will be invited to wear their hoodies as the church prays for the healing of our nation.

Senior minister, Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis said, "I am devastated by this verdict. In our confusion and in our grief it is time to gather in God’s house to pray and support each other. As generations before us, we must gather to be rooted in our faith and work toward peace and healing for our country."

WABC was on the scene earlier...





Previously.

Hoodie mass this morning at Middle Collegiate Church

There's a mass this morning at Middle Collegiate Church on Second Avenue between Seventh Street and Sixth Street in honor of Trayvon Martin, the Florida teen a neighborhood watch volunteer shot and killed last month.

Senior Minister Jacqui Lewis discussed the service in a blog post. "It can feel overwhelming, addressing racism, but we have to do it. Come to our multiracial/multicultural community, Middle Church, on Sunday; wear your hoodie and plan to pray for healing." (Esther Zuckerman at Runnin' Scared first reported this yesterday.)

Meanwhile, the news trucks are lined up for reports on the service.

Also, as you may have seen, someone placed wanted posters around the neighborhood for George Zimmerman, the Florida community watch captain who shot the unarmed 17-year-old Martin. Florida authorities have not charged Zimmerman in the shooting. At the time of the shooting, Martin was wearing a hooded jacket.