Time for Real Change

Dear Friends of Faith,
​
This is a week for lament; crying out to God. Hearts are breaking. Our nation is in pain. Anger is lashing out uncontrollably, expressing years of injustice. Our Black brothers and sisters are crying. A cry they have been singing for centuries and we only hear in muted tones. But this week is different. It feels like we who are White, who walk in privilege every day, are beginning to hear more clearly. We are collectively awakening to the deep-seated racism in our nation. And it is time for us to do our work. It is time for us to listen deeply to our Black brothers and sisters. It is time for us to re-learn our history about how racism has been rooted into the very fibers of our culture. It is time for us to reflect deeply on how we participate in racism. This listening, learning, and reflection will guide to the ways we can work together for real change.

I feel ill-equipped. I am hesitant to speak for fear I will offend the very ones I’m trying to come alongside. I feel impotent. Can I really make a difference? In previous seasons that has prevented me from doing anything. But now, I feel compelled to get invested in this anti-racism work. I am seeking out Black brothers and sisters to listen to. I am committing to reading books to learn. If any of you want to join me in this work, I welcome you. I would love to have some conversation partners to help me process. Let me know if you are interested.

God is on the side of justice. May we be too. I share this Franciscan Blessing. May we turn it into our prayer:

May God bless us with a restless discomfort
about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,
so that we may seek truth boldly and love deep within our hearts.
May God bless us with holy anger
at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
so that we may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.
May God bless us with the gift of tears
to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish,
so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.
May God bless us with enough foolishness
to believe that we really can make a difference in this world,
so that we are able, with God’s grace, to do what others claim cannot be done. May it be so.

In case you missed the announcement last week, our Parish Council has decided to continue worship via Zoom through the summer. In early August we will re-evaluate where we are and make plans from there. 

Feel free to invite others to join us! We also post the sermon on our website and Facebook pages. Feel free to share that with others as well. Be sure to check your email for meeting room and room password. If you're not in our email chain, email me here with the subject headline "Weekly Email List."

Thursday, June 4, I will be leading a prayer service of Lament. I would love for you to join us in this important time to lift up our hearts to the Lord. I promise God will meet you there and fill your spirit.

Peace and grace,
Pastor Patti